Apostle Joel Obuobisa

How to Diagnose Proud Speaking

James 4:6-10
           -Allow yourself to be lifted up by God, but also allow yourself to be humble
Signs of Pride
1. Overconfident declarations
          -John 19:9-11
          -No one can have any power unless God gives them to you
          -James 4:13-16
          -When we make comments that forget the grace of God is a type of overconfident declaration
2. When we rebuke authorities
3. Abruptly ending conversations
           -Proverbs 1:7; 9:9
           -It doesn't hurt to hear what you already know again. The Word of God is a layered story which points out many flaws.
4. Declarations of self sufficiency
          -Revelations 18:4-8
5. Statements that trivialize issues
         -1 Samuel 17:28
6. Statements that belittles others

What It Means To Be Puffed Up Like Korah

1. Korah was puffed up because he thought that the pastor (Moses) was obliged to listen to his opinion.
                 -Colossians 2:18 
                 - Numbers 16:1-3
                 -  offer your suggestions in humility; when your suggestions are not used just thank The Lord 
                 -  being a leader means to take ordinary things, put them together and produce something great! 
2.  Korah was puffed up because he tried to correct a spiritual authority.
                 -Proverbs 30:10
                 -recognition of wrong is not your right to fix it
                 -Hebrews 5:1-2
                 -God chooses someone with a weakness, so that person can deal with His people gently
                 -Korah felt that he needed to correct what God missed in Moses 
                                 -God will correct His people 
                                 - 1 Peter 5:1-4 

What It means to be puffed up like Pharaoh

 1. You are puffed up like Pharaoh when you are overconfident and do not consider other options and possibilities            -          1 Corinthians 4:18-19

2. You are puffed like Pharaoh when you are full of delusions. 

       -      You must always be grateful and always say thank you 
     -     The Word of God helps us not to be delusional
     -     You must not be so passionate about something to the extent that you lose what you have
 3. We know Pharaoh was puffed up because he fell from his position as the ruler of a powerful country to become the ruler of a destroyed and powerless nation
     -      When you destroy something you don't have anything to replace it with
     -      Make it a possibility to be wrong 

What it means to be puffed up like Belshazzar

1. When you don't respect the church or pastors
We have to be careful not to cross spiritual lines; most of the times we don't even know when we have crossed spiritual lines
            -          1 Corinthians 5
            -          Daniel 5:2-3
We must not let arrogance and pride allow us to misuse and abuse sacred things because we must show respect to the person that is using them 
2. When you think God is not important and the only important things are gold, silver and wood. 
           -      Daniel 5:4 
If you work for, love and seek after money, you will find that money is a hard master 

3. Belshazzar was puffed up because he did not learn from his father’s mistakes
Everyone needs 2 examples in life: what to be and what not to be 
          -          Daniel 5:18, 22-23

Why You Must Serve The Lord

Apostle Joel shares why it is a blessing to serve the Lord. Listen and learn of the many benefits one stands to gain from serving in God's house.

Why You Must Serve The Lord

Apostle Joel shares why it is a blessing to serve the Lord. Listen and learn of the many benefits one stands to gain from serving in God's house.

What It Means to Serve God

What does it mean to serve God? To serve God is to perform a duty for the Lord. To serve God is to devote your efforts to Him. It also means to be useful in the house of the Lord. 

It Is A Great Thing to Serve The Lord

This is our year of serving the Lord. There is nothing better to do with one's life than serve God. Apostle Joel expounds on how there is a difference between those who serve the Lord and those who don't.

Formula for Humility - Sign of a proud person is to be puffed up

Chapter 12- What it means to be puffed up like Nebuchadnezzar 
1. You are puffed up like Nebuchadnezzar when you do not listen to warnings from your pastors and prophets

   Daniel 4:27 

2. You are puffed up like Nebuchadnezzar when you think that your achievements have been by your own efforts                   Daniels 4:30

           John 3:27 
           1 Corinthians 15:10

    Success is when you use the grace that God has given you and not remain lazy
3) We know Nebuchadnezzar was puffed up because he fell from his position and lived with the beasts of the field

Reasons Why We Need to be Humble

You need to remain humble to walk with God.

1. God resists proud people.
When you’re proud you set God up against you. James 4:6

2. God gives grace to humble people. Philippians 2:13
Grace is God’s help that you didn’t qualify for but He gives to you .Luke 16:12

16:12
3. Humble yourself so that you will be covered and protected. 1 Peter 5:5.
People who walk in pride are attractive to demons.