Religion
Sunday Worship Service: Topic: Long Life Our Covenant Heritage
Preacher: Pastor Kola Oyekalel
Text: Isaiah 65:20-22 NKJV
[20] “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. [21] They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. [22] They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
You will not die young, you will fulfill your days.
Philippians 1:21-24 NKJV
[21] For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [22] But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. [23] For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. [24] Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Live for productivity, impact and influence. Live to affect lives.
Death will not come to you anyhow. You will know and be ready. This means you have fulfilled the reason for your existence.
Revelation 1:18 KJV
[18] I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Death came because of sin. The wages of sin is death. Jesus paid the prize for our freedom from sin and death. When Jesus died on the cross, he ended death and brought life. When he went to the grave, the power of the grave became weak.
So, Jesus took the keys of death and hell from Satan. Satan is not in control of it. He overcame death and hell. His victory is your victory.
You will go home to rest at a fulfilled age, not at your prime age.
Why should we pray for our covenant right of long life:
1. It is God’s plan
Exodus 23:26 NKJV
[26] No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
2. It is your covenant right. The act of praying it, is the act of claiming it.
Whatsoever is your covenant right, you must claim it.
Hebrews 2:14-15NKJV
[14] Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
[15] and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
The spirit you carry is not the spirit of fear but of boldness and courage. Your make up is boldness and sound mind.
3. Devil wants to rub us of our rights. The devil torments us with the fear of death.
John 10:10 KJV
[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The fear of death cripples us from advancing in life.
The promises and covenants of God are not automatic. There are keys needed to activate and flow in them.
The keys to the covenant of long life are:
1. Wisdom
Proverbs 9:10-11 KJV
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding. [11] For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
Wisdom extends our life.
There are things you access by your actions. Long life is one of such. Wisdom teaches us how to prolong our life on earth.
God designed our life for good things.
We need wisdom to pray. There is power in prayer.
Psalm 16:11 KJV
[11] Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Proverbs 9:12 NLT
[12] If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Proverbs 3:16-19 GNT
[16] Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honor. [17] Wisdom can make your life pleasant and lead you safely through it. [18] Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life. [19] The Lord created the earth by his wisdom; by his knowledge he set the sky in place.
There are many rewards of walking in wisdom. Wisdom can make your life pleasant and lead you safely through it.
Rewards of Longlife:
1. Wisdom gives long life.
2. Long life is a reward for serving God.
Psalm 92:12-14 GNT
[12] The righteous will flourish like palm trees; they will grow like the cedars of Lebanon. [13] They are like trees planted in the house of the Lord, that flourish in the Temple of our God, [14] that still bear fruit in old age and are always green and strong.
Service to God guarantees our long life. Usefulness in life begins in the house of God. If you are useful to God, it is not man paying you but God rewarding you.
When you serve God, you serve him not for your ambition. You cannot serve humanity genuinely if you cannot serve God properly.
3. Longlife is a reward of reverence for parents.
4. Long life is a reward for maintaining a healthy life, a healthy weight.
Instruments to enforce our long life heritage:
1. God’s word.
2. The blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is a covering for you.
3. The name of Jesus. Whenever you use the name of Jesus, you invoke his personality which is greater than anything. The name of Jesus can swallow up death. When you mention that name, the angels of death respond and crush the foul spirit of death and give you victory.
4. The Holy Spirit. He identifies with power in demonstration. The Holy Spirit guides you from accidental mishap and death.
The Holy Spirit lifts up a standard against death and evil. The Holy Spirit also brings to your remembrance scriptures that guarantees our long life.
5. The ministry of angels. There are many ministering angels attached to your life to bring safety and deliverance to you.
Religion
Eid-El-Fitri: Reps Minority Caucus calls for prayers for peace,unity and progress in Nigeria
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives extends warm felicitations to Muslims across the nation, urging prayers for peace, unity, and the overall progress of Nigeria.
This was conveyed in a Sallah message jointly signed by the caucus leaders; Rep. O.K. Chinda – Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Ali Isa J.C – Minority Whip, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki – Deputy Minority Leader and Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi – Deputy Minority Whip.
In their message, the caucus congratulates the entire Muslim Ummah on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Fitri celebrations, which mark the end of the sacred month of Ramadan.
They said, “Indeed, this day holds deep significance for every Muslim faithful, as it follows the successful completion of the one-month-long fasting, a fundamental pillar of Islam.
“As our Muslim brothers and sisters across the country join others around the world to celebrate this auspicious occasion, we remain confident that Allah has accepted their prayers and supplications.
The Caucus encouraged all to uphold the teachings and values learned during Ramadan, including charity, empathy, generosity, and compassion towards one another.
“The Caucus also urges Muslims—and Christians, who are concurrently observing Lent—to continue praying for the peace, unity, progress, and development of our dear country.
“We firmly believe that through earnest prayers, our leaders at all levels will be divinely guided with the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding needed to address the multifaceted challenges hindering Nigeria’s growth, which have subjected citizens to severe hardship and economic distress.
“Furthermore, the Caucus calls on the Federal Government, through its relevant agencies, to take decisive action in ensuring the safety of lives and property, especially in light of recent security concerns affecting various communities in the North West, North Central, South East, and South South regions.”
A group called the Virtuous Women of Delta (VWD) has given the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, a 14-day ultimatum to tender an unreserved apology to Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The group made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Coordinator, Deaconess Eguolo Oghenekevwe.
In the statement, the group expressed their outrage over Akpabio’s alleged disrespectful behavior towards Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing his actions as sacrilegious according to Delta’s cultural traditions.
The statement read, “We have patiently watched as the Senate President has dragged our sister through the mud. In our tradition, such actions are considered sacrilegious and carry severe consequences.”
The group further emphasized their disapproval of Akpabio’s behavior, particularly his decision to have Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan removed from a public space, which they found deeply disrespectful.
“The fact that he had our wife walk out of a public place is enough to make us march to the National Assembly in protest,” they stated.
The group gave Akpabio 14 days to issue an unreserved apology, warning that if he fails to do so, they will be compelled to take action and express their anger in person at the National Assembly.
The controversy stems from previous comments Akpabio made, including the use of inappropriate language referring to a nightclub, despite the fact that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is married to a prominent Delta man.
Akpabio had earlier apologized for his remarks, acknowledging their sacrilegious nature.
“Such words are unacceptable, especially when a married woman is involved. Our men are like lions and will not tolerate such disrespect,” the statement continued.
The Virtuous Women of Delta emphasized that, as Akpabio hails from the same geopolitical zone, he should be aware of the importance of their cultural values and traditions, which cannot be disregarded.
“We politely ask the Senate President to apologize, or face the consequences within the next 14 days,” the group said.
Religion
Sunday Worship Service (16th February, 2025): Topic: The Concept of Love: How to Make the Right Choice
Pastor Kola Oyekale
Verses of God’s promise to us:
Isaiah 30:19 NLT
[19] O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Jeremiah 30:19 AMPC
[19] Out of them [city and palace] will come songs of thanksgiving and the voices of those who make merry. And I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.
Meaning of Love
There are different dimensions of love
1. Eros Love: Love between man and woman
2. Philia Love: Love between brethren in church
3. Storge Love: Love between family members
4. Agape Love: God’s love. It is a love that has no condition attached to it. This is the love that is in the kingdom. It is the love that flows from the life of God (Zoe).
When the Bible was talking about marriage, God brought in this love.
For this kind of love to be experienced in a relationship or marriage, it has to be deliberate and intentional.
Marriage is a business. A successful marriage does not happen by chance. It is not cheap. If the only thing you carry into marriage is your physical appearance, you will get no result.
If you make wrong choices you will have troubles. Even when you don’t make the wrong choice, there are still troubles you will experience in a marriage relationship.
Factors to Consider When Making the Choice of a Marriage Partner:
1. Be the right person
You cannot be the right person if you do not know yourself. Knowing yourself is crucial to the kind of person you want to marry.
Singleness helps you discover who you are. Knowing yourself helps you know who you can marry.
Most successful single people find their purpose before they get married.
So when you get married, you have a helper who can help you fulfill purpose.
You need a purpose for your life before you can pick a marriage partner.
Do you have the things, qualities and virtues you are seeking in a spouse?
The journey to finding someone is to first find you.
Find yourself first so you can know your value. If you don’t value yourself, you will sell yourself cheap.
To find the right person, be the right person.
Nobody will increase your value except you. The value you put on yourself is your investment. Don’t wait for a man to add value to your life.
2. Choose the right person
There are marriages you must qualify and prepare for before you enter it.
Don’t be desperate when it comes to marriage. Desperation can make you fall into wrong hands.
There is a plan for your life and a choice for your life.
When you identify your purpose, you will know who to choose.
A woman who chases after a man reduces her value.
3. Do and keep doing what is right.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
[9] And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
When you marry, you will not get all you want, however you should keep on doing the right thing.
Start doing the things you want your spouse to do.
Don’t marry with the mind that you will change your spouse. Nobody has any power to change anybody, only God does.
Song of Solomon 1:16-17 NKJV
[16] Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Also our bed is green. [17] The beams of our houses are cedar, And our rafters of fir.
The word ’green’ means refreshing, life, a relationship that is renewed, not dirty and not defiled.
There must not be defilement of bed when a relationship starts.
Every relationship must begin and end pure.
The only test you can do before marriage is the test of character not the test of sexual compatibility.
Every relationship begins with Friendship, then Courtship then Marriage.
Believers are encouraged to be friends without ulterior motives.
When you are friends, you can see each other better than when you are in a romantic relationship.
Friendship opens you up to see each other clearly without hiding.
The whole essence of marriage is so that you will produce godly seeds.
Your knowledge of God will help you out in married.
Marriage is an act of faith.
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