By Oluwagbenga Bankole
Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iye Districts' Coordinating Council (DCC), Ekiti State has recently held 2024 Refresher Course for Ministers, their wives and church workers.
The programme comprised various impactful sessions designed to cultivate spiritual development and enrichment among attendees.
While delivering a lecture on the topic "Maximizing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit", the Superintendent of CAC Oke-Iye DCC, Pastor (Dr.) S.O. Ajayi stated that the greatest blessing Jesus has given to His church is the gift of the Holy Spirit which enables growth in the knowledge of God.
He, however said that in today’s 21st century technological and religious age, people get sidetracked with spiritual gifts and become more obsessed with the gifts rather than with Jesus Christ.
According to him, some believers do follow signs and wonders instead of signs and wonders following believers, which is a sign of spiritual immaturity.
He told the congregation that spiritual gifts must be used for God’s glory and not our own, adding that gifts such as preaching, teaching, prophecy, hospitality and service are all important and one of the greatest blessings Jesus has given the church and to us as individuals is the gift of the spirit.
Pastor Ajayi stressed that salvation, humility, self-discipline/self-denial, total surrender/commitment, love, baptism in the Holy Spirit, empowerment, spiritual living and integrity as qualification of ministers, ministers’ wives and church workers in maximizing the gift of the Holy Spirit.
On factors that can help to maximize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Clergyman said;" there are natural abilities, skills, spiritual gifts that God has given us to use to HIS glory to bless others and to profit our own lives (Proverbs 18 vs. 16). A man’s gift makes the room for him and bringeth him before great men. Your call to be minister, ministers’ wife and church worker is a gift and we are responsible for developing that gift and to do that we must continue to learn and grow. You must maintain healthy routines and patterns, maintain regular eating schedule and sleeping patterns,sufficient exercise, participation in normal group activities,maintain your good personal habits and routines.Your spiritual gifts cannot grow if your physiological disposition is out of order."
Pastor Ajayi implored the participants to read the bible everyday, consult with trusted spiritual personalities when changes take place and pray without creasing etc.
On how to make the work of the Holy Spirit effective in daily life, the Cleric urged the attendees to be wise and not make a permanent mistake in a temporary situation, adding that they should avoid depression and watch the company they keep.
Conclusively, he said;"we are all stakeholders in the growth of the kingdom business committed into our hands and if we are to maximize the gifts of God in our life, we must follow the lecture so that we can find refuge in God’s absolute leadership and it will help us to perform beyond expectation. God is not interested in your ability but your availability in the use of spiritual gifts."
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