Theology

 *30/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* *MID-WEEK SERVICE* THEME: *JESUS CHRIST* TOPIC: *JESUS* (Gk. Iesous) SUB-TOPIC: *THE MESSIAH* MAJOR OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH Malachi 3:1 *Messenger of the Covenant* Here is one of the great, explicit prophecies relating to the messianic age. In its specific detail, this verse resembles the prophecy of Micah 5:2 concerning the birth place of the Messiah. Matthew and Mark identify the messenger of this verse as John the Baptist. Malachi 4:5 Matthew 11:10 Mark 1:2,3 *The Lord refers here to Jesus Christ according to Psalms 110:1* There are *3 persons* in view in this verse: The Father *(the Lord)* speaks of sending a messenger *(John the Baptist)* who will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord *(Jesus)*. Both the righteous and the wicked will be surprised when the Messiah arrives. *Messenger of the covenant* is a messianic title, referring to the One who will initiate the New Covenant according to Jeremiah 31:33,34; Matthew 2

 *27/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* THEME: *A MOMENT OF RECOVERY for people, planet & prosperity* TOPIC: *Peace of Mind in a Troubled World* Text: Isaiah 26:3 John 14:27 "Peace, where is peace - for our nations, our homes, and most of all for our hearts and minds?" This desperate cry has been heard through the ages. Is it also the cry of your heart? People are weary and worried. Without a doubt there is a need for direction and counsel, security and confidence. We need, and want, peace of mind. Peace of mind - what a treasure! Can this treasure be found in a world of so much conflict and despair, turmoil and trouble? The great search is on! Many people are seeking peace in fame and fortune, in pleasure and power, in education and knowledge, in human relationships and marriage. They desire to fill their heads with knowledge and their purses with wealth, but their soul remain empty. Others are seeking to escape the realities of life with drugs or alcohol, but the pe

 *23/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* *MID-WEEK SERVICE* THEME: *JESUS CHRIST* TOPIC: *JESUS* (Gk. Iesous) SUB-TOPIC: *THE MESSIAH* MAJOR OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH Zechariah 12:10-14 *The Pierced One* The Jewish Talmud views the text as referring to the Messiah who was pierced in battle. *The messianic view is favored by the fact that Jesus was pierced with a spear after His death on the Cross* John 19:34 All of Israel mourned for the Messiah, including members of the royal family and the priests. *©2022* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria®* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN#* Powered by *JDIS*

 *20/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* THEME: *A MOMENT OF RECOVERY for people, planet & prosperity* TOPIC: *RELIGIOSITY VERSUS GODLINESS* "Religion shows the way to God, but Godliness takes you to the God of the way" *Pastor John Ifesanya* Text: Deuteronomy 30:6 Jeremiah 24:7; 31:31-34 Religion is the belief in the existence of God, and activities that are connected with the worship of God. Godliness is to be like God or a god in some quality; it can also be defined as living a moral life based on religious principles. Religion brought the knowledge of the law of sin and death, whereas Godliness is receiving the grace in fulfillment of the law of Moses. This homily follows up from the previous homily titled, *"How many churches are enough ".* The growth and expansion of the Church without corresponding positive spiritual and moral effect on the society, has caused many to question the relevance of the gospel. Why would the most religious state still be ran

 *16/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* *MID-WEEK SERVICE* THEME: *JESUS CHRIST* TOPIC: *JESUS* (Gk. Iesous) SUB-TOPIC: *THE MESSIAH* MAJOR OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH Daniel 7:21-27 *King Jesus* When the persecution becomes unbearable, the sovereign Lord will step in to deliver his people *at his own appointed time* according to 1 Corinthians 10:13. The court will be convened and the power of the antichrist will be taken away and completely destroyed by the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:22,26). This presentation of the Kingdoms is the same as the one that was made to the Son of Man earlier in the vision (Daniel 7:14). Daniel is not seeing two Kingdoms, and the saints do not reign as kings. What he is seeing is ONE KINGDOM, the kingdom of God on earth, where *Jesus reigns as King* and the saints are his subjects. This will be *an everlasting kingdom* Daniel 7:27; 7:14 *©2022* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria®* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Ema

 *13/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* THEME: *JESUS CHRIST* TOPIC: *JESUS* (Gk. Iesous) SUB-TOPIC: *THE MESSIAH* MAJOR OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH Daniel 7:21-27 *King Jesus* When the persecution becomes unbearable, the sovereign Lord will step in to deliver his people *at his own appointed time* according to 1 Corinthians 10:13. The court will be convened and the power of the antichrist will be taken away and completely destroyed by the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:22,26). This presentation of the Kingdoms is the same as the one that was made to the Son of Man earlier in the vision (Daniel 7:14). Daniel is not seeing two Kingdoms, and the saints do not reign as kings. What he is seeing is ONE KINGDOM, the kingdom of God on earth, where *Jesus reigns as King* and the saints are his subjects. This will be *an everlasting kingdom* Daniel 7:27; 7:14 *©2022* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria®* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@g

 *09/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* THEME: *JESUS CHRIST* TOPIC: *JESUS* (Gk. Iesous) SUB-TOPIC: *THE MESSIAH* MAJOR OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH Jeremiah 23:6 *The Branch of Righteousness II* The days of the Messiah's reign would bring salvation. Both Judah and Israel would be restored. The name that characterizes this ideal King is THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Contrast that to the name Zedekiah which means "The Lord Is My Righteousness" (Jeremiah 21:1). Zedekiah's name was a gross misnomer compared to the One who would establish the true, righteous rule - God's appointed King (Isaiah 9:7; 11:1-10). This verse is one of the texts in the Hebrew Bible that speaks specifically and surely of the coming of the glorious Saviour and King. *©2022* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria®* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN#* Powered by *JDIS*

 *06/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* THEME: *A MOMENT OF RECOVERY for people, planet & prosperity* TOPIC: *WHY CHRISTIANS DON'T GO TO CHURCH AGAIN II* "There is no excuse, good enough, to disobey the instructions of the Most High God" *Pastor John Ifesanya* Text: Acts 2:42 Hebrews 10:25; 12:22-24 *Different descriptions of the Church in the Bible* 1. The tabernacle of Moses or Sanctuary. Exodus 25:8; 26:1 Acts 7:44 2. The Temple of Solomon 2 Samuel 7:11-13 Ezra 3:8 3. Synagogue Certainly instructions and debate must have occurred in some organized manner and in some building within the villages and cities away from Jerusalem during Old Testament times. Yet most scholars agree that the New Testament form of the synagogue probably began taking shape after the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed and during the exile. With their people scattered around the known world, displaced Jews needed meeting places within their new communities where they could learn about

 *THE CHURCH AND THE RUSSIAN/UKRAINE WAR* There are almost 300 million Orthodox Christians in the world, divided among 15 autocephalous churches and a variety of other branches, with roughly 100 million in Russia and 40 million in Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church regards Ukraine as the cradle of its faith and its "canonical territory", but on the ground Orthodox believers in Ukraine are divided into three separate churches, with only one being directly dependent on Moscow. A contest has been unfolding for some time for leadership in the Orthodox world between Moscow and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, led by Patriarch Bartholomew I. Broadly speaking Constantinople is considered the *more progressive and pro-Western* point of reference - Bartholomew, for instance, is an *ecumenical* figure who's engaged in multiple partnerships with Pope Francis - while Moscow is seen as *more conservative* and *confrontational*. In general, Constantinople has the stronger claim to

 *02/03/2022* *40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYERS* *2022 NIGERIA PEACE PRAYER PROJECT* *PRAYER FOR THE PEACE OF UKRAINE* THEME: *JESUS CHRIST* TOPIC: *JESUS* (Gk. Iesous) SUB-TOPIC: *THE MESSIAH* MAJOR OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH Haggai 2:9 *The Prince of Peace* God promises that the new temple will be even more glorious than the former one because of the presence of the Messiah. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Hebrews 1, 2 Moreover, it will be a place of peace. Psalms 85:8,10 Isaiah 9:6-7 The Messiah is the prince of peace, and Jesus has made peace through his shed blood on the cross. Romans 5:1 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Colossians 1:20 Peace includes good health, well-being, and an abundant life. The term speaks of everything being as it ought to be. *©2022* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria®* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN#* Powered by *JDIS*