Category: worship

By Bishop Taiwo Akinola

Introduction: The Christian life, from start to finish, is designed to be a supernatural experience, and living daily on this supernatural platform is the real excitement of Christianity. However, faith is the wheel that makes this possible. Real faith puts you in the class of God and moves God to work in your favour. And, the faith that will produce desirable results must be nurtured to grow appreciably.

The Bible teaches that there are varying levels of faith: No faith (Deut. 32:20); Little faith (Mat 6:30, 14:31); Weak faith (Rom 4:19); Erring faith (1Tim 6:10); Mustard seed faith (Mat 17:20); Growing faith (2Thes 1:3); Living faith (Gal 2:20); Unfeigned faith (2 Tim 1:5); Established faith (Act 16:5); Strong faith (Rom 4:20); Great faith Mat (15:28); Steadfast faith (Col 2:5); Bold faith (1Tim 3:13); Speaking faith (Rom1:8); Fighting faith (1Tim 6:12) and Sound faith (Tit 1:3).

Yes, there are different levels of faith. But I must quickly add that, since no one could be saved without faith, every believer has faith in a measure (Eph 2:8,9; Rom 12:3). Your faith cannot be static; it is either growing, diminishing or withering. Thus, you must ensure that your faith grows continually because it is very crucial to your life (Rom 1:17). Only those who live by faith are qualified to enjoy the Abrahamic blessings and are guaranteed divine protection against the darts of evil (Gal. 3:7-9; Eph .6:16). But, how do you grow a productive faith?

In the natural world, if a seed is not given conducive conditions (good soil, water, and sunshine), it will not grow though it has the potentials.

Similarly, hearing the Word of God is essential to growing a luxuriant and truly productive faith. You cannot truly hear God’s Word and remain unchanged (Rom. 10:17). However, just hearing God’s Word is not enough, you must position yourself to hear it from HIM. Besides, hearing God’s word is more than just listening; it means to hear and act upon what was heard (James 1:22).

Saul was a violent persecutor, but the day he heard the voice of Jesus Christ, he recognized His Lordship and his life changed forever (Act 22:6-9). Other people saw the light, only Saul heard the voice. The light here represents information, Voice represents Jesus’ personality. If all you do about the faith ends just at the information level with no intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ, the faith won’t be productive.

Moses heard from God, he boldly proceeded to Pharaoh, the same man he ran away from earlier. Destiny transformation comes with God’s majestic and irresistible Voice (Ps 29:4). He still speaks today, but we must be spiritual to discern His Voice (Rev. 1:10-11).

Furthermore, speaking God’s Word in affirmative faith is very essential to growing your faith (Mk 11:22, 23; Pro 10:11; Pro 18:21; Rev 12:11).

The force of faith is one of the strongest creative forces available to man, but it works by your words spoken to situations and circumstances around you. A believing on the inside of you, and a speaking forth on the outside give birth to the creative force of faith (Rom 10:10). In other words, what you believe and speak forth is what is created for you (Mk 11:23).

Your life is whatsoever you call it (Gen 2:19). What you see and say is what you get and eventually become (Deut. 1:28; Num 13:33). No matter what, don’t ever take side with the devil. Rather, take side with God by constantly speaking what He says. When you see peace by faith and speak peace, you overrule turmoils around you (Mk4:39; Ps 8:9) And, even if you cannot control the entire world, you can control your own world by the words you speak regularly.

Moreover, to grow a truly productive faith, fellowshipping constantly with God through obedience, confidence and humility cannot be overemphasized (John 2:5; Pet 5:5; Jam. 4:7). Growing your faith is not intended to be a struggle; rather, it is a product of a heart that follows after God. Your faith cannot grow beyond your obedience, and as you develop in your fellowship with God, learn to be still and confident in Him (Is 30:15; Ps 4:4; 46:10; 84:4). Anxiety is an enemy of faith and progress; it chokes the seed of the word (Lk 8:14). Nothing good works by anxiety. Remember Elijah (1Kg 19:4).

In conclusion, please know that God’s only pleasure is to be believed and His only pain is to be doubted (Heb 4:6). Hence, the glory of God shows in your life up to how grown your faith is. Anything beyond your faith level remains undone. Developed faith is faith for living (Hab. 2:4). As you believe God’s Word and speak it boldly, I see your faith producing gracious results henceforward, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Bishop Taiwo Akinola is the presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers.

Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

 

BISHOP Wilfred Anagbe has called on the clergy and the laity of Makurdi Diocese to participate actively in the Novena of Reparation for the sacrilege at St. Peter’s Parish, Wurukum, Makurdi which was closed on September 15, 2020.

The Novena of Reparation began on 4th October and ends on October 12. It will be concluded with the rite of atonement by the bishop on October 13, which marks the official reopening of the parish.

Pastoral activities were suspended at St. Peter’s and the priests withdrawn following two sacrilegious attacks on 12 August and 13th September this year by yet-to-be identified persons.

The attackers desecrated the Holy Eucharist and looted sacred vessels thereby defiling the Church.

Priests have been directed to enforce active participation in the Novena at parish levels across the diocese.

 

By Bishop Taiwo Akinola

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Introduction: One of the strongest truths in the entire Bible is that God is inherently faithful. He is trustworthy. He honours His words, fulfills His promises, and He won’t let down anyone that trusts in Him. Our God is too faithful to fail!

God’s faithfulness is in direct contrast to the other heathen faiths. Other gods are, generally, immoral, selfish, cruel, and careless with their promises regardless of their pledged word. Contrariwise, the God of the Bible is always loving and caring, and especially faithful both to His covenant and to His children (Ps. 89:34).

God’s Faithfulness Reaches Unto the Clouds

Reflecting on history, magnificent thoughts of God’s faithfulness spring forth! Yet, from his personal experience, King David saw God through his many cloudy seasons, and he sang: “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds” (Ps. 36:5). Such inspirations must be stamped upon our hearts, never to be erased by any ominous finger.

In every life are shadowed days when the sun withdraws its shining, as it were, and the clouds return. This may be a time of family trouble or of great financial anxiety, a time of failing health or times when the grave is full and the living is beginning to envy the dead. It may even be a time when all that a man has lived for seems washed away like a castle in the sand – a day of unexpected turns.

Sometimes, to our chagrin, these cloudy moments gather very swiftly like some tropical thunderstorms, and we think that God has forgotten to be gracious and are tempted to secretly doubt His care for us. However, we ought to keep in mind that our God is faithful to “them that love him and keep his commandments” (Deut. 7:9).

Certainly, history has its cloudy days. It was a cloudy day experience when the Jews were carried away to Babylon. Exiled to a distant, heathen land, they thought that God had forgotten them and had broken His covenanted faithfulness (Isaiah 40:7). They were seriously confounded: “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion” (Ps. 137:1).

One day, their heart would rise to sing again on the other side of captivity. But at that time, they had hung their harps, not wanting to sing the Lord’s song of faithfulness in that strange land. Then suddenly, across those dark and cloudy days, came to the ringing prophetic voices with the message of ransom and return (Is. 35:1-10). God is faithful!

Another desolating moment showed up when our Lord ascended to the Father, and a cloud received Him from the disciples’ sight (Act 1:9). The disciples had loved Him and leaned upon Him, so they were well-nigh broken-hearted when the cloud took him away from them, thinking the sweet companionship was over, forever. But, Jesus Christ had promised them His abiding presence, and He showed up to fulfill that promise on the day of Pentecost.

Jehovah God is faithful, and He won’t break His covenant, no matter what (Hebrews 10:23). Remember Abraham? He held on to God’s faithfulness, even in his hopeless situations (Romans 4:19-21). And his Isaac – meaning Smile – came at last!

God’s Faithfulness Is Inexhaustible

Yes indeed, from time to time, the clouds of uncertainty do hangover humanity. But, if we only could carefully reflect on our personal experiences of dark days, remembering how, severally, God had acted to illuminate our paths, we cannot but shout: Great is His faithfulness. Alleluia!

We were stained with sin and shame and marked for death. But God, who is rich in mercy and unfailing in His faithfulness, marked us by His love in Christ Jesus and redeemed us unto Himself. Assuredly, He won’t abandon us, anytime.

For people out there, anxious and distressed because things are presently dark and cloudy – have faith in God. Do not despair. The hour is nearer than you think when you also, like David, will sing the songs of God’s faithfulness.

Tomorrow belongs to those who live today by a faith that sees beyond the limitations of human reasoning, trusting in the unfailing love of the Faithful God. He alone has helped us thus far, and He alone will carry us all the way to our Hope of Glory.

Maturing Confidence In God’s Faithfulness

It’s very crucial to have robust faith in God’s ability to keep us away from evils and answer our prayers, but it is also very important that we grow up spiritually to a point where our relationship with God is not based just on His ability to perform, but on our love for Him, because He first loved us.

The three young Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, faced a tragic death threat for choosing not to worship the Babylonian golden image. However, their resolution was not based only on God’s power and faithfulness to save them, they said they would rather die than to worship any heathen god, even if God wouldn’t deliver them. That’s a statement of genuine love for God, which won’t disobey His commandment even in the face of death. And it was this unwavering love for God, not just their faith, that provoked and attracted God to them in their desperate hours. When we live true to the Lord, we will in turn enjoy His faithfulness in full.

Conclusion

God’s faithfulness is never, in any way, diminished by men’s unfaithfulness. Albeit, unfaithful men cannot access the provisions that the Faithful God had reserved for the faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

With God’s faithfulness in view, keep up hope even if it appears that disappointment is staring you in the face. God will never give up on you, no matter what. He’s constantly holding out hope concerning His people so that we might fulfill all His pleasure.

The challenges may not be all over yet, nor the changes complete, but when our hearts are excited with loving faith in God’s faithfulness, things long-awaited will certainty land in our hands.

Friends, the smell of rain is in the air, renew your trust in the Faithful God. For it will soon be said of us as it was of our predecessors: “They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (Jos.5:12). Happy Sunday!

Further Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10; Leviticus 26:42-45; Psalm 89:1-24; Lamentations 3:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 3:3.

Akinola is Presiding Bishop, Rhema Christian Church, and Towers

Taiwo Akinola

Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need ~ Hebrews 4:16.

Introduction

It has been shown over the ages that God’s mercy is a major all-time need of man. Why? Man doesn’t always get what he deserves, but what mercy delivers to him: “it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:16).

Naturally, the journey of life is too cumbersome and very difficult to predict. Sometimes, certain unwholesome events come calling, when they are least expected. Most certainly, it is not the strongest of the species that always survive in life, not the most intelligent, but those who are the most receptive to the mercies of God, “for by strength shall no man prevail” (1 Samuel 2:9).

Understanding the Subject of Mercy

In our day-to-day usage of the word, ‘mercy’ is that tenderness of heart which inclines a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he/she deserves. It is the disposition of the mind that tempers justice and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses. Mercy is that platform, which allows favor to flow towards a person or a thing.

In Biblical parlance, God’s mercy is a distinctive attribute of the Supreme God that does not allow Him to overlook the helpless in his miserable estate (Numbers 14:18). Mercy is God’s prerogative that makes Him embrace the rejected. Certainly, Leah was in this catchment (Genesis 29:31).

Mercy is the outflow of God’s compassion and forbearance that shuts the doors against harm but conveys blessings to His people who have obtained mercy. God’s mercy is intrinsically connected to His covenant with man. Hence, the golden cover of the Ark of the Covenant was justly referred to as the ‘Mercy Seat’ (Ex.25:17-22; 26:34).

Mercy is a major requirement in the school of divine assistance and durable wonders (Titus 3:5). It is a ‘Certain Entity’ in the realm of the spirit that follows those who receive it on their journeys of life (Ps.23:6).

When Mercy Speaks!

From generation to generation, mankind continues to enjoy God’s mercy one way or the other, only in varying degrees. For instance, the wonders of the Israeli nation is deeply etched in God’s mercy (Rom.9:13-18). It was God’s mercy that supernaturally turned their battles around, to make room for their inexplicable victories, as found in the battle of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:21).

Even today, it is His mercy we have received that saved us, keeps us, provides for us, heals us, forgives us, and even gives us a hope of heaven.

When God deals with any man according to His mercy, don’t just write him off yet, because anything can still happen. Such destinies can still gain momentum and be propelled to great ascendence. For instance, by mercy, Esther, the common slave girl became the Queen in Shushan palace. How about that!

Among the several hundreds of other beautiful virgins across the 127 provinces of King Ahasuerus, God’s mercy singled out Esther for the coronation, and the King loved her “above all the women” (Esther 2:17).

When mercy speaks, the most disadvantaged becomes repositioned into the most advantageous estate. Mercy is all that’s needed to transit any man from prison to the palace. If you’re in doubt, please ask Joseph, the erstwhile Egyptian Prime Minister (Genesis 39:21). May mercy locate you and speak for you today in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In situations where God’s mercy is on the front burner, incurable diseases can vanish miraculously in the twinkling of an eye. The father of the lunatic boy in Matthew 17:14-18 must-have tried every possible means to procure healing for his son, all to no avail. Thereafter, he came to Jesus Christ, pleading for mercy, and the child was cured immediately.

The mercy of God is the most inerrant solution to pathetic situations in life. Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus was blind for a long time. But, he knew by revelation that it was only mercy from the Lord that could rescue him from this infirmity. Hence, when he learned that Jesus was passing by, he cried out for God’s mercy, and heaven stood at attention to assist him, restoring his sight instantly (Mark 10:46-52).

God’s Mercy Never Fails!

God’s mercy is never-failing because it is as eternal as it is everlasting, and it is as dependable as it is reliable. The mercy of the Lord is ever sure and durable (Isaiah 55:3).

Moreover, God’s promises of “mercy” to men are always firmly propped up by His “truth” (Psalms 25:10). And, you see, Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Generally speaking, wise men value a promise by the character of him that makes it. Definitely, under the dispensation of the New Testament, any man can enjoy the fullness of God’s goodness through Jesus Christ today (2 Corinthians 1:20). God is not only gracious in promising, but He is also very faithful in performing whatever He has promised. All His promises and all His providences are sustained and fully guaranteed by Truth. Alleluia!

Conclusion

Were it not for God’s Mercy that we receive moment by moment, we would have been consumed by woes and wickedness (Lamentations 3:22-23). Hence, supplication for mercy should remain a top agenda on our prayer altars.

When mercy is still speaking, nothing is impossible. When God’s mercy speaks up for you, it can still be well with you, even inside a well! In all His dealings, God’s people see the Lord’s mercy displayed, and His words fulfilled, whatever situations they find themselves. May His sure mercies continue to speak distinctively for us all, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!

Our Reporter

Women at Risk International Organisation (WARIF) in partnership with Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation has commenced the third cycle of the WARIF Gatekeepers Project.

This project aims to eradicate gender-based violence (GBV) through the training of gatekeepers across Local Government Areas in Lagos.

These gatekeepers, who consist of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and Law Enforcement Agents, will now include Religious Leaders of all faiths from the community.

The project was launched in 2017 with the successful training of 1000 traditional birth attendants across 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State who served as first responders to cases of rape and sexual violence.

The second cycle the following year was an equal success with the inclusion of law enforcement agents as secondary gatekeepers; these officers were trained on the right protocols to address cases of sexual violence as well as the importance of sensitivity when addressing the affected survivors.

Cycle 3 of the Gatekeepers Project recognises the role and importance of religious leaders in rural communities across Nigeria.

It emphasised the large circle of influence these community leaders hold in their respective places of worship, in their communities.

With the inclusion of these leaders, an anticipated increase in the level of awareness is expected with a significantly higher number of cases of sexual violence being reported.

WARIF believes this goal will be readily achieved with the inclusion of these new trustworthy and respected tertiary Gatekeepers and will make an impact on a wider reach of men and women in the society at large.

READ ALSO: Group calls for more investment in women’s health

Sponsored by ACT Foundation, the project saw the fostering of good relationships between the TBAs and law enforcement agents in previous engagements, ensuring survivors received the assistance needed, and cases were reported in a timely fashion.

Speaking on the inclusion of religious leaders in this cycle, WARIF’S Founder, Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, stated: “Following two successful cycles of the gatekeepers community-based project, sponsored by ACT Foundation, community leaders such as the Traditional Birth Attendants and Law Enforcement Officers were engaged and trained on becoming first responders in cases of gender-based violence.

“This led to an increase in the awareness of this menace in their respective communities and a documented increase in the number of cases reported to the WARIF Centre.

“We anticipate the addition of religious leaders who are respected community mediators as our tertiary gatekeepers in this project will lead to an increase in awareness, a change in the prevailing mindset of the community, and a subsequent reduction in the number of cases of violence against women and girls reported.”

A total number of 600 gatekeepers will be trained in this cycle who will be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to raise awareness, support survivors of rape and refer these cases immediately WARIF for treatment and to the Law Enforcement, for the apprehension of the perpetrator and prosecution.

Our Reporter

 

A FAITH-BASED non-governmental organisation, Centre for Righteous Living (CRIL), has called on the National Assembly to not discontinue its probe on the controversial Chinese loan.

The President of CRIL, Rev. Solomon Adegbolagun made this known at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday where the group expressed concern over the conditionality attached to Chinese loan capable of compromising the national sovereignty and called for transparency in the manner such huge loan is expended.

While acknowledging government drive to develop the nation’s infrastructure, the group, which touched on burning current national issues, urged the Federal Government to ensure that loan obtained outside the shores of the country are not misappropriated or embezzled by governmental officials.

Adegbolagun said, “We therefore call on the National Assembly  to investigate the details of the loans, find out its terms and conditions and implications for the Nigeria State. We are not against taking of loans for national development, but the issue of local content is crucial to Nigerian professionals. This and other pertinent areas of the loan condition must be properly scrutinized by the national assembly. We don’t want what is happening in some African countries to happen in Nigeria, where Chinese have taken over some sensitive aspect of the economy of those countries.

“Loan is good if it is properly channelled. By the grace of God, very soon, we will begin to see train running from Lagos to Ibadan, that’s an improvement. The question is, who are the engineers? Are they Nigerians?”, he said.

On the issue of CAMA Act 2020 affecting the church and NGOs, should be reviewed.

“We are not against CAMA Act 2020 but the Section that states that the trustee can be removed by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs Commission.”