If you receive this article through email, you can click on the title to read it on GreenePastures.org for the best formatting, photos, and more.
********************
It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since John and I lived in Lagos, Nigeria. What a blessing those years were.
While we were there, God placed two wonderful people in our lives—a kind Christian woman who helped care for our home, and a pastor named Lucky who drove us around the city. As expats, we were expected to support the local families, and we were grateful for the chance to do so.
Lucky often practiced his sermons while driving me from place to place. I got to hear his heart for the Lord many times. He would always ask me what I thought of his upcoming sermon. He truly wanted my opinion, and sometimes he would include what I said in his sermons.
We only visited his church once, but I wish we had gone more often. His church was simple—just chairs on a concrete slab between two old buildings—but his message was powerful. He preached the Word of God with clarity and passion. It was clear that this was his true calling, not driving us around!
We grew to love Lucky and have stayed in touch ever since. Just recently, he sent me one of his sermons. I made a few minor edits before sharing it, but the message is all his—full of heart, full of truth.
Lucky is a true believer in Jesus Christ, and we’re so thankful he became one of our lifelong friends.
********************
Sermon: Stay Faithful & Listen to the Spirit
Pastor Lucky Atughara @ True Foundations Church, Lagos, Nigeria
Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025
Bible Verses: Revelation 2:1–7; Revelation 2:15–17
The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:1-7).
15 So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:15-17).
Overview:
-
- Serve with perseverance
- Keep your first love for Jesus
- Overcome evil and false teaching
- Listen to what the Spirit is saying today
- Who were the Nicolaitans?
They taught that Christians could live in sin—especially sexual sin—and still be right with God. Jesus hated this teaching because it led people away from the truth and into spiritual danger.
²⁸And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper (Romans 1:28).
Romans 1:28 says people sinned even though they knew it was wrong. They didn’t care and encouraged others to do the same. The King James Bible calls them “reprobates”—people with no conscience.
Balaam’s False Teaching
Balaam didn’t speak God’s truth. He led people into idolatry and sin.
The Nicolaitans were like wolves in sheep’s clothing—pretending to be good, but leading others to destruction.
15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15)
Reminder:
Satan can’t create anything. He wasn’t made in God’s image. All he does is twist truth into lies.
The Church in Laodicea
To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead. 2 Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember that you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you (Revelation 3:1–3).
Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to [f]test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 3:7–13).
Laodicea was a wealthy city known for medicine and manufacturing. But the church there was missing Jesus. They weren’t hot or cold—just lukewarm. Jesus warned them, but He also gave hope. He stands at the door, waiting to be invited in.
Trust God Through the Storm
11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; help us, Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You.” 12 So the Lord routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled (2 Chronicles 14:11–12).
All the prophets were prophesying this as well, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be successful, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
Micaiah Brings Word from God
12 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them, and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, I will speak it.”
14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” He said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you! (2 Chronicles 18:11–14).
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Faith isn’t asking God to stop the storm—it’s trusting Him to walk with you through it. God is never late. He knows the perfect time to do great things.
God Brings Us Out
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said,
“I called out of my distress to the Lord,
And He answered me.
I called for help from the depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
3 For You threw me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current flowed around me.
All Your breakers and waves passed over me.
4 So I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 Water encompassed me to the point of death.
The deep flowed around me,
Seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 I descended to the base of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from the pit, Lord my God (Jonah 2:1–6).
38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 Out came the man who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go (John 11:38–44).
Also, see Daniel 6:1–27.
Note: Jonah came out of the fish; Lazarus came out of the tomb; and Daniel came out of the lions’ den.
Whatever situation you’re in, you will come out too, in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen. God will change your situation. Something new is coming your way!
Family Rules That Keep Peace
1. Speak kindly and respectfully
2. No shouting—talk calmly
3. Say sorry when you’re wrong
4. Solve problems—don’t bury them, and
5. Don’t compare your family to others
Final Blessing
God bless you for hearing His Word today.
May He give you wisdom and understanding in every decision you make—in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you, Lucky, for sharing your sermons with me over the years!
The NASB Bible is used for all Bible verses.