General Superintendent, CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Emmanuel O. Odejobi
By 'Gbenga Bankole
Women, particularly ministers' wives have been urged not to place their children in the positions made by God for their husbands.
The General Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Emmanuel O. Odejobi who said this while ministering at CAC Ministers' Wives Golden Jubilee Conference on Wednesday May 17, 2023 at CAC Babalola Memorial Miracle Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State told the Ministers' wives that it's not children God says the wife would be helper for, rather it's the husband.
He further told the women that placing their children where God placed their husbands is a great error, saying that there are wives who are fond of referring to their children as "my husband."
The Cleric also advised women to mind their tongues in order not to use their tongues to destroy their families.
The General Superintendent also admonised ministers' wives to be submissive to their husbands, saying if they can't be submissive to their husbands, they can't be submissive to Jesus Christ.
He implored Ministers' wives not to look at the weaknesses of their husbands, but cover their weaknesses, not exposing it.
Speaking on the theme of the conference which is "The Woman of Purpose," the General Superintendent said it is a Christian woman who is a virtuous Woman, Holy Spirit-filled Woman and scriptural/ prayerful woman.
"There were uncountable women of noble characters in the Bible, who had the character of God in their lives, discovered their purpose and fulfilled it. But Zipporah from my own point of view stood out among the best. Why? She was devoted to her husband and children which is her first and foremost ministry in that she saved both from untimely death intended by God who called her husband into the ministry. She was indeed a help-meet (Exodus 4:24). I consider this to be a landmark achievement which aligned with one of my common sayings that 'to pass at home is to pass in the church, to fail at home is to fail in the church.' God doesn't ask a difficult thing from His woman, He only asked her to focus on essential things that help her fulfil His grand purpose - The essential things expected of her is to study his weakness to understand, tolerate his weakness, pray for his perfection, forgive and forgo his transgressions and surrender totally to him both self and substance," says Pastor Odejobi.
The General Superintendent further urged Ministers' wives that "while fulfilling all your vital purposes in your home, church commitment, charitable work and in the world, you must always remember that your first place is in God, don't neglect your relationship with God and don't forget to develop His character in your inner being as you go about your extremely busy life. Remember you are saved or set free to serve (fulfil His purpose not your purpose)."
The Clergyman admonised ministers' wives not to stress themselves about fulfilling purpose, saying that they should let God equip them as they allow His word to be a lamp to their feet and light to their path (Psalm 109:105).
"While you are doing what God has called and gifted you to do, be godly in your behaviour, be fruitful and kind in your speech (Pro.31:10-13), be disciplined and self-controlled, be devoted to your family. Be discreet and wise in your action, be chaste and pure inside out, be kind and good to all, be an encourager of good things and above all learn submissively under your husband (1st Tim. 2:11)," the General Superintendent advised.
He added that the only essential tool for this enormous task is Holy Ghost power (Acts 1:8) through the living word of God and prayer.
Conclusively he said: "your purpose is a broad-based responsibility as written in the Bible. The book of Proverbs 31 makes a wide range syllabus to be covered but in all, our emphasis is that your purpose will make a great impact and bring total transformation leading to the end time revival promised by God for our great mission. As a woman listening here today, you are already evidencing purpose, therefore, 'do all things without murmuring and disputing that ye may be blameless, harmless, the children of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as light in the world' Phil.2:14-15."