The National Head of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel A. Quaye preaching at the final National Mega Watchnight of the year 2022, spoke on the theme, “If God be for us…” from Romans 8:31.
He quizzed the congregation….if God be for us…who can be against us? If God be for us, nothing is too late. If God be for us, things that are dead in our lives, come back to life. He told the church to pay attention to the “if” which puts the promise in condition and shows us that there is a part for us to play as believers.
The National Head brought the congregation's attention to how special the book of Romans is. He recalled how one of the early theologians in Christian history, Father Augustine got transformed in the summer of AD 386 after reading the book of Romans. Roughly a millennium later, around the fall of 1515, Martin Luther, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation read the book of Romans and came to the realization that the church was moving contrary to the word of God and in his later commentary on Romans wrote, “It [Romans] is the true masterpiece of the New Testament. Over two hundred years later in London, the Holy Spirit sent another sniper shot from Romans to the soul of English pastor John Wesley. John Wesley went on to lead a spiritual revival in England based on the impartation he received through Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Apostle Quaye reminded us of Paul's urge in Romans that the glory that is ahead, is greater than our current sufferings. So whatever the challenges are currently in our lives, may we be encouraged by the greater things that lie ahead of us. We might be facing financial challenges, family issues, and disappointments but today, we need to be determined and animated by the bigger positive results that await us.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
The Chair of the event admonished that Christians should believe that the word of God is completely true without doubts because the God that we serve gave us His indescribable Gift in Jesus who is also His word. The big question then is: who can be against us?
God used the book of Psalms to advise us. “Psalm 44:3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.”
Apostle advised the church that, the victory that God gave our forefathers was not a result of their strength. They were promised land but there lived many dangerous people who made it impossible to conquer. But, weapons, skills, knowledge, and strength were useless in winning this battle. They conquered because God was with them and loved them. The secret to this victory is that God was with them. The National Head advised that at the final hours of every year, challenges arise but if God be for us….. He further admonished that if we allow righteousness to lead us and pay attention to His word, God will be for us, give us favour, and all He has said concerning our lives will come to pass.
Apostle used the story of Jacob in Genesis 28:10-15 as a case study to reassure the church. He particularly emphasized on verse 15 Remember, I am with you and will keep[a] you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” God will meet us and stay with us in the same manner that God met Jacob while he was fleeing his home. He said that despite our failings and mistakes, God still loves us. Jacob had previously been away from God, but God drew nearer to him. Although Jacob had flaws, God overcame them. Despite Jacob's prior transgressions, God never abandoned him. Despite being the second child born, God blessed Jacob with the ability to surpass and exceed to become the first. We need to find God and spend time with Him as Christians. Genesis 17 describes how God returned to Abraham's life after his failures. According to the National Head, if we ignore the past, God will come through for us.
When God is with us, He takes away all the things that hinder us and reduces our walk with God. Even if it is your about your, he will change your name as He did with Jacob. Sometimes, you can be charismatic but without the character of Christ. But when God is with us, He works on our character. When God is for us, you can be possessing a negative charge and God adds another to convert it into a positive. Apostle admonished us to walk with God.
He further mentioned that regardless of the disappointment that Jacob faced after serving for seven years for a woman and still not receiving the woman he worked for, God turned Leah into something more significant for mankind. The National Head encouraged the church that, the enemy can work against us, But our God will turn these negatives into prosperity. When God is for you, it means you have life in Him. When He is with you, the dangers of the world don’t scare you because you are protected. When God is for you, all He has said about our lives will come to pass.
Apostle rounded using Romans 8:1 to encourage us that therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.
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