By Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon
On the first Sunday of October 2024, the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters, Abuja, hosted a service filled with spiritual fervour and rich teachings. The gathering was marked by a vibrant atmosphere, initiated through a powerful 30-minute choir ministration that set the tone for worship and reflection.
Rev. Babatunde Idowu, the Senior Pastor and District Overseer of Wuse, led the congregation with a compelling sermon titled “Kingdom Expansion Through Witnessing.” Drawing from Acts 4:31-34, Pastor Idowu emphasized the necessity of witnessing and prayer in the pursuit of expanding God’s Kingdom.
Theme: Kingdom Expansion Through Witnessing
Text: Acts 4:31-34
Key Points from the Sermon:
1. Understanding God’s Kingdom:
The Kingdom of God is the domain over which God reigns, extending beyond the physical realm. As highlighted in Luke 17:20-21, God’s Kingdom resides wherever His children are present, as His presence and authority are manifest there.
2. Characteristics of God’s Kingdom:
The Kingdom is characterized by righteousness and holiness, as depicted in Romans 14:17. These are not merely abstract concepts but tangible realities wherever God’s rule is acknowledged and lived out by believers.
3. The Call to Witness:
Witnessing involves sharing the message and love of Jesus Christ. A true witness has personally encountered Christ and is empowered to recall and convey this experience to others. Acts 13:6-12 reinforces that this testimony focuses entirely on making Jesus known.
4. Courage and Boldness:
Witnessing requires courage and boldness. Believers must develop a posture of fearlessness to speak about Jesus and share their experiences of His transformative power.
5. The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The power of the Holy Spirit is crucial for effective witnessing. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to withstand opposition and strengthens their resolve to share the Gospel.
6. Purpose of Witnessing:
The ultimate goal of witnessing is to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, inviting others to experience this divine relationship.
Congregational Prayers
The service culminated with a prayer session where the congregation earnestly sought divine assistance for their witnessing mission:
Individual Commitment: “I will be a witness, help me Lord.”
Empowerment for Action: “I receive grace to be active,” echoing the exhortations found in 2 Timothy 3:2-5, which call for fervent and visible Christian witness in everyday life.
The service at the Foursquare Gospel Church, District Headquarters, was a profound reminder of the church’s mission to expand God’s Kingdom through active witnessing and prayer.
Rev. Babatunde Idowu’s sermon provided a blueprint for believers to embody and communicate the message of Jesus with integrity and power, aiming to transform lives and communities for God’s glory.
Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations ,Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, Fellow of the Chronicle Business School, Abuja, a Researcher and resource person at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.
