General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry William Kumuyi said Christians should not attack President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors.
Kumuyi said this Sunday in his sermon at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos state.
He said real Christians must obey constituted authorities and shun violence.
Delivering his sermon entitled “The believers’ preservation until the day of visitation”, the cleric said Christians were strangers and pilgrims in the world and must be Christ-like in their character, conducts and conversations.
Reading from the biblical passage, I Peter 2: 11-25, Kumuyi said Christians’ lifestyle must reflect Christ in civil society, saying government derives their authority from God.
“Don’t attack the president of the country whether in words or in the newspapers or through internet.
“Honour kings; don’t disrespect or dishonour the governors. Don’t disrespect leaders of the community and leaders in the church.
“If we are to honour the governors in the states, how much more the pastors,” Kumuyi said.
He said such remains the will and command of God.
Kumuyi said God wanted Christians to submit to the leadership He had given to them in the Church, community, country and corporate organisations.
The cleric, who stated that the end of life on earth is not the end of existence, said Christians should always think of the day of reckoning in their character and conduct.
He said, as strangers and pilgrims in the world, Christians’ affections, attention and focus must be on heaven, hence the need to shun all appearance of sins.
The greatest joy and reward of Christians “is not in this world but is reserved in heaven for those would not be overcome by attractions of the world.”
Kumuyi admonished Christians to abstain from fleshly lusts, fornication, idolatry, anger among others that could pull them out of the highway of heaven just like biblical character, Demas.
He said Christians should not give up the worship of God for money-making ventures, stating that “man brought nothing to the world and will not take anything out of it.
“If we are going to heaven, we must be careful and thoughtful and run from all appearance of evil.
“Don’t be ignorant, careless, and thoughtless. Many are ignorant of the day of visitation.”
The cleric urged Christians to shine as a light in the world through their lifestyles, saying Jesus Christ had given them an example to follow even when they are being persecuted in the world. (NAN)
Adeboye on godfathers
Meanwhile, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E. A. Adeboye, has advised political office holders to be serving-leaders.
“This arrangement (servant-leader) is common in the political sphere, and cannot serve the interest of the people. If you are in such situation, remember you will give account of your service to God and not to a godfather,” Adeboye spoke in a message to his congregation published in his famous book, Open Heavens for 2019.
The book, published annually, has each part earmarked to be read each day of the year.
The part of the book of the 2019 edition earmarked to be read on Saturday, May 25, 2015, four days before the May 29 inauguration of Nigeria’s leaders at the federal level and 29 states, was titled, Be a Serving-Leader.
It reads: “Some people don’t know the difference between being a serving-leader and a servant-leader. A great example of a serving leader is our Lord Jesus Christ. He served till the end of His earthly ministry and continues to serve even at the right hand of power in heaven (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25).
“However, He is not a servant; He actually acknowledged His status as Lord and Master in John 13:13. It is unfortunate therefore that many followers want to make servants out of their God-ordained leaders.
“Leaders are meant to serve but not to be subjected to servitude. This is what I personally describe as the ‘abuse of a leader’. Polls: Middle Belt Forum urges Benue people to reciprocate Gov. Ortom’s sacrifices “Some people use their leaders to their own selfish advantage and when such a leader dies, they jump over to another leader who they will also use to death!
“King Saul is a good example of a servant-leader. When he was confronted with his disobedience to God, he said in 1 Samuel 15:24: ‘I have sinned for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice’. “The people he was supposed to guide were actually the ones controlling him, and, by his own admission, he feared them.
“When a serving-leader becomes a servant-leader, people begin to wonder: ‘Who is leading who?’ God is not the author of confusion; this is why He always appoints a leader who He relates with and through whom He passes instructions to His people.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that there is a difference between a servant and a friend (John 15:15). A servant is limited, whereas a friend has a deeper relationship.
“This distinction is the reason why leaders appointed by God cannot be servants. Followers should be sincere enough not to try to make servants of their God ordained leaders. Such leadership will not do them any good, and they may not be spared when these servant-leaders, whom they have badly influenced, receive their judgment from God. “Some mischief makers who like to manipulate their leaders to do their bidding would always advocate for servant-leadership, because they don’t really want leaders; they would rather have a stooge who they can use for their own selfish interest.
“This arrangement is common in the political sphere, and cannot serve the interest of the people. If you are in such situation, remember you will give account of your service to God and not to a godfather.
“May God grant us leaders who will serve His interest in our churches and nations in Jesus’ Name.”
