22/12/2023
22ND UYO FIELD CONVENTION
FRIDAY MORNING
PREACHER: : Apostle D. D. Archibong _ IKOT EKPENE FIELD GUEST
THEME:THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL SHINE
Text: Luke 2:8-9
These three words stand out in the topic:
Glory
The Lord
Shine
The origin of the word " glory" is honour. It refers to the honour that is God's. It is only God that deserves Glory and only him will be glorified. Glory goes further to talk about the beauty of the many perfections of God.
Any angle from which you look at God, God is beautiful in all his works and deeds.
There are no words to describe God's perfection. Everything about him is glorious . You cannot find God's glory anywhere. Where God is, there is bound to be glory. Glory is a part of God. Glory is something that God does not play with.
Whoever you are, whatever you have, whatever you do, whatever position you attain I'm life, you must give God Glory.
Unfortunately, in human history, when God attaches a little honour to man, it gets into his head. Why do people whom God picks from the dust, cleans them up , turn to fight God's glory ? It's unfortunate that in Christianity, we see some people that when God has blessed them financially, they want the Church and some people to worship them.
When it comes to Glory, God does not joke with it. Glorify him in any way you can, because He deserves it.
Let me ask you , since you were born , have you seen anyone like God ?
No, you haven't .
God is in a special class. That is why we should glorify and worship him.
Ways God measures his Glory
1. IN CREATION
Do you know that what scientists discover and make noise about are all things that God has already put in place ? .
When you look at the wonders of the creation, you'll see God's glory.
2. DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Even some of you hearing me have experienced God bring you supply out of nothing.
Some years ago, when I was pastoring in Aba, I had great need for money, precisely 50,000 naira and I prayed to God to send me help . That Sunday was harvest , the Elders packed the harvest items and brought to my office. They spread the items on the floor . I sat still and looked at them . I randomly picked one of them that was wrapped . As I opened it, it was a lamp. As I carried the lamp , money poured out of it. I was amazed. When I counted the money , it was 50,000 naira . I know you will ask me where that money came from. It came from the king of Glory. The Lord, strong and mighty is the King of Glory .
The Lord will surprise you .
Sickness will depart from you.
Where there is no way, the Lord will make a way.
If your eyes are blind, receive your sight.
If you are lame, stand up and walk.
Wherever you're hearing me from, receive the touch of God.
If you're asking , " who will help me ?", I say, the Lord will help you.
3.THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF CHRIST
For too long, you have been in obscurity, but this time , God will reveal you and the glory of the Lord will shine on you. Those who don't know you will know you. Where they told you no, as you go back from this Convention, they will be Looking for you.
As a result of the sin of Adam, we lost everything. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and that righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach unto the Lord.
Even though today , we come to church yet live in sin, we claim to be godly yet live in sin. The problem of the society is sin. It baffles my mind .
Let me tell you, sin will humiliate and disgrace you. That is why Jesus was born . That is why the angels said, " I bring you goodnews". Buying a car or building a house is not goodnews. According to the Bible, goodnews is Jesus Christ.
Nobody was conceived where Jesus was conceived. Nobody was born where Jesus was born . Nobody lived the life Jesus loved. Nobody died the way Jesus died. Nobody rose from the death the way Jesus did. Nobody ascended the way Jesus did.
Take these words as a prophecy. Take it as something that will happen and will continue happening even after the Convention. The Glory of the Lord will indeed shine. It cannot be hindered. It will shine everywhere. It will shine in your life and my life. It will shine in your family, in your place of businesses, in our Church and in our pursuits in life.
Whether the devil likes it or not, whether evil neighbors or evil relations like it or not, the Glory of the Lord will shine.
It will surprise you beyond limits. It will beat your imagination. I want you to be expectant because the Bible says that the expectations of the righteous will not be cut short.
We must proclaim that, " the glory of the Lord will shine in my life" .Let me tell you, God is doing something here and you cannot be left out. Put yourself into the mighty work of God.
Let me conclude this message by talking about the shepherds.
It was not a coincidence that while shepherds watched their flock at night, Jesus Christ was born . The shepherds were commoners and mere peasants yet in God's arrangement, heaven announced the birth of Jesus Christ to the shepherds. The shepherds had a divine encounter like never before. God announced Jesus' birth to the commoners because God does not discriminate. Commoners were the first to visit baby Jesus as an infant.
The wise men did not encounter any angel , they didn't experience any Glory.All they saw was a star, and this was after a whole two years. But the Shepherds were the first to get the announcement of His birth , they had the angelic choir and they were privileged to see the baby, yet had no impact . They were mere witnesses and onlookers.
Some of us are like those , we wear this collar on our necks, preach for many years, yet no impact. Some of us are very close to men of God, but no impact.
Some of us were born in a Church, yet no impact.
Some of us have been Elders for years, yet no impact.
Some of us sing in the choir for so many years, yet no impact.
We are like the shepherds, who just saw Baby Jesus and walked away . No impact at all .
It will be unfortunate to suffer like this on earth and end up in hell. Let me tell you something, in this Convention, it is the Glory of God that has been revealed in these five days. The glory of God has been revealed to you. What have you done about it?
Whenever you encounter God's glory, surrender to him . And if you're holding anything that is not of God, throw it away and surrender to him .
