By 'Gbenga Bankole
It was two days of divine impartation at the 2021 Ministers' and Workers' Refresher Course of Christ Apostolic Church, Amazing Grace Zone, Ikorodu, Lagos.
The programme with the theme;"The Making of faithful Steward in the 21st Century Church (1 Cor. 4:1-2)" had in attendance Ministers and their wives on Friday August 20 and all church workers (including ministers and their wives) on Saturday August 21, 2021.
While delivering the first lecture on the topic "Christ Love: A Model for Ministerial Living in this 21st Century", the Zonal Superintendent of CAC Amazing Grace Zone, Pastor/ Prophet Timothy O.A. Yerokun said God is Love, the love between God and man had been revealed in the Old Testament through a series of events.
He further said that the New Testament divine love is expressed in a unique fact, the very nature of which transfigured the facts of the situation.
"The loving union of Jesus with the Father is expressed in the perfect love which he also made the principal commandment of the Gospel: 'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment' (Matt. 22:37-38). As we know, to this commandment Jesus attached a second, 'like the first,' that of love of one’s neighbor (Matt. 22:39). He proposed himself as a model of this love: for the ministers’ to love their wives and the children. 'Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God... Therefore be imitators of God, ministers of God ( Ephesians 5:1-2)," he stated.
According to him, the love, with which Jesus has loved us, is humble and characterized by service (Mark 10:45) and the love taught by Christ is expressed in mutual service which includes self- sacrifice for others; its final proof consists in offering one’s own life “for the brethren" ( 1 Jn. 3:16), adding that it is mandatory for ministers to love their wives unconditionally.
Commenting on 'Ministers as a model of Christ's love' Pastor Yerokun noted that;"the model of Christ love according to Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 20 to 27 can be summarized into two vital points: love and humility. Hence, husbands should love their wives and wives in humility and even submit to their husband. As Christ, showed his love in humility to lay down his life for us. A life living in Christ (1 Jn. 2:6) is a life that loves and serves others. A service (love, encouragement and help) is the heart of Jesus and should be our heart as well as we seek to live in fellowship with Him, as ministers and our wives."
The Cleric urged ministers and their wives to abide in genuine love, easily and freely forgive offences, love, rebuke, correct when necessary, saying that you cannot love without being sacrificial but you can be sacrificial without love.
He further said that love is not dishonest, it is not built on the foundation of deceit, lust is not love, holiness create good environment for true love, there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear and love is seeking the highest good of another (Ephesians 1:20).
Conclusively, Pastor Yerokun said;"the love of Jesus is greater and deeper than man can fathom; Jesus shows His love to you everyday. Do you replicate the same in ministerial living? In order to be successful in our calling as God’s people we must continue to grow in following the example of Jesus Christ model of love."
The Guest Speaker of the programme, Pastor Testimony G.O Adekola said the report of Paul the Apostle in 1st Corinthians chapter 4 verse 1 and 2 about the faithful steward narrate unimpeded requirements and even mind of God on how individuals worker should be trustworthy, obedient and loyal to the superior authority, in order to implement and show case the glory of the Lord.
"Our major responsibility as a Minister and Worker in the vineyard of God is to reveal the light of Christ to ungodly people of our society, make a disciple of many to Christ through an untarnished character, teach them thoroughly the way of the Lord, reveal to them, the presence of the Lord and how they can come in contact with Him and lead them to baptism and help them to grow in faith," he explained.
Pastor Adekola concluded by charging the ministers and workers to press forward and increase in the work of God by winning people to Christ and living a life of emulation that will also help people to copy their Christlike nature and character.
