Pastor Oladele Calls On Christians To Embrace Christ As The Hope of Glory
Explaining the appropriateness and relevance of the theme at this crucial time, the Cleric said the hope of many people had been lost due to the current economic situation in the country, especially the high rising price of food and other essential commodities.
By Victor O. A. Taylor
Pastor Dr Lawrence Olusesan Oladele, the TACN LAWNA Administrative Secretary, has told Christians within and outside the country to see and embrace Jesus Christ as the Hope of Glory.
Pastor Oladele said this while delivering a sermon titled “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY” (Colossians 1:27) as a Guest Speaker at the 2024 Inter-denominational Divine Service IDDS 2024 organized by the Lagos State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the TACN LAWNA Territorial Headquarters, Olorunda Ketu, Lagos on Saturday 17th February, 2024.
The Speaker, who mounted the Podium with the rendition of the choruses of TAC Redemption Hymn 502 “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory. Full of glory. full of glory…” expressed his gratitude to God for inspiring the church leaders to organize the service.
He also appreciated the CAN Executives, particularly the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the body, Rt. Rev. Steven Tunde Victor Adegbite, for the privilege given to him to speak at the very august occasion.
He also acknowledged his excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr Mrs Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State.
Introducing the theme of his sermon, “Christ In You The Hope of Glory” (Col. 1:27), the Speaker said the Epistle to the Colossians was written by Paul the Apostle while he was still in prison.
Pastor Oladele said even though Paul was in the prison, the Word of God in his heart was not in prison. The Cleric said he made this remark to prove that the Word of God is unstoppable.
Explaining the appropriateness and relevance of the theme at this crucial time, the Cleric said the hope of many people had been lost due to the current economic situation in the country, especially the high rising price of food and other essential commodities.
Pastor Oladele who described the crisis as a global issue assured his audience that those who rely on Jesus Christ, the only Hope of glory will certainly survive the economic crunch.
Describing Jesus Christ as the only Hope of glory, the Speaker referred his audience to John 14:1, where Jesus Christ Himself encouraged His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, adding that no situation is above Christ’s capacity.
Extolling the uniqueness of Christ’s glory, the Speaker said it is a glory that cannot be compared to any other glory either on earth or in heaven.
He added that it is a divine glory, a peculiar glory, a permanent glory, and an eternal glory. Not a glory that fades or perishes with time or space.
On how long the glory has lived, the Speaker said it had been given to Christ before the world was founded. Meaning that it is a timeless glory, exclusively reserved for Jesus Christ.
Can mortal man have access to this glory? Pastor Oladele said it was God’s original intention and plan to make man enjoy eternal glory in the garden of Eden.
But he said Satan was envious of this privileged and glorious position of man and used craftiness to make sure that he (man) lost the glory (Genesis 3).
As an expression of His love and compassion however, the Lord God sent Jesus Christ His only begotten Son to save the world (John 3:16) so that man may be restored to his original divine state and status.
To access this glory, the Speaker enjoined those who have not acknowledged Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour to do so, adding that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour or Messiah of the world.
He also said that as the Head of His Church (Col.1:18), the Lord Jesus Christ is in the position to give us the glory of His Kingdom.
On how to tap the hope and the glory referred to here, the Cleric emphasized the necessity of being regenerated and doing the work of evangelism as agents of soul-winning.
Stressing the need for living a sinless life as well as having faith in Christ as parts of the prerequisites for accessing this hope of glory, the Speaker also referred to what Jesus told the woman accused of committing adultery in John chapter eleven that she should go and sin no more (John 8:11) and where Jesus also said to a woman that her faith had made her whole (Mark 5:34).
Extolling the power of Jesus Christ to restore life to the dead, Pastor Oladele reminded his audience of how Jesus raised Lazarus back to life after he had been buried for four days in John 11: 43-44.
The Preacher said the Lord who miraculously provided for the people of Israel at the gate of Samaria at the time of nation-wide famine (2Kings 7:1-20) and fed about 5000 people with only two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread (John 6:1-15) is able to take care of us in the time of famine to prove that He is truly the Hope of glory.
Describing the current economic situation as a global disease, the Cleric prayed that the Lord would heal our land, heal our country, heal our individual infirmities and woynds as well as heal the global world.
He however charged his audience, to go back home with the mind that Jesus Christ is the only Hope of Glory.
