THE OWNERSHIP SEAL OF THE TRIUNE GOD ON BELIEVERS- SALVATION GUARANTEED
SCRIPTURE READING
2 CORINTHIANS 1:21-22
” Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come”.
THE MESSAGE
🔵This powerful verse speaks to the believer’s assurance of salvation through the presence of the Holy Spirit within them.
🟣The word “sealed” in this passage refers to the act of being marked or identified as belonging to God. In ancient times, a seal was used to authenticate or mark an object as being the property of a particular person or entity.
🔵In a spiritual sense, this sealing represents the believer’s identification with God and their secure position as a child of God.
🟣The verse also mentions the “earnest of the Spirit.” The term “earnest” refers to a down payment or a deposit, indicating a guarantee of something to come in the future.
🔵 In this case, it speaks to the Holy Spirit’s presence within the believer as a guarantee of their future inheritance in the kingdom of God.
🟣The concept of being sealed with the Holy Spirit is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the apostle Paul.
🔵In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul writes, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
🟣This passage echoes the language of 2 Corinthians 1:22, emphasizing the sealing and guarantee of the Holy Spirit as a mark of belonging to God and a guarantee of future redemption.
🔵 The presence of the Holy Spirit within the believer is an assurance of their salvation and an indication of their secure standing in Christ.
🟣Another important aspect of 2 Corinthians 1:22 is its connection to the broader biblical theme of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
🔵 In John 14:16-17, Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell with believers, saying, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
🔵This promise of the indwelling Spirit is fulfilled in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descends upon the believers on the day of Pentecost. From that moment on, the Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of believers, empowering them for life and ministry and serving as a constant reminder of their identity as children of God.
🟣The verse also carries rich symbolism related to the believer’s relationship with God. The concept of being sealed with the Holy Spirit suggests a mark of ownership and protection.
🔵In ancient times, a seal was used to protect a document or a valuable item, ensuring that it remained secure and untampered with. Similarly, the sealing of the Holy Spirit serves as a mark of God’s ownership and protection over the believer, signifying their secure position in Christ and safeguarding them from the forces of darkness.
🔵Furthermore, the earnestness of the Spirit can be seen as a foretaste or a glimpse of the future glory that awaits the believer. Just as a down payment guarantees the full payment to come, the presence of the Holy Spirit within the believer serves as a guarantee of their future inheritance in the kingdom of God.
🟣This speaks to the believer’s hope for the future and the assurance of their ultimate redemption and eternal life with God.
🔵Christians have the assurance of salvation through the sealing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Our position in Christ is secure. Our future inheritance is guaranteed by the protective and empowering presence of the Spirit in our lives.
🟣As believers, we can take comfort and confidence in the truth that we have been sealed and marked as children of God, and that the Holy Spirit within us serves as a guarantee of our ultimate redemption and eternal life with Him. All thanks be to the Triune God for setting His seal of ownership on us. 🙌 🙌
*PRAYER*
One God, three Persons, thank you for setting your seal of ownership on us and for putting Your Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Draw us to share in your life and love and rejoice in loving you for all eternity. O Lord Jesus Christ, Who before ascending into heaven, promised to send the Holy Ghost to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, grant us the Spirit of WISDOM, that we may despise the perishable things of this world, and aspire only after the things that are eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*PRAYER FOR SALVATION:*
….if you are reading this message and you do not have Jesus in your life… It’s a short repentant prayer away…
*Say this prayer..*
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving like you. Restore me, Jesus. Thank you for coming into my life. Amen.
God bless you for joining us today. Your life shall never be the same. Amen!
THE TRIUNE GOD IN ACTION
SCRIPTURE READING
LUKE 3:21-22
” Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,* *and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon Him, and a Voice came out of heaven, Thou are My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased”.
THE MESSAGE
🔵God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (The Trinity)are interconnected, interrelated, and interdependent.
🟣Hence, the Triune God’s involvement in Baptism. “Jesus having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon Him, and a Voice came out of heaven, Thou are My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased”.
🔵One of the most important things to think and meditate about is when the verse says, “a Voice came out of heaven, Thou are My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.”
🟣This is the most important part of the event because it has confirmed the deity of the beloved Son of God. It confirms that Jesus is the beloved Son of God, and He is the only begotten Son of God.
🔵Within the Trinity of God, how can we understand the concept of the Holy Spirit proceeding? In John 15:26 the Bible says, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me(Jesus)”.
🟣The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, but the beloved Son of God is one with the Father, so the Holy Spirit becomes the Spirit of both as well.
🔵But from the beginning, the Holy Spirit is from the Father since the Son was within the Father. When talking about the Holy Spirit proceeding, we should think of proceeding from the Father and the Son because the Father and the begotten Son are two in one.
🟣That is why the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The proceeding here has two stages.
🔶The Son of God has been since the beginning as well, but what we say here refers to the period after the Son’s resurrection.
🔷When the beloved Son of God took human form, He was almost at the point of being cut off from the Father, but the beloved Son of God also was in two states at the same time, He is still with the Father and also He is here on earth as human as well.
🔶Because the human form itself is sinful, that is why we say the Son of God was almost at the point of being cut off from the Father.
🔵The Bible says that the Father loves His beloved Son because He is willing to take the human form. Before the beloved Son of God came to earth, the Father and the Son are One as One unit together.
🟣But when the beloved Son of God is resurrected, He has given back the state that was almost apart from the Father and has reunited to be complete one again with the Father.
🔵This state we talk about is breathing as human, He has given up the need of breathing. His human body and heavenly body are united together and are seated with the Father in heaven as one.
🟣From this chapter, we can highlight four main life and faith application points.
1) We need to follow the example of our Lord Jesus and baptize ourselves in water for remission of sins in the name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
2) As a true Christian, we must believe in the Trinity of God, Three in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3) The Lord Jesus worked with His hands as taught by His earthly caretaker until His prime age when He began to teach. We should work for our living and be content with what the Lord provides through our job.
4) In our jobs we should do only according to the duty required.
May God give us the grace to do. Amen!
PRAYER
My soul magnifies you, blessed Trinity. One God, three Persons, Triune Unity, be near me in the temple of my soul. Draw me to share in your life and love. and rejoice in loving you for all eternity. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!
PRAYER FOR SALVATION:
….if you are reading this message and you do not have Jesus in your life… It’s a short repentant prayer away….
Say this prayer..
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving like you. Restore me, Jesus. Thank you for coming into my life. Amen.
God bless you for joining us today. Your life shall never be the same. Amen!
THE SPIRIT-LED ARE THE SONS OF GOD
SCRIPTURE READING
ROMANS 8:14-16
14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”.
THE MESSAGE
🔵Doing something “by the Spirit” means being “led” to do it by the Spirit.
🟣The Holy Spirit is not an instrument in our hands. We are an instrument in His hands. We are not leading Him. He is leading us.
🔵He is not a mere responder to us. We are being moved and led by Him.
🟣So then, what is it to be led by the Spirit? It is to be moved by the Spirit to kill sin by trusting in the superior worth of our Father’s love.
🔵 When you fight sin by trusting in Christ as superior to what sin offers, you are being led by the Spirit.
🟣Don’t take this verse out of its context and make it mean mainly, “If I am led to the right job, I am a child of God.” Or: “If I am led to the right spouse, I am a child of God.”…
🔵Of course, there is a sense in which the children of God will lean on the Spirit for guidance in all those areas. But that is not the focus of this text.
🟣This text says, “kill sin by the Spirit because “all who are thus led by the Spirit are the sons of God.” In other words, the evidence that we are the children of God is that the Holy Spirit confirms His presence by leading us into war with our sin.
🔵The children of God hate sin. The children of God have the values and priorities and preferences and tastes of their Father.
🟣The reason they share these traits of God their Father is because they have His Spirit who leads them this way.
🔵He gives them new tastes and new preferences and new values and new pleasures and new sadness.
🟣 And so the evidence of our sonship is: Do we fight sin in our lives, or do we feel blasé about sin in our lives?
🔵The sense of sonship is awakened and kept alive by the Spirit; and of all those in whom it is found, the Messiah Himself stands at the head, ensuring for them a share in His own glory. Amen!
🟣 May we be led by the Spirit against sin. Thanks be to God for the gifts of His Spirit that work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Amen.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I need Your grace and Spirit to empower me to obey, so I rest in You and trust You are working in my regenerated heart. Please give me a hunger for Your Word so that my mind can be renewed to be able to say no to the world and the flesh and yes to You. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, Oh Lord, to work in me both to will and to do of your good pleasure. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!
PRAYER FOR SALVATION:
….if you are reading this message and you do not have Jesus in your life… It’s a short repentant prayer away….
Say this prayer..
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving like you. Restore me, Jesus. Thank you for coming into my life. Amen.
God bless you for joining us today.Your life shall never be the same. Amen!
GRACE TEACHES US TO SAY NO TO UNGODLINESS AND WORLDY PASSIONS
Crush Your Comfort Zone
Crush Your Comfort Zone and Become Who You Are Meant to Be.
Get out of your comfort zone and start living to the fullest
Many of us think of the “comfort zone” as a relic of ’80s motivational psychology or a tagline on cheesy corporate “reach for success” posters.
The comfort zone is a useful psychological concept that can help you embrace risk and make changes in your life that can lead to real personal growth.
The comfort zone is a “behavioral space where your activities and behaviors fit a routine and pattern that minimizes stress and risk” – the operative words here being stress and risk.
In our comfort zone, there is a sense of familiarity, security, and certainty.
When we step outside our comfort zone, we take a risk, and open ourselves up to the possibility of stress and anxiety; we’re not quite sure what will happen and how we will react.
We have come to see stress as a dirty word – but a little bit of healthy stress can act as a reagent for growth and be a powerful motivator to act.
While staying in your comfort zone can result in a consistent, steady performance, stepping out of your comfort zone into a new and challenging task can create the conditions for optimal performance.
Think about it: Did you ever do something you were proud of when you were in autopilot mode?
In an increasingly competitive, cautious, and accelerated world, those who are willing to take risks step out of their comfort zone and into the discomfort of uncertainty will be those who will reap the biggest rewards.
Stepping out of your comfort zone even once makes it easier and more likely that you will do it again (and again!).
Today I want to send you a simple message; step out of your comfort zone and own it.
Do one thing that you don’t feel like doing or that scares you.
Make that call, smile, or say good morning to someone when you are too busy, find something you are simply avoiding, and do it.
To help you with this concept, I have a cool book for you to look at.
It is a growth mindset personal development book for those who are ready to achieve and brave enough to push out of their comfort zone.
Crush Your Comfort Zone and Become Who You Are Meant to Be.
Deborah Freeman is favored to win the MUSIGA Presidency
A presidential aspirant contesting the musicians union of Ghana’s upcoming election Mrs. Deborah Freeman is highly tipped of becoming the next president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
Speaking at Kumasi cultural center today after the launch of her manifesto, members of the Ashanti regional MUSIGA bemoaned that they have suffered as musicians under previous administration and are in high spirit that the time has come for Deborah to come and liberate them.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our reporter, Mrs. Freeman lamented that musicians are stars but they end up regretting of being musicians because of unsustainable policies.
Launching the manifesto, Mrs. Freeman said as a Woman, full of potentials, I am enthused by the fact that I can deliver and I would, therefore, have no reason not to perform when given the opportunity. I am known to be resolute, workaholic and result-oriented. As a Trade Unionist, I have been trained to have a stronger voice especially when it comes to advancing the course and promoting the interest of members. I am ready to grab the opportunity. I will be the President.
I have the track record and I can make a difference as the President of the Union. I am a mother and I am full of love and care. Motherhood has made me even better and this translates into the extra length I can go to get results in every of my endeavors. Taking up the mantle as the President of the Union is yet another task I can perform spectacularly for the kind of person I know myself to be and also the capacity that I have built. She added.
Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey said,” If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a Woman you educate a whole Nation”. Brigham Young could also not be wrong by saying: “You educate a man, you Educate a man, You Educate a Woman; you educate a generation”. When given the nod, the Woman in me will transform MUSIGA to the admiration of all. She whispered.
The projects she envisage to undertake during her 1st four year term are based on the five key thematic areas mentioned include, Stakeholders’ engagement. uniting union members and other industry players, MUSIGA national welfare fund, advocacy and campaigns, music library, globalizing MUSIGA, finance committee, audit committee, office accommodation, land acquisition, musical instrument and live bands, rehearsal and recording studios, TV and radio stations, workshops and training programmes, biennial delegates conference/constitutional review among others.
Kofi Duodu, popularly known as Kofi Spirit, one of the members said the industry is like gold but I don’t know if they’re not seeing it or someone is just making fun of it …those managing it don’t have the requisite knowledge in managing such an industry”. I think those managing the industry now are playing with it. Its high time Deborah takes the seat to save musicians.
After a prolonged legal tussle, the Musicians Union of Ghana will hold its elections on January 22 next year. The handing-over ceremony of the executive will also take place on February 11 next year.
In tandem with this, nominations for the various positions, both at the regional and national levels will be opened on 17th September 2021.
A new National Election Committee, appointed by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey, will oversee the elections.
The election which was initially scheduled for 29th June 2019 was called off after one of the Presidential Aspirants, Ras Caleb Appiah filed for a court injunction due to some anomalies in the voter’s register and the entire voting procedure.
We have an answer in January, barring any untoward occurrences.
Deborah will be our next President – MUSIGA U/W Region
The presidential aspirant of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Mrs. Deborah Freeman on a days visit to Upper West Region to launch her manifesto, has asked members to vote for her to change the face of Musiga in the Region and the country as a whole.
The Presidential aspirant assured the musicians of Wa and its environs when she visited the region, that she will in her term upgrade the membership registration to a digital platform when they don’t need to travel to Accra to register or renew their membership.
She also assured that her adminstration will work hand in hand with all members and will not support corrupt practices.
“No musician is more musician than the other, when I’m elected President I will make sure the opportunities of this union are available to all regardless of your ethnic or religious background.
We have a long way in the music industry and we’ve witnessed things and seen things, I believe if given the opportunity one day I will work in my capacity to serve my people and my union for the better she noted.
Mrs Deborah Freeman calls on her fellow musicians to support her and her vision until the national executive elections take place.
I had this firm belief and I still do, that, Ghanaian artists are more talented in general. Even until recently, I was so convinced with myself that we make better music than many countries.
Yes, I don’t think so anymore. Don’t get me wrong. We have more talents than them, but they are making better music than us ̶̶ because talent alone is not enough.
Music is universal. if you invest in it strategically and meaningfully, you will reap the benefits of it fruitfully. She opined.
The musicians of the upper west region promised her that they will vote massively for her to become the unions next president to save them.
Check this out…
Say Debbie Debbie….
1.Debby Debby-The Union Builder!
2. Debby Debby-Globalizing MUSIGA
3. Debby Debby- Fighting for fair Royalties
4. Debby Debby-Music Library
5. Debby Debby- Office Accommodation for MUSIGA National and Regional Secretatriats
6. Debby Debby-Musical Instruments for MUSIGA National and the Regional Branches.
7. Debby Debby- Creating MUSIGA branches in six new Regions
8. Debby Debby- One Vehecle One Region.
9. Debby Debby- Rehearsal and Recording Studios
10. Debby Debby- MUSIGA TV and Radio Stations
11. Debby Debby- Rebranding MUSIGA
12. Debby Debby-MUSIGA Constitutional Amendment
13. Debby Debby- MUSIGA Financial Auditing
14. Debby Debby- MUSIGA Live Bands
15. Debby Debby- Copyright Advocacy
Story- George William Dickson
Deborah Freeman takes ‘Manifesto to MUSIGA Volta Region
Presidential aspirant and General Secretary of the Musicians Union of Ghana, (MUSIGA) Mrs. Deborah Freeman. last week took her ‘manifesto launch to the Volta Region.
The launch allowed her to meet with leaders and mu to give them first hand information of what she will do for Musiga when voted into office come January 12, 2022.
She thank them for their massive support being given to her as General Secretary of the union.
I will remain indebted to the musicians of the Volta Region for their overwhelming support in the election that brought me into office as General Secretary.
Mrs Freeman, who is on a “manifesto” tour of the region with the leadership of her campaign team expressed her appreciation to the members.
She said despite the intimidation during the membership registration, Deborah Freeman will still had an appreciable vote to move on to victory.
She said there had been false statements from opponents that she abandoned her office as General Secretary of MUSIGA that did not see any development under the Obuor”s administration, describing it as a “palpable falsehood”.
“When we came into office, the former adminstration did not give me the chance to work because I did not support many wrongs happening within the executives.
She challenged her opponents to show evidence of what they are saying.
The region, she promised, would have its fair share of the national cake if she comes to power as president of the union.
She gave an assurance that she would do everything possible in 2022 to ensure that the election was transparent, fair and clean. “We will not want to cheat anybody, we will not make an attempt to cheat anybody, but we will also make sure that nobody cheats us,” she said.
According to her, joblessness among the members, the union‘s growing indebtedness and high levels of corruption were threats to the future survival of the nation, peace and security.
“We have done enough politics over the years; it is time that the focus be shifted to our developmental needs. As it has been acknowledged by others in the past, survival is not the same as prosperity, so the fact that our union continues to hold and survive as one MUSIGA does not suggest that we are that prosperous”.
The union she said, had the resources to turn things around and therefore called on all to support the development of the people.The first thing we need to eradicate in the music industry is Corruption. Second is Nepotism. Third is favoritism. She lamented.
Story by; George William Dickson