WELCOME TO OUR FOOTBALL SUNDAY

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our Football Sunday Service. I also welcome all our friends and special guests in the house. It is not an accident that you have come to worship with us today and it is my prayer that our God will do you good. He will bless you and show you a token for good.

As we talk and focus on football this morning, let me share this scripture in 1 Timothy 4:8a with you. It says ‘’For bodily exercise profiteth little….’’. That scripture immediately tells us that there is profit in bodily exercise. That ‘little’ is vitally important to ensure your body grows, develops and function well. A healthy body is a tool in the Hands of God in fulfilling purpose. There is little you can do if your body is weak. From this physical standpoint, we can also draw a spiritual inference. When you exercise yourself in the things of the Spirit, pretty soon you will become stronger and well accustomed to it. Let’s look at Apostle Paul’s admonition to the church at Corinth and draw some lessons from it. 1 Cor 16:15{KJV} ‘’I beseech you brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints).’’

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth made this reference to the household of Stephanas, his first converts in Achai as those who were addicted to the work of the ministry. Why did he give them so much attention? Paul was obviously referring to the fact that they were not just comers and goers or just Sunday Service Christians. They were people who were ready to put commitment above convenience. They were addicts.

The word ‘addict’ connotes devotion or surrendering oneself to something habitually or obsessively. An addict can sell anything to meet his or her desire just to keep the addiction in place. In the same vein, you can also become a Kingdom addict. Kingdom addiction is healthy and helpful. It means being committed to the things of the kingdom. An addict is ready to identify with needs in the church and fill the gaps once spotted. When you are a kingdom addict, serving God and obeying Him comes by default.

As an addict, you derive joy in getting involved in follow-up, soul winning and G12 activities. You are ready to go the extra mile to ensure that you extend a warm hand of fellowship to new people in church. You are ready to follow-up those who give their hearts to the Lord and ensure that they are grounded. New converts and first timers feel comfortable around you because you are concerned about their welfare. You are quick to introduce the various activities of the church to them in love. This is the kind of household God is looking for today. The church has gone beyond being a group of people who ask what the Lord can do for them; but rather ask what they can do for the Lord.

Beloved, it is never too late to start.  If you have just been a bench warmer in church, you can start today. Let your commitment be above convenience. You serve a God who rewards, so keep serving. Like those in the house of Stephanas, dare to become a kingdom addict.  

As you go into this week, as always, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. As a father in the house, I bless you.   

Maranatha!

In His Royal Service

 

Dr. Mike Okonkwo

The Presiding Bishop