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| Pastor Samuel O. Oladele |
By 'Gbenga Bankole
The President of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele has said fear is one of the most potent enemies of our faith, saying it paralyzes, demotivates, and tries to strangulate our relationship with God as Christians.
Citing Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 which says "for without faith it is impossible to please the Lord", the President said faith reinforces the promises of God to us and empowers us to take affirmative actions toward the actualisation of such promises.
Pastor Oladele who was ably represented by his Special Assistant, Pastor T.D. Asokeji stated this on Thursday November 10, 2022 while delivering the Presidential Address at the 70th Edition of Annual CAC Men's Association Conference (CACMA) holding at CAC Babalola Memorial International Miracle Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State on the topic "Men of Faith."
He noted that as men of Christ Apostolic Church, we must be in the lead to re-ignite the faith of our fathers so that God can bring to pass His promises to us.
Pastor Oladele However said this must begin with our households citing Genesis chapter 18 verse 19 which says "for I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”
According to him, while faith gives a person confidence that God CAN do what He promised, hope is the certainty that God WILL do what He promised, saying that this is based on a knowledge of God's personality and track records.
On the purpose of faith, the Clergyman said faith is the currency with which any transaction with God can be made.
Speaking on the qualities and character of men of faith, Pastor Oladele said men of faith know the Lord, not just about Him (Exodus 33:13, Psalm 103:7), they have personal relationship with the Lord (Psalm 23:1), they love the Lord (John 14:15, 21:15), they hear the Lord (Genesis 15:1), they trust the Lord (2nd Chronicles 20:12), they obey the Lord (Luke 5:4-5.) and they give to the Lord without being compelled (Hebrews 11:17-19).
On examples of men of faith, the President said "the Bible is replete with men and women who were models of faith - including Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, the Shunamite, and Mary, the mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ. However, because our focus in this message is the C.A.C. Men's Association, we shall dwell more on men who are models of faith."
Few examples of men of faith according to him are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the three Hebrews, Peter and The Centurion.
Speaking on components of faith, Pastor Oladele stated that our faith in God is proven by our implicit obedience to Him.
"When God instructed Abraham to give up (Sacrifice) his dearly beloved son, Isaac, the Bible states that, 'he went early in the morning (Genesis 22:1-3).Abraham neither needed a second opinion nor did he have to stop to reason. Why? God demanded for Isaac and not Ishmael. To nurse the faintest idea of a delay would have disqualified Abraham from the blessing which God had prepared for him (1 Corinthians 2:9, Genesis 18:19)," he said.