REDEEMING THE TIME: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE – RCCG SOLEMN ASSEMBLY 2021, DAY 1

DAY 1: RCCG SOLEMN ASSEMBLY 2021

THEME: REDEEMING THE TIME

MINISTERING: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

DATE: 28TH FEBRUARY, 2021

BIBLE TEXT: EPHESIANS 5: 15-17

SPECIAL SONG: I’ll Live for Jesus Day after Day.

PRAYER: Prayer of Thanksgiving

Let someone shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!

You are blessed in Jesus Name – Amen.

In the Redeemed Christian Church of God; there are various categories of Meetings – Workers Meeting, Ministers’ Conference, Holy Ghost Service, Holy Ghost Congress and then the Solemn Assembly.

The Solemn Assembly is the deepest of all the Programs.

It is called Solemn Assembly for a reason – It is the Gathering together of those who really wants to go deep about the Knowledge of God.

It is called Solemn Assembly – Deep Sermons.

That is why we just use our Voice only.

The People that come for Solemn Assembly come for extremely serious business.

It is not Voluntary for all Pastors – No Rules or Regulations, No Punishments for coming late – You can come in and go out at Will. It is for those who chooses to come.

In the Past, we don’t allow Live Broadcast, no Selling of Tapes etc – According to Matthew7:6 – Give not that which is Holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your Pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

But this Year we will Broadcast it Live for two (2) reasons:

1. The situation in the world won’t allow People to come to gather in large numbers.
2. We have decided to make this as a Special Anniversary Gift to anyone who wants to join in.

Because of its Nature; this is not a Meeting that you will want to chat with your neighbours.

Any moment from now; it will be Silence until we finished it on Wednesday, 3rd of March 2021 – Day 4 as this is not a Social Gathering.

Bible Text: Ephesians 5: 15-17:

15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise
16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

The Theme for this Year Solemn Assembly is: REDEEMING THE TIME.

Because it has to do with something called Time.

Time is a very Strange Thing – One of those things that you think that you know but you don’t know.

But when I asked you: What is Time?

You will say: Time is what is measured in Hours, Minutes and Seconds.

Time is a fragment of Eternity – I said that is Great.

But what is Eternity? – Time without End!

So what is Time? – Time is a fragment of Eternity. Meaning Time is without End.

What is Time?

We are dealing with a Topic which is extremely big.

So, since you should be clear to all – Time is something that only God can handle.

No matter how hard you Prayed; you cannot bring back Year 2020.

But as we discuss; Time has something to do with Life, Opportunities etc.

So, how do we Redeem Time?

So, we will start tonight by defining something called Faith.

When we say: What is Faith?

Theologians tell you many beautiful things about Faith – And they may leave you very confused.

I discussed Faith with my children some days ago during one the Open Heavens Study time.

According to Hebrews 11:6 – But without Faith it is impossible to Please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Basically, Faith means:

1. I know that there is a God.

It is not just hearing but knowing that there is God.

Isaiah 40:28 – Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the Earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Job 19:25 – For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth:

There is a difference between I hear that there is God and I know that there is God.

For example: Matthew 1:21 – And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His People from their sins.

Jesus is the Saviour – Many People all over the world has heard that Jesus is the Saviour but only a few can say I know He is the Saviour.

How do you know? – Because He has saved me.

How do I know that He is a Saviour – 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Adeboye (The DMC Family); how do you know He is a Saviour?

He saved me (us) because the one talking to you (Whose Label you are reading on: DMC) is not what He used to be.

Some People may Pretend to be saved but are not. The world itself will know if you have experienced the Saviour.

So, Faith means that I know there is God!

2. I know that this God is a Rewarder – Hebrew 6:10.

“But without Faith it is impossible to Please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

He does not forget your Labour of Love.

I know that according to Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

I know that it is written in Revelation 22:12 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

3. God is interested in Diligence.

… He is a Rewarder in those who diligently seek Him.

He has no Pleasure in Laziness at all – Proverbs 12:24 says: The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 22:29 says: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

He Himself is the King of Kings – If you want to stand before Him, you must be diligent.

4. I know that He is keenly interested in those who seek Him.

Psalms 34:10 says: The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Particularly, those who seek Him early – Not those who seek Him when the day is almost gone.

Proverbs 8:17 – I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

So, you put all those things together – Faith actually means: Willingness to take the first step before God shows you the Second step because I know that He exits I know that He is Rewarder – Rewards Diligence, those who seek Him.

Matthew 14: 23-29; He says that you must come out of the boat first before you can walk on the water.

Before Peter sink; he walked on water.

That brings me to the next thing: Issue of Hearkening.

Because in Romans 10:17; the Bible says: Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

But not merely hearing; but Hearkening!

Hearkening means you hear diligently!

You can hear casually.

In Genesis 49:2; when Israel was about to die. He gathered his children together and said: Ye sons of Israel hear me; ye sons of Israel hearken.

Was he saying the same thing? – No!

In Exodus 15:26; the Word of God says: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Hearken oh, not just hear!

In Deuteronomy 28: 1-2; again He said:

1. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all Nations of the Earth:
2. And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

For those who has not heard; I gave an Illustration – When I was at Ilesha Grammar School; I had a Teacher. Whenever examination is coming; he will call us for Revision. As he will be revising with us, we ask questions and he answers them and he explains in details.

Every questions he explained is what he will ask in the Examination.

When he is teaching; we hear; when he is revising we hearken – Any question in the Revision, we will meet in the Examination.

Hearken this week, don’t just hear!

Then something else about our God is that: He is the God of Individuals.

Even when twins are born, they are born one at a time.

Genesis 25: 21-26 – When Esau and Jacob were to be born; one came first and the other later.

So you hear in John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son and whosoever believeth in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life.

Revelations 3:20 says: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

So, the Solemn Assembly is for an Individual. When we come; it is not for us as a Group.

If you look at the Theme Song that we sang: I’ll love my Jesus, with all my Soul; I’ll seek Jesus, with all my heart.

It is “I” and “My” all the way.

In Psalms 27:8; David said: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

In Psalms 108:1; David said: O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my Glory.

Then another important thing you need to know: I know that above all things God is Holy.

Isaiah 6: 1-3:

1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the Temple.
2. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of Hosts: the whole Earth is full of His Glory.

This is why He is Completely Reliable.

In Numbers 23:19 says: God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall he not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall he not make it Good?

Psalms 119:89 says: For ever, O LORD, thy Word is settled in Heaven.

But then I also know that He is Sovereign.

Psalms 115:3 says: But our God is in the Heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath Pleased.

So, He reserves the Right to Change His Mind.

1 Samuel 2:30 says: Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Which is why I need you to come before Him for a Check Up.

Which is the Real Purpose of Solemn Assembly

In 2 Corinthians 13:5; the Bible says I am to examine myself if I am still in the Faith.

Have I Changed since last Year; am I still in Good Standing with God.

If they say I should examine myself – If you ask a Student to mark his scripts; he will score Himself one hundred Percent (100%).

And the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:10 – He who thinks He stands takes heeds less he falls.

Ephesians 5:14 says: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

How am I sure that I’m not asleep; something in me that that needed to deal with.

Matthew 25: 1-6 says that even the Wise Virgins fell asleep.

But I know something again about God; I know God is Merciful.

Ephesians 2:4 says: But God, who is rich in Mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us.

Even though Romans 9: 15-16; He says I will be Merciful on whom I will have Mercy.

Romans 5:8 says: But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

And I know that He answers Prayers.

Psalms 65:2 says: O thou that hearest Prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

He hears Prayers and Promise to answer – Jeremiah 33:3; He says: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

I know that He will answer Particularly the cry of Mercy – Luke 18: 9-14.

So what is the Conclusions – I am here to ask God for Mercy, Faith, Divine Overhauling Check Up.

In Isaiah 6: 1-8; when Isaiah saw God, then he looked at himself and said: Woe unto me.

I am here this week to call on Him!

I’m still making that appeal – Tell Him the following areas you need to Check Up.

But in the meantime; go to God tonight – Spend Quality Time with Him. Open me Up, show me areas to adjust, do overhauling, reveal areas in my Life where I still need Help.

If the Lord tarries, I will see you tomorrow (Monday 1st of March, 2021 by 4pm and 8pm).

If He arrives before tomorrow, we will see in Heaven.

This is an Exclusive Right of Coverage of DMC – And we will frown at deliberate act of removal of the Source of the work.

COMPILATION BY

MOSES DURODOLA, TITILAYOMI AJAYI AND TOPE BABALOLA