THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR: PASTOR PAUL ADEPEGBA, RCCG AYC 2020

RCCG NATIONAL YOUNG ADULT AND YOUTH AFFAIRS (YAYA) VIRTUAL CONVENTION 2020.

THEME: THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR

DAY 2 EVENING SECTION MINISTERING TALK 2: PASTOR PAUL ADEPEGBA

TOPIC: THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR

DATE: 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2020

BIBLE TEXT: REVELATION 22:16

Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!

I welcome us this wonderful time in the Presence of God or as you read this Message on the Label of DMC.

Day Two (2) of the Virtual Annual Youth Convention, tagged: “THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR”.

It is my Prayer that God will raise wonderful Stars amongst us, in the Mighty Name of Jesus – Amen!

Let us Pray!

OPENING PRAYER

Our Eternal Father, we Thank You for You are Faithful.

We Bless Your Holy Name for this Great time in Your Presence.

Thank You Father because in You we Live, in You we Move, in You we have our Being!

As we go into Your Words, Please Holy Spirit, speak Your Words to our hearts.

Thank You Precious Father; in Jesus’ Name we have Prayed – Amen!

Let someone shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!

I sincerely want to Thank God for the life of our father in the Lord (Pastor E.A Adeboye), the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

And our beloved Mummy, Pastor Folu Adeboye. May the Lord Bless you, in Jesus’ Name – Amen.

I equally want to the thank the AGO Youth Affairs and AGO Admin and Personnel – Daddy Amenkhienan and Daddy Odesola.

God Bless you!

Thank You for showing us the Way, and ensuring that we follow suite. The Lord will increase you, in Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Now, quickly, the Topic before us is: “THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.”

Our Bible Reading is taken from the Book of Revelation 22:16:

“I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the Churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”

Children of God, you understand that Jesus is also called: ‘The Bright and Morning Star”.

He said: He is the Root of David, and also the Bright and Morning Star.

That means the other Name of Jesus is ‘the Bright and Morning Star”.

… Not just the ‘Bright Star’ but the ‘Bright and MORNING Star.’

In the Book of Numbers 24, before Jesus Christ was born, there was a Prophecy said about Him.

Numbers 24:17 – “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a STAR out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”

Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star; and the Scripture gives a vivid illustration about Him.

• What He is Supposed to do.
• And How He is supposed to RUN His life here on Earth.

We have a long list of People who have done so marvellously well in their chosen careers.

We have Stars in the Football Field, we have Stars here and there. You know, in the Lawn Tennis or whatever!

Everyone who has separated themselves become one Star or the other; that we are talking about today!

But there is something about the Person of Jesus Christ: He is not just a Star, He is THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.

Today, we are going to be looking at some Outlines:

1. WHY IS JESUS CALLED THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR?
2. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN JESUS AND US.
3. THE ATTRIBUTES/CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.
4. AND WE ARE STARS!

The Bible says He has chosen us to BE LIKE HIM – He said: “As He is, so are we in this world.”

So He expects us to RISE and to SHINE in all areas of our life’s endeavour.

We are told by Scholars that: ‘On a LONG night, the appearance of the morning star means DAY BREAK is imminent.

This explains why John 10:10 says:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

He says: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The moment you see the Morning Star, it shows that DAY BREAK is about evolving.

The moment you see the Morning Star, it shows that something is opening up to the NEW DAY.

1. SO, WHY IS JESUS CALLED THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR?

I. HE GIVES HOPE.

Jesus is the One who gives Hope to the hopeless.

In the Book of Matthew 11:28; He says:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST.”

Maybe you are in the Season of darkness and things are not actually moving well; the Purpose of the Bright and Morning Star is to give Light; His Purpose is to lighten your darkness.

You cannot have the Bright and Morning Star in your life and still be experiencing DARKNESS.

… Why is Jesus called the Bright and Morning Star?

II. HE GIVES DIRECTION.

In the Book of Matthew 2:2, it talks about the Wise men that came, looking for the Star of JESUS.

You can listen to the audio here: The Bright And Morning Star – Pastor Paul Adepegba–

Let’s look at what they said in that Matthew 2:2:

“Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him.”

… They located the Star of JESUS.

They were looking for DIRECTION; and the Star was able to direct them.

There are some People, especially among the Youths and Young Adults – Some of us have LOST direction; you don’t know where to GO, or the next STEP to take!

The Bright and Morning Star gives DIRECTION!

And that is one (1) striking function why He is called the Bright and Morning Star.

Apart from giving HOPE, He gives DIRECTION!

The Bible says in the Book of Psalms 32:8; “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

When the Bright and Morning Star comes into your life; there is DIRECTION.

… And that is what Jesus has come to do!

Now, the Scriptures talking about it in the Book of 1 John 4:17, it says:

“Herein is our love made Perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as HE IS, so are we in this world.”

The Scriptures did not say: ‘As He WAS’. It says: ‘As He IS.

Who is the Scriptures talking about here?

The Person of JESUS – Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star.

So it says: As Jesus IS, so are WE in this world:

We are to give Direction; we are to give Clarity of Purpose to People that are groping in darkness.

The Bible says in the Book of 2 Corinthians 5:17:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a New Creature: Old things are Passed away; behold, all things are become New.”

When you come in contact with the Bright and Morning Star, you become a STAR yourself!

And that is why the Scripture is saying: As Jesus IS, so are WE in this world:

Every child of God is supposed to be a STAR.

Every child of God is supposed to STAND OUT in the midst of darkness.

The Bible says “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” – John 1:5

… And darkness does not understand it!

2. WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR AND US – The Children of GOD?

I. *We are created in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of GOD – To begin to give Clarity of Purpose and Direction to People’s life!

The moment you are a Child of God; the ability to illuminate your world has come upon you.

So, the CONNECTION between the Bright and Morning Star and us (as Children of God):

II. The Bible says in the Book of Revelation 1:6 (Paraphrased): “He has raised us as Kings and Priests UNTO HIS GOD.”

Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star, and He has RAISED so many STARS to begin to live wonderfully in this world.

… We are meant to be Problem Solvers!

As STARS that we are, we are not supposed to HIDE under Bushels.

The Bibles says: The Light SHINETH in darkness – And we are the Light of the world.

III. So, the connection between us and the Bright and Morning Star is that: Jesus has IMPACTED that life in us.

As the Bright and Morning Star, He has birthed little Stars:

A. People that will begin to command Influence in all areas of their lives.

B. People that will begin to command Exploits in whatever they lay their hands upon.

The Bible talks about two (2) men – Peter and John in the Book of Acts of the Apostles 4:13 – Let us see what it says quickly:

It talks about two (2) wonderful guys, who were not SCHOOLED. They were NOT LEARNED – But there was something about them.

It says: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and Perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

“… They took knowledge of them, that they had been with JESUS.”

They got Associated with Jesus, and because of that, they began to SHINE because they were CONNECTED to Jesus!

There is what we call THE LAW OF ASSOCIATION – By the Law of Association, you BECOME who you STAY WITH overtime.

Peter and John dwelt with Jesus during His years on Earth and they began to Shine. They began to command Exploit because they were created as Star also.

That is the Attribute about us been connected to Jesus – He is the Bright and Morning Star and by the Law of Association; we are meant to SHINE in our world.

We are meant to means to be Problem Solvers (as He said). We are meant to give Solution to men.

The Bible also talks about two (2) brothers, Paul and Silas in the same Acts of the Apostles 17:6 – Let us see what it says:

“And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain Brethren unto the Rulers of the City, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

… These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.

Jesus, when He walked on this Earth, He could not be IGNORED.

When Jesus walked on this Earth, People NOTICED Him – They knew something DIFFERENT had happened to them.

Also, when He left the world, He gave POWER unto men to begin to function in the Grace that was given unto Him.

… He gave POWER to men.

Paul and Silas were Commandeers of EXPLOITS; and that is what we saw here.

3. NOW, THE ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS AS THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.

We have so much to learn of Him.

There were certain things that made Him to stand out and one of such:

1. Jesus, when He walked on this Earth was HUMBLE.

And when you look at the man called Lucifer, in the Book of Isaiah 14:14 – The Bible even referred to Lucifer as ‘Morning Star”.

But there was something that distinguished Jesus from Lucifer – JESUS WAS HUMBLE.

In the Book of Philippians 2:6 (Paraphrased) – It says: “He did not count it robbery to be equal with God.”

He ABASED Himself; He was HUMBLE to a fault.

But Lucifer eyed the Throne of God. He wanted to be like God; he wanted to be like JESUS; he wanted to take the Throne from GOD.

And the Bible says that when God saw that in his heart; the Scriptures says: He (God) DROVE him (Lucifer) out of Heaven, and some Angels with him!

One (1) striking character of Jesus Christ, as the Bright and Morning Star is the fact that He is HUMBLE.

And ad Children of God, that is something that we should learn from – HUMILITY of heart!

The devil became so Proud, the devil became so envious of God’s Throne.

And that was a DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENCE between Jesus and the devil.

… Jesus was HUMBLE; devil was PROUD!

2. Another ATTRIBUTE of the Bright and Morning Star is the fact that: He was FILLED with the HOLY GHOST.

In the Book of Acts of the Apostles 10:38, the Bible says:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power: who went about doing Good, and Healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

You cannot function without the Holy Spirit.

The Bright and Morning Star was HEAVILY ANOINTED of the Holy Spirit.

3. Another ATTRIBUTE of the Bright and Morning Star; the Bible says in the Book of Luke 6:12 – Talking about when Jesus left the other Disciples to look for a Place to Pray: He was PRAYERFUL.

Luke 6:12 says: “And it came to Pass in those days, that he went out into a Mountain to Pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

You hear People talk about: “Jesus started with PRAYER, and He ended with PRAYER.”

The Bright and Morning Star, the Man JESUS that we should REFLECT; was a man given to PRAYER.

4. Another ATTRIBUTE of the Bright and Morning Star: He LIVED a PURPOSEFUL Life.

I was telling some People; at the age of twelve (12) Jesus KNEW Purpose!

A Wise man (of Blessed Memory) said: “Where Purpose is not known, ABUSE is inevitable.”

Jesus KNEW from the world go, what He was meant to do.

The Bible says that His (Earthly) Parents were looking for Him and they found Him in the Temple.

He said: Why are you looking for me? Are you not aware that I should be in my Father’s Business?

At the world go, Jesus knew why He was here – He LIVED a life of PURPOSE.

In the Book of John 9:4; He said: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

The Attribute of the Bright and Morning Star: A Man that LIVED a Purposeful Life.

Youths and Young Adults, those watching us across the Globe or reading now on the Label of DMC:

• Why are you LIVING?
• What is your PURPOSE; what are you supposed to be doing?
• Do you know WHY you were BORN?

And that is one (1) thing: The moment you Associate with JESUS, you start living a Purposeful Life as a Bright and Morning Star!

Now, Jesus has RAISED us to be Stars. Like I did said in the Book of 1 John 4:17; He said: “As He IS, so are we in this world.”

4. WE ARE STARS!

In the world of Sports, you have lots of Stars (without mentioning names); there are some People that have distinguished themselves as Stars;

• They DON’T LIVE the same life like every other Person;
• They WATCH what they EAT;
• They WATCH what they DRINK;
• They WATCH when they WAKE UP;
• They WATCH when they SLEEP;

… I mean, their life is not like every other Person.

And that is what God also wants us to do – as LIGHT.

When we look at the life of JESUS; as the Bright and Morning Star;

• A Man that was HUMBLE;
• A Man that was PRAYERFUL;
• A Man that was FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT.

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

As Youths and Young Adults, I am trusting the Lord that after this Convention – As a matter of fact, before this Convention is over or you finished reading this Message on the Label of DMC: God is Raising up STARS, in the Mighty Name of Jesus – Amen!

1. You are supposed to WATCH the COMPANY YOU KEEP.

In the Book of Proverbs 13:20, it says: “He that walketh with Wise men shall be wise: but a companion of Fools shall be destroyed.”

For those Youths and Young Adults that are watching out there or reading this now on the Label of DMC – You want to be a STAR? Then WATCH the Company you keep.

It is written in 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what Fellowship hath Righteousness with Unrighteousness? and what Communion hath light with darkness?”

You cannot desire to be a STAR, and not WATCH the kind of People that you HANG OUT WITH.

I said, by Law of Relationship: “You become who you stay with, over time!”

There is this story in the Book of 2 Samuel 13:3.

We read about two (2) men called Jonadab and Amnon. The Bible says:

“But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.”

… and Jonadab was a very SUBTIL man!

Amnon wanted to sleep with his sister, Tamar but he did not know how to go about it. And so, he had a friend called Jonadab;

So Jonadab asked him: As a son of a King, why are you like this?

He said, I love my sister Tamar!

Then Jonadab gave him an advice; and he (Amnon) carried out the instruction.

No wonder, in the Book of Proverbs 1:10, the Bible says: “My son, if sinners entice thee, CONSENT THOU NOT”.

Do you want to be a STAR? – Then WATCH your Company!

It was the Counsel that Jonadab gave to Amnon that cut his life short because he was KILLED by Absalom (his brother).

Jonadab was a very SUBTIL man!

His Association with Amnon caused the latter’s untimely death.

As a matter of fact, in the Book of 2 Samuel 13:32-33, the Bible says that it was even Jonadab that announced the death of Amnon.

Beloved, who are your friends?

How can you be a STAR? – Because of your Association with the Bright and Morning Star as Youths and Young Adults.

2. We need to Live a SANCTIFIED Life.

A life that is SET APART for God! A life that is DEDICATED to God.

In the Book of John 14:30 (Paraphrased) Jesus speaking, He said: “For the Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

As the Bright and Morning Star, He was STAINLESS – There was no STAIN in Him.

So, if we want to pattern our life in Him, as Youths and Young Adults that we are;

Then we need to live a SANCTIFIED Life.

There was this man that lived like Jesus in the Book of Daniel 6:4 – Talking about the man called Daniel.

All the Princes of that land wanted to nail Daniel – So they tried if they could get a fault in him.

But the Bible says, there was NONE!

They couldn’t find any fault against Daniel.

Beloved Youths, to be a Star – in Association with the Bright and Morning Star, you have to live a SANCTIFIED LIFE.

3. The other attribute that will make you a Star is: To Live a Life that LOVES SOUL WINNING.

In the Book of Daniel 12:3, the Bible says: “And they that be Wise shall Shine as the Brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

… And they that turn many to Righteousness as the STARS for ever and ever.

Jesus was given to SOUL WINNING.

He said in John 9:4:

“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

As the Bright and Morning Star, the moment He comes into your life: The ability to WIN SOULS; the hunger for Souls will come upon you.

And that is what the Scripture says in Daniel 12:3B – It says those that win souls will SHINE forever!

The devil was full of Pride, and the Bible calls him: A FALLEN STAR – fallen from Heaven.

Beloved Youth and Young Adult, there is a story of a man called Samson.

Samson was heavily Anointed of God:

• He was supposed to be a STAR in his Generation;
• He was supposed to Pattern his life according to the dictates of God.

But Samson was CARELESS with his life, that he LOST Purpose.

The Spirit of God would come upon Samson, He will lift a gate and command Exploits!

In another Chapter, you will see Samson go and do something that will annoy the Holy Spirit.

He kept on doing it, until a time came that the Holy Spirit could not condone that any more!

.. And what happened?

In Judges 16:20, the Bible says: “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”

The Bible says: He not know that the Spirit of the LORD had departed from him.

Beloved Youth and Young Adult, to get to the Point where God has created you to be a Star:

There are certain Qualities you must Possess.

There are certain Prices that you have to Pay.

… And these are the Prices that we have talked about.

• You must be Holy;
• You must live a Sanctified life;
• And a life that is given to Soul Winning.

Jesus is a man who lived a life of Purpose.

Jesus is the man who lived His life from the world go, He knew what He was supposed to do.

• Why are you LIVING?
• Why are you HERE?

Youths and Young Adults, are Stars meant to SHINE; wherever we are: In our Career, anywhere we find ourselves.

… We are supposed to REPRESENT JESUS.

Romans 8:19 says: “For the Earnest Expectation of the Creature waiteth for the Manifestation of the sons of God.”

God is expecting us to TAKE CHARGE;

God is expecting us to RULE in our world as stars that we are.

Stars are appreciated in the DARK.

I heard one (1) of the Speakers talking about the RELEVANCE of SALT: Salt is meant to PRESERVE.

And so, as Stars; we are supposed to SHINE in the midst of darkness.

And that is what the Lord is saying; Stars are appreciated in DARKNESS.

In Places where Light is not appreciated, when we see a Child of God that is functioning in that regard; you begin to Command Exploits.

Nigeria and the world at large need You! Nigeria and the world at large need STARS

People that will Pattern their lives according to the dictates of God.

In the Book of John 1:5, the Bible says: “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

What are you supposed to RUN AWAY FROM, as Stars?

… That is YOUTHFUL LUST!

The Bible enjoins us to run away from Youthful Lust.

The Bible enjoins us to live a life of Purity, a life of holiness, a lift that will give God Praise.

A life that is a Reference Point; that when People looks at us, they will know that: Yes; just like they said concerning Peter and John: These ones have been with Jesus Christ.

In case there is someone there or reading this Message on the Label of DMC, you have searched your life; and your life is Purposeless, there is no Clarity of Purpose, there is Nothing that speaks about Direction in your life.

When the Bright and Morning Star comes into your life, everything will begin to take Shape.

In the Book of Genesis 1:2-3, the Bible says:

“And the Earth was without Form, and Void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

When that LIGHT enters a man’s life, everything will begin to take Shape.

When that LIGHT enters a man’s life, darkness will be Dispelled.

And everything that does not have meaning will begin to have meaning.

The Bible talks about Jesus in the Book of Matthew 2:2.

It says: The People looked at His Star and they said; we have SEEN His Star!

… That is DIRECTION!

For those People that have lost Purpose; you have lost Direction; you don’t know where to turn to – Whether to the right or to the left – When the Bright and Morning Star enters into your life, everything will take SHAPE!

ALTAR CALL

I encourage us – As many as are watching all over the Globe or reading now on the Label of DMC: Jesus cannot come into your life and your life is LESS THAN A STAR.

Jesus cannot come into your life and your life will not have MEANING.

Wherever you are, you are saying – Man of God, I have looked into my life; I need Clarity of Purpose, I need Direction.

I like you to Please, say this PRAYER after me (with the whole of your heart). You can put your hand on your chest and say:

LORD JESUS, I come unto You just as I am. Forgive me all my sins; and come into my life and change me. Write my name in the “Book of Life”. I am born Again, my sins are forgiven.

… In JESUS’ Name – Amen!

In conclusion:

1. God expects us to RULE our world;
2. God expects us to be that LIGHT.

The Bible says in Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, Shine; for thy light is come, and the Glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”

I am believing God so strongly that, before the end of this Virtual Convention; God will RAISE Wonderful Stars that will begin to command exploit in ALL their life’s endeavour, in the Mighty Name of Jesus – Amen!

Thank You Precious Father.

In Jesus’ Name we have Prayed – Amen!

CLOSING PRAYER

Eternal Father, we Thank You!

We Love You because You have loved us!

We Thank You for the Gift that Lord, You have given unto us – in Person of JESUS!

Thank You for the Spirit that is in the life of Jesus; that is found in our lives by extension.

Lord, we Pray; Grace to begin to MANIFEST that Light, we receive in Jesus’ Name!

Help us to be LIGHT; help us to be STARS; to begin to COMMAND Exploits, in the Name of JESUS.

Thank You Holy Spirit; in Jesus’ Name we have Prayed – Amen!

If you know God has Blessed you, shout Hallelujah – HALLELUJAH!

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