67TH RCCG ANNUAL CONVENTION – DAY 3 MORNING SESSION – BIBLE COLLEGE GRADUATION
THEME: “AND GOD SAID”
MINISTERING: PASTOR BAMIDELE STURDIVANT (HEAD PASTOR, JESTURDIVANT MINISTRIES, USA)
TOPIC: YOU ARE MY BRANCHES – THE BENEFITS OF CONNECTION
DATE: 7TH AUGUST, 2019
BIBLE TEXT: JOHN 15: 5
With all of the confidence that you have, if you know that you know, you know that God has sent a Word for you through His servant our daddy this week; please stand up and shout the biggest Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
Let us pray: My Father and my God we thank You because we know that by Your Word Speaking; Healing can take place.
While we are in this Place today, send a Word that will catapult your people from History to Destiny. And anything that is trying to truncate their destinies; destroy it by Fire.
Thank You my Father, Glory be to Your Holy Name. In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.
Please be seated.
Let me start by thanking my daddy and my mummy for this great opportunity, as well as our Provost for allowing me this chance each time.
My assignment is to speak with you from John Chapter number 15 verse 5.
And even though we read all of it, I want you to focus on verse 5 and pull in the other passages to try and give us some clarity.
IIn John 15: 5 and am reading the New King James translation; it says this: I am the Vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing.
My assignment is to speak to you from the topic You are My Branches
If I could use a sub-topic, I will like to talk to you from the thought, The Benefits of Connection.
One of the things that we know concerning the Almighty God, is that He is a God of Purpose.
Everything and everyone that He has allowed to come into existence, has both a reason and a season for being and for fulfilling their assignment.
Ones again they have both a reason and a season for being and for being and for fulfilling their assignment.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1; it says: To everything there is a Season, a time for every Purpose under Heaven.
That means belovedth that your birth, the time that you were born in, the parents that you were born to, none of that was a coincidence.
I know some times you think I wish I would have be born at a different time or even when I was growing up I say: I wish I would have had different parents. But the truth of the matter is that for what God wants to complete, in the Earth now at a particular Time and in a particular Season; it took you being born when you were to who you were born to.
Listen, God already had a Plan in mind that will require what your parents will contribute so that you will be the by-product of what He will need to accomplish His purpose through you.
I was speaking with my wife recently and I said to her; I said: No one even calls me here in Nigeria by my given name. They call me by the name that my daddy gave me Bamidele.
And she said, when you were James, before you became Bamidele.
I told her I was Bamidele before the Foundation of the world; James was just the vehicle I came through so that I can find out who I really was.
I want to announce to someone here that nothing that has happened in your life was a mistake or misstep. It took everything that happened for God to get you to this point so that He can Perform His Purpose through you.
I might as well tell you straight away that you are not an accident, you are not an after thought but you are an assignment.
… If you believed it shout hallelujah in here – Hallelujah.
The Bible says and I paraphrase in Isaiah chapter number 46 verse 9 through to 11. I paraphrase it says: For I am God and there is no other.
God says I am God and there is none like me.
Here is what He says. He does, He says, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times; things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stay and I will do all my Pleasure.
He says, I have decreed a thing, I have spoken a thing, I have declared a thing, and He says I will also bring it to pass. I have Proposed it and I will also do it.
Listen to me; I might as well announce to you and announce to every enemies to your Destiny that every Good Thing that God has spoken concerning you; there is no need for you to be afraid it shall come to pass.
… I’m saying again as I stand on this Holy Altar that every Good Thing that the Almighty God has spoken concerning you there is no need for you to be afraid; it shall come to pass.
And if you can receive that shout a big hallelujah – Hallelujah.
I know this is so before the beginning of your birth because the bible says in Jeremiah chapter number 1 verse 5: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I sanctified you, I ordained you a Prophet to the Nations.
Beloveth, He has ordered, He has already ordained this day to take place so that you can be catapulted into your destiny.
I will never forget it was a couple of the Holy Congresses ago; when the Almighty God spoke through our daddy and daddy referenced Revelation Chapter 1 verse 8 where it states: I am Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, He who is and was and is to come.
And it was on the Strength of that statement that our daddy said this; he said: God has already finished a Project before he starts it. That means that before God even started to do what He was going to do with you, He already had concluded the matter and said it is finished.
I must announce to you one more time before I move on that He that has begun a Good Work in you will continue it until the Day of Jesus Christ.
Therefore whether the enemy wants to see it happen or not; just tell your neighbour: “My tomorrow will be alright”
Oh yes, it is going to be alright.
How can I be so sure? – Because Romans Chapter 8 verse 28 says: And we know that all things work together for Good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His Purpose.
That is why you have to make it. That is why you have to survive. That is why death could not take you. That is why the car was statued but walked away from it. That is why inspite of everything that the enemies has thrown at you, you have made it to this point because you still have a Purpose that must be fulfilled.
So since I have made that statement clear, you may be wondering Pastor Bamidele what does that have to do with I am the Vine and you are the branches? What does that have to do with the benefits that comes from being connected?
Well, since God is a God of Purpose and since God has a Plan for all that He allows. That means that He has a proper Time for the things that He allows to come forth – Meaning it is not by coincidence that this topic was given by the Almighty God to our daddy: “And God said”.
It is not by coincidence that the Theme for this Bible College Graduation or the topic that am supposed to be speaking for you are my branches.
It is not by coincidence that this is taking place at this Season when you are the Graduating class.
Why am I saying that? Because the Almighty God has something that He is going to released through what He says during this Convention that is going to empower you to not just Graduate from this class with a degree, a certificate or diploma but it is going to send you into the Earth realm as a Solution to a Problem that the world is having and they need a Saviour.
You are precious my dear brothers and sisters. You are here and you had to be here because God has something no other Generation could have done but you.
He has something that no other person could carry out but you and therefore He has allowed you to survive. He has allowed you to make it to this Convention, He gave a Special Topic to our father and a Special theme for this Graduation.
There are others that started just like you but they did not make it but you had to continue, you had to finish because the Almighty God is going to use you like a rock from a sling to deal with every Goliath that is a hindrance to the move of the Kingdom of God.
… If you believed that He is going to use you that way; common you shout hallelujah in this house – Hallelujah.
You are a Solution. Tell somebody near you: “You are a Solution”. You are a Solution to a world that is desperate for a Saviour.
Now time will not permit me to discuss with a lot of details all of the “I AM” of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This particular passage that I have read in your hearing where He says: I am the Vine and you are the branches that is just one of the many “I AM” of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As a matter of fact just to lift a couple of them be makes a statement because when He was saying “I AM” he is not giving you His Name neither is He giving you His title.
When He says: “I AM”; He is giving you an idea of His Identity and what you can expect Him to be for you.
In the Old Testament when they use the word such as Jehovah Shammah that means that He is a God that is a “Present Help” in times of trouble.
If He says that he is Jehovah Rophika that Name means that He is God who Heals.
So when you come into the New Testament and you start hearing Him say: I am this, I am this, I am this; He is telling you and “I AM” what we can expect Him to be for us in any given situation.
So when He says for example in John chapter number 6 verse 35; He says: I am the “Bread of Life.”
What He is literarily saying is that we need to survive everyday.
The substance that we need is bread, so He is saying to you and “I AM” whatever we need in any given moment. “I AM” the One that can be that for you.
That is why He tells us in Matthew Chapter 6 verse 31 through to 33,; He says don’t worry about tomorrow don’t take a any thought about what you are going to eat, or what you are going to drink, or what you are going to wear; He says those who have no relationship with me worry about those things.
He says but I am able to take care of the lilies of the field, I take care of the flowers and Solomon in all of his glory didn’t look like any of them – So He says don’t worry about that – I am what you need.
I wanna Prophecy to someone and tell you that whatever concerns you came here with by the time this Convention is over, the “I AM” your supply will take care of it in Jesus name – Amen.
Not only does He says that I am the “Bread of Life”; He also said I am the door.
What does that mean from John chapter 10 verse 9?
That means that when there appears to be no Way; He will end up making a Way for you,
That is what He did in Acts Chapter number 12 verse 5 through to 10. It says that Peter was locked up between soldiers and the gates were all locked with him inside. But the Lord woke him up and as he walked through each gate by the time he got to the main iron gate of the city all of the gates have opened by their own accord,
I Orophecy to you now and I tell you that as you go forth in the Name of the Lord; every doors that has been shut to you will be opened in Jesus Mighty Name – Amen.
… Common on, let your Amen be louder than that – Amen.
He says I am the bread of life, He says I am the door, then He says I am the Resurrection.
That is what He said in John Chapter number 11 verse 25.
What does that mean?
That means that we don’t have our whole confidence in this world and this world alone.
One of the steps that we have as Redeemers that says our Vision is we that are going to make Heaven and we are going to take as many people with us as we can. That means that our Hope is beyond this world. That we have confidence that there is more than just this.
That is why the Bible says in 1st Corinthians Chapter 15 verse 19; it says: If in this life only we have hope in Christ then we are people that are most pitiable.
In other words we believe in more than what we have here.
So when He says in John Chapter number 15 verse 5: I am the Vine and you are the branches; I saw some things in this verse that I want to lift before we pray and I go back to my seat.
There are a few things that the Lord shared with me from where we read in John Chapter 15 verses 1 through to 8.
Using verse 5 as our launching path; when He says: I am the Vine and you are the branches – He tells you and I that number One, we are Partners.
Common on, somebody say we are Partners.
This is a Partnership that we have with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We come into agreement with Him and that means that whatever listen clearly whatsoever He has the ability to do you have the ability to do also and Greater Works will you do because He has gone back to His Father which is in Heaven.
So we are in a Partnership. So what we have as a ray of the benefits become is that:
- We are in Partnership.
- What this teaches us when he says: “I am the Vine” and you are my branches; it tells us that we have a Privilege.
… So number one we are in a Partnership, number two we have a Privilege.
You may be asking Pastor Bamidele, how do you get there’s a Privilege to this?
When you look at verse number 1 of John 15; He says: I am the True Vine, my Father is the Vine Dresser or the Husbandman.
This is a Privilege!
Why do we say that is a Privilege? – Because a Vine Dresser is someone that deals in that which is plenty in an area that is not growing well.
A Vine Dresser is someone that pays particular attention to what he has planted.
hen you are connected to the Vine you enjoy the protection that a weed does not get – both a weed and a plant will grow but a weed will grow without any care, a plant has to be nurtured,
I’m here to tell you by the authority of the Almighty God; whatever need that you have to fulfil your assignment: Carrying the Gospel into the world; the Almighty God will Help you. – Amen.
I say the Almighty God will Help you – Amen,
If you believe it shout Hallelujah -hallelujah.
Hmm.. there is a Privilege that comes with been connected.
I was telling daddy about this that I was Ministering in a Church in the United States and while I was mMinistering there I was sharing a Message that I had heard daddy shared from here. And while I was sharing the Message my wife is here, I have some members here that were there. While I was sharing the Message, suddenly there was a lot chaos in the Church because there was an individual that died in the Service while I was Ministering the Message that I heard daddy Minister.
And while everyone was panicking, someone ran and called 911 because they wanted to get the paramedics there. While 911 was coming I remembered that my daddy had said that because we were connected and He has had had resurrections from the dead that I too can have that same Authority.
So while we were waiting for the paramedics to come I went and laid hands on the man that had died and suddenly he sat up, woke up and said thank you.
I want to tell someone in here: It is not just by accident that you are part of Redeem; there is a Covenant relationship that has been established by Pa Josiah Akindayomi (The Founder of Redeem) and carried on through our daddy. Which means that the very same Miracles, the same things that you have seen done here; it will happen for you in Jesus Name – Amen.
I say it will happen for you in Jesus Name – Amen.
Stand to your feet very quickly I want you to pray this Prayer Point with me: Lift your voice loud and clear, and say: Father, the very same Miracles that I have seen here, that I have heard here, Father, let them work through me.
Come on pray like Warriors. Please pray.
The very same Miracles, the same Healings, the same Deliverances, the same blind eyes being opened, the same deaf ears being unstopped, the same speaking and multiple babies being born. The very same thing that I have seen here, because I am connected, let it happen with me.
Thank you Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name we have prayed – Amen.
So shall it be in Jesus Name – Amen.
Please be seated as I round up.
- We have a Partnership, we have a Privilege and then we also have a Priority.
Watch the text when you have gotten the opportunity. It says – I am the Vine, every branch – powerful statement; every branch, every branch, that means He does not group you with all branches.
To say every branch, means that He individually knows each branch and knows how to prune each branch to make it more productive.
- You are in a Partnership, you are Privileged, you are a Priority, not only that, but you have a Placement.
The record says and verse 4 through to 7; you are going to see it over and over again. It says – abide in me, abide in me, abide in me, abide in me, over and over again.
In other words, He has already guaranteed you and I to finish well. Because He says if we abide in Him, we will then be able to do the things that bring about Productivity.
- Our place in Him gives us success and a positive return. And then He says as I conclude, He says you will be Productive.
Let me see if you have gotten that. He said:
- This is a Partnership
- You are Privileged
- You are a Priority
- You have a Placement in him
- He says you will be Productive.
You will be Productive, meaning that He saying if you stay connected to Him, there is no way that success will not be your portion.
But let me conclude by giving you a warning.
With all of those things that are positive about, He issues a warning.
And the warning is this: Where you see it in verse number 6; of John Chapter 15.
He says, if anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and he’s wither.
Hear the warning, the same branch, that enjoyed being connected to the Vine, the same branch that got Priority treatment, the same branch that got the husbandman worked on it and Protect it; that same branch if it does not stay connected, will be cut off, wither up and be cast aside.
What can cause us not to stay connected?
He says if you don’t abide.
Listen, you may start off saying am connected to Him, but if another “P” (Pride) comes into your life: Because you raised the dead, heal the sick, opens blind eyes, unstopped deaf hears, because your date book gets engagement in it and you all of a sudden started becoming Prideful, and thinking that you got to where you are without God?
He says, He will cut you off.
The Bible says that there are six (6) things that God hate, even the seventh (7th) is an abomination.
You will see that in Proverbs Chapter number 6 verses 16 and 17 (Proverbs 6:16-17): And out of the seven (7) things, six (6) that He hates, the seventh (7th) is an abomination.
The very first thing that He said that He hates is that He says it’s a Proud look.
The moment that you become arrogant, the moment that you are thinking that you are Greater than you are; the Almighty God will disqualify you.
What terrifies me, in the very early days of me coming to Redeemed and being connected with our father in the Lord, it’s been twenty one (21) years now. There is something that he told me that terrified me. He told me how he was one night taking his walk, and he had his walking stick with him, and he came to a clearing when the moon was shinning bright, and God asked him to stop where he was and to draw the form of a man on the sand. And daddy said he drew the form of the man in the sand, just as God instructed him. And he said God did told him to erase it with his feet, and he erased it with his foot. He said the Almighty God said to him: The moment that you think that what you are doing, what you have accomplished have been done by you, he says I can erase you as quickly as you erased that man in the sand.
- Stand to your feet please, we are going to pray and talk to the Almighty God, because we want to make sure that we remain humble under the Mighty hands of God. So that He will be the One that will exalt us in due time.
Lift up your voice loud and clear and say:
Father, Father, please sir, help me to never get a big head. Go ahead pray now, pray. Father help me to maintain humility, let me never get a big head, let me never become arrogant, let me never become prideful. Oh my Father and my God, help me to walk in humility, help me to walk in humility, I don’t want to become one that is cast aside. I want to become one that is used by you for your Kingdom.
Thank you Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name we have prayed – Amen.
Let your amen be loud and clear – AMEN;
- In Songs of Solomon Chapter 2 verse 15; it says this: Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vine, because we have tamed the grapes.
We are going to Pray to the Almighty God, we want to catch those little foxes, those secret sins, those little things that can damage our relationship with the Almighty God.
The Bible says in Matthew Chapter number 15 verse 13; every plants that the Almighty God has not planted, it will be uprooted.
You are going to lift up your voice to the Almighty God and you say Father, anything in me that will destroy my relationship with you, Father, uproot it now, now, now – Pray, pray.
Father anything in me, anything in me that will disrupt my walk with you, that will destroy my relationship with you, my Father and my God, uproot it, uproot it, uproot it, nothing between my soul and my Saviour. Uproot it, uproot it now.
Thank you Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name we have prayed – Amen.
- Finally and I want you to pray this Prayer with all of your might.
Paul was an abandoned Apostle and here is what he says when he wrote to Timothy. He said Demus has forsaken me, Demus one who was and anointed carrier of the Word, a Partner with Paul in Ministry.
The Bible says Paul said Demus has forsaken me, having loved this present world.
John said love not the world neither the things that are in the world, for all that is in this world is the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and pride of life.
We are going to ask the Almighty God, Father give me such a love for you and your Kingdom, that I can never turn back.
Lift your voice to say Father, Father, give me such a Love, for you and your Kingdom, that I will never turn back.
Now come on, pray like Warriors. Pray now, pray! Such a Love for Kingdom, Father please let my Testimony be on forever – backwards never. Give me such a Love for your Kingdom, forgetting those things which are behind me, reaching to those things which are ahead.
I press towards the Mark for the Price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus – never turning back. The cross before me, the war behind me, no turning back, pray Zion, pray.
Thank you Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name we have prayed – Amen.
FINAL PRAYERS
From this moment onwards; you will be in Partnership with Jesus in Jesus Mighty Name. You will not lose the Privilege that you have gained in Jesus Name. For everything that concerns you, Almighty God will make you a Priority in Jesus Name. Every plant that He did not plant in your life, will be uprooted in Jesus Name. You will be Productive in Jesus Mighty Name. And by His Grace, you will avoid the trap of pride in Jesus Name – Amen.
So shall it be in Jesus Name – Amen.
Well come on if you believe it, shout a big Hallelujah & Halleluyah!
Clap your hands and give our God a Great Praise.
Thank you so much for staying all through to read.
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