E. K. Larbi’s Blog
“REMAIN IN CHRIST, AND HIS BASIC MESSAGE”
In the message, “REMAIN IN CHRIST, AND HIS BASIC MESSAGE (1 John 2: 24, 25)” Rev. Prof E. K. Larbi indicated that our faith as Pentecostals is rooted in what we have come to know as the tenets of the church. Tenet(s) is an opinion, principal, dogma, belief held as true by members of a profession, group, or a movement according to the Miriam Webster’s dictionary. These tenets have more or less carved out the basis of our faith in The Church of Pentecost.
As such it is imperative that we stick to what we believe in as our faith is not founded on the thoughts of just any group of people. Our faith and thus our tenets are founded in the one true Word of God, the Bible. The Word of God has potency as the only true message worth spreading about to the attention of those in nations and beyond.
The Bible. It holds more truths than we can ever begin to fathom and that is why John reiterates in the 1st verse of his Book that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). God is His Word. Jesus is the Word incarnate. We have not fully understood God but merely scratched the surface of His indwelling truth. Trying to understand His Word by our cultural standards only serves to mar His message for us.
The basic message that we are to adhere to, as per the theme, is not new according to 1 John 3: 11, “For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” Love and its benefits have been preached since the Old Testament and are still being propagated as a matter of fact. 1 John 2: 7 – 11 hits on bigger scope of love and the author here encourages us to love one another, because this is the message we have been given.
As we pay heed to the message of God, we stay true and remain in Him. To remain simply means to abide and by doing this we are bound to benefit in one way or the other:
- By remaining (abiding) in Christ, we have our prayers answered (John 15: 7, 16)
- By remaining (abiding) in Christ, we bear much fruit and our fruit will remain (Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 4, 13, John 15: 16).
We have a mandate to bear fruit for the whole world to see. As we abide in Him and go about re-echoing Jesus’ sentiments on love, we show ourselves as disciples of Christ indeed (John 8: 31).
We must abide in Christ and strive to love one another, just as He first loved us, and by so doing we become examples of hope in our generation as God’s glory is made manifest in our lives for all to see.
Synopsis of PIWC-Atomic Sunday Celebration Sermon
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi
4th February, 2018
“BEING AN EXAMPLE OF CHRIST IN GIVING”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi explained that faith in Christ, praying, fasting and other religious or spiritual activities by themselves do not bring to us a life of abundance or the blessing of Abraham. Rather, hard work and obedience to God, including obedience in giving is what brings us the blessing of Abraham.
Giving becomes a burden when we see it as an obligation, or something we do to help or enable God and the church fulfil His mission here on earth, or to help certain individuals. True Biblical giving must be understood as a covenantal relationship with God. Giving becomes joyful when we are fulfilling our promise to God in expectation of Him fulfilling His promise to us.
Christ must be our standard in giving. He emptied Himself (Philippians 2:5-8, 2 Corinthians 8:9). Every sacrifice results in a benefit. As a result of His sacrifice, the emptying of Himself:
- God exalted Jesus Christ to the highest place (Philippians 2:9).
- God seated Christ at His right hand (Ephesians 1: 20).
- God made Christ the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22).
- God gave Jesus Christ the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9).
- God put all things under His feet (Ephesians 1:22).
Without a cross there is no crown. The early church understood the benefit of self-giving (Acts 4:32-37). They learnt to do this from Christ and His self-emptying. They understood that whatever they had was by grace and that their sacrifice was to their benefit.
The church in Macedonia saw giving as a favour, an opportunity for their own prosperity to be released. So, they begged for the opportunity to give (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
Giving is an opportunity to experience blessings and favour. It is an opportunity God gives us to have our needs met and to experience His goodness.
Giving is a launch pad for our own financial elevation (Acts 20:35, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 28:27, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11).
The following are the platforms for our giving:
- Tithing – Malachi 3:10-12, Deuteronomy 26:12.
- Offering – Proverbs 3:9-10
- Kingdom Investments – relating to the expansion of God’s kingdom – Exodus 35:1 -36:1-7, Acts 4:32-37
- Giving to Parents – 1 Timothy 5:8, Romans 12:17-21, 1 Timothy 5:4, Ephesians 6:12
- Giving to the Poor, the socially vulnerable – widows, orphans. When we give to the poor we give to God. God is the primary recipient. God will ensure we lack nothing.
- Giving to God’s servant as directed by God Himself – 2 Kings 4:8-10, 1 Kings 17:8-16
Tithing is the starting point. Clear direction has been given for this. All other giving must be done as one purposes in his heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).
It is God that gives us the ability to make wealth or earn a living (Deuteronomy 8:18). Whatever has come to us is not as a result of our own effort. Giving becomes joyful when we acknowledge that it is God that has given to us. It is joyful when we recognize what God has done. When we give with joy we are hopeful. Giving becomes hopeful because we look forward to receiving blessings in return, according to his covenant of promise (Deuteronomy 28:12). People who do not give are not fulfilled.
The following are plans for our giving:
- First day of every week (1 Corinthians 16: 2).
- We are to give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9: 7).
- It must be according to each person’s own ability (Acts 11:29).
Purpose what you will give and plan it prayerfully.
We enjoy the blessing of Abraham so that we can become conduits of God’s blessings (Genesis 12:2). It is not for self-satisfaction but so that we can water the lives of others.
True covenantal giving does not replete our resources but rather gives more room to receive resources from God. Giving results in profit. God has much more children now after He gave His Son.
We must give because of what God has done for us. We give to God Himself and not the church or an individual.
Rev. Prof. Larbi stressed that our giving must be out of revelation so that it is not done with reluctance but with joy. Our giving must be inspired by love and our willingness to follow the example of Christ.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Synopsis of PIWC-Atomic Sunday Celebration Sermon
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi
2nd April, 2017
THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S PROMISES IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S CHALLENGES
Rev. Prof. E. K. Larbi began the sermon with a verse from the book of Job (Job 14:1) asking whether the statement Job made was true or not. And this set the tone for his sermon. His main texts were from Isaiah 62 and Hebrews 6:13 – 20.
Life comes with challenges, he said, and all these happen to each and every one of us. Misfortunes befall us, sicknesses plague us, death robs our loved ones from us, business plans calamitously fail and all these point to the claim that bad things happen to good people. This is seen with relation to Bible characters such as Job, Joseph, Paul, Stephen, King Hezekiah, etc.
With regards to the challenges, Rev. Prof. Larbi stated that there three (3) groups of people under its umbrella:
- Those who have succumbed to challenges/battle
- Those who are going through challenges/battle
- Those who have triumphed over challenges/battle
He made us aware that; challenges are common to all of humanity no matter the tag we give to it (trials, tests, temptations, obstacles, etc). Despite the stage of challenge, we find ourselves, we assured by Romans 8: 37 that we are more than conquerors in all things.
Hitting on the main texts, he made it known that God, by His very nature and by the oath He swore to Abraham, cannot and will not go against His promise to establish us and make us His praise. It is important for us to keep this in mind as is equally important we know it is of essence:
- So that those who have fallen in their various battles can be assured that they will surely rise again because they will surely be established under God’s promise.
- So that those who are currently going through trials would have a proper understanding of the Word and confidence to pray for grace & faith, thus reaffirming David’s words in Psalm 23:
- To enable those who have come out on top of their battles to have a proper Biblical understanding as they stand strong and prepare for bigger exploits and more battles ahead.
Isaiah 62 is the confirmation of God‘s plan for all His covenant-bound people and this is reaffirmed and summarized in Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”.
The initial appropriation of the promise of Isaiah 62 was for the people of Israel. Because of the covenant God formed with Abraham (Gen 12, 17, 22), Israel was to be a vehicle to pass on the covenant’s blessings to the rest of mankind. But the Israelites failed to observe the associated conditions and so God had to send down His son, Jesus so that we will be able to reconnect with Him (Galatians 4:4-7). Jesus’ coming actualized our acceptance into God’s family and made way for the original plan of God to take place.
And now all of God’s promises are applicable to all of us as a church and as individuals.
It is hard to go through Isaiah 62 and not feel the heartbeat of God. This and other chapters (Isaiah 40, 41, 42, 43, 55, etc.) emphasize the concern God had for His people even when they had gone astray and all looked bleak. Rev. Prof. Larbi encouraged us to seek forgiveness and make peace with our God when we go wayward for He will receive us openly, our crimes notwithstanding.
In Isaiah 49:15,16 we realize that God’s overly concern for us comes to the fore again. Therefore, the message of His promises comes to all; those who have failed in battle, those who are in battle, and those who have won the battle.
God wants to establish us, His people and make us the praise of the earth. It is His will to do so. When we know what God has in store for us, we able to stand firm with renewed confidence that His word will surely come to pass.
But how do we actualize His promise to establish us? By giving ourselves no rest and giving no rest to God until there has been a fulfillment of His promise (Isaiah 62: 6,7). Holding ourselves to praying without ceasing energizes our faith and belief. We have no business giving up. One thing remains for sure: God has made an oath and so even when things do not auger well for us, His people; we are to persevere through it. We may lose the battle but we will surely not lose the war.
2 Chronicles 7:13, 14 challenges us to pray for our nation and do what we can do to help because faith without works is dead.
Whatever the battle we are faced with, Hebrews 6:19 gives us the assurance once again that we have a firm and steadfast anchor in our Lord God; thus when all looks bleak, we can be certain that with God on our side, it’s not over yet.
God will not do for us what we do not expect Him to do nor do for us what we have not placed a demand on Him to do. If we find ourselves in a situation where we are not being established, we should know that it is not God’s will for us.
Synopsis of PIWC-Atomic Sunday Celebration Sermon
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi
27th August, 2017
YOUR CASE IS SMALL – Part 1
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi began this sermon by letting members appreciate from John 14:12, that Jesus gave us two promises.
- The works that I do you will do also
- Greater works than these will you do
Jesus said that we will be able to do this because He is going to the Father and will give us another helper, the Holy Spirit. He will do the works and the greater works through us.
The statement Jesus made is undisputable. He says, ‘I am the Truth’ (John 14:6). Since Jesus is the truth personified, there is no argument about it His promises.
His statement is also not time bound. It is timeless. It is not limited to the apostolic age even though it was initially given to the first century apostles. It goes beyond it. The statement is also true for us in the church age.
‘Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name’ (John 20:30-31).
The purpose of signs and wonders is to demonstrate the Kingdom of God, as an evidence to both believers and unbelievers, that we may believe. These signs, when we believe should lead us to life, abundant life (John 10:10). We need to continue to do these signs and wonders because of the activities of the arch enemy, in order to alleviate the suffering of people.
Rev. Prof. Larbi added that there are seven main categories of miracles Jesus performed which also represents the categories of human need. Jesus demonstrated his power over:
- Quality – when He turned water to the best wine (John 2:9)
- Distance – when the son of a royal official was healed the same time Jesus spoke (John 4:46-53)
- Time – when He healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years (John 5:1-15)
- Quantity – when He fed 5000 men besides women and children (John 6:1-14)
- Nature – when He walked on water (John 6:15-21)
- Misfortune – when He healed the man born blind (John 9:1-7)
- Death – when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-14)
Professor Larbi challenged Christians to note that they were not serving the Biblical God if He cannot demonstrate power in all these areas. Our actions and inactions must be informed by the knowledge of the God of the Bible, whom we serve. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or imagine. We need not fear. Do not put God in a box. We serve a God who has power over everything.
Synopsis of PIWC-Atomic Sunday Celebration Sermon
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi
1st October, 2017
YOUR CASE IS SMALL – Part 2
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi continued the second part of his sermon entitled “Your Case is Small” by considering a number of Bible Scriptures: Jeremiah 8: 21, 22. John 14:12-14, 20:30, 16:33, 1 Corinthians 16:19. He also recapped sections of the part of the message as summarized the paragraph below.
Jesus Christ demonstrated His supremacy over all things that have seemingly been impediments in our lives; the discomfort of diseases, the elusiveness of time, the wrong turn of events, misfortunes, and the finality of death. These signs, highlighting his power, were the announcement of the dawn of the era Christ (Isaiah 61) and furthermore an affirmation of the Jesus Christ as the Messiah promised to come.
The exposition of Jesus Christ by John has 3 main parts:
- Evangelistic aspect: That we will believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah of God and make known this truth to the world.
- Practical aspect: That we will have life in Jesus name
- Eschatological aspect: This looks at the future outlook of the life we will live (1 Corinthians 15:19). And this tells us that our hope is not based on here and now but even beyond grave we are assured that our in Christ will not waver.
Because Jesus has braved all these limitations, he encourages us daily just as he encouraged his disciples when they toiled all night for fish. “…Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”, Jesus said because he had transcended all human weaknesses and by being witnesses to him, we will in turn be caught up in this life of his.
In the past, as is in the present, the weight and surety of his promise in John 14:12 should embolden us to confirm that our case is indeed small. Whatever be the case, the future is indeed bright because our Lord has overcome the world. Again, Prof. Larbi encouraged us to always put a demand on the promises of God as we remain resolute on His Word.
God has not changed. He still does the impossible. In bolstering our faith, Prof. Larbi gave a couple of examples:
- A mother took her recently deceased child to an all-night service expecting just about anything. A pastor passing through the service questioned in a shout the words of Jeremiah, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (Jeremiah 8:22). Almost immediately life surged through the dead child and he was made alive.
- A rich, elderly mother had an operation which rendered her digestive system malfunctioning. Her daughter sought the services of a servant of God. The man of God declined to make the journey with her to pray for mother. He however prayed on a handkerchief with which the daughter touched her mother upon her return. There were no scars left after the handkerchief was administered and the mother received her healing.
- A cancer patient with a PSA of about 4000 was at his terminal stage and placed in a room for the soon-to-die. His friend quickly drove to see him after he had been stood up at the airport. He prayed for his friend only and a few days later, the cancer patient was discharged devoid of any illness, together with all those who were in the room with him
- A pregnant lady was sick and went to hospital only to have her babies delivered under emergent circumstances. Her mom visited her was later informed that the babies did not survive. She administered oil on their lips and the babies came alive. The lady has also died and the woman subsequently commanded her to rise up to come take care of her kids. The lady immediately woke from her dead slumber.
These and many more affirm the weight and potency of God’s Word in our lives and that is why it is important that we make the Word of God our main stay.
Members of the church were given the chance to share their testimonies of God’s awesomeness in their lives. These also encouraged the congregation as well. Further evidence of God’s power was rounded off with the story of Hezekiah and how his plea caused God to change his mind on a decision He’d made concerning Hezekiah’s life. (Isaiah 38;2 Kings 20,2 Chronicles 32:24…)
John made it clear that the essence of Jesus miracles was made known so that we would believe that Jesus is the son of God and by believing we would have life in His name. We have believed in Christ and now it is imperative that we live out our lives in Him for the whole world to behold
In actualizing the promises of God and seeing its fulfillment, there 3 crucial things Prof. Larbi pointed out to us:
- Individual desperation: Nobody is going to do this for you; not your elder, not your pastor, not your fellow member. The burden falls on you and no one else. We must desperately seek to carry a burden and lay it at our Lord’s feet.
- Prayer: This has to be done ceaselessly as if it was your last meal (1 Thess. 5: 16 – 18)
- Fasting: This will keep in continuous empowerment as you effortlessly combine it with prayer.
These actions would cause us to see the visitation of God in our lives as we cultivate these essential habits and walk in the empowerment of God’s promises.
Synopsis of PIWC-Atomic Sunday Celebration Sermon
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi
5th November, 2017