LAGOS — WHEN CARNALITY IS TAMED for the spirit of God to move, the anointing moves powerfully, as we experienced the Holy Spirit moving at the El-Shaddai Salvation Family Ministries ESFM on Sunday, October 17, 2021, which was the third Sunday of the month—a day set apart for the Youths.
This move began when the daughter of Zion, Benita Enakhena, ascended the altar to deliver the day’s sermon. Now, we realize that most people in Africa, much alone in the West, still do not believe in being moved by the Holy Spirit’s anointing—well, they say seeing is believing, so perhaps a visit to the ESFM church, where we have been moved by the Holy Spirit throughout time, will persuade you.
Our focus here is not on the anointing, but on the message of God preached by Youth Minister Benita Enakhena, who, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, urged the congregation to put God first in everything they do in the sermon “Put God First in Every Situation.”
Validating the African proverb which says a lion cannot give birth to a dog or a snake can never give birth to a monkey, the youth minister toed same vein with her father who is not the kind who sugars the word with his understanding but relies only on the understanding of the Holy Spirit, began with a question that aroused the spirit beings of the congregants to the altar where she stood.
With the backing of the Holy Spirit, she addressed the congregation as a whole, then singled out the youths and jabbed the teenagers with God’s message, which was brief, direct, and to the point.
As it is our tradition, The Word of Godfrey Times provides the message for you below.
Who can go a day without drinking water? Or stay a week without food? Now picture your spirit a day without talking to God.
Some of us only remember our God when we come to church. Who is God to you? Is He the one you remember only in times of trouble?
Some of us ignore God in order to impress man – man who is breathing the breath that God gave him. Put Him first by communicating with Him 24 hours a day — Proverbs 3:5-6; 2 Chronicles 7:14 — in every situation, seek God’s face rather than the pastor’s or your boss’s — and have we repented from our sinful ways as we are putting God first?
I was scrolling through Tik Tok when I came across a post where a woman said that her pastor went to get his haircut and the barber told him that there is no God. That if there is a God, why do bad things happen to people? The preacher remained silent until the barber finished cutting his hair. When he was finished, he went outside and spotted a man covered in hair. The pastor took the man to the barbershop, where the man with a lot of hair told him that there was no barber. “Why do you say there’s no Barber?” the Barber inquired, surprised. “There won’t be hair all over me if there’s a Barber,” the person with a lot of hair replied. The barber told him, “You didn’t come to me.” And the pastor told the Barber that those who don’t go to God feel the same way. If they had sought God’s help, He would have provided the answers or solutions to their issues or obstacles. There are those who claim there is no God, as well as those who have come to God but have not repented of their sins. Or maybe they didn’t put God first in their lives when it came to that particular issue or problem, and God was waiting for them to do so before intervening. Put God first in everything — I mean everything that has anything to do with your entire existence! When you put him first and ask for his permission in everything, he will lead you in the right direction.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
What exactly are these things that will be added onto you? As a youth, you may pray for God to choose a wife or husband for you; however, if you put him first in your life, he will not only provide you with your spouse, but also with everything you require — a home, a job, the blessings of marriage, and the financial means to provide for your family with plenty of joy — all of these will be added to you. It will lead to the realization that if you put God first, everything will work out for your good!!
Even the teenagers, who always lament saying our parents do not understand, have you talked to God about that which your parents do not understand? Talk to your God who is your heavenly father that created you and you will see how good and well everything will be working out for you.
ANOTHER POINT TO CONSIDER
THE LOVE OF GOD — John 13:13-15
This is something that we don’t know how it came about and it has no end. Do whatever Jesus Christ has done—washing the feets of His disciples—He did not separate himself from them. Let me ask, who would give his or her son up for death? No one. The love of God is power. Genesis 2:19 — He gave us power and authority. Whatever the name Adam called the animals stood. The love of God is in us for us to showcase what is in us. 2 Samuel 22:3-4 — the love of God is strength. When you have the love of God you speak with love. “Speak with love” in your marriage. We must correct with love. The love of God is light, it gives us freedom. It gives us happiness. — By Benedicta Enakhena/ wife of the lead pastor of El-Shaddai Salvation Family Ministries ESFM Apostle Benson Enakhena
