Pastor Taiwo @Sunday service
Truly, life is defined by its ups and downs and these become burdens to man. But when believers cast those burdens on Jesus, they find rest. Pastor Taiwo said this at the April 26 Sunday service while encouraging believers not to be overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath but to trust in God for their future.
He further said that when believers allow worry to become a major part of them, they have indirectly removed their faith in Christ. In his words, “Truly, there is much to be worried about but they are not enough to get you worried. Don’t let worry seize you, rather cast your care on Jesus because He cares. So you need to make up your mind to cast your need on Jesus who will not only help you pick up but satisfy you even more than you need. If He could lay down His life for you, then there is nothing He can’t give you.”
Speaking from 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11-28-29, 6:24-27, he said that worry is a destroyer that leaves one despondent and gradually reduces their health and life span, stressing that it makes one remove his or her focus from God’s grace, love and wisdom.
Speaking on the difference between worrying and being concerned about a situation, Pastor Taiwo noted that worry makes one get stuck on the problems and eventually frustrated to the point of gloom; whereas, being concerned about the situation doesn’t make one despondent but makes one positive and pursue solutions. “You will encounter burdens everywhere you go but don’t let it become a monster that will destroy you. Cast them on Jesus because He cares for you. Worry makes one forgets the God factor and it kills,” he said.
Using Hannah and the woman with the issue of blood in 1 Samuel 1 and Mark 5:26 as examples, Pastor said that the best way to cast burden on Jesus is by acknowledging His power to take care of those burdens and with thanksgiving and supplication, put those issues in His hands (Phil 4: 6-7). “Worry will always latch on to you but you need to make up your mind not to worry,” he urged.
GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
Pastor Taiwo @Thursday Showers
In continuation of his exhortation on prayer from Jeremiah 33:3, Pastor Taiwo during the April 23 Thursday showers said that believers stand to enjoy many benefits from praying, noting that it strengthens their relationship with God. According to him, prayer is a dialogue between God and man which involves talking and listening. “The strength of every relationship is communication and God enjoys that. When you pray to Him, He listens and He also wants to talk to you. So, you too need to listen,” he said.
Using Jesus’ prayer template recorded in Luke 11:1-2; John 11:1-12; John 11:41-43; Luke 23:46 and Matthew 7:7 as an illustration, Pastor Taiwo said that the strength of prayer is borne out of relationship, noting that this relationship is the covenant which God has with His own. “If you’re a Christian, you have the privilege of praying to God as a child to His father. Prayer is an interaction with our Father and since you are a child of God, He will listen to your prayers and answer you speedily,” he noted.
He therefore urged believers from Hebrew 4.16 to come boldly to the throne of Grace to talk to their Father and to also make listening an important aspect of their prayer because God is pleased when they listen and obey Him. “You have access and right to God. So, call on Him with confidence and He will answer you,” he urged.
