Pastor Philippe Yameogo blessed me with the opportunity to speak at the dedication of our (Zone One Church and MCA Church) fortieth congregation in Burkina Faso. The new and vibrant congregation is in the village of Koulbila, Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Following are the message notes for my presentation. Knowing there were Muslim friends in the audience, I emphasized the blessings of Jesus are a fulfillment of God’s promise to father Abraham.
We thank God for creating the earth.
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.
We thank God for making us in his image.
Male and female, created he them.
We thank God for the assignment given to humans to work with God in the earth.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28
We thank God for Jesus and the work He assigned to us when He said, “Go into all the world.”
Koulbila is part of “all the world.”
We are here in this part of all the world, made in God’s image, ruling over the earth by establishing this church and being fruitful and multiplying.
Jacob was about to leave Laban, his father in law. “27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” Genesis 30”27
It is my prayer that Koulbila and the surrounding area is able to say, “The Lord has blessed us because of this congregation.”
The blessing of God’s Presence. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
The blessing of God’s People Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The blessing of God’s Purpose Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
The Blessing of God’s Prophetic City Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4