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Sunday Sermon: The Sacrifice That Pleases God

Published

4 years ago

April 19, 2020

Editor

By Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

When we looked up to God to give us the theme of each month this year, and we came up with “sacrifice” for the month of April, our minds did not contemplate the unusual and rare situation that the world has found itself as a result of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has brought helplessness, fear and lockdown. Citizens all over the world have been advised to stay indoors, avoid gatherings and wear masks like criminals if they must go out.

This period calls for extreme sacrifice from everyone including government, churches, institutions, families, and citizens. While government through medical institutions seek solutions, they must also protect and provide for her citizens. Churches have been told in many places to close, but prayers must continue in earnest and brethren must strive to assist and support those in need. Citizens must obey Government and medical instructions while also providing for their families and the less fortunate.

We are alive by the mercies of God and so, we must first and foremost offer to him the sacrifice of praise which is stipulated in Hebrews 13:15: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continuously, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”.

This period calls for charity and good works. Hebrews 13:16 also says: “But to do good and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased“.

Another sacrifice that will please God is those that will stand in the gap that the land is not destroyed.

In Ezekiel 22:30, God said: “And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none”.

God is looking for intercessors, prayer warriors that would sweat and groan in the place of prayers.

Finally, God is looking for those who are broken, who will genuinely repent and ask for forgiveness.

We are told in Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifice of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise”.

Can we pray as in Psalm 25:16-18 and say unto God: “Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged, O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins.”

May God answer all Our prayers in Jesus name, Amen.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Soul Winners Parish, GRA, Benin City.

(PHOTO: File)

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‘I’m Considering Having 4th Child’ – Mother Of Three Who Breastfeeds Husband , 3 Kids [PHOTOS]

Published

8 hours ago

May 7, 2024

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A Florida woman who made headlines for breastfeeding her husband has revealed that they are considering having another baby so she starts lactating again.

Rachel Bailey, 31, and her husband Alexander, 30, said they have “grieved” their “bonding experience” since her body stopped producing milk in the past year.

The couple’s three children have all weaned off the milk, which meant Alexander had to as well.

Now, they are considering having a fourth child so they keep up the habit.

“I was in so much pain and I was scared about getting an infection, so we decided that my husband was going to try drinking the milk to relieve me,” she said.

Mum-of-three who breastfeeds her husband alongside their kids reveals she

“We were nervous about the idea of him breastfeeding from me as we thought it seemed weird, but as soon as we did it, we realized it was perfectly fine.”

The couple continued the practice after the births of their two younger children, with Ms Bailey breastfeeding her husband at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Once her supply dwindled, they switched to nightly feedings. Ms Bailey claims that because her milk is “so nutritious,” it kept Alexander from getting a cold for more than two years and left his skin glowing.

“He ended up loving the taste of my breast milk and even prefers it to cow’s milk now,” she said.

When her breasts stopped producing milk, she said they grieved the bonding experience they shared because of her breastfeeding him.

They even briefly considered growing their family to keep up the breastfeeding.

“We grieved that bonding experience that we shared, and we even spoke about having one more baby so that we could do it again,” Ms Bailey said.

“However, we realized that was a drastic action to take and a lot of work, so instead we began looking for other ways that we could bond as a couple.”

Instead, they now get up at 5 am each morning to catch up and meditate before getting on with the rest of their day.

“It was never a sexual thing for us. We did it because it was an amazing way for us to bond and share something special as a couple,” Ms Bailey said.

“We really miss the breastfeeding times that we shared, but we have found new ways to connect.”

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VIDEO Newly Appointed LG Supervisors, Advisers In Ekiti Take Oath Of Office With ‘Ogún’

Published

9 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

A video showing newly appointed supervisors and advisers of Ikere-Ekiti LGA in Ekiti state were sworn in with an ‘Ògún’ totem and the Quran.

A viral video shows the supervisors and advisers swearing at the conference hall of the office of Olu Adamolekun, chairman of Ikere-Ekiti LGA.

The oath of office was administered on the appointees by Adamolekun. The appointees could be seen taking turns to wield a cutlass (a totem for the god of iron) in one hand and a Quran in the other.

While administering the oath of office, Adamolekun asked the appointees to repeat the following in Yoruba

‘’From today, I will be loyal and truthful to BAO (Ekiti state governor), and Monisade (deputy governor), APC and its leaders. I will take instructions from the leaders. If I refuse to do so, Ogun or Quran should kill me. For this, I will be truthful” each appointee said as they took their oath

In Nigeria, public office holders usually swear an oath of office using the Quran or Bible, while pledging allegiance to the constitution.

Watch the video of the swearing-in ceremony below:

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JUST IN: DSS Arrests Wanted Oyo Motorpark Boss, Auxiliary

Published

10 hours ago

May 7, 2024

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The Department of State Services has reportedly arrested the wanted former chairman of the Oyo State Park Management System, Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxiliary.

The PUNCH reliably gathered that Auxiliary was arrested at about 4:00 pm on Tuesday at his residence in the Olodo area of Ibadan, the state capital.

Although the reasons for his arrest are still sketchy, a source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity because of the weight of the matter said it was because of an interview he granted on Saturday, May 4, in which he called out Seye Famojuro, a trusted ally of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for being behind his woes.

In the interview he granted to Media personnel, Ajibola Akinyefa, in the Yoruba Language, the former PMS chairman said, “If he (Famojuro) is the governor or Seyi Makinde is, we will know. It is just a matter of time. Everybody will face the consequences of their actions. The people he chose to manage the park are cheating themselves.

When asked if it was his hooliganism that led to his removal, Auxiliary queried how many people reported that he beat them to the police.

He further said that Seye would still return to Ijesha because Ibadan is not his homeland.

“Seye will still go back to Ijesha because Ibadan is not his town. Only Governor Seyi Makinde and I will remain here because we won’t run away. And I see that the bird is not working, but God feeds it. Seye will reap the seeds of his actions,” he added.

In May 2023, Auxiliary was arrested after being linked to an alleged attempt by his loyalists to cause trouble in the state following the dissolution of the PMS committee by Makinde.

An impeccable source who spoke with PUNCH Metro said the police acted swiftly to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state, adding that during the raid, Lamidi escaped which led to him being declared wanted.

The source, who craved anonymity over fears of harassment, said, “From what we gathered, the police acted on the information that some members of the Auxiliary’s camp wanted to cause trouble based on the government disbanding their operations in the state.

“So, the police were proactive, stormed their location, made some arrests and recovered some arms and ammunition. But Auxiliary was not arrested. The people arrested were in connection with the fact that intelligence linked them to an attempt to cause trouble in the state today.”

However, attempts to reach the spokesperson for DSS, Peter Afunnaya, proved abortive as several calls made to him were unanswered and text messages ignored.