Easter: Adeboye, Kumuyi, Akinadewo, Onyia, others urge Nigerians to obey God’s instructions

Clerics, on Sunday, urged Nigerians to have faith in God because “He is the only one who can roll away the stone of underdevelopment afflicting the nation”.
Speaking during Easter services, they also called on God to have mercy on the country “due to the cries of the righteous”.
Rev. Fr. Festus Nwadike of Mater-Dei Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, Abuja urged Christians to cloth themselves with humility and have faith in God.
Nwadike said celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb was the greatest of all celebrations.
He also urged Christians to learn to forgive one another and respect elders in the spirit of the Easter.
“Today, nobody should be annoyed; everyone should rejoice and celebrate with families.
“Respect your elders, honour your parents and have faith in Christ,’’ he said.
Similarly, Venerable Festus Nwafili called on Christians to turn to the Lord to enjoy all the benefits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Nwafili made the call in his Easter Sermon titled “The Covering Cast is Destroyed’’ at the Basilica of Grace Anglican Church, Gudu, Abuja.
He urged Christians to give God a chance in their lives, repent and ask for mercy if “they have sinned, denied or betrayed God’’.
‎“Jesus came to remove the cast from off our face; he set aside man’s misery by His death and resurrection and now we have direct access to God.’’
The cleric said that the resurrection had potent power in present day and should not be seen as a past event.
He said Easter assured Christians that God would not abandon them but help reorganise their lives and give them strength.
“Easter brings to mind that God will not abandon you and your family in a woeful state; that is God has not finished with you by the resurrection of Jesus.
“Being a part of the resurrection, God will reorganise our lives, he will give us strength and what we think we have lost, God will restore,’’ Nwafili said.
Some churches in Kubwa embarked on series of prayers to strengthen the faith of Christians in line with the sacrifices of Jesus.
Mr Marcel Anyatonwu, Public Relation Officer, St. Luke Catholic Church, Kubwa, said that the present economic hardship was a reminder to the church about the persecution of Christ.
“There is nobody in the country who the hardship is not affecting in one way or the other, but the degree differs, but anyhow, we will celebrate the Easter.
“It is the joy of every Christian that Easter is here, we celebrate it despite the hardship.
“What Easter reminds us of is more important than what we are going through. Christ himself went through this hardship for 40 days and at last he overcame death and resurrected.
“It is also a lesson for us that despite the hardships we are going through, our Easter is close at hand, we will resurrect with Christ.
“The joy it brings is something we have to celebrate. It is something that gives us hope that one day, we will overcome all the hardships,’’ Anyatonwu said.
Mr Emmanuel Eze, Chairman, Board of Church Warden, St. Luke Catholic Church, Kubwa, noted that Christians should prepare themselves spiritually and physically in order to celebrate the Easter.
According to him, Easter is a celebration that is worth preparing for, because it comes once in a year.
“It is a celebration that mark the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“It is a good celebration which despite the economic challenges we still need to prepare and celebrate spiritually and physically in the little way we can.’’
Mr Anyebe Maben of the United Evangelical Church, Kubwa said the importance of Easter celebration is to reflect on the salvation that was brought by Jesus Christ.
Maben stressed that Christians should not be concerned about how much money they have to celebrate the Easter, but should be more concerned about how much they have contributed to the church.
“In a sense, the economy has never been good, but the economy of heaven does not have problem anytime, that’s why we are Christians.
“I think the imperative of Easter celebration to us is the salvation that came with it; it’s not really about how much money you have in your pocket at a time.
“It is how much work done by individuals on behalf of the Church. I think that is what is more important to us as Christians.
“It is also important for people to know that when there are challenges, it is important to take the matter to God.
“People need to get closer to God and also for us to divert our attention from man to God, because the solution does not really lie on man, it lies in God.’’ Maben noted.
Rev. Akpan Udoyen, Superintendent Pastor of United Evangelical Church, Kubwa described the economy of heaven as different and better to the economy on earth.
Udoyen, however, said even if the economy of the country cannot provide for the people, the store house of God is inexhaustible.
“The economy of the church is not dependent on the economy of the government. We look through and depend fully on the economy of heaven, the store house of God is inexhaustible.
“We believe He is providing for us and His provision never fails.
“We are not looking at the workability of the economy of the country, we are looking at the workability of the economy of heaven,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of Motailatu Church of God, Senior Superintendent Gabriel Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II), declared that the only way out of the political and economic crises in the country “is to move closer to God and follow His instructions”.
Speaking during a special anointing service at Restoration Parish of the church in Akute, Ogun State, Akinadewo said when people, through the instruction of Pilate, sealed the sepulchre of Jesus Christ with a big stone, God, through His Angel, rolled away the stone.
He also declared that God also directed Prophet Elijah, in the old Testament, to seize the economy of the land of Israel for three years and six months.
Akinadewo insisted that what is happening in the country “is not ordinary”.
Quoting from Ezekiel 37: 1-10, he said “the very dry bones in the country can live again through God’s intervention”
The General Overseer (G.O.) of the Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, advised Christians to emerge victorious in trying times, just as Jesus  Christ conquered death on the cross of Calvary.
Adeboye gave the advice during a sermon he delivered at the RCCG national headquarters in Ebute Metta, Lagos, to mark Easter Sunday.
He said that every Christian’s greatest sacrifice was x-rayed on Good Friday which marked the sufferings, passion and death of Jesus.
Adeboye, however, urged Christians to be steadfast and emerge victorious during pressing circumstances; same way as Jesus  when he rose from the dead.
“Let us enforce victory over every situation that is going on in our country as we celebrate the risen Christ” he said.
He urged all Christians to be bold and perceive every trying situation as a “horse” which could be divinely used in obtaining victory.
Adeboye  urged the congregation to engage in the proclamation of the gospel of Christ on earth, and herald his resurrection.
The service, which lasted about four hours, was also attended by several church members.
Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, urged Christians in leadership positions to shun corruption and act as exemplary leaders for others to follow.
Kumuyi, who was represented by the church’s Camp Commandant, Pastor Andrew Umor, gave the advice at the grand finale of the 2018 National Easter Retreat of Church in Lagos.
The cleric said only the righteousness would move the country forward, adding that the retreat was to teach Christians how to shine as light in whatsoever positions they found themselves.
“We have had so much about corruption in Nigeria, but we know that true Christianity brings a difference and that is what this retreat is all about.
“It is about teaching believers to shine as light and be different from the unbelievers.
“Christians should not embezzle money in their offices but live according to the testimony of Christ,’’ the cleric said.
He also stressed the need for Christians to lead with conscience in leadership position,
able to deliver a different path to the nation, urging Christian leaders in Nigeria to return to the Bible.
Cleric said that the message in the convention was about having faith in Christ and repentance into a life that transformed society.
He underscored the need for Christians to be heirs of God’s Kingdom before they could inherit the provisions and treasures of God’s kingdom.
“If we return to the Bible and the basis and the truth that the Bible teaches, we won’t be having all these problems we have been having because therein lies all the solutions.
“The Word of God is the light the nation and righteousness exalts the nation so, if we return to the word, the way it is; then, there will be less problems,’’ he said.
The Lagos Moderator of the Church, Pastor Bayo Oyeyemi, also that the outpouring of the power of God at the convention was because the participants prepared for the programme.
“We see the excitement and the outpouring of the power of God upon the people of God.
‘’It did not just happen ordinarily but people were full of expectations, prayers and preparations.
“Nigerians should seek more of God and look unto Him because He is our maker and we must put Him first.
“The solution to crisis in Nigeria is God. God didn’t create man with crisis. Crisis is man-made and the solution is of God.
“If Nigerians will repent, Nigeria will be another heaven on earth,” Oyeyemi said.
The annual convention entitled “Heirs of His Kingdom” commenced on March 29 and ended on April 1.
In Enugu, Rev. Maxwell Onyia of Ascension Anglican Church, Enugu advised Christians to imbibe the virtue of peace and reconciliation exemplified by  Jesus Christ.
Onyia said this in his homily with the themed: “I am the Resurrection and the Life’’ at a Special Easter Service at on Sunday in Enugu.
According to the cleric, the death and resurrection of Christ brought mankind peace coming from true reconciliation with God.
“Basically, Christ died to reconcile us, the world, back to God once more and for man to live above the powers of death and hell.
“The reconciliation, which the death and resurrection of Christ availed us, had made it possible for man to have peace with God and himself,’’ he said.
According to him, Nigerians notwithstanding, they must reconcile ethnic, religious and socio-political leanings with one another to enjoy the peace that Christ bought for us through His death.
The cleric urged Nigerians to see Easter as a challenge to work for the progress of their communities, states and the country at large.
Onyia, however, prayed for God’s grace and wisdom for the country’s leadership as well as a favourable and progressive socio-economic development fir the country.
The special service was attended by hundreds of Christian within and outside Enugu.
Rev. Fr. Philip Jamang, the Parish Priest of Church of Assumption Chongo’pyeng, in Jos, Plateau State urged Christians to go after heavenly treasures rather than worldly things that would perish.
The cleric expressed worry over incessant clamour for worldly pursuits by Christians which had led many astray.
“You don’t waste your time seeking things of the world that will soon perish.
“The search for worldly things have turned us into slaves; we have become so wicked and insensitive to our fellow human beings.
“Many of the ills we are witnessing today is because man has become so desperate in search of worldly riches and other gains.
“But for us to have a peaceful and Godly world, we must begin to cast our minds on heavenly treasures that will last forever,’’ he said.
Jamang said by his death and resurrection, Christ had paid the supreme price for mankind, hence human beings must desist from evil and indulge in things that would promote heaven on earth.
He urged leaders, at all levels, to emulate Christ’s style of kingship, his leadership style that unites rather than divide so that the world would be a better place for all.