SPECIAL RCCG ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE – TOPIC: FROM LOCKDOWN TO LEAPING UP – PART 1 – MINISTERING: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

DATE: 14TH JUNE, 2020

BIBLE TEXT: ACTS 3: 1-8

Let us Pray!

SONG

Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain
Glory
Glory Hallelujah, Glory Hallelujah, Glory Hallelujah
Praise the Lord!

Jesus, Jesus is the Lamb
Jesus, Jesus is the Lamb
Jesus, Jesus is the Lamb that was Slain
Glory
Glory Hallelujah, Glory Hallelujah, Glory Hallelujah
Praise the Lord!

OPENING PRAYER

Father Almighty, we want to bless Your Name once again for the Salvation of our Souls.

We want to give You all Glory and Honour for everything that You have done for us in the Past; we want to Thank You because You are the Almighty God – You are the Lord of Host and You have never lost a War.

We give You Glory and Honour because we know that You have never been defeated; so You will not be defeated.

Please, accept our Worship in Jesus Name.

We Thank You for Health; we Thank You for Strength; we Thank You for Wisdom; we Thank You for every Blessings; we Thank You Lord God Almighty because we know that as long as You are on Your Throne; all will be well.

So Father, accept our Thanks in Jesus Name.

Today, as Your Word is going forth; we Pray that the Power in Your Words will bring Healings to all those who are sick and will bring Deliverance to all those who are in Captivity.

We Pray that everyone of Your children listening to us today or reading on the Label of DMC will receive “Special Divine Touch” in Jesus Name.

Thank You Almighty God.

In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.

Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Well, we want to Thank the Almighty God that some of us will begin to be able to Gather again from Next Sunday (21st June, 2020).

I believed that some of you are already Gathering in some Parts of the world and we believed that you will now begin to enjoy the Power of “Corporate Prayers” once again.

But as you Gather together in all those Places where you are free to Gather; Please remember those of us who cannot Gather with you yet because People like me and my wife cannot Gather with you in Lagos State (A State in Nigeria) because we are over sixty five (65) Years of age. My grandchildren cannot Gather with you yet because they are under fifteen (15) Years of age.

So, remember us in Prayers; so that very soon we will be able to join you.

And now; keep Praying now that you are able to Pray together Corporately.

I am sure that your Prayers will be far, far more effective against this Plague – So that very soon, all will be well.

For those of you who are still at home; I think I will be reaching out to you again for a couple of weeks more!

For those of you who can Gather together; now your Pastors can go back to their Assignments – If they still want to join those of us who are still lockdown; they are Welcome of course!

We are going to look at Acts of The Apostles Chapter 3 from Verses 1 to 8 (Acts 3: 1-8).

And I will be talking on: From Lockdown to Leaping Up and it will be in Series. So this will be Part 1.

BIBLE TEXT: ACTS 3:1-8

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the Hour of Prayer, being the Ninth Hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the Temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and Gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the Temple, Walking, and Leaping, and Praising God.

My Prayers for everyone of you listening to us today or reading on the Label of DMC now is that very soon: YOU WILL MOVE FROM LOCKDOWN TO LEAPING UP IN JESUS NAME – AMEN!

Man is born free but he is everywhere in Chains – Was what one (1) Great Philosopher said.

The hunger for Freedom is on intense in a Man that any opportunity they have to be free; they will grab it!

For example: In Mark 5: 2-4; in the Story of the Mad Man of Gadara – As mad as he was, he wanted to be free.

The Bible said that even though he was chained by fetters of iron, he will plucked the fetters of iron because he wanted to be free.

… Every Man has a deep hunger for Freedom!

Now, there is something worst than Physical Lockdown – You will found out that one of the biggest Punishment that you can give to a Criminal is to lock him down in Prison.

But there is something worst than Physical lockdown and that is Mental Lockdown!

… And of course, the worst of them all is the Spiritual Lockdown.

For example: Let us take the example of Adam.

Adam was a very “Strong Man” according to Genesis 2: 7-15 – The Bible tells us that he was the one given the assignment of Dressing the Garden of Eden.

And the Garden of Eden if you study your Bible very well was a very Big Garden.

If we are to believed Bible Scholars; that Garden is bigger than Lagos State (A State in Nigeria) – But yet; only one Man was put in Charge.

But he wasn’t just Strong Physically; he was Strong Intellectually.

When you read Genesis 2: 19-20; you will discovered that he was the one who named all the animals, all birds – All animals of all types.

I mean this Man was Probably the Greatest Professor of Zoology.

But when he sinned; he was lockdown Mentally – With all his Mental Abilities, he became Practically a Vagabond!

So, I want to talk to you a little bit about: The Problems with Mental Lockdown because if someone is Mentally Lockdown; a lot of terrible things could happen to such a fellow.

And how do we know that something is wrong Mentally? – That someone is Mentally Lockdown?

Well, one of the Ways we can know is that the Person will begin to regard the Routine as if that is the Normal even though the Routine might be far, far from the best!

But having been Lockdown Mentally; the fellow is going to begin to treat the Routine as if that is the best that could ever happened to him.

For example: In Acts Chapter 3 that we read; if you look at Verses 2 to 3; this Lame Man regarded begging for Alms as the best thing that could ever happened to him – Everyday of his life, he had been a beggar.

So, anytime he saw someone coming; he beg for Alms.

I mean in one (1) Nation of the world; one (1) of the girls in the Church was asked a simple question: What will you like to become when you grow up?

She said: A House Help

Why? – She said because my mother was a House Help and my grandmother was a House Help.

So, as far as she was concerned; the normal thing that she could expect or Hope for is to become a House Help.

So today; I want to ask you to beware of what I will call your “Mental Enemies”

There are certain Enemies that could lock you down Mentally.

And we have to deal with that so that after the Physical Lockdown; by the Special Grace of God you will be able to “Leap Up” Mentally – Amen!

1. Mental Enemy No 1: To be Average!

To be average is the enemy of being Clever.

There are many People who are satisfied with being Average.

When I was a Lecturer in the University; there are students who will say: All I want is Let My People Go.

What that one mean is that: “Just give me ordinary Pass and let me get out of here!”

They never aimed for anything higher.

In 2 Chronicles 1: 6-12; when we talk about Solomon asking God for Wisdom.

There are many at times when some People want to make us believed that it was because Solomon was so dull that the only thing he could ask for when God asked him what he wanted was to ask for Wisdom.

But Solomon wasn’t dull.

As a matter of fact, there was a Statement I remembered very well that our Teachers used to tell us way back in the 1950’s when I was in Ilesha Grammar School in Osun State, Nigeria.

And he will say: He who does not know but knows that he does not know will soon be a Wise Man.

… Meaning the Person is already on the Way to Wisdom.

But then he will say: He who does not know and does not know that he does not know will die a Fool.

Even if Solomon wasn’t Wise; at least he realised that he wasn’t Wise – That is why he got his Way into Wisdom.

And he ended up to become one of the Wisest People who ever lived.

There are many People who are satisfied with what they call “Common Sense” but there is something far, far better than “Ordinary Common Sense”

2. Mental Enemy No 2: What is called Good Enough!

When you think things are okay now – I am okay, things are Good Enough for me, I don’t want to go any higher.

If you accept Good Enough; you may never be Great!

Let me give you an example: Take 1 Kings 19: 19-21. It tells us about the story of Elisha.

Elisha was the son of a very wealthy farmer. If we are to go about the Modern Way of looking at the story; there are twelve (12) Tractors working in the farm of his father and he was the Overseer of them all – He was the one to inherit everything.

So, when you want to talk of Good Enough; Ah that boy could say things are Good Men – I have a lot laid up for me.

If he had settled for that; he will never had become one of the Greatest Prophet that ever lived.

I mean so Great that in 2 Kings 13: 14-21; not only were Kings calling him father; the former son of the farmer could even raise the dead with his dead bones.

Are you saying that things are Good Enough now and so you don’t want to go any higher?

Please, change your Mind and do so immediately.

I have told you the story before of my Head Master way back in 1952.

My Head Master then was what they will call in those days a “Certificated Teacher”.

That means he has been to Saint Andrews Teacher’s Training College at Oyo Town in Oyo State Nigeria.

And Saint Andrews Teacher’s Training College at Oyo Town in Oyo State Nigeria in those days was more or less the University for many People.

In 1952, the then University College of Ibadan in Oyo State Nigeria (Now University of Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria) was a very Young University – Just about four (4) Years old then and very few People even dream of that.

So, to be a Graduate of Saint Andrews Teacher’s Training College at Oyo Town in Oyo State Nigeria – Oh mine, you have arrived.

I could remembered very well the day he came to take up the Job at Ifewara (A Town Osun State in Nigeria); Oh Hunters were there to welcome him with Gun Salute – He was a Big Man.

When an European Man came visiting the Village (Ifewara in Osun State, Nigeria) in those days; he was the one they called to come and interpret – Whether he interpreted correctly or not, who knows?

So, he felt on the Top of the world in 1952.

Then in 1977; I got a letter from him – At that time, I was a Lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State Nigeria.

He wrote to me and said: I heard that you, one of my former students you are now a Lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State, Nigeria.

Could you help me to Gain Admission to the University (UNILAG) to do “Associate Diploma in Education” – Not a Degree Course but a Diploma.

The world left him behind because things were Good Enough in 1952.

By 1977, “Certificated Teacher” does not mean much anymore.

Don’t let Good Enough rob you of Greatness!

3. Mental Enemy No 3: The Greatest Enemy of all is for you to think that you are already Great and you don’t need anything more!

Great is the greatest enemy of Complete.

… You can be Great but Incomplete!

For example: 2 Kings 4: 8-17; the Bible talks about a “Great Woman” of Shunem – She was Great that the Bible said she was Great.

But when the Man of God asked her: What can we do for you?

She said: I don’t need anything more – I am already Great!

… And yet, she was barren!

Great but Incomplete!

I Pray for all of you who are already feeling that you are Great that during this Period; everything else that you need to be Complete the Almighty God will reveal it to you – Amen. And give you the Grace to reach out for it – Amen.

Now from Lockdown to “Leaping Up”; Your Journey begins when:

1.You sense that what you are calling Normal is not Good Enough.

I give an example: Luke 11:1; the Disciples of Jesus Christ were having a “Nice Time”, a “Great Time” with the Lord Jesus Christ there Praying for them.

But these Disciples came to Him and say: Sir, teach us to Pray – We too want to know how to Pray.

The moment you begin to feel Normal, it could better!

2. The moment you become aware things can be much better; your Journey Upwards begins.

For example: You begin to feel that things can be “Much Better” – May be you have known “Better Days”.

In Mark 8: 22-24; the Bible tells us that a man who was blind and they brought him to Jesus Christ.

And when Jesus Christ spit on his eyes and touched him; He asked him: What do you see?

He said: Oh, I see men like trees.

That means that before he became blind; he has seen trees before – Otherwise, how will he be comparing men to trees?

He has known “Better Days” – So, he told the Lord things are not okay yet o. Things are better but I will prefer to see men as men.

When you begin to talk of the “Good Old Days”; you need to Leap Up!

You shouldn’t be talking of the “Good Old Days”; you should be thinking of the “Good New Days”; “Better New Days”.

3. When you become aware that God reserves the Best till the Last; then your Journey Upwards begins.

I mean John 2: 1-11; you know the story of the Wedding in Cana of Galilee and they ran out of wine – You know the story.

They ran out of wine, Jesus Christ changed water to wine.

The Master of Ceremony (MC) said: Oh, everybody served the best wine first but you have reserved the best wine till the last.

That is God’s Pattern – He reserves the Best till the Last!

Consider Abraham in Genesis 24: 34-35; the Bible said that Abraham was Great

But by the time you get to Isaac in Genesis 26: 12-14; the Bible said that Isaac was “Very Great”.

I am sure you heard me crying to the Almighty God – Praying that my children will be Greater than I.

… And that is you listening to me now or reading on the Label of DMC – Amen!

And you are going to be Greater than I – Amen. Whether you believed it or not because God has answered my Prayers – Amen.

I know one of my children said to me: Oh, daddy how can that be?

I mean you Fast at all times, you Pray almost all through all the night – Anyone who wants to be Greater than you oh will Probably don’t eat at all.

I said: Don’t rule out God!

He didn’t stop there; by the time you get to Genesis 30: 27-43 – You will discovered that Jacob was “Exceedingly Great”.

Grand Pa (Abraham) was Great, Pa (Isaac) was “Very Great” and then the son (Jacob) became “Exceedingly Great”.

But it didn’t stop there; when you go down the line; you will found coming out of the same family a fellow called Joseph – Greater than all of them rolled together.

I want to encourage you because just if those of you who are gathering wants to key into our Sermon; they said Sermon should not be longer than thirty (30) Minutes – So, we will make this one to be brief.

I want you to follow my example – You have heard again and again People saying: Glory be to God now we have arrived?

And I keep on telling them: We have not even started.

That should be the Principle guiding your life – Don’t get Mentally Lockdown!

The first (1st) time they told me we have arrived – We had the first (1st) Auditorium. The first (1st) Auditorium was a 100m by 50m Auditorium.

And they said: No, No; this is the biggest in Africa – We have arrived.

I told them that we have not even started.

We kept on expanding, kept on expanding – By the Grace of God because I refused to be tied down Mentally.

Your Prayers today is that the Almighty God will enlarge your Coast – Amen.

That He will sharpen your Vision – Amen.

That from Lockdown, you will soon Leap Up – Amen.

But the Journey to the Top begins on your Knees!

Everyone who has Leapt Up started being on their knees first!

So today, as soon as I close; you go on your knees and cry to the Almighty God – And say: You want to go Up, you are not satisfied with being down.

ALTAR CALL

On your knees also implies to those of you who are yet to surrender your lives to Jesus Christ; you better go on your Knees and cry to Him for the Salvation of your Soul.

You are to kneel down first (1st) at the Foot of the Cross before your Upward Journey can begin

Shall we Please Pray!

So, those of you who are yet to surrender your Life to Jesus Christ; you better go on your knees now and cry unto Him for the Salvation of your Soul.

Fall down at His Feet and your Journey to the Top will begin immediately.

And those of us who are already sure of our Salvation, for one (1) Minute Please intercede for those who are yet to be Born Again – That the Almighty God who save your Soul will save their own Souls also.

Pray that the Almighty God will wash away all their sins and give them a Brand New Beginning.

Thank You my Father. In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.

PRAYER FOR SALVATION AND CLOSING PRAYER.

And so my Father and my God; I want to bless Your Holy Name for Your Words and I want to Thank You for those of you who are surrendering their lives to You right now.

Everyone of them Father, Please receive them, Forgive, Save their Souls, let Your Blood wash all their sins, Receive them into the Family of God and give them a Brand New Beginning.

And Lord God Almighty, as many as of Your children that will cry to You today saying: We don’t want to stay in the Valley, we want yo move Higher Up; Lord God Almighty grant their requests.

In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!

Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!!!

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