May 2010 Newsletter is available for downloading in PDF
From the Pastor’s Heart.
Pastor Olowokere
What shall I render? What shall I render? What shall I render to you my Lord? I will praise you O Lord and sing hallelujah! What shall I render to you my Lord? What else but praise and adulation could a grateful heart render to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the ever faithful and ever sure God; the Invisible God who does visible works?
I’m full of gratitude to the Holy One of Israel who has remained faithful to His people at Strong Tower Parish. Why wouldn’t I? He’s the One responsible for our unexpected promotion. Who would have known that we would be hosting the Special Holy Ghost Service in June when we all thought Daddy G.O. was only coming for the dedication of Hebron, our new facility? As if that was not enough, His word to us monthly has been unfailing. While he “Elevated” us in April, He says May is “My Month of Double Honor.” Please join me sing hallelujah because Jehovah Jireh has done us well.
Why do we need monthly prophecies or word from God? It’s simply because of the role of prophecies in the lives of God’s people. Consider the following truths about prophecies:
• Prophecies are expressions of God’s delight for His people
• They express God’s minimum expectation for His people
• Prophecies are the watchword of God over His people
• They are the expression of the tomorrow (future) of His people today
• Prophecies always produce testimonies
Whenever God’s word (prophecy) comes to us, they tell about God’s plan and the minimum standard to expect. Prophecies bring our future to us now so that once they come to pass we can glorify God for them. Think for a minute about Joseph and how he was able to survive his brothers’ plan to kill him (Genesis 37); Potiphar’s wife’s antics (Genesis 39); the prison (Genesis 39); and the payment of homage by his brother (Genesis 43). The reason is simple: God had revealed this to him (prophecy) way before it happened (Genesis 37:1-11).
Since light has been shed on the importance of prophecies, you should know why I’m this delighted that Double Honor is God’s plan for me and you in May. Let’s look at some definition of honor to have a good picture of what awaits us.
Honor means a state of being in great reputation or notability, or for a man to ascend to a new level of admiration. It also means holding or having a respectable position in society. For instance, Pastor Enoch Adeboye is an honorable man of God, President Obama holds an honorable position, and so does Michael Jordan in basketball.
If I were you I’d take a second look at myself now and picture what I’d look like once God has granted me Double Honor in May.
Honor comes in many dimensions. We will look at five of these:
Natural honor: This is our natural dignity. It’s God given to every human whether saved or not. Psalm 8:3-5 says:
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Heb 2: 5-9 makes us to understand that even Jesus was granted natural honor:
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Covenant honor: Is associative in nature. It comes from link to another who carries the original honor. For instance, the First Lady is honored because her husband is the president. Before the White House, the major magazines didn’t jostle to have her on their front pages. In Genesis 49: 4-6, Jacob severs Simeon and Levi from his honor. Consider also Deuteronomy 25:16-19, 2 Peter 1: 16-18 and John 5:22-23.
Marital Honor: Comes from being married since the institution is honorable. Hebrews 13:4 says “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
Kingdom Service Honor: Comes from giving ourselves to God’s service. John 12: 26 says “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” and 1Timothy 5:17 says “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Honor of God: This is given by God to whomever He desires. It’s the honor that never fades. John 8:54 reads “Jesus answered, if I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:” and in John 5: 41-44 Jesus again references His source of honor:
I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
I wouldn’t blame you if you’re unsure of how to become a beneficiary of Double Honor. But I’d like to share with you the story of an otherwise ordinary man who entered into honor the same night he was supposed to be dead. Mordecai was a gatekeeper who had ran foul of the King’s assistant, Haman. Haman had concluded plans to have Mordecai killed but the same night his plan was to take effect was the same night God remembered Mordecai for honor. Esther 6: 1- 11 reads:
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Some takeaways for this passage: It doesn’t matter how lowly you are, when God deems you for honor, honor becomes yours. Two, honor comes with perks; for instance, Mordecai rode on the king’s horse, was arrayed in his robe, and was accorded honor due a king. These are perks of royalty. Lastly, Mordecai became honorable over night. This is proof that your Double Honor wouldn’t take time, it would only take God!
As we enter into the fifth month, you should know nothing short of Double Honor will be yours because that’s what God has promised us. Look not to your present situation in your expectation but to the faithful God who has promised and is able to deliver as He did for Mordecai and Joseph.
I look forward to seeing you in your Double Honor!
Yours in this Divine Appointment,
Pastor Emmanuel S. Olowokere
