LCC Online Service - 01 November 2020
Welcome
Welcome, please click below for the video welcome message.
Good morning everyone and welcome to our online LLC church service. I want to remind you that Christ is always with us and loves us deeply.
I want to encourage you, if you can attend our church services at The Retreat, please do so. It is so important that we meet as part of the Body of Christ to worship, give thanks to Him and to hear His Word. Hebrews 10:24 & 25
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – all the more as you see the day approaching.”
Let us open in prayer to commit this service to our Lord.
I want to focus on one part of that verse that we just read. The part where it says that we should spur one another on towards love and good deeds. The opposite of good is evil and the Bible says that we should Ephesians 5:11
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”.
This includes celebrating days like Halloween.
I realize that some of you and your children may have already celebrated this holiday yesterday. I want you to know that this warning is not coming from a place of judgement but rather from a place of encouragement to follow what the Bible says about such things. Contrary to what the world would have us believe, Halloween is not a harmless celebration where children dress up as witches, ghosts, zombies and skeletons and collect sweets from benevolent neighbours. Rather, it is one of the most important days in Satanism and in wicca (witchcraft) where rituals often requiring sacrifice are done. It is a time during these rituals & sacrifices where the power of Satan is celebrated, and death and the underworld are glorified.
What should our response be as Christians? Would Jesus go dress up as a sorcerer and do Trick or Treating? What does the Bible say about Satan, witchcraft and the occult? Let us take a brief look.
Firstly, it is important to recognize that Satan, his demons, hell and evil are in fact very real and powerful, but Jesus has won the war and has defeated Satan at the cross. We as Christians have the Holy Spirit living in us and so we have power over Satan too. 1 John 4:5
“The Spirt who lives in you, is greater than the spirit that lives in the world.” Jesus tells us who Satan is, and his nature. Reading from John 10:10 “The thief (Satan) comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life in abundance.”
Secondly, the Bible gives the following instructions about the occult. This warning was given to the Israelites as they entered the promised land. Reading from Deuteronomy 18:9-12a
“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [an ancient occultic practice], or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer which is a (fortune teller), or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination [detestable] to the LORD…”
This is Paul’s call to us as Christians to have nothing to do with Satan and evil but to set an example for the rest of the world. Ephesians 5:8-17
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light...15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Thirdly, this means that as Christians we stand for Christ, we cannot have a foot in each camp and be Christians who celebrate Halloween or dabble in the occult. We must decide. Paul writes to the Corinthians about feasts to idols (celebrations and worship of anything that is not God). 1 Corinthians 10:4 & 21
“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry…but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
Lastly, if you have celebrated Halloween, or dabbled in the occult in anyway 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (Ephesians 6:11-12). Remember, we need to
“put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”
Remember we as Christians are on the winning side.
AMEN.
Praise and Worship
Please select “play” on the image below and join with us in worshiping our Lord and Saviour.
Song List:
- Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me - CityAlight
- O Praise The Name (Anástasis) - Hillsong
sermon
Sermon - Augustine Mulenga - Tithes & Offerings Series Part 6 - The heart of tithing and giving
Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20; Leviticus 1:2-3; Exodus 20:1-4; Matthew 23:23-24; Luke 11:42; Luke 18:10-14; Psalm 15:1-5; Micah 6:8; Matthew 22:34-38
Please select Play below (depending on your bandwidth it could take a few seconds to buffer and play):
If you have issues playing the sermon, you can download the audio version directly from OneDrive here:
Sermon Download
Prayer
1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah- Psalm 24 (ESV)
Give thanks for God’s invitation to participate in the Kingdom.
Pray for Chad, Callie and family as they transition into a new chapter of life and join LCC.
Pray for those in our Church family going through health issues.
Pray for financial provision, sustainability, and stewardship for LCC.
Pray for continued wisdom for the government in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pray for the prison ministry work.
Pray for the work in Chipata.
Pray for wisdom and guidance for the Elders.
Pray for opportunities to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly as we should.
Please share your praises and prayer needs with any of the Elders via WhatsApp or email the church email or via the Prayer Form so that we can all continue being in prayer for one another.
Giving
If you are able to commit to regular giving, please click on the following link and complete the form: Pledge Form
Tithing and giving can be done through online transfer facilities (wire, mobile, & bank). We currently do not offer direct debit or credit card donations, but some have found TransferWise to be a helpful platform for transferring money locally or internationally (minimal transaction fees).
If you are unable to use contactless methods, you can still drop-off your offering at the church office during regular working hours. You can confirm any details with the church administrator by calling, texting, or WhatsApp: +260966800100
The church bank account details are below if you would like to use online transfer facilities:
Account name: Lusaka Community Church
$ acc #: 8700220232300
K acc #: 0150420232300
Bank: Standardchartered
Branch: Manda Hill
Branch code: 03000
Swift code: SCBLZMLX
Thank you
We rejoice in this day that the Lord has made. May we go forth into this new week surrendering our lives to the will of our loving Father.
Benediction
God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:15,16 (NIV)