Clerics Charge Nigerians On Love, Brotherhood

The Area Superintendent, the Apostolic Church Nigeria, Apostle,  Osun State, Apostle Johnson Akanni, on Sunday charged people of the country to imbibe the spirit of love and reflect the gesture in all they do.

Apostle Johnson Akanni

Apostle Akanni gave the charge in Ikire during a special Church service as part of activities marking 2017 Press week of Osun state correspondents’ of Nigeria Union Journalist.

Apostle Akanni described love as the pillar of existence, saying if not for love earth wouldn’t have come into existence let alone man’s existence.

The cleric said God created man and gave him the domineering power over other creatures because of the ultimate love He has for man.

According to him, “‎If not for lo‎ve, God will not make man to have dominion over other creatures. If not for love, animals are even enough to destroy man but because of the authority on to which God given on to man, thus He made animals, demons, Jins among others to be subservient and servitude to man.

“If not because of love, Jesus wouldn’t have surrendered Himself for the sake of man’s safety. Jesus became sacrificial lamb because of His love for mankind.

So, love is the pillar that holds existence as world was created because of the love that God has for mankind. So, it behooves on every soul to love one another.‎

“We need to serve God in truth and faith‎. We must love ourselves. One is not a true believer until he or she loves others as he or she loves himself or herself. We must love one another.

“The commandment of God is for us to love others as He loves us. He said the reasons for the celebration of the birth of Christ is to show on to beings the purpose of His birth, the circumstances attached to his life and the supreme love he had for mankind.

Cross Section of Osun NUJ’s members at the thanksgiving church service in Ikire

“The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ (Chrsmas), is to rejoice in Him the love Jesus had for mankind that made Him to lay His life for the salvation of humanity”, he stressed.

In the same vein, Apostle David Sunday Oloke admonished humanity on the need to champion the will of God and always see Lord as their saviour in all they do.

Apostle David Sunday Oloke

Apostle Oloke whose‎ message was underpinned on seven virtues namely; true belief in God‎, true spirit of asking all from God, true giving on to God, obedience to God, fear of God, humbleness to God and mankind as well as living the life of holiness‎, said it is high time for everysoul to return to God so as to recieve His goodness.

He called on the people to rekindle their beliefs and faiths in God as it is only the righteousness and true believers will gain the eternal rest in paradize.

Apostle Oloke hinged his homily on relevant biblical references of Exodus 33; John 11 Verse 40,  Luke Chapter 5 Verses 1-9‎ and Issiah 49 V 1-15‎ noting that salvation could only come to man that prioritizes the seven values that define faithful living.

He added, “For any soul to receive the goodness of God and as well secure eternal rest hereafter, thus he or she must champion the virtues aforementioned.

“We must live a life of true believers, we must have a strong belief that nothing can be received except from God, we must fear God, we must be humble on to Him and live life of holiness so as to be a complete ‎believer and recieve goodness from Him.

“Our Lord is a graceful God, giving on to God so as to receive from God. Every soul is expected to make sacrifice(s) on to Him to receive worthy goodness from Him too. Our Lord is a Lord of goodness. We must obey God and do things according to His dictates.

“This could be seen and authenticate in Luke Chapter 5 Verses 1-9, telling us that Solomon received goodness from God simply because of his obedience on to Him. So, it is indeed that through obedience, we can receive the goodness of God.

“So also,when we fear God we will definitely receive goodness from God just as sense of humbleness always bring goodness from God and humanity”, he added.

Appreciating God, the Chairman NUJ Correspondents Chapel, Prince Hameed  Oyegbade praised God for sparing lives of every member of the chapel to witness 2017 Press Week.