Thread by @dolawanle

GO BACK TO CHURCH

Covid-19 came and did a lot of damage to health, families, ministries, businesses, economy and the church. I do not believe the church around the world have been through so much chaos like the last two years in my lifetime.

Many have lost their faith and have become lukewarm. Many have become rebellious.

We were doing church online and via ZOOM but now that the pandemic is ending, many have failed to return to their respective churches.

They are doing church at home and some have declared church independence. That is where the danger lies.

Church as I know it is a place of refuge. It is a place of building relationships. It is a place where many meet the men or women of their dream.

It is a place where children build life-long relationships. It is also a control mechanism for marriages and good behavior for the children. People will stay in line because they are under control. There is no perfect church. The church is also a spiritual correctional centers.

The word of God helps the preacher and members of the congregation to amend their ways. If you avoid the environment for a long time, you may lose your fire. You may become vulnerable to satanic attacks. Believe me, there is something like that.

Further, pastors do a lot in the life of church members to see them fulfill destiny. Myself and many others have helped raise many. We are still in the business of raising many. I have benefited greatly from the wisdom of pastors from the beginning of my life till date.

Their words, their prayers and their friendship cannot be underestimated.

Many will point at issues with churches and some pastors as the reason why they are not returning to church but there is no excuses. If you are not happy in one church, you can go to another one.

But know this, people are the same wherever you go. To not attend any church at all as a Christian is dangerous. It is called self-righteousness. Every man is wise in his own eyes.

Talking of going back to church: You returned to work, your business and your school.

Why not church? From my little experience in six decades on the earth, spiritual fire dies little by little. There is also what is called spiritual coverage.

I was under Prophet Timothy Obadare of CAC WOSEM for 15 years as a brother and no one died whilst I was in that church.

The man of God said it would not happen and it did not happen. Death happened when people left. I said this to let you know that those pastors that you don’t value carry unique graces in different areas of life.

The fact that you don’t like or respect them does not diminish the grace. They are like our parents: poor, rich, educated, uneducated, quarrelsome with personal frailties but they have their values. Don’t underestimate the value of pastors.

Now, people are expecting the rapture or the trumpet sounds. It is already happening. Do you know how many people died during Covid-19? That was their rapture. That was their trumpet sound. Many are getting their trumpet sounds daily as people die. May the Lord protect us all.

Beloved, there is no security in our earthly possessions. There is no security in money, education, work, business, positions, properties and assets. I hear frightening news daily of how some people’s life suddenly turned upside down. May our lives not be turned upside down.

You and I need God. We are not enough on our own. We need corporate prayers. Pastor praying for the congregation and congregation praying for the pastors. We are all going through something. So, your presence matters. Do not let the devil deceive you.

Some said they will avoid paying tithes and offering by avoiding church. Really? We brought nothing into the world and we will take nothing. When we have left the earth and if Jesus tarries they will still be paying tithes and offering.

God will build his church but he will also not forget your labour of love. The church will always survive without your money as God will raise other faithful men and women. Receive the grace to be faithful.

Remember, our security is in God, join others to build the kingdom of

God on earth. In 1997, my beloved brother died. I saw a man of God and wondered why my mother’s children were dying. He laughed and said “Even you as the Lord is showing me, it was God, prayer and the church you are attending that kept you. You would have died by now”.

I shivered and he was not my pastor. I just went to minister in his church. By 2000, my sister died. So, things do happen my friends.

You don’t value that pastor but you are protected under him. The devil shall not ensnare you. Who he will destroy he deceives.

May you not be deceived. With all the weaknesses in churches, it is still the hope of the common man because Jesus died for the church.

Dele Olawanle is my name. @threadreaderapp unroll