Pastor Akin Osinbajo @ Sunday first service
Citing the account of Hagar and Ishmael as recorded in Genesis 21:10–21, Pastor Akin Osinbajo said at the July 2 Sunday first service that God’s faithfulness in the lives of His people, irrespective of how contrary the situation may be, is sure. He also explained that the fulfilment of God’s promises is dependent on the appointed time and season, and while waiting for this timing, God’s children are to keep hope alive. “Never give up on God’s promises to you, even in the face of a seemingly hopeless situation,” he said.
Speaking from Hebrews 10:23, the man of God reminded his listeners of how God came through for the children of Israel in the book of Esther. He noted that rather than give up, Esther trusted God through her prayers, and her people were delivered. The story of Bathsheba, who became an object of King David’s lust in 2 Samuel 11, was another story of hope rewarded by God, according to the man of God. He noted that despite the many travails of being raped and discarded by the king, her husband being killed, and the subsequent loss of the child that was produced from that experience, God came through for Bathsheba as she eventually gave birth to Solomon, who became the future king of Israel.
Again, the minister referred his listeners to the book of 2 Kings 4:1–7, which describes the hopeless situation of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets; her sons were to be taken away from her due to her inability to repay the debts owed by her late husband. She did not give up hope but cried to Prophet Elisha, and God eventually came through for her as she not only paid off the debt but had excess to feed herself and her children.
The story of the three Hebrew boys in the Book of Daniel was another hopeless situation, as noted by Pastor Osinbajo. According to the minister, Daniel and his three friends trusted their God and never gave up hope, and God delivered them from both the lion’s den and the fiery furnace.
In rounding up his message, the man of God explained to the congregation that the moral of all these stories is for them to put their trust in God and not in men. He referred to Psalms 20:7 and emphasised that God’s children were not to trust in chariots (men) but in the name of their God. He said the supplies of man are temporary and fickle, but the supplies of God are infinite and permanent. He assured his listeners that God is always true to His words and enjoined them to always hold fast to the confession of their hope as stated in Heb 10:23 because God, who promised, is ever faithful!
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/Y61d4AqcX4Q?feature=share. It is also available on CD and DVD at The Fountain of Life Church Digital Media Store.
INSECURITY – HAMAN’S ACHILLES HEELS
Pastor Femi Megbope @ Sunday second service
Pastor Femi Megbope has described insecurity as a hindrance, saying it stops people from enjoying God’s blessings. He said this in his sermon at the July 2 Sunday second service. The preacher took his main text from Esther 3:1–9 and 5:9–13, which detailed Mordecai and Haman’s story.
According to the preacher, Haman had no reason to be jealous of Mordecai, who was merely a guard in the palace. Pastor Femi, however, said insecurity pushed Haman to see a gatekeeper as a competition. “He left a party happy, having enjoyed himself, and then he saw the gateman and the happiness disappeared and anger set in,” he said.
The preacher noted that while Haman was well respected and wealthy, he wondered why he envied a gatekeeper. “Of what relevance is Mordecai’s presence to the wealth, office, and prestige that Haman was enjoying? Nothing! Insecurity would not allow you to enjoy your blessings,” Pastor Femi added.
He continued, “Insecurity would make you take your eyes off the great things God has done and focus on the seemingly inconsequential things.”
Furthermore, the clergyman wondered why some people just hate others for nothing. This attitude, he said, is a signpost to insecurity, which should not be found among believers. “Affirm your children, because if you don’t, insecurity will set in and they will begin to look for security where they ought not to,” he told the worshippers. “Speak blessings and positive words to your children. Affirm them so that by the time they leave the house, they are complete. Nothing anybody can say would shake them,” the cleric said.
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/Y61d4AqcX4Q?feature=share. It is also available on CD and DVD at The Fountain of Life Church Digital Media Store.
ACTIVATE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Pastor Imisioluwa Owolabi @ Tursday showers
Pastor Imisioluwa Owolabi, while explaining the importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of a believer, said to the worshippers at the June 29 Thursday showers service that the believer has what it takes to navigate through life in such a time as this with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Speaking from 1 Corinthians 12, the assistant Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Hope Nation, Yaba, noted that the gift of the Spirit is given to everyone and that believers are meant to engage in the operation of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. Bearing in mind the present economic challenges characterised by fuel price hikes and a high exchange rate, the clergy advised believers not to lose faith but to constantly engage in the language of the Spirit, understanding that if God could frame the world through His word, then we have the power to shape our future through our words.
Modelling the timid Peter and how he converted over 3,000 souls, made the lame walk, and was unabatedly imprisoned for preaching the gospel after being endued by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Owolabi affirmed that the Holy Spirit can change a timid person to be courageous; a broke person to be prosperous, and can cause several advantageous changes in the life of a man. “The Holy Spirit is not a spooky feeling; He is a person; He is God,” she added.
Reading from the theme scripture for the year, Ephesians 5:15–22, the clergy recounted how she fell ill in 2021 and her system could not retain medication. She hinted that her consistent confession of Psalm 91 perfected her healing. Also, she stated that faith is standing on God’s promise despite the obvious feelings. Characterising prayer as a dialogue where our prayers should produce direction and strategies, she noted that it is the Holy Spirit that helps us exhibit the fruits of the spirit.
In closing, the clergy expressed that the only way to engage the Holy Spirit is through the word (The Bible). Speaking briefly on the prophetic, she stated that as important as the office is, when it drives us away from God and gets us closer to men, it is grievous. She, therefore, indicated that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will cause a stir of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs within us as believers when we communicate with one another. In a world of twisted scriptural truth and realities, the only way to have contact with the world and not be contaminated is by the “Holy Ghost,” which can be simply activated by reading the Bible and praying every day.
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/Y61d4AqcX4Q?feature=share. It is also available on CD and DVD at The Fountain of Life Church Digital Media Store.
