Month: April 2025

Posted on

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Reference: RCCG HOF | Weekend Manna | June 11-12, 2021
Minister: Pastor J.O. Afolabi
Topic: Unspeakable Joy
Text: Psalm 51:10-13

Full text:https://www.facebook.com/groups/749132358887468/ and type Joy Unspeakable on the search bar.

Memory Verse :
“Yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8)

Message

David, in Psalm 16:11, highlights that true joy is found in God’s presence. Unlike fleeting happiness, joy is a deep, spiritual gladness beyond words, rooted in God’s glory and goodness.

Joy vs. Happiness

Happiness is external and temporary, based on circumstances.

Joy is internal, enduring through trials, and spiritually driven.

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).

Categories of Unspeakable Joy

  1. Joy of Salvation – The greatest gift, producing inexpressible gladness (Psalm 51:12).
  2. Joy of the Lord – A fruit of the Spirit that dispels sorrow (Galatians 5:22).
  3. Joy in God’s Presence – Experienced through prayer, worship, and the Word (Psalm 16:11).
  4. Complete Joy – Received through persistent prayer (John 16:24).
  5. Joy of Soul-Winning – Heaven rejoices over every saved soul (Luke 15:7).
  6. Joy at Christ’s Return – The expectation of glory and reward (1 John 3:2).
  7. Joy of Heaven – Everlasting rejoicing awaits believers (Isaiah 51:11). The Essence of Unspeakable Joy
  8. Strength and spiritual vitality (Nehemiah 8:10).
  9. Endurance in faith (Hebrews 12:2).
  10. Perseverance in the Christian race.
  11. Health and well-being (Proverbs 17:22).
  12. Victory over sorrow and heaviness. Access to Unspeakable Joy
  13. Salvation – Receive Christ, the source of true joy (Luke 2:10).
  14. Holy Ghost Baptism.
  15. Intimacy with God.
  16. Persistent prayer.
  17. Righteousness and holy living.
  18. Soul-winning.
  19. Peace and holiness (Hebrews 12:14).

Prayer

May the joy of the Lord be our portion. May our joy be sustained and never mixed with sorrow. Anything, anyone and anywhere hindering your joy or trying to turn your joy into sorrow shall be wasted. At Christ’s return and in heaven, we shall sing for joy and shout the victory. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

Psalms 68:11
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God bless you! Happy Weekend!

https://pastorafolabi.cw.center

@afo4Jesus

Posted on

THE SLEEP OF DEATH

TEXT: Acts 20:7-9
“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead” (v.9)

Sleep is beneficial; it fulfills the law of the Sabbath and provides rest. However, careless, reckless and excessive sleep can be dangerous. We must recognize and pray against the kinds of sleep that open the doors of our lives to satanic attacks and spiritual robbery.

A Yoruba adage states: “You use the sleep period to take from a child what he wasn’t willing to give.” While sleep refreshes the body, excessive or reckless sleep can lead to great harm.

For instance, in Matthew 13:25, Jesus warns, “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” The man was unaware of the enemy’s presence and actions because, during sleep, most of the senses are suspended.

Paul explains this in Romans 11:8:
“(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.”

Spiritual sleep is especially dangerous. It exposes a person to satanic attacks, whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy and eventually bind the victim (John 10:10).

Excessive sleep—more than the necessary 6 to 8 hours per day—can contribute to poverty (Proverbs 24:33-34). That’s why you won’t find great minds sleeping too much. Reckless sleep can even be fatal; some people doze off anytime and anywhere, including while driving. And you can imagine the tragic consequences when that happens. Your guess is as good as mine.

In our opening scripture, a man named Eutychus attended a vigil where the great Apostle Paul ministered. However, he fell into a deep sleep, missing all the prophetic declarations and prayer points. Eventually, he fell from the upper floor and died. Brothers and sisters, are you like this careless man? You can stay up late watching movies or scrolling through your phone, yet the moment you engage in spiritual activities, sleep overcomes you. Take note: the devil, who attacks when you are weak, works through your body (flesh) to rob you of your valuable blessings.

Beloved, you must be self-controlled and disciplined so that the devil does not use reckless sleep to rob you of your sweet hour of prayer and blessings. Have you ever noticed that just when you intend or need to pray, your body urges you to sleep a little longer? This is the sleep of death. Whenever this happens, rise up, walk around, and cry out to God and learn to pray aloud.

It is also a sleep of death when you indulge in sin. Samson, the anointed, took naps on Delilah’s lap (Judges 16:9-23) and was severely attacked by spiritual robbers. Beware of the serious danger of resting on the bed of immorality.

Dear friend, wake up from your spiritual slumber! Be vigilant and watchful. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray unhindered (Romans 8:26). Do not succumb to sleep during prayer. Like David, pray that God will enlighten your eyes so that you do not fall into the sleep of death. REMAIN STRONG IN JESUS NAME.

PRAYER :
“Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.” (Psalms 13:3)

https://pastorafolabi.cw.center

@afo4Jesus