Pastor Victor Iruobe:Possessing Our possession.

Opening prayer: Heavenly Father, .......we pray that your word will set free, it will transform lives and in Jesus name may your word find a place in the hearts of people.....Let your people be ready to advance as you reveal your word this morning in the name of Jesus......we give you glory, ....meet the needs of your people....in Jesus name.

Affirmation:(Say to each other) Neighbour, i am happy to be in church this morining and enjoy God's corporate annointing this morning.......Neighbour i am happy to see your face this morning. You look more wonderful today than you did the last time i saw you....Together we will have a good time this morning.

Opening Remarks: .......Ladies and gentlemen, this morning there are things belonging to you which are not yet in your possession. We began a success series for almost four weeks now! During this period we have been examining various situations and how to address them.This morning we would be looking at the certain key words and phrases. The word 'things' is a key word which occurs within our message for a number of reasons.'F'irst of all .......,secondly it is clearly stated in scripture that 'God made things for us. Thirdly, the Bible declares that Faith is the substance of things hoped. It is clearly in God's will that we 'possess things we hope for.....Last week(Sunday 10th February 2008) we looked at 'the ingredients of success'. .....In the first quarter of this year we will be examining the subject 'success' and how to make it this year. The title of our message today is Possessing my possessions.

Possessing our possessions!

Affirmation: Please repeat this title and become inspired as you hear yourself say it.Possessing our possesions.

Background to this message :
There are some things belonging to you that are not currently in your possession. There is no doubt that they are yours by right, but because they are not yet in your domain you cannot benefit from them fully. Because these things were designed by God to be your assets it is certainly in His will that you receive them. Therefore IN A NUTSHELL YOU NEED TO POSSESS(RECEIVE) YOUR POSSESSIONS(ASSETS BELONGING TO YOU)! God wants you to enjoy them, and to possess them.

Affirmation: Please repeat 'Possessing my possessions' to affirm to yourself that you are willing to receive all your God given assets.

Let me give you a few examples:

• There may be a house which God has intended to be owned by someone hearing this message.
• His intention for another person may be to usher in a life partner into the life of another person who has been waiting .
• Perhpas in your particular case, it may be 'a healing' you need from God.
• The need of another person may be transport related...God has prepared a brand new car for your possession.

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY'S MESSAGE:IT IS MY BOLD DECLARATION OF FAITH THAT,

• After hearing this message each of you will 'POSSESS YOUR POSSESSIONS'.
• Furthermore you will understand how to become better positioned to 'Possess your possessions'.
  
  Scripture Verses for Reference: Joshua 13:1; Joshua 14:6-14. Ephesians , 2 Peter 2

In Joshua 13:1, we can note the following:

• God is not a waster of resources
• If you 'observe the mind of God you will notice that He wants us to possess our possessions.

In Ephesians......It is obvious that ,

• in blessing us God's act is in the past tense. This is something God has already accomplished.
• We now have responsibilty first of all to understand what He has 'bestowed' on us.
• Secondly we must then ASSUME OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO POSSESS IT......................

AFFIRMATION: Say '...who has blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS' IN HEAVENLY PLACES.

Question:Are we indeed blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places?

Answer: A 'yes' answer or an affirmative one also implies that God's blessings bestowed on us have covered and even exceeded our areas of need both on earth and in heaven.

ONE BIG DILEMMA WE OUGHT TO ADDRESS: If God has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness then why is 'my life in its current state of need, lack and even desperation?' THIS IS INDEED A VALID QUESTION TO ASK.

Have you ever asked the kind of searching questions, that begin with why?

Here are few examples:

1. Why am i in such lack?
2. why am i in such need?
3. why me?
4. why not me?

My response to the question of why is to pose some revealing questions :

• Why are there dirty clothes?
• Why are some individuals unkempt and badly in need of a wash?
• Is it because of a lack of soap to clean?

An obvious answer:Certainly not! Although there may be a very good supply of soap and water to clean, soap would need to be applied in order to be effective. This illustration is certainly relevant when discussing spiritual principles. Until the promises of God in HIS WORD are applied to individual situations change will not be effected in our lives.

Majority of the blessings of God are received through knowledge

and you need to fight sometimes even for things belonging to you!

Galatians 4:1' Now i say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from the slave, though he is master of all, v2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. ......

The above passages illustrate the truth that 'even though the heir may be the Lord of the Estate.....because of certain hindering factors his condition can remain equivalent to that of a 'bondservant' or even a slave within a designated estate:

• If he remains ignorant of his entitlements.
• If his growth is stunted or stagnated.
• If he remains immature.

Majority of the blessings of God are received through improving our knowledge about the issues concerned.

DON'T QUIT....BUT MOVE FORWARD USING THE PRINCIPLE OF NEVERTHELESS......

.........Luke 5:5' Simon answered and said to Him, '' Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word i will let down the net. v6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

• ' Nevertheless' is the phrase which underscores a determination not to quit or to give up.
• 'Nevertheless illustrates the fact that inspite of his previous unsuccessful attempts at fishing, Peter was prepared to try one more time. This time he made another attempt in response to the command of Jesus.
• 'Nevertheless' highlights the fact that Peter was prepared to respond even though the command Jesus issued was contrary to THE KNOWLEDGE PETER had acquired from his FIVE SENSES as veteran fisherman with experience of fishing.

Indeed he had toiled all night without success. In other words, he had what he knewat obecauased on what Gavi Peter's call to follow Jesus in Luke 5:1-10.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM JUST BEGINNING OUR MESSAGE FOR TODAY. THE PRINCIPLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS I HAVE ALREADY SHARED WERE MEANT TO PLACE THE MESSAGE IN TO CONTEXT.(END OF PART 1, CLICK POSSESSING YOUR POSSESSION PART 2 FOR MAIN MESSAGE).