Invitation to drink from the Living water.

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

PENTECOST SUNDAY, 31^ST MAY, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “Invitation to drink from the Living water.”

             “Ipe lati mu ninu omi iye.”

TEXT: John 7:37 & 38

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

The feast of Tabernacles is one of the Jewish feasts which is held to commemorate Israel’s 40years wilderness journey and as well used to get the Jews ready for the promised kingdom of Messiah. During the feast, all who are native Israelites must live outside in booths made of branches to remind them of God’s providential care of the nation Israel through 40years wilderness experience (Lev. 23:33 - 44). The period was always a festive time for the people, and the temple area was illuminated by large candlesticks which reminded them of the guiding pillar of fire in Exodus 13:21. Each day of the festival, the Priests would carry water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out from a golden vessel, reminding the Israelites of the miraculous provision of water from the rock during their wilderness journey (Num. 20:9 - 11). Though the feast of Tabernacles was a time of jubilation for the Jews, but not so with Jesus, rather it was a difficult time for him, because it marked the beginning of open and serious opposition to him and his ministry as recorded in today’s gospel lesson John 7.

In the gospel according to St. John 7:37f, Jesus Christ used the event of the last day of the feast of Tabernacles to invite his audience to come and drink out of the living water which he alone provides. It was the tradition of the Jews that on the seventh day of the feast, Priests would march seven times around the altar while chanting Psalm 118:25 “Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success.” They would then draw water out of the Pool and pour it out just to remind their people of how God provided water for their fore-fathers in the wilderness, on their way to the promised land. Not minding the Jewish leaders’ opposition, Jesus Christ used this symbolic occasion of water pouring to extend his great invitation to all thirsty sinners when he said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (Jn.7:37) Jesus, who invited people whose lives had been dried up by the power of sin and wickedness to come and be refreshed, had in his mind the experience of Israel which is recorded in Exodus 17:1-7. To him the living water he invited sinners to come and drink was but a picture of the Spirit of the Living God, which Prophet Joel spoke about when he said a time is coming when God’s Spirit shall be poured upon all flesh (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17).

As we commemorate Pentecost day this Sunday and remember with thanksgiving the day the first set of believers (Apostles) received the Holy Spirit as contained in Acts 2, Jesus Christ is inviting all of us to come, drink, and be filled with the Spirit of God without whom we are nothing. Men and brethren, the only identity card we need to enable us drink freely from the living water is our faith in Christ Jesus who alone gives the living water to all who come to him. He as well made it clear that those who believe in him would not only drink the living water, but they themselves would turn to channels of living water to bless the thirsty world, especially at this trying period of COVID-19 attack on human lives (Jn.7:38). The same living water was introduced to the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4:13-15. Living water is so important in Israel and everywhere in the world, because of its high quality. Unlike the stored or stagnant water, living water is a moving one as in rivers and rainfall. Such water is precious because it is fresh and seen as coming directly from God, no wonder it is used for ritual washings in Israel (Lev. 14:5 & 6, 50 & 51; Num.19:17 - 19). It must also be noted that at the time when Jesus Christ made this invitation, calling on anyone who needed water to come to him and have a drink was a period of dry season. The invitation therefore is a clear sign that Jesus is the only source of living water which can never dry up, he came directly from God and brought spiritual renewal to the entire world. Anyone who believes in him will definitely be delivered from spiritual dryness and shall never suffer spiritual kwashiorkor. Such a person will be filled with the Spirit of God as in the days of Moses in Numbers 17:24 - 30.

Just as water brings satisfaction to a thirsty soul and produces fruitfulness, so the Holy Spirit satisfies the inner person and enables believers to bear fruit. Brothers and sisters, come to Jesus Christ today, accept him as your Lord and Saviour, then he will offer you the living water which is the Holy Spirit, and assurance of eternal satisfaction will be your portion on this Pentecost Sunday. Let me make this clear to you today. Anyone of us who has any of the following signs of spiritual dryness in his/her life should know that he/she is in need of the living water, and as such do not hesitate to come to Jesus Christ for a drink. Signs of Spiritual dehydration include these:

1.    Prayerlessness

2.    Selfishness

3.    Anger

4.    Pride

5.    Laziness

6.    Greediness

7.    Lack of self-control or self-discipline

8.    Lack of interest in Christian giving

9.    Negative thinking

10. Loneliness and a host of others.

Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus Christ is here again to help us out of our spiritual dryness. He is calling on us today to come and be refreshed with the living water which no one else can give (Isa.58:11; Rev.22:17) Come and connect with the glorified Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be freely given to you. Brethren, do you know that the awareness of our spiritual dehydration is a gift from God; that we know that we are spiritually dried up and need living water is a blessing to us as people in this wicked world. Jesus’ invitation to come and drink therefore is a call to partake of his life and Spirit. I urge you to come, receive the Holy Spirit and become a living water through whom the Holy Spirit will flow to save and help others in our generation which at present is suffering from various attacks, such as BokoHaram insurgency, Coronavirus pandemic, kidnapping, ritual killings and what have you. Receive the Holy Spirit, the power of God to rule our world and remain victorious forever. Amen

Let us pray

 

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.

The Ascension of Christ.

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, 24^TH MAY, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “The Ascension of Christ.”

             “Igoke re orun Kristi.”

TEXT: Acts of the Apostles 1:9-11

“After saying this, he (Jesus) was taken up into a cloud while they (disciples) were watching, and they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.” Men of Galilee, they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go”

The Acts of the Apostles, sometimes called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”, is said to have been written by Dr. Luke as the second volume to compliment his first book – The gospel according to Luke. (Luke 1:3-4; Acts 1:1-2) His intention was to present a detail record of what would serve as a bridge between the four (4) gospels, especially his own writing, and the Epistles written to churches and some individuals. Acts of the Apostles, therefore, is the continuation of the gospel according to Luke (Luke 24:50-53 cf Acts 1:1-3). The two books (Luke & Acts) were addressed to the same recipient called “Theophilus” who was probably an important Roman officer (Acts 23:26, 24:3, 26:25). This Theophilus could either be an individual who likely was a Christian or a group of believers who were seen as friends of God, because the Greek name “Theophilus” originally meant “friend of God” or “lover of God.” We may then conclude that Acts is written by Dr. Luke to all friends or lover of God to narrate what happened next after he had left the disciples of Jesus Christ in the temple where they were praising God in the gospel account (Luke 24:53) Having explained what Jesus Christ did and taught while on earth in the gospel, Dr. Luke went further to relate what Jesus continued to do and teach through the Church (his spiritual body) after the ascension in the Acts of the Apostles.

Jesus Christ did not leave his Apostles immediately after his resurrection, he remained on earth for 40 days ministering to them. Though he had opened their minds through what he said and did to understand the Old Testament message about himself (Luke 24:44-48), Jesus still felt that there were many more lessons they needed to learn in order to finish the “Unfinished business” of the kingdom he left for them. He used his post-resurrection and pre-ascension special ministry to teach the believers several important lessons which included but not limited to the following:

1.    The reality of his resurrection (Acts 1:3a) Before the 40days post-ascension special ministry, some disciples might have had their doubt (Mk. 16:9-14), but now no one can question the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He gave the disciples many infallible proofs just to strengthen their faith, because the spiritual power of the Church depends on the reality of his resurrection. (Rom.10:9-10; 1Cor.15:1-8) By words, walk and mighty works the believers tell the world that Jesus is alive. The same is expected of us (Christians) today.

2.    The establishment of God’s kingdom (Acts 1:36). Different from the political view of the Apostle about the kingdom of God, here Jesus refers to the reign of God over the hearts and lives of all who trust him (Matt.6:33; Rom.14:17). This reign of God is both now and in the future. When we surrender all to him, God takes over the affairs of human beings and rule supreme over them. But the time of the final consummation of his kingdom is not revealed to anyone. Rather God wants all to be curious about the future but to be busy in the present, sharing the message of his spiritual kingdom (Acts 8:12; 14:22). Let us go and tell the world that the kingdom of God is at hand.

3.    The power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8) John, the Baptist, had already confirmed the prophecy of Joel about the future baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matt.3:11; John 1:33) which Jesus Christ also spoke about before his ascension in Acts 1:4&8. He explained that the coming of the Holy Spirit would be an enduement of power for the disciples in order to serve the Lord and do his will. (Lk.24:49) Here verse 8 is important as it shows that the power of the Church comes from the Holy Spirit and not from human being (Zech. 4:6). Experience of John Welsey on 24^th May, 1842 is a living example of what the Holy Spirit can do in the life of any saved person. When John Welsey became saved by faith, he received the Holy Spirit as he felt his heart strangely warmed within him. He received unction to function. The same power is available to us today even as we celebrate John Welsey’s day this 24^th May, 2020.

4.    The assurance of Christ’s second coming (Acts 1:9-11). Jesus’ ascension into heaven should be seen as a necessary part of his ministry because of the following reasons:

                     i.        If he had not returned to the Father in heaven through his ascension, he could not have sent the Holy Spirit whom he promised as a gift to the believers. (John 16:5-15)

                    ii.        If Christ had not ascended into heaven, Christians would not have gotten the Saviour as their interceding High Priest, who daily gives them the grace they need for life and service (Heb. 4:14-16)

                   iii.        The ascension of Christ has also given believers the privilege of having an Advocate before the Father, forgiving us when we confess and repent of our sins (1John 1:9-22)

                   iv.        Jesus Christ’s ascension has given us the assurance that we have a builder in heaven who is preparing many mansions in heaven for the Church and will definitely come to take the believers home (John 14:1-4)

                    v.        By his ascension, the exalted and glorified Christ is now working with his people on earth through the Holy Spirit and helping them to do his purpose (Mk. 16:19-20)

                   vi.        The ascension gives all believers the assurance that Jesus Christ who was taken up will come again the same way he went into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11) The angels witnessed to this. In the same way Christians are commissioned to go and tell the world that the ascended Christ is coming back again to take believers home and judge the world in righteousness (Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8). Are you ready for this end-time mission?

Let us pray.

 

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.

The time of Ignorance

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, 17^TH MAY, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “The time of Ignorance.”

             “Igba aimo.”

TEXT: Acts of the Apostles 17:30

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”

“Pelupelu igba aimo yii ni Olorun ti foju fo da; sugbon nisisinyii o pase fun gbogbo eniyan nibi gbogbo lati ronu pi wada.”

The popular city of Athens was already at a period of its decline when Paul visited the place with the good news about Jesus Christ. Though the city was still recognized as a center of culture and education, but the glory of its commerce and politics had since gone down. Athens had a well-known university and many beautiful buildings, but it was no longer an influencial city it used to be. Rather it was maintained by its rich idolatry, novelty and philosophy (Acts 17:16-21). Arrival of Paul in the city was therefore not as a sightseer, but as one who has come to win souls and transform lives. He did not miss his opportunity of winning men and women of Athens back to the true God. He called them out of their ignorance unto the knowledge of the only true God. Our world, today, is not in any way different from the world in the time of Paul. To rescue humanity from ignorance, we, preachers of the gospel, need to be like Paul, we must have our eyes opened and our heart broken with passion for souls of men and women which are already at the verge of destruction.

In the text appointed for our old testament reading today, the sixth Sunday of Easter, Acts 17:22-31, Paul had to confront two opposing Philosophies and high level of idolatry as he witnessed for Christ in Athens. He was faced with the Epicureans who taught human beings to “enjoy life” and the stoics who asked people to “endure life” to the stoics; pleasure was not good and pain was not evil, but the Epicureans believed in pursuit of pleasure and the love of good living without pain and anxiety. The most significant issue in our text which stirred Paul in the face at Athens was the worship of many and different deities (gods) which included THE UNKNOWN GOD (Acts 17:23) Hence, when he had the opportunity to address the council of the Aeropagus, which was responsible for watching over both religion and education of the people of Athens, Paul started with a compliment: “…I perceive that in all things you are very religious…” (Acts 17:22)

Truly, the people were so religious that they even had an altar to “the unknown god.” The question here is that, how is it possible for people to worship the god they did not know? How would such god be of help to them? Paul saw their ignorance as an opportunity to introduce the only true God who created the heaven and earth to them. He thus shared four (4) basic truth about the living God with them as he did while preaching at Lystra (Acts 14:15-17).

1.    Paul showed them the greatness of God, the Creator (Acts 17:24): Contrary to the teachings of the Philosophers, such as Epicureans (atheists) who believed that everything in the world was matter and the Stoics who said everything was God, Paul boldly declared that God made the world and everything in it and remained the Lord of all that he had made. He is never a distant God who could be separated from his creation. He is a great God whose greatness does not affect his concerned for the needs of human beings who are the crown of his creation (Acts 17:25).

2.    He spoke about the goodness of God and his power to provide (Acts 17:25). It must be understood by all that we (human) are not the one serving God, but it is God who serves us (Matt. 20:28). God is self-sufficient and thus needs nothing which human beings supply. Brothers and sisters in Christ, if we believe that God supplies all that we need: life, breath and all things, then it means that our God is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). He gave us life and sustains the same by his goodness (Matt. 5:45). He should therefore be well known to us.

3.    He taught them about God’s rulership (Acts 17:26-29). The gods of the Greek, according to Paul were distant beings who had no concern for the problems and needs of their adherents, but the God of Creation is also the God of history and geography. Paul added that the entire land of the Greeks, which they revered was a gift from God. It is the government of God that determines the rise and fall of nations and all their governments (Dan.4:35). This God is not a distant deity, therefore human beings ought to seek God and come to know him in truth (Acts 17:27)

4.    He also called their attention to the grace of God our saviour (Acts 17:30-34). As Paul, brought his message to a close, he gave the obvious evidences of God’s grace. He talked about how long the patient God was with the sin and ignorance of human beings (Rom. 3:25, Acts 14:16) It does not mean that human beings were not guilty (Rom.1:19-20), but God only held back his divine wrath. He sent his Son (Jesus Christ) to be the Saviour of the world (John 3:16), and now he commands all human race to repent of their foolish and wicked ways. Paul made the people of Athens to understand further that the Saviour was killed and he resurrected from the dead, and certainly he will return to judge the world.

Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in the household of faith, are we still living in ignorance at this era of post-modernity? Do we really know the God we serve? Or are there some of us who still give their worship to an unknown god? Remember that the Bible says, “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits (Dan. 11:32).” Yes, enough of living in the past, let us come out of our pretense and hypocrisy, and face the reality of life, especially at a time like this when Church buildings are under lock and key. When peoples’ hearts and body are troubled confused and restless, because COVID-19 has left us to choose between life and livelihood, especially in Nigeria where this ongoing attack of pandemic has brought a lot of setback on our economic and religious life.

This pandemic has further shown the limitation of human wisdom, frailty of human beings and fruitlessness of our efforts as human without God. We have all seen how ignorant the whole world is in a time like this. The Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me, because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hos. 4:6).

Yes, many of us had lost the knowledge of the true God in us and have failed to seek him. We have followed and served other gods, even the unknown god, in ignorance very many church goers have rejected the Creator and Saviour of the world in ignorance and chose unfamiliar and unfriendly gods instead. Some people choose money as their object of worship, some love sex, power and position more than God the Creator of heaven and earth, while some other people preferred idols which are controlled by demons to the true God. Enough is enough, let us all embrace the self-sufficient God and worship him, let us remember that God has promised to forgive all our wicked and evil deeds which we committed in the time of ignorance. He wants all men and women, boys and girls and rich and poor to come to repentance.

Men and brethren, let us confess our ignorance to God, let us confess our helplessness and foolishness to him so that we may find necessary help from him. Let us come unto Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, accept him as our only saviour from the grip of COVID-19 or Corona-virus, and he will give us his Holy Spirit who will teach us all things (John 14:16-26). This is where the profane; the government needs the sacred which is the Church. Jesus Christ, Lord and Head of the Church can give the Holy Spirit to Pharmacists, and other medical practitioners and researchers with which they could discover COVID-19 vaccine and the right medication for other terminal diseases in our world today. We must believe in God and his Son, Jesus Christ, for solution to all our life problems. No other god or human being can help us except God Almighty the Creator of heaven and earth, in whom we live, move and have our being. Without God and his Christ, we can do nothing. (John 15:5). I have shown all of you, life and death, choose life today and you shall live, for the time of ignorance, our God has overlooked. He wants everyone to turn to him and trust him for life now and hereafter.

Let us pray.

 

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.

The Troubled Heart. (Okan to Daru)

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER,

10TH MAY, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE

Theme: The Troubled Heart. (Okan to Daru)

Text: John 14:1 - 2

“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

“Ema se je ki okan yin daru: e gba Olorun gbo, e gba mi gbo pelu. Ninu ile Baba mi opolopo ibugbe nio wa iba ma se bee, emi iba ti so fun yin. Nitori emi n lo pese aaye sile, fun yin.”

We read in the book of Job that “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Jesus Christ himself attested to this when he said in John 16:33 that, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” This is very true today with the present attack of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, on the world at large. Everywhere around the globe now, men and women, old and young, rich and poor, and low and high are seriously troubled in their hearts for many reasons. Number one on the list of causes of troubled heart is the prevalent pandemic called Coronavirus, which is ravaging lives fast in our world. Others include, loss of job, death of loved ones, poverty, divorce, kidnapping, insurgency and prolonged lockdown (both total and partial) especially of religious centers like Church and Mosque. In a time like this, it is important for us to remember that sin and trouble are two friends which go together. Where there is sin, there you find trouble, they are better described in a Yoruba saying; “Ore ki yore, ako ba ni ki ya ra won.”

The moment sin came into the garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 3, the minds and hearts of Adam and Eve started to experience trouble and they began to look for way out. Their sin of disobedience attracted divine curses unto the entire human race and the banishment of the two from the garden of Eden is the banishment of the fallen human beings from the place of peace, joy, provision and health. Since God drove Adam and Eve out of Eden (Gen. 3:23-24), human beings had continued to look for lasting solution to their troubled hearts and precarious situation. I am here today with good news for all of us with troubled heart as a result of the global attack of COVID-19 and its prevailing effect on our social-economic, education and religious life.

The solution to our troubled hearts and confused situation in Nigeria is nothing, but “faith in Jesus Christ; the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:1, 2&6). Our gospel reading today, the fifth Sunday of Easter, opens with our Lord’s loving admonition, “Let not your heart be troubled…” (John 14:1). This opening statement of Jesus’ loving and farewell admonition to his disciples is not surprising to us at all, because we all know that the Apostles were already troubled since the announcement of Jesus Christ that one of them was a traitor (John 13:21 & 22). Not only that, Jesus’ warning to Peter that he was going to deny him 3 times was certainly enough to give all of them a great concern. How about the realization that Jesus was going to leave them like a sheep without shepherd? (Jn. 13:33) Their hearts became more troubled because they did not know where he was going and it was impossible for them to go with him. But Jesus Christ calmed their troubled hearts with 6 wonderful assurances in John chapter 14 which I am going to list out and discuss just the first two in this message.

The same assurance is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ today. We can lay claim to them and then enjoy untroubled hearts as people of one way at any situation. These assurances are:

1.       The fact that we are going to heaven where there is no COVID-19 or any other pandemic. (John 14:1-6)

2.       Our knowledge about God is enough to give us the spiritual resources needed for calmness and as well keep us going at this turbulent time as this (Jn. 14:7-11)

3.       We have the privilege to pray which is one of the best remedies for a troubled heart. “Why worry when you can pray trusting in Jesus alone” (Jn. 14:12-15)

4.       We have access to the Holy Spirit, without whom we cannot live the Christian life expected of us as followers of Christ (Jn. 14:16-18)

5.       God’s love is available for every believer to enjoy, especially in a time like this when palliatives are not going round. (Jn. 14:19-24).

6.       Peace, one of the greatest gifts of God is always given to those who believe in God through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:25-31, MHB 501)

My dear people of God, let not your heart be troubled as a result of the prevailing circumstances caused by Coronavirus and its management in our nation Nigeria, which has brought untold hardship on the masses. Jesus’ perfect peace as seen in John 14:27 assures us that, He alone can give true peace. Jesus Christ is the Master of all situations and he has the power to enable us take control of our lives as we surrender to him and receive his legacy of peace and calmness to our troubled hearts. Even if things become unbearable here on earth the fact that we (Christians) have another home in heaven (Jn. 14:2), a new city (Heb. 11:16) the kingdom of our God (2Pet. 1:11) where pain, sorrow, hunger, pandemic etc. cannot reach is enough to ease our tension. According to Jesus in John chapter 14, heaven is a real place. It is not a product of religious imagination as some would think, but a dwelling place of God and where Jesus Christ returned to after his resurrection. It is therefore a home for the children of God. It is said that Jesus was a Carpenter while here on earth (Mk. 6:3), but now that he has returned to glory, it is believed that he is using his skills to build a Church on earth and a home for the Church in heaven. No wonder, he promised in John14:3 to return to take his own people home. It is therefore true that some will go to our heavenly home through the valley of the shadow of death (physical death I mean), but those who are alive when Jesus shall return to earth at his 2nd coming will never see death (Jn. 11:25-26). They will be changed to be like Christ and will go to heaven with him (1Thess. 4:13-18).

This is why Stephen at his death was filled with joy, when he saw the glory of God and Jesus the Christ standing at his right hand in heaven. His trouble ceased and he held no grudges against his killers when he saw the glory of heaven where he was going to stay forever (Acts 7:55, 59-60). Like the Psalmist, in Psalm 31 verse 5, commit your spirit into God’s hand while you are still living so that he may receive you into his eternal kingdom whenever you are dead. Do you have a home in heaven? Try and win one for yourself today through your faith in Christ. Men and brethren, the assurance of a heavenly home at the end of our pilgrimage here on earth will enable us to bear joyfully with the obstacles and battles along the way. It was the same assurance that encouraged our Lord Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” (Heb. 12:2). The same thing happened to Paul when he wrote, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18)” Are you still troubled in your heart?

Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, we do not need to reach heaven before we get to know what our God can do. As a matter of fact, we can know our heavenly Father better in a time like this, when the whole world is looking for solution to the pandemic which has shut everyone indoor in Nigeria. The Knowledge which can be of help to us in a time like this, when every other knowledge is failing us globally, is to know the fact about God, to understand the truth behind that fact, to believe in him and finally to have a deeper relationship (Communion) with him as our Father and Saviour (Jn. 15:1-5) I am convinced that the burning desire of every Christian should be to know God better than ever, like Philip who said to Jesus, “show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (Jn. 14:8) In response to his request, Jesus made it clear that once we get to know him, we have known the Father who has solution to all our life’s problems. Jesus and God are one indivisible, whosoever knows the Son has known the Father (God) and whoever believes in the Son has also believed in God who sent him. We must also realize that the words and works of Jesus Christ came from the Father and both reveal the true nature and character of God to us. Why then should our hearts be troubled because of ordinary COVID-19, when the Creator and President of the whole universe is our own Father? The assurance here therefore is that we know the only one who knows the source of COVID-19 and that is enough to give us the spiritual resources which we need today to overcome the power and effect of this pandemic and all other life threaten issues in our world. God is able to deal with everything which is troubling our heart today. Only believe in him and in his Son Jesus Christ and you and your family shall be saved and enjoy his supernatural power. Brethren, let not your heart be troubled again.

Let us pray.

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.

The Door of Life.

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

FOURTH SUNDAY IN EASTER, 3^RD MAY, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: The Door of Life.

             “Ilekun Iye.”

TEXT: John 10:9

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

“Emi ni ilekun: bi enikan ba gba odo mi wole, oun ni a o gbala, yoo wole, yoo si jade, yoo si ri koriko.”

According to en.wikipedia.org, “a door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier which allows ingress and egress into an enclosure.” The same source further states that “a door’s essential and primary purpose is to provide security by controlling access to the portal (door way)” It is then obvious that door is important at any building as it serves the purpose of protection and security to occupants of such building. This type of door is visible and well known to us, because there is none of us who lives in a house without doors. The door mentioned here, however, is an imagery used by Jesus Christ to illustrate the relationship which exists between shepherd and sheep in a given fold. It is an important message with deep spiritual meaning. In the New Testament scholarship, the issue of door is found to be the third “I AM” saying of Jesus Christ. According to John, the writer of the fourth gospel, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, reveals the true nature and character of God to the world and that the “I AM” claims has the seal of authority of Christ’s oneness with the Father. It has a link with the name of God revealed to Moses in the wilderness at the scene of the burning bush in Exodus 3:6, 13:14.

Jesus Christ opened his teaching in John Chapter 10 following the excommunication of the beggar in chapter 9 of John with an illustration which was familiar to the Jews, who were his listeners. In the Jewish land, the sheepfold was usually an enclosure made of rocks, with an opening for the door (John 10:1-6) but without door fixed to it. Usually, it is the shepherd who guards the flock both in the day, and at night by lying across the opening in place of door. The true shepherd comes into the fold through the door, and his flock recognize him, whereas thieves and robbers could never enter through the door hence they have to climb over the wall and enter the fold through deception. But the fact remains that the sheep will never listen to them nor will it follow them. Rather, the sheep will follow only the voice of their own shepherd. This teaching of Christ was, however, difficult for the Jews who were listening to comprehend. They neither understood what he was saying nor why he gave the teaching which honestly was not like the parables recorded in the other gospels. Contextually, the occasion for the teaching was the excommunication of the former blind beggar from the Synagogue as contained in John 9. According to the story of the man born blind who later regained his sight through his personal contact with Jesus Christ, one may conclude that the Jewish leaders were false leaders (shepherds) who did not care for this man’s welfare as God did (Jer. 29:11). Rather, they maltreated him because of his faith in Jesus who healed him and threw him out of the Synagogue for his testimony about Jesus Christ, who restored his sight. But to further show the care of God for his Children, Jesus Christ, the true shepherd, came to him and took him who was sent out into the fold of God’s children (John 9:35-38). Are you here today without any help at a time like this, when COVID-19 has caused total lockdown to our system and thus makes things difficult for us? Are people around you seem to be false shepherd like the Jewish leaders? Here is a good news about someone who has made himself to be the Door just for your protection and security. He is Jesus who cares for you and ready to provide all you need. (1Pet. 5:7).

In this teaching, the sheepfold is the nation of Israel (John 10:16) and the Gentiles including you and me are the other sheep not of the fold of Israel, but who also need to be protected, secured, saved. and brought to stay together with the Israelites under one shepherd who loves and cares for them. Because of lack of understanding on the part of the Jews, Jesus Christ decided to gave the application of his teaching (John 10:7-10). He claimed to be “The Door” twice in these verses showing that he is the Door of the sheepfold who makes it possible for the sheep to go out of the fold and as well come back into it without any difficulty. The Pharisees threw the beggar out of the Synagogue, but the Lord (giver of life) led him, not back into Judaism, but into the flock of God. Jesus Christ is the Door of Salvation (John 10:9). Those who trust him are allowed into the fold of Christ, and are allowed to enjoy great privilege of going in and out and finding pasture (Ps. 23). They shall be part of the new community where members’ welfare are taken serious (Acts 2:42-47). Where peoples’ need, burden and yoke give the shepherd (leader) much concern. Is our church and fellowship like this? This is what today’s church ought to be.

As the door, Jesus Christ delivers sinners from bondage and leads them into liberty. Not only that, Jesus is able to keep all believers safe and sound in this turbulent time of COVID-19. How many of us, Pastors, are still true Shepherd willing to lay down our lives for the church as Jesus did? (John 15:13) Do we care for the church members or exploit and abuse them? The story of the beggar and the Jewish leaders in John 9 is a good example of what the thieves and robbers can do. Pastors and leaders who are interested only in providing for themselves and protecting themselves. Covetous people like the Pharisees who take advantage of poor widows and vulnerable members of their congregations (Luke 16:14; Mk. 12:40). They are leaders who turn God’s temple into den of robbers (Matt. 21:13). I am today, creating this awareness so that all believers may know that we have false prophets/shepherds in the church who are agents of the devil. They are here to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), but Jesus has his own disciples who have been commissioned to give abundant life to all who believe and put their trust in Christ alone. It is therefore clear that when we go to God through the Door (Jesus) we receive life and salvation. As we go in and out with and through Christ, we have abundant life to enjoy in the rich pastures of our God here on earth and therein heaven. Men and brethren know this fact; Jesus did not only give his life for us, but he gives his life to us even now that through us, other people may have eternal life which we had in him. He became our stepping stone unto great grace and next level of freedom, glory, honour, fullness and abundant life. Let us pray:

1.   Pray that Jesus will be and remain the solid door of your life, family, business etc which no wicked one or pandemic can penetrate.

2.   Pray that as the Door of your life, Jesus will not allow any virus, sickness or death to come into your body.

3.   And pray that as the Door of Nigeria, Jesus Christ will now open and allow all coronavirus remaining in our nation to go out of it permanently. 

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.