Trinity – the source of our victory

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

TRINITY SUNDAY, 7TH JUNE, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “Trinity – the source of our victory.”

           “Metalokan, orisun isegun.”

TEXT: Matthew 28:19

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

“Nitori naa e lo, e maa ko orile-ede gbogbo, ki e simaa baptisi won ni oruko Baba, ati ni ti Omo, ati ni ti Emi Mimo.”

We can never be saved believers without the complete work of God the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are all created by God the Father who is the beginning and the end in heaven and on earth (Gen. 1:27, 2:7) He re-made human beings, after the fall, in his image through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ his only begotten Son (John 3:16; Gal. 2:20) And finally prefects his work in the life of his creatures by living with all believers through the presence of the Holy Spirit who now dwells in every Christian or child of God (1cor. 3:16; John 14:16-18, 16:13-15). The complimentary works or activities of the three in one God are therefore what bring victory to all believers today. The source of our complete victory as Christians is God the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and that is what we celebrate today, Trinity Sunday. So I welcome you and all Nigerians back to Church in victory after COVID-19 had locked us out of the Church building in this nation or some part of this nation for about three months now. Worthy is the Lamb! Praise yee the Lord!

Truly, our God is on our side and he is always there for us, to give us victory every day because his plans for us are not of evil at all (Jer. 29:11) The plans of wellbeing for all his children, peace or shalom for all human beings and future victory over satanic bondage for believers are made possible by the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father who has continued to perfect his salvific works through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us since the day of Pentecost which we commemorate last Sunday. Men and brethren, if there is anything which proves the sonship of Jesus Christ, it is his resurrection from the dead. The account of Jesus’ victory over all enemies is what we have in the final chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew (Chapter 28) which is also the gospel reading for today. It is indeed a thrilling fact that we, as Christians, today, share in the victory which Jesus Christ alone had won for the whole world. This is good news for us and what actually distinguished Christians from adherents of other religions in the world. This good news that Jesus Christ’s resurrection brought victory to the world is expected to be shared by all believers (disciples of Christ) with others in the world. Christians are expected to give personal testimony about what God, the three in one, has done in their lives. It is as we give testimony of Jesus that others, hearing of him, make their own personal choice to become disciples of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The power to witness is not supplied by anything else, but the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Trinity (Acts 1:8). It is clearly seen in the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) that disciples of Jesus Christ had fully experienced the works and activities of the Trinity. They were made perfect in Acts of the Apostle on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit had come upon them (Acts 2) and they became bold to share the good news of their victory through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the same way we are victorious today and made bold through Christ who strengthens us and his Spirit which renews and refreshes us daily as people called to share the good news of the Holy Trinity with other people in the world.

What is the Holy Trinity, if we may ask? The meaning of the term “Holy Trinity” is one holy God in three persons. The meaning of Trinity in Christian doctrine, according to en.m.wikipedia.org., “is one God, but three coeternal and consubstantial persons – the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit as one God in three divine persons.” This is a mystery to us which we do not fully understand, and cannot be explained in words, or understood by logic, yet we believe that it is true. Indeed, the truth of the Holy Trinity is too great to be grasped by a carnal mind, we only know it by the experience of its love and power which we had. For anyone who had encountered Jesus Christ, the Son, and believed him to be his/her Lord and Saviour, the mystery of the Holy Trinity and its power to give victory in life will be revealed to such. After resurrection, just before his ascension, Jesus Christ stressed the importance of the Trinity in the making of a disciple, when he gave the great commission and directed that converts be received into a divine relationship by the rite of baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is a formulaic expression for the nature of God as a Trinity (1Cor. 12:4-6, 2cor. 13:14). The very nature of God demands that Christianity should be a missionary faith, where Christians go from one place to another sharing the love of God who is not willing that anyone should perish. (2 Pet.3:9)

As Christians we are to share the good news about Jesus Christ whose death on the cross brought salvation to the whole world. And to make our testimony about the victory won for us by Jesus Christ authentic and affective, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us. If truly we are children of God and share his nature, then let us tell the good news of Christ, who gave us victory, in the power of the Holy Spirit to the lost world. Let us show the world that we know God the Father who created the universe out of nothing with the power of his spoken word. Let us also make Christ known to our own generation as the only begotten Son of God who helps to re-make human beings in the image of God through his suffering, death and resurrection. Let us do all these in the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us as our divine teacher and guidance. Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, see this Trinity Sunday as another opportunity for you to re-embrace the work of God the Father at creation to regain your dominion and rule your world. Not only that, see this as an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ, God the Son and the redeemer of the world into your life and become a new creature.

Embrace the Holy Spirit today and be filled with power from on high for exploit in this world and complete victory from COVID-19 pandemic, satanic bondage, high blood pressure, sleepless night and all troubles of life. Our trust is in Immanuel – God, the three in one, is with us.

Let us pray

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

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

OS-CAN Chairman.