Pastor Olakunle Soriyan @ Sunday first service
Pastor Olakunle Soriyan, while ministering during the June 18 Sunday first service commemorating Father’s Day, explained the peculiarities of the challenges faced by men as compared with their female counterparts with regard to the definition of strength, being strong, and weakness.
Speaking from Matthew 6:25–34, Jeremiah 1:1, Ecclesiastes 3:11, and Romans 8:28, the clergy illuminated the truth of strength and relevance as compared to value. As an example, he mentioned that a stone is obviously stronger than a mobile phone, but no one would be willing to pay a huge amount of money for a stone. “Weakness doesn’t mean lack of capacity or under-service, but rather fragility, which is the nature of the opposite sex,” he said.
Pastor Soriyan advocated that the evolution of the ages (from stone to industrial) has led to the current high valuation of intelligence over brute strength. He posited that stones are still available, but their importance has diminished over the years. Therefore, the realities of the future will not distinguish between men and women based on strength but on productivity, creativity, impact, and contribution.
He challenged the congregation to go beyond academic qualifications toward education. He distinguished the difference between the former and the latter as the process of obtaining a certification on a subject matter based on what had been taught by others and the knowledge or experience gained or taught by oneself. He cautioned that if care is not taken, the more academically qualified an individual is, the more likely he is to lose his identity. He admonished that every Christian should strive for revelation, which is the experience tied to our spirituality as children of God.
He, therefore, encouraged that no one should be discouraged by the realities of his present existence but to pay less attention to facts and logic and put more focus on the provisions of the Word of God. “God is at work in everyone’s life, irrespective of age, and His works transcend every permutation that a man may be confronted with,” he concluded.
The full message is available on the Church’s Youtube channel, The Fountain TV) and TOM TV (Taiwo Odukoya Ministry) https://www.youtube.com/live/mqflNRMjN-E?feature=share . It is also available on CD and DVD at The Fountain of Life Church Digital Media Store.
A FATHER’S INFLUENCE
Pastor Kunle Osunkunle @ Sunday second service
In continuation of commemorating Father’s Day, Pastor Kunle Osunkunle, while ministering at the second service on Sunday, June 18, stated that the greatest influence in the life of Jesus was God, His Father. He said that to note that fathers have a great influence on the lives of their children.
According to Pastor Kunle, fatherhood is a ministry and an assignment that men have been called to, adding that they can succeed in that ministry when they make prayer a lifestyle because no ministry can succeed or survive without prayers. He continued by saying that the role of a father is that of a warrior who stands in prayer over the lives of his children and constantly speaks the word of God over them. He added that even as a man’s physique is broad and strong, so is his spirit.
“A good father prays because he knows he cannot father his children alone,” he said, as he encouraged fathers to be persistent in their prayers.
Pastor Kunle stated that in raising their children, men must ensure that their homes are similar to the Garden of Eden, where godly love is in abundance. He continued to say that it is the responsibility of the man to establish the spiritual direction of the home and to ensure that there is peace and unity. “Just as God gives only good gifts to His children, a man must be a source of good gifts from his heart and pocket to his children,” he said.
The clergy clarified the traditional mindset that fatherhood is just about material provision. According to him, fatherhood is not just about providing for the material needs of the children but also about birthing their destinies. “You must not relegate the role of nurturing your children’s spiritual growth to your wife; make it a priority to ensure that Christ is revealed in your children and that their destinies are fulfilled,” he said.
This assignment of fatherhood, the clergy noted, can only be achieved by submitting to God, as that’s when the counsel and wisdom to give to the children will be revealed to them.
He then urged fathers in the congregation to ensure that they are flowing into the lives of their children such that the blessings of God will manifest in them, get them refreshed by quality time spent with them, and correct and instruct them in the way of the Lord.
The full message is available on the Church’s Youtube channel, The Fountain TV) and TOM TV (Taiwo Odukoya Ministry). https://www.youtube.com/live/fM2M35nS-LE?feature=share It is also available on CD and DVD at The Fountain of Life Church Digital Media Store.
WALKING IN WISDOM
Pastor Tolu Ige @ Thursday Showers
Life in itself is complex, but for the believer in Christ Jesus, this is the opposite because he or she has the Holy Spirit who will help them navigate through the complexities of life. These were the words of Pastor Tolu Ige, lead pastor of The Fountain of Life Church—Grace Family in Ogba, Ikeja.
He said this while speaking at the June 15 Thursday Showers Service held at The Fountain of Life Headquarters. He noted that without the Holy Spirit, it is easy for believers to lose their way and be swept along with the current of the world. But Apostle Paul, in the Book of Ephesians 5:15–21, has provided a roadmap for understanding God’s will and practical guidance to help them rise above evil days and shine as beacons of light in a dark world.
He reminded his listeners that the way of the Holy Spirit is the way of wisdom, noting that the world has its own kind of wisdom. But if a believer must influence the world, he or she must not conform to the standards of the world. In his words, “If we do want to succeed in this life, we cannot function in the wisdom of the world. If we want to do all that God has called us to do according to His will for our lives, then we must trust His Holy Spirit to lead us through.” Anything outside this, he said, would be a daunting task filled with disappointments, betrayals, and frustrations.
He went further to explain that the role/responsibility of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is that He has been called to be by the believer’s side.
Pastor Ige went on to admonish his listeners, just as the scriptures have, to walk circumspectly. He explained this to mean that the believer must walk with utmost sensitivity as though they are walking amongst thorns because they (believers) are not expected to live their lives anyhow. According to him, “The life of a Christian is not que sera sera. It is about the will of God, so you have to jealously guard your life as you take your journey through life—however, with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
Highlighting how the believer must walk circumspectly, the clergy noted the following:
- They must make the most of their time. Each time a person wastes an opportunity without making the most of it, a part of that person’s life isn’t fully utilised. (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5; John 9:4-5; Psalm 90:12).
- Understand what His will is. Do not neglect the things that are important to the growth of the kingdom. (Eph 5:17; Romans 12:1-2).
- Be filled with the Spirit. This is a continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit. You do not get drunk with just one sip of wine. To be filled, there must be a continuous intake. The same applies to the Holy Spirit. (Proverbs 23:31-35).
- Gratitude and singing in wisdom (Eph. 5:19–20)
He reminded the congregation that the more they engage the Holy Spirit, the more clarity they will get in navigating the complexities of life.
The full message is available on the Church’s Youtube channel, The Fountain TV) and TOM TV (Taiwo Odukoya Ministry). https://www.youtube.com/live/fM2M35nS-LE?feature=share It is also available on CD and DVD at The Fountain of Life Church Digital Media Store.
