In continuation of the series of exhortations from different pastors of The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos, worshipers at the December 2 Thursday Showers service were encouraged to trust God and judge Him faithful irrespective of their circumstances.
While addressing the congregation, Pastor Abiodun Soderu said God never loses grip over any of His creation, noting that even when it doesn’t make sense, God knows what He is doing, and it is always good.
Speaking from 1 Corinthians 1:25 and Mark 15:29-30, the clergyman argued that the word of God and His works many of the times does not make sense to the intellect of men, but the foolishness of God is wiser than men and his weakness stronger than men.
“It was not by accident that God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we can hear more and speak less,” he said.
Pastor Abiodun Soderu charged Fountaineers to learn to always trust God and judge Him faithful no matter what happens to and around them. “When we don’t understand, we trust. God has a track record that He never fails. So, trust Him,” he urged.
Pastor Mary Fayemi, while speaking on the topic, Shift into the Holy Spirit, said that sad moments would come in the lives of believers, which would cause grief. Still, they must also be ready to connect to the grace God has made available for grieving moments.
This connection to the divine grace, she said, can happen when they shift into the Holy Spirit. “No one is saying it is going to be easy, but we must learn to be strong and stay strong,” she added.
Pastor Mary Fayemi cited Romans 8:26 to say that the Holy Spirit perfectly understands the pain individual is going through. He alone can perfectly soothe every grieving heart beyond what any human being can say, preach or encourage.
According to the clergywoman, “The best of preachers might not know what to say at this time. We need to be able to get back into the Spirit to be able to receive that word that is personal that will take each of us through.”
Also, speaking from John 14:26, the cleric noted that when believers shift into the Holy Spirit in times of trouble or sad moments, He would help, advocate for, comfort, intercede for, strengthen, counsel, and stand by them.
She stated: “The Holy Spirit is not against us. Rather, He is taking our hands and relaying our hearts’ messages to Him appropriately so that we can get the appropriate and best answer and thereby be who God wants us to be.”
She, therefore, urged her listeners to connect to the Holy Spirit to get the best out of Him in whatever situation they find themselves.
Pastor Paul Briggs prophetically announced to the worshipers from Romans 14:17 and Jeremiah 31:10-14 that there shall always be shouts of joy amidst the people of God irrespective of what is happening around them.
In his words, “Don’t let your dance stop. Don’t stop dancing, singing, and shouting. One of the ways to keep up Pastor Nomthi’s legacy is to continue to dance because she loved dancing.”
Pastor Fred Ohiani concluded the sessions by admonishing the worshipers from Ephesians 1:3-4. He urged them never to be ignorant of the devil’s devices and the tool of fear which he uses on Christians to make them afraid. “God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind. This is why we need to be strong in times like this,” he said.
He urged them not to be afraid but to trust God in whatever situation. “You can’t understand God by your mental reasoning. Have the mind of Christ because the mind of Christ is constantly in unison with God,” he urged.
