NIFES National

January 4, 2023 TOPIC: CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 17 WORD FOR TODAY: “Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!” 1 Corinthians 1:13. NLT INPIRING COMMENTARY The Church is a community of believers in Christ Jesus who are called out from the sinful world to belong to God as saints and a holy people. Yet, in this community of saints are found all the traces of human complexities and failings such as divisions, pride, sexual immorality, class consciousness, hypocrisy, idolatry, corruption, tribalism or racism, etc. One of the greatest take away from our devotions from the book of 1 Corinthians is the reality that the Church is not a perfect community, but it remains a community of God’s people because they belong to God. The Church is a work-in-progress until the second coming of Christ. Our devotion today focuses on a Church community that has become divided along the leadership personalities who have worked among them. Some preferred Paul, others Apollos and Peter, and some the Lord Jesus Christ (1:12). The root cause of these divisions is our complex human nature rooted in our culture, liberty, ethnic background and false spirituality. The Church of Jesus Christ has been in existence on earth for over 2000 years, yet we have not overcome the challenge of division amongst us. The reason we have so many denominations today is the same reason the Corinthian Church were divided along leadership personalities. Today divisions in the Church are caused by more human complexities such as – doctrine, race or ethnicity, human ideologies such as the LGBTQIA+, style of worship, etc. The divisions we see today in the Church is an object lesson for us to know that Church is made up of real human beings who live in real world and struggle with real human problems such as disagreements. Jesus knew about this challenge of division and that is why he prayed for the unity of the Church – that they may be one (John 17:21). PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, help us to understand that Your Church is a diverse community that struggles to embrace the unity of faith. Teach us by Your Holy Spirit to channel our diversity as a source of strength and not a tool for division. Amen

January 3, 2023 TOPIC: DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN LEADERSHIP BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1:4 – 9 WORD FOR TODAY: “I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 NLT INSPIRING COMMENTARY As a leader, how do you feel about those you lead? What emotions do you often exhibit – encouraged and thankful or discouraged and complaining? It is a healthy leadership principle to stay positive and encouraged with little progress than to stay discouraged by myriads of failures and unfulfilled expectations (Philippians 4:8). Apostle Paul began his letter to the Corinthians with a positive feeling by addressing them as Saints of God and called to be holy people. He went further with words of thanksgiving to God for the spiritual gifts they have received. It is not always the case that our expectations or optimism are met or fulfilled in leadership. The Corinthian Church as we would later discover in this book was a terribly worldly and flawed Church, but Paul found something (three things) to be thankful about them, namely: the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus (1:4); they were enriched with all spiritual gifts and knowledge (1:5); and the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them (1:6). Paul has shown us the path of positive leadership attitude which requires that we observe every bit of good and praiseworthy outcomes in the life of those we lead, before we start confronting them with the failures in their lives. Quality and matured leaders are those who combine the attitude of joy and affirmation in times of progress and take responsibility to fix or correct what is not right. There are lots of things that are praiseworthy about the Church, but the devil will want us to develop a blind spot towards the positives and dwell only on the negatives. It has become a new norm of spirituality to be overtly critical of the Church. We hear all kinds of harsh words like – the Church has failed, the Church is hypocritical, etc. If Jesus is the head of the Church, the Church cannot fail because Jesus never fails. What we need today is leaders like Paul who will celebrate and affirm the Church for her strengths, and rebuke her when she is not living right as God’s holy people. Be careful how you lead and talk about the Church because she is the bride of Christ! PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help us as leaders not to lose the joy in the service of Your Church because of the temporary short comings of the saints. Bless us with the leadership stamina and resilience we need to fulfill our ministry with joy in serving Your Church. Amen

ANCHOR (⚓) – NIFES’ Daily Devotional January 2, 2023 TOPIC: SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST AND CALLED TO BE SAINTS (HOLY) BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 WORD FOR TODAY: “To the Church God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” 1 Corinthians 1:2 NKJV INSPIRING COMMENTARY The Epistles are formal letters and typical of the norm with such writings, it begins with the introduction of the writer and followed by the recipients. Paul was the writer, but he also mentioned Sosthenes who was his assistant. By doing this, he demonstrated an exemplary leadership quality by mentioning the name of the person who assisted him in ministry. But the focus of our devotion this morning is the recipients of this letter, the Corinthian Church. Paul addressed them as the Church of God, called to be his own holy people. The word Church means a community that belongs to God through faith in Christ Jesus. So, the Church is a group of people, not a building or a denomination. As Christians, we have three levels of calling from God. The first and primary calling is to have a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. When we answer this call, we become children of God (John 1:12). The second calling is to become God’s people, a holy nation, and a unique community distinct in character from the rest of the world (1 Peter 2:9). The third call is for service to do God’s work on earth through our varied careers or vocation (Colossians 3:20-24). Paul reminded the Corinthians of this second calling to be a holy people. Like the Corinthian Church, we need this reminder that we have been called by God to be His saints, a holy nation, distinct in character and value systems. Often, we do not live our daily lives with the consciousness that we are a holy nation. Jesus told his disciples that they are in the world but not of the world. Though we live in the same world with non-Christians, and share a lot in common with them, yet we are not of this world.Christians are a distinct specie of mankind, a holy specie because we belong to a holy God. What a privileged people we are to be called God’s holy nation, God’s own children, and God’s work force on earth. PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, please help us all to regain the lost consciousness and the reality of our calling to be God’s saints and a holy nation on earth in Jesus name. Amen.

ANCHOR (⚓) – NIFES’ Daily Devotional Date: Sunday, 1st January 2023 Topic: THE YEAR OF HOPE, RESTORATION, AND THANKSGIVING Bible Reading: Psalms 126: 1-6 (The Holy Bible, New International Version ®. Copyright © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.) Word For Today: “When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.” – Psalms 126:1 (NKJV) Inspiring Commentary:  Nigeria today is a nation that is in captivity because of the groans of poverty, insecurity, under-development, disunity, and absence of the rule of law. We were once the giant and pride of Africa; the most prosperous economy in Africa; our Naira was once higher in exchange rate to the British Pound Sterling and United States Dollar. We were ahead of India, China, and Malaysia in GDP per capita and foreign reserves over four decades ago; we once had Universities that attracted foreign Lecturers and students; etc. How are the mighty fallen! A once rich and powerful nation has become the headquarters of global poverty and can no longer protect its citizens from bandits and kidnappers. The intervention of the military into our politics and the return to democracy in 1999 have thrown up the worst of our citizens as our leaders; a band of marauders, incompetent, corrupt, religious and ethnic bigots, gang of insatiable thieves and blood-letting politicians and military officers. Like the Jews who were taken into captivity to Babylonian exile, Nigerians have been in captivity of bad leaders, and our situation seems irredeemable and hopeless as the years go by. Can the captivity of Nigeria under bad leaders be overturned? Yes! How? Because the Lord God rules in the political affairs of nations, He will overturn these situations and give power to those who genuinely will serve us in good leadership (Daniel 4:17). Our devotional text today captured the surprise, joy and thanksgiving of the Jews who returned from captivity from Babylonian exile. What God did for them was noticed abroad among other nations. They were not only delivered from captivity, their fortunes and glory as a nation was restored. So shall it be with Nigeria this year because our God takes pleasures in setting captives free from their oppressors. The 2023 General Elections will be our year of deliverance, restoration, and thanksgiving. Get ready to do your part as a good citizen by casting your vote, then wait and see God’s deliverance.  Welcome to the year 2023! Nigeria will flourish again! Happy New Year to all NIFESIANS and Nigerians! Prayer:  Everlasting God, you rule in the kingdom of men, show forth your justice and redeem Nigeria from the captivity of corrupt and ungodly leaders who have oppressed us over these decades. May our cry come unto You in Jesus name. Amen!

NDPC 2020 - EXPOSITION 1:  THE BOOK OF ESTHER - UNCLE MIKE ADEGBILE

NDPC 2020 -  EXPOSITION 2: THE BOOK OF ESTHER - UNCLE MIKE ADEGBILE

NDPC 2020 - TALK 1: FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS - WE FAST AND PRAY - MRS JOY CHIMMIN

NDPC 2020 - TALK 2: FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS - DARE TO BE DIFFERENT - UNCLE DAN INGBIAN

NMC 2019 - TALK 3: THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MISSIONS: LUKE 4: 16 – 22 – REX ONUH

NMC 2019 - TALK 2: MISSIONS IS ACTION: PARADIGM SHIFTS & GLOBAL TRENDS TODAY – REVD. GIDEON PARA-MALLAM

NMC 2019 - PRAYERS: REX ONUH

NMC 2019 - PLENARY SESSION:  MISSIONS: BUILDING OUR WORLD VISION FOR THE HARVEST – REV (DR.) FEMI ADELEYE

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 3: MATTHEW 25: 31 – 46 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI

NMC 2019 : TALK 4: THE EFFICACY OF PRAYERS IN MISSIONS: ACTS 4: 23 – 31 – PASTOR (DR) PAUL ENENCHE

NMC 2019 - Talk - Missions in the Market Place - Revd Femi Adeleye

NMC 2019 - TALK 1: WON BY ONE: THE VALUE OF A SOUL - UNCLE BALA USMAN

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 8

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 7

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 6

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 5

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 4

 NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 3

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 2

NMC 2019 - EXPOSITION 2: MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI Part 1

NMC 2019- EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI ( Part 7)

NMC 2019- EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI ( Part 6)

NMC 2019- EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI ( Part 5)

 EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI (Part 4)

 EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI  ( Part 3)

 EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI  ( Part 2)

 EXPOSITION 1: MATTHEW 24: 1 – 14 – UNCLE GBILE AKANNI  ( Part 1)