By Emeka Odogwu
The Archdeacon, CHS Awka Archdeaconry, Ven.Dr Onyeka Egwuonwu has warned Christians to stop bastardizing the order of the Church.
Delivering a sermon to mark the 2024 Joy Family Harvest and Bazaar Thanksgiving of the Church of The Holy Spirit, Awka, Ven.Dr Egwuonwu warned that Christians should not confuse spirituality with oratory.
He encouraged Christians not to allow distractions in the house of God, since God is omniscient.
Ven.Dr Egwuonwu who is also the Vicar, Church of The Holy Spirit, CHS, Awka persuaded Joy Family Group of the church led by Prof Ifebi Ogonna, Irudike as Chairman and Lady Chinwe Aghamba not to relent in their dedication and commitment in the House of the Lord, because Joy in their hearts and actions are the strength needed to serve the lord.
He called on Christians to allow God to enter their hearts to enable them control whatever type of mood swing they may find themselves as Christians. He advised that as Christians during mood swings that they should sing praises to God , as songs have capacities of restoring wrong mood swings.
He noted that everyone has a cross to carry for the sake of God,
adding that, if you allow evil to control your thoughts, you see evil thoughts controlling your actions ,but when one acts joyfully and allows Joy to control his or her thought process, Joy controls the person.
He further advised that one cannot conquer any challenge with anger and frowning of the face, but with joy and happiness in the lord, as God knows all situations, hence He won’t allow any situations to overwhelm His subjects.
Ven.Dr Egwuonwu educated Christians that “widows might ” signifies one giving to God everything one had, and not from what one had. He encouraged Christians to give with Joy and work in God’s vineyard with Joy by not listening to side talks and without expecting recognition of men, but God.
He described Joy as,” feeling that all is well, dependant on salvation Jesus has given us”, even as he informed that happiness is dependent on what the eyes see, but, Joy comes from the lord, and does not depend on something one sees.
Ven.Dr Egwuonwu concluded on the theme: ” Working for the Master’s reward”, adding that, ” What defiles a man is inside of the man. Intolerable characters are manifest from inside and once Satan captures your mind with fear , then, you are finished. This is because Satan controls the mind with fear. Satan starts with deception, then, fear for you to behave like mumu…
