Kissing or Cleaving?

From Our Pastor's Desk

Ruth.1:14 - “And they lifted up their voice and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth cleaved unto her.” Most of us, if not all, know this story. The woman called Naomi went with her husband, Elimelech, and their two children from Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn in the country of Moab, in search of the proverbial “greener pastures”.

Unfortunately, fate dealt a hard blow on her; she lost her husband and two sons to the chilly hands of death. All she was left with were her daughters-in-law, who, unfortunately, were not fortunate enough to have children before their husbands died. Eventually she decided to go back to her own country.

Orpah and Ruth, the two daughters-in-law, after pledging to go with Naomi to her home country, later responded differently after she told them of what will await them.

Ruth 1:14 highlights their individual responses. Orpah gave a parting kiss to her mother-in-law and went back “unto her people, and unto her gods” (Ruth1:15) but Ruth cleaved un-to her mother-in-law with the firm pledge, “whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” Ruth 1:16-17.

Though kissing and cleaving are two actions denoting affection, but one is superior to the other. Cleaving is to love, honor, respect, celebrate, dignify, glorify someone.

When you cleave to someone, you don’t dishonor, betray, disregard or disgrace such a one. But, from Biblical accounts we understand that kissing may not always be as noble as it may appear.

The Lord will help us to cleave to, honor & respect our God, spouses, parents & parents-in-law, especially those of the household of faith, in Jesus Name.

Amen You will have good success this 2018. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom.

A Child of Glory

By: Pastor 'Tayo Adewale

Parents are mothers and fathers. Mothers are gold, fathers are mirrors. We treat gold and mirrors gently with care, so our parents. Our obligation to our parents are very important to God. He said one way of pleasing Him is by honoring our parents— Colossians 3:20.

Therefore, we are expected to love them not by just word of mouth, but also in action. We are to respect them when speaking to them both in words (spoken or unspoken), tones, gesticulations and right timing. 

Don’t ever talk of their faults, for this is like Ham’s (Genesis 9:20) uncovering the nakedness of his father, Noah. With meekness defend them. Obey them, and this should be prompt.

Matthew 21:28-31.  Obey them in all things even when they are not there, knowing that God and your conscience are present.

Jeremiah 35:18-19. Submit to their discipline and rules, always remember that your parents are commanded by God to correct your fault.  And finally be kind to your parents, don’t laugh at their mistake, don’t expose them, and don’t be ashamed of them for any reason. 

In this our Month to honor Parenthood, let’s celebrate, pray, value our parents and do things that give them joy and happiness. Proverbs 23:24-25. Don’t forget, that whatever you sow, you will reap Galatians 6:7. 

As we honor our parents, so shall our own children too, honor and celebrate us. May the Lord continue to provide all what we will need to honor our parents to us, in Jesus Name. Amen

Remain on Top! 

You will have good success this 2018. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom.

Honoring Parenthood

By  Sis. Titilayo Erebor

What is Parenthood? It has been defined formally as the state of being a parent and the responsibilities involved.

It however has also been described as the toughest, most rewarding job one can ever have. Bearing this in mind, it is expedient that we honor our parents especially as we are commanded to do so in the bible; Exodus 20:12 says “Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gave you.”

Honoring parents appears in several places in the Bible; Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2 and Mathew 15:4. It is one of the 10 commandments, so it is very important, and it is also one of those with a promise; longer life. (Dishonoring parents also comes with a price as in Mathew 15:4).
This commandment to honor our parents is essential, particularly for children, as it helps to lay the right foundation in their lives and their understanding and belief in God is based on the fulfillment of this command.

There are biological, step, adoptive, foster and spiritual parents and they all deserve the same type of honor. I will also like to include teachers, especially teachers in Church and other adults in children’s lives; they deserve honor too as 1Timothy 5:17 says. This verse says they deserve ‘double honor’! 

This is food for thought as this is the only time that the word ‘double’ is added to honor! This shows that it is very important that children honor their Church teachers and leaders and adults also honor their pastors and other Church leaders.

May we all be blessed as we honor our parents, Church leaders and elders in Church, in Jesus Name.

Amen.

You will have good success this 2018. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom

The Blessing

From Our Pastor's Desk

Proverbs 10:22 – “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” One vital thing people pray and seek for in life is blessings. Every man, woman, boy and girl wants it.

There is yet no man in life that does not have the desire to be blessed. Despite the desire and drive for blessings, not many people really enjoy it. 

What is The Blessing – It is the empowerment of God to do well. Comes through His word, impartation etc. Whoever receives the Blessing cannot be cursed.

You do well, you become fruitful etc The Blessing is different from blessings, which are signs of the blessing at work. Without the blessing one struggles, it makes a difference.

The secret to enjoying ceaseless flow of blessings in life is to have ‘the blessing’ Please understand that not all possessions are blessings. It is only those achievements, possessions that add no tears or pains that are true blessing.

Some scheme their ways to the top, which is not a blessing. There are people that make covenants with the devil, demons, witches and other dark spiritual power to have a breakthrough; that is not a blessing.

The only true blessing is that which God Himself gives a man and it comes through ‘the blessing’. There are a lot of people that are rich but are not blessed. When you have the blessing you won’t have to struggle for blessings. The blessing is the principal thing, therefore get it. The Lord bless you with “the blessing”, in Jesus Name. Amen.

You will have good success this 2018. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom.

October 2018 - Our New Month to Honor Parenthood

From Our Pastor's Desk

Our Month To Honor Parenthood Welcome to this Our New Month to Honor Parenthood, in Jesus name. Deuteronomy 5:16 –“Honor thy father & thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, & that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”

Honor means esteem, respect, pay homage to, assign value to. To honor someone, then, means treating them respectfully because we value them highly. God is essentially saying here, “it’s good that you honor me; but also honor me through your father & mother, and others.”

Also, in Exodus 20:12. God did not put any requirement on the 5th command, to honor our fathers & mothers only if they are honorable; but to simply treat them with respect. In Ephesians 6:2-3, Paul repeats the same command. 

Listen, we may be children now, but we, also, will soon be fathers & mothers of our children, in the near or later future, in Jesus Name. As we highly esteem, respect, regard and honor our Fathers & Mothers, all will be well with us, we will grow old to be grandparents, everyone with staff in his hand for very age.  In this Our Month to Honor Parenthood, we give double honor to all our spiritual, biological (birth), single, step, adoptive & foster parents and parents-in-law.

God bless & honor you all, for your labor of love, sacrifices & prayers, in Jesus mighty Name.
Amen.