FRUITFULNESS: PASTOR MENSA OTABIL – 2020/2021 CROSSOVER SERVICE, THURSDAY 31ST DECEMBER, 2020
2020/2021 CROSSOVER SERVICE BY DR. MENSAH OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) ACCRA, GHANA)
TOPIC: FRUITFULNESS
DATE: 31ST DECEMBER, 2020
TEXT: PSALMS 46:1-5 AND GENESIS 8:18-22
Tonight is the night of nights.
Tonight we are Privileged by God’s Grace, not only to live through a Year, but to live through the Most Turbulent Year of our living memories.
Many People from this day will call this Year (2020) as one of the Most Unusual Years of our lifetime; and we have lived through it, and we have survived!
And we give God the Praise and the Glory and the Honour for Pulling us through and bringing us through.
And if He has done it for us in 2020, He will do it for us in 2021 – Amen.
… Somebody shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
Psalms 46: 1-5 (NKJV) will be my Opening Scriptures:
1 God is our refuge and Strength, A very Present Help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the Earth be removed, And though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the Mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the City of God, The Holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
I will read the Verse 5 again:
“God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”
… JUST AT THE BREAK OF DAWN!
You will be moved, God will help you – “Just at the break of Dawn.”
In just about fifty seven (57) Minutes from now, we will be ushering in a Brand New Year!
And today, as we wait for the BREAK OF DAWN of a New Day and of a New Year; we are confident that God is our Refuge and Strength; and He will help us at the BREAKING OF DAWN.
Last Year, about this time, we gathered to Thank God and to seek His face for this Year that we are ending. We entrusted ourselves into His Hands.
… And the time we gathered, Coronavirus was a very distant word in China Land.
We had no expectation that it will so impact our world and our lives so profoundly, as it has done!
But when we gathered, without any sense of future; we still trusted God and we Thank God who kept us in 2020.
The third (3rd) stanza of the hymn: AMAZING GRACE says:
“Through many dangers, toils and snares;
I have already come,
‘Tis Grace has brought me safe thus far,
And Grace will lead me home.
… GRACE has brought us thus FAR; and Grace will lead us on.
The same Grace that brought us through 2020 will be the same Grace that takes us through 2021 – Amen.
Through many dangers, toils and snares, we have come and we will continue to move on!
We are convinced that God has already gone ahead of us in 2021; He has made a way for us in the Year and throughout the Year – Amen.
This year (2020) we have experienced God Personally.
And I’m sure each one of us has a story to tell because generally, each Year is mixed of events.
Sometimes, the events weigh heavily towards one side of Happiness; and other times; one side of Sadness.
For some of us, 2020 has been the BEST of times! For others, it is the worst of times. And for still others, it is a MIX of both.
There are People reading this message today on the label of DMC who have gone through the Valley of the Shadow of death; some have been hurt, you have been wounded, you have been knocked down, gone through sickness, buried loved ones, had to say goodbye to acquaintances.
Some of you have been left alone, heart has been broken. And there are those who said you will not make it because of all that has happened to you this Year.
But in spite of ALL the stuff that you have been through, you can stand and still say “I AM HERE!”
… Somebody say: “I AM HERE!”
Being ‘HERE’ means God is not FINISHED with you. It is Grace that has brought you this FAR, and Grace will lead you ON.
And then, there are those People who looked back at this Year and rejoice for ALL the Good things that has happened to them.
For some People; this is the Year they found God and got Born Again. Some People have experienced the Power of God in Unusual ways.
Some have gotten HEALED, some have encountered an accident and they are still alive. Some got a job this year, some were infected by the virus and recovered.
Some gained Promotion on the job, some built a house for the first time! Some bought their first Car, some landed a Big Career breakthrough. Some got married in the midst of ALL the lockdown, some had their child (children) this Year 2020.
For those People also who rejoiced in 2020, God is not finished with you – Grace has brought you this FAR, and Grace will take you ON.
The same Grace that gave you a Good Year in 2020, will give you a BETTER Year in 2021 – Amen
So, for whatever your story tonight; as we gather to say GOODBYE to this momentous Year called 2020, we can all agree that GOD IS GOOD.
And we can all say: To God be the Glory, Great Things He has done!
Somebody say: “TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.”
“Through many dangers, toils and snares; God has been with us.”
From everlasting to everlasting the Name of the Lord is to be Praised!
And so today, we have gathered as God’s children – From our homes, in the Presence of the Lord or reading on the label of DMC: to give THANKS.
And so, we give THANKS TO YOU OH LORD: in all the Pains and sorrows of 2020 – Lord we give You Thanks!
In all the uncertainties and all the worries of 2020 – Lord will give You Thanks!
In all our trials and tribulations in 2020, Lord we give You Thanks!.
In all our Joys and our laughter, Lord we give You Thanks!
For all the Miracles and the Deliverances of 2020, Lord we give You Thanks!
For all the Victories and Achievements of 2020, Lord we give You Thanks!
If this is your Testimony, and you can give Thanks to the Lord; why don’t you clap your hands and shout to God with a voice of Triumph!
You can also listen to the audio here: Fruitfulness – Pastor Mensa Otabil
We give Thanks when we are sad and we give Thanks when we are excited; We give Thanks when there are tears in our eyes and we give Thanks when laughter feels our lips.
We Thank God because He is God all by Himself; and He keeps us and He watches over us. And we Thank Him for everything that we have gone through and we Honour Him for everything that we have gone through; because it is in THANKSGIVING that we see the Glory and the Power and the Majesty of the LORD.
… So we give You THANKS LORD!
Next year 2021 by this time, we will gather again and we will Thank the Lord again.
I said: Next year 2021 by this time, we will gather again and we will THANK THE LORD AGAIN.
If you believe that, why don’t you say Amen to that – Amen!
Oh, shout a Mighty Amen to that – AMEN!
For the Past forty (40) Years as a Pastor and as a Christian Leader; I have led People into the New Year. I have been conducting Services like this for forty (40) Years.
It is one of the most Sacred Duties I have as a Pastor; and I don’t take this lightly at all – Leading People into a New Year.
Because the New Year is Heavy Duty; and we can’t take it lightly! We can’t enter haphazardly – We have to enter Consciously, Deliberately and by Faith.
And that is why I take this moment very seriously because I know you take it seriously too. Because your hopes are tied to Next Year.
And you have no idea what is coming – but you are facing it.
I take it so seriously, that I start Planning for this event around the Month of July – when we are having our Prayer and Fasting – That was when I started Planning for this night.
So what we do here didn’t just start tonight; it started long ago; as we Prayed and sought the face of the Lord as to which direction He would want us to go.
Because by July, you have actually lived much of the Year – You have crossed more than half.
Now you have to think of the New one coming.
And each Year I spend time Praying to God to give me a sense, an idea of what we should be doing.
… And that is where the Theme for the Year comes!
In 2020 our THEME has been ‘EXCELLENT’.
And in the midst of Covid, the Lord had helped us to EXCEL and rise Above every limitations.
So the Year of EXCELLENCE is coming to an end but our Spirit of Excellence is not ending and an Attitude of Excellence is not ending.
So, don’t throw EXCELLENCE away with 2020. We will still have to be EXCELLENT.
In 2021, our THEME is FRUITFULNESS.
… I love that: FRUITFULNESS!
By the middle of 2020 when we started Praying during the forty (40) days of Power.
I just knew that is what God was whispering into my heart.
And so I was quite certain that we are going to have a year of FRUITFULNESS.
WHAT IS FRUITFULNESS?
Fruitfulness is the action or the Process of bearing fruit or being abundantly Productive.
Fruitfulness is simply to be FULL of fruit; bearing Spiritual Fruits; being Creative with our Ideas and bringing things into being. And increasing ABUNDANTLY on every sides.
And to help us to situate this concept of Fruitfulness into our Present-day situation; I’m going to take you to the Book of Genesis.
In Genesis 8:18-22 – It is a story about Noah.
You know the story of Noah?
One fine day, he heard an instruction from God to go and build an Ark; because there was going to be Rain.
And he was supposed to convince People to go into the Ark!
Noah spent about one hundred and twenty (120) Years on that endeavour: Preaching, Warning, Building an Ark.
When the time came, nobody joined him except the animals and his family members.
So, he goes to the Ark with himself and his wife, his three (3) sons and their wives – Eight (8) people! And animals in Pairs.
And then the rain started – A deluge of rain! Water from above and water from beneath overwhelmed the Earth, and everything that had been built was destroyed.
If you read the Bible Prior to Noah, how the world was in a state of Industrial Development. Metal Works were being done; Musical Products were being developed, Animal Husbandry, Buildings.
It seemed as if so much was happening in the world: Schools have been built, great things were happening!
And then all of a sudden, the flood comes and wipes everything away.
Everything! – Buildings gone, Technology destroyed, Teachers destroyed.
How do you start your world after everything is gone? – Devastations!
So, Noah comes out of the Ark, and he makes an offering and God speaks to him.
And I want us to watch what God speaks to him – Genesis 8:18-22 (NKJV):
18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him.
19 Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the Earth, according to their families, went out of the ark.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the Altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his Youth; nor will I again destroy every living things as I have done.
22 “While the Earth remains, Seedtime and Harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”
Tonight we are like those who stepped out of the Ark after the flood;
I am aware that the danger of the coronavirus has not fully Passed. We still have to maintain our vigilance, Protect ourselves from infections, keep Protocols.
However, every Human Being who lives through 2020 – Stepping out of one of the devastating years in our modern life; the effect will not end this Year; it will continue to 2021 and for many Years, because so much has gone wrong.
So after they emerged from the Ark WHAT IS NOAH TO DO?
… When he sees all the devastations!
Yes, he has his wife, he has his sons; but he had Cousins, he Probably had brothers and sisters and friends who were all gone.
You don’t just Rejoice because you survived; you also look at all the losses that had taken Place.
…But Noah’s attitude was Thanksgiving!
So, when he stepped out of the Ark, in spite of ALL that has been lost, he made a Sacrifice to God.
And that is why at the end of every Year, in spite of everything that has happened, we still Sacrifice to God and we THANK HIM, and we HONOUR HIM.
… It is Part of why we are here at the Crossover Service.
After the Lord received Noah’s Thanksgiving, He gave him a Promise and a Sign – A RAINBOW!
And then He told him that: While the Earth remains there will be Seedtime and Harvest.
Then later on in Genesis 9:7, God is still speaking to Noah.
And this is what he said: “And as for you, be Fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the Earth And multiply in it.”
I don’t know about you but I like the Phrase “AS FOR YOU”.
It means, even if nothing is Fruitful; as for you, you must be Fruitful – AMEN!
That is the word that God wants to give us in the YEAR OF FRUITFULNESS: We don’t know what 2021 will upload on the Earth, but as for us we would be Fruitful – Amen.
Covid may still be around and it may still be wrecking some havoc, but as for us, we would be Fruitful.
Some Businesses may fold up and we may hear some News in the Business World that would chill our heart, but as for us, we will be Fruitful.
Somebody say: “As for me, I will be FRUITFUL!”
- And even though we don’t have all the Resources we need, as for us we would be Fruitful.
- And even though People may try to pull us down, as for us we would be Fruitful.
- And even though evil spirits and evil people may hate us, has for us, we would be Fruitful.
- And even though many People may be complaining around us, as for us, we would be Fruitful.
- And even though Economy of Nations will be in crisis, as for us, we would be Fruitful.
… Somebody say: “As for me, I would be FRUITFUL”.
That is what God said to Noah – There is devastation, you don’t see anything happening. But as for you Noah: don’t go about complaining, BE FRUITFUL!
So, today, I tell you that there will be tough times in 2021, but as for you, you would be Fruitful.
- You will face challenges in 2021, but as for you, you would be Fruitful.
- You may hear things that scare you, but as for you, you must be Fruitful.
In the mountain, we will be Fruitful; in the Valley, we will be Fruitful; in Dry Season, we will be Fruitful; in Raining Season, we will be Fruitful.
… Because, as for us, we would be FRUITFUL.
Though a lot has been lost, as for you; you are going to be Fruitful.
… And I see you becoming Fruitful – Amen.
I see you bearing Fruit on every sides; I see you becoming Productive; I see things coming against you and you breaking through them – Amen!
I see you standing Tall and defiling the circumstances of life! – Life will not whip you, life will not put you down, life will not destroy you – Amen.
… As for you, you will be FRUITFUL.
Today we are like Noah – We have stepped out of the Ark into a devastating world.
All around we see evidence of destabilization; but the Lord says to you: As for you, BE FRUITFUL!
He said to Noah: You came from the Ark, don’t hide in the ark, don’t spend the rest of your life hiding. You have to come out of the Ark and be FRUITFUL.
So how did NOAH RESPOND to this CHALLENGE from God?
… This challenge from God which doesn’t seems to respect his troubles!
God says: Noah, no matter what has happened, as for you, all I want from you is to be FRUITFUL.
Genesis 9:20, this is what it says: “And Noah began to be a farmer, and he Planted a Vineyard”.
Why? – Because God says be FRUITFUL.
- And Noah began to be a Farmer.
He understood that FRUITFULNESS requires that he has to do something
I like the word ‘BEGAN.’ “… he began to do it.” He started!
Why does the Bible say “he BEGAN TO BE A FARMER?”
Because Prior to that, all that he has been doing is building an Ark. He was not a Farmer – All he knows is building an Ark.
He has been doing it for one hundred and twenty (120) Years; he has been a Preacher for one hundred and twenty (120) Years.
… That is all he knows!
Now, there is nobody to Preach to (laughing)!
Everybody is gone – Only his wife and children left. And I’m sure he has Preached all his Sermons to them.
… The animals are not going to listen to him anyway!
There is no Carpentry.
So, he began something NEW: Something he hasn’t done before, something he was not familiar with, something that was not in his Previous life; he began to do it
So, I challenge you in the year of FRUITFULNESS; you will begin to do something FRUITFUL.
He couldn’t go on and live all his life in the Ark, and say: Well, this is my Safe Place. I’m going to live for the rest of my life in the Ark!
He had to resume his life.
And I tell each one of you reading this on the Label and DMC; it’s time to come out of the Ark and resume your life! It is time to resume your schedule, it is time to resume going to Church (in Person).
Come out of the Ark because we have to Begin.
If you believe God has called you to be Fruitful: Begin the Process, Begin Again
- You were knocked down, but get up and begin!
- Your Business collapsed, get up and begin!
- You lost your Investment, get up and begin.
- Something didn’t work, get up and begin.
… Don’t just stay and complain and blame Covid-19!
Noah BEGAN! – He had to learn a New Skill; he had to start a New Process; he had to do something he hadn’t done before!
If it means beginning to go to School again – Go; Learning a New Trade? – Learn it; Learning a New Skill – Learn it; Reading something New? – Read it.
… But don’t sit down and complain.
You are too talented to complain; you are too loaded to complain.
Everybody has an excuse to fail; but refuse that excuse!
- Even if you feel: “I’m sick” – As for you, you would be Fruitful.
- “People have disappointed me” – As for you, you would be Fruitful.
That is what God said to Noah; in spite of everything that has happened – As for you, all I want from you Mr. Noah, is to be Fruitful.
… So he began to be a Farmer.
- And the Second (2nd) thing is that HE PLANTED A VINEYARD.
He understood that FRUITFULNESS requires PLANTING something.
Plant your Vineyard, Plant your Dream, Plant your Will of God, Plant your Fields.
God will construct New Things in your life and He will Repair things that need to be repaired – Amen.
In 2021, may God help you to build New Things in your life – Amen!
May you Plant again, may you Build again, may you Repair again, may you be Restore – Amen!
A building may not take a day to accomplish; but you have to begin.
And many of us have things we need to build – Such as our Marriage; it needs to be built or repaired; Children need to be built and repaired; Careers need to be built and repaired; Finances needs building and repairing.
In the YEAR of FRUITFULNESS: May we be like Noah – We are going to BEGIN!
Maybe you have been successful in 2020, begin something NEW. Don’t just hold on to your success and Glorify God for 2020 because 2021 is not 2020.
And just like we were Shocked in 2020, you have no idea what 2021 will bring.
But whatever it is bringing: Mr. 2021, whatever you are bringing – As for us, we would be FRUITFUL.
Whatever the world will go through, as for us we will be FRUITFUL; we will begin AFRESH; we would Plant and we will PROSPER – Amen.
As we enter the New Year, may the Lord make you FRUITFUL – Amen; may the Lord cause you to INCREASE – Amen; may the Lord cause you to ABOUND in everything – Amen.
If you are down, you will RISE – Amen; if you are weeping you will LAUGH – Amen; if you were mocked, you will be CELEBRATED – Amen; if you were confused, you will have CLARITY – Amen.
If in 2020 everything left, everything is coming back to you in 2021; because as for you, you would be FRUITFUL.
We refuse not to be Fruitful and we will be FRUITFUL at EVERY LEVEL – We will be Fruitful Spiritually (by the Fruits of the Spirit); we will be Fruitful with our IDEAS; we will be Fruitful with the Fruits of the womb; we will be Fruitful with the work of our hands; we will be Fruitful at EVERY LEVEL – Amen.
Whatever FRUIT you need, may God make you FRUITFUL – Amen. And may the Lord cause you to be FRUITFUL – Amen.
Maybe you have tried and tried and tried and it had not worked. But in 2021 as for you, you would be FRUITFUL – Amen.
That is the Word I have in my heart to bring to you that God has for you – You will be FRUITFUL.
As God said to Noah, he says to you today: AS FOR YOU YOU WILL BE FRUITFUL – Amen, Amen and Amen.
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