AN ADDRESS OF THE ARCHMINISTER OF GOD’S KINGDOM MISSION, BRO. R. E. OGENE ON THE OCCASION OF THE FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATION, HOLDING AT VARIOUS CENTRES OF THE CHURCH, IN OCTOBER, 2021
My Dearly Beloved Celebrants,
HAIL JEHOVAH AND JESUS CHRIST!
In the first place I give profound thanks and praise to Jehovah the Almighty God and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, for keeping and sparing us to witness and participate in this year’s Freedom Day celebration, in honour of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Righteous who was born in October, over two thousand years ago. Words are inadequate to express our thanks to God, for His goodness and favour we enjoy from year to year in spite of the distresses, calamities and perplexities plaguing humanity.
The occasion of Christ’s birth anniversary reminds and refreshes us the children of God of the significance of Christ’s mission to this sinful world, which amongst others, was to shed his perfect blood for remission of the sins of the world. St. Paul stated: “But God commended His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. – Rom. 5:8; 8:32; John 3:16; Eph. 1:7; Matt. 20:28; 26:28; 1 Tim. 2:6.
The joyous atmosphere that heralded the birth of the Saviour on that night of October, when an Angel broke the good news of his birth to shepherds outdoors, attending to their flocks, bespoke the relevance and essence of this occasion. The Angel declared: “…Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a saviour in the city of David, which is Christ the Lord. No sooner had he finished speaking, when a host of angels in jubilation, praising God, came on the scene to confirm the inestimable value of Christ’s birth. They sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will towards men”.- Luke 2:8-14.
This declaration of “peace” by the Angels, brought about by Jesus Christ’s birth and mission to the world in his first advent, is the centrepiece of my own message for this Freedom Day. It is captioned: “MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH…”.
The subject is drawn from the comforting words of Jesus Christ to his Apostles. Said he: “Peace I give unto you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. – John 14:27.
Peace is a universal requirement. Everyone irrespective of race, gender, age, nationality, rich or poor, wants peace. But what is peace? Is peace merely the absence of trouble, conflict, disturbance, problem and disharmony? Is it just an atmosphere of quietness or serenity. This is the world’s understanding of peace, but even then, it is unattainable under the present evil system of things dominated by sin, under Satan the devil.
It is only in the Kingdom of God, when fully established on the earth, will there be perfect peace, joy, and tranquility in all ramifications. No wonder St. Paul described it as a “Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the holy spirit”. (Rom. 14:17) At that time, even among the beasts, there shall be perfect concord and harmony. Isaiah the prophet stated: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them…They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain:. – Isa.11:6-9.
In God’s Kingdom when fully established, Satan the devil, author of wickedness, confusion and disorder, disharmony, disunity, wars and conflicts, sin, sickness and death, with all his means and agents, would have been exterminated and perfect peace would reign Supreme under the sovereignty of Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace. – Isa. 65:17-25; 33:20; Rom. 16:20; 2:1:7-9; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 16:13-16;20:1-3;; 21:1-5,8.
THE PEACE OF GOD
Long before Jesus was born into the world, it was scripturally foretold that he would be the “Prince of Peace”. Isaiah the prophet stated: “For unto us a child is born and unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace”. (Isa.9:6,7) St. Paul referred to him as “the Lord of peace”, when he wrote: “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means”. – 2 Thess. 3:16.
When man sinned by disobedience of the just law of God in the Garden of Eden, man’s relationship with God was broken and he lost peace, happiness, comfort and life, to confusion, guilt, fear, disorder, discomfort, disharmony and death. (Gen. 3:15-19). But for the purpose of reconciliation and the restoration of the peace of God to man, Jesus Christ was sent into this sinful world, to make atonement by the shedding of his perfect blood, so that whoever believes in him would partake of the peace of God.
In this vein St. Paul recalled, that prior to our conversion we were strangers, without God and Christ in this world, but now by reason of our new birth, whose relationship was severed with God, have been brought close, by the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, through the shedding of his blood. For Jesus Christ is our peace, who has reconciled man with God. (2 Cor. 5:18,19; Eph. 2:12-17; Col.1:20,21) The Apostle Paul stated further: “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. – Rom. 5:1.
The peace of God and of Christ are different from the peace of the world. This peace surpasses the peace of environment and circumstances. It includes that, but it is not only that. It does not have to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, trial, temptations and tribulations. The peace of God means to be in the midst of all that, and still remain calm in your heart. It is a sense of calm, in the midst of the storms of life. Jesus Christ told his disciples thus: “This thing have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheers; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD”. – John 16:33.
Jesus Christ in his first advent demonstrated his power to give peace to his people, even in the midst of crisis, storms, troubles, temptations and tribulations. On a certain occasion he was with his disciples in a ship and other smaller ships following in a convoy, when a great storm arose and the waves filled the ship to the brim, so that the disciples were terribly afraid. At this time Jesus Christ was calmly asleep at the bottom of the ship. The disciples at the fierceness of the storm woke him up and said to him: “Master care not thou that we perish”? Jesus Christ arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea. “Peace be still”. The storm ceased instantly and there was great calm. Mark 4:35-41.
HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE PEACE OF JESUS CHRIST
Only in Jesus Christ through belief in and following his footsteps, can man find peace which surpasses all understanding. Jesus Christ made a clarion call to all who desire his peace thus: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”. – Matt.11:28-30.
The peace of God is the same as the peace of Jesus Christ. The Almighty God is the source of life through His Son, Jesus Christ – the Giver of divine peace. (John 14:27) His peace unlike the peace of the world is not indiscriminately accessed or given. There are conditions for experiencing the peace of Jesus Christ consequent upon belief.
1. LOVE AND OBEDIENCE OF THE TRUTH. – The Truth is the word of God, which Jesus Christ brought to the world and personifies. As it is written: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. And Jesus himself declared: “..I am the way, the truth and life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. (John 1:17; 14:6) When you love and obey the truth, you will have great peace and the word of God will be your daily delight. King David stated: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them…my soul hath kept thy testimonies: and I love them exceedingly”. – Psalm 119:165,167,97; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3.
2. WALKING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS – To walk in righteousness is to do what is right at all times. It also means to refrain from sin in all its ramifications. (Psalm 106:3; 1 Thess. 5:22.)The Bible says that God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalm 7:11) If God is angry with anyone, he can never enjoy His peace. The Prophet Isaiah stated: “There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”. (Isa. 57:20) But endeavouring to practise righteousness, by doing what is right in the sight of God brings peace. Isaiah the Prophet to this effect admonished thus: “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places”. – Isa.32:17,18.
3. TRUST IN GOD – Putting our trust, hope and confidence in God and Christ will guarantee the blessing of the peace of Jesus Christ on us. In times of trials, temptations and tribulations, we should keep our focus on God and Jesus. In Isaiah 26:3,4, the Prophet Isaiah exhorted: “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the LORD Jehovah is everlasting strength”. Also, King Solomon counseled: “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil”. – Prov. 3:5-7.
4. THE WISDOM OF GOD – The wisdom of God attracts divine peace. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God personified. (1 Cor. 1:24) King Solomon who was greatly blessed with the wisdom of God, wrote: “Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her hand; and in her left hand riches, and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are PEACE”. – Prov. 3:13-17. (Caps mine)
5. SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT – To experience the peace of Jesus Christ, we must do things that will make for peace, things which would build and edify one another as the people of God. St. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in this vein: “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify another”. – Rom. 14:19.
Earlier King David had written thus: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry…the righteous cry and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles”. (Ps. 34:12-17; 1 Pet. 3:10-13) Follow peace with all men and holiness”, said St. Paul, “without which no man shall see the LORD”. – Heb. 12:14.
6. BE PRAYERFUL AND THANKFUL – St. Paul exhorted the Christians in Philippi to wit: “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. (Phil. 4:6,7) The apostle Paul did not mean by this that we should live carelessly or irresponsibly, but that we should not be over anxious, worried or panic, when faced with severe tests, trials or temptations.
Rather we should be calm and commit or cast our burdens and cares upon the Lord, through prayers and thanksgiving, because he cares for us. And the peace of God which is beyond human understanding will guard our hearts, keeping us calm, stable and confident in God to overcome by His grace. Psalm 37:3-7; 94:13, (Amplified); Heb. 10:35; 1 Peter 5:7.
C O N C L U S I O N
The period of the last day or days in which we are living is scripturally referred to as “perilous times”, in which the devil and his agents would wreak havoc on humanity. There would be all manners of calamities, disasters, turbulence, turmoil, confusion, disorder, mayhem, sickness, diseases and death, to strike fear in the hearts of men. Jesus Christ foretold that there would be distress of nations with perplexities and men’s heart failing them for fear, and apprehension of the evils that are coming upon the world. He admonish his disciples not to fear, but to look up to God and Christ for our deliverance which is near and to be saved in His Kingdom when fully established. – Luke 21:25-27.
In the text under reference, that is, John 14:27, Jesus Christ told his disciples not to be afraid, or fear, or let their hearts be troubled, because his peace would be with them. St. Paul wrote to Timothy, that God has not given him the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Tim. 1:7.
When we walk in love, fear that hinders the flow of the peace of Jesus Christ will wear away. Hence St. John wrote thus: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth away fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love”. – 1 John 4:18.
In times of trouble, God has given us hope of peace, if only we would not fear. He spoke through Isaiah the prophet: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will help thee; yea, I will strengthen thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”. – Isaiah 41:10.
FINALLY, I would like to conclude this my address with a benediction of peace by St. Paul to the Christians at Rome, which also applies to all true believers particularly of this age: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and PEACE in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit”. Amen! – Rom. 15:13.
I wish you all happy, peaceful and joyous Christ’s Birth Anniversary Celebration to the glory of God the Father through Jesus Christ – “The Prince of Peace”. AMEN!
H A P P Y F R E E D O M D A Y !
Yours in Christ’s Service,
R. E. OGENE,
ARCHMINISTER