Screenshot from the zoom meeting
Greetings Brethren, I was fortunate to join in the MCGI Mass Indoctrination program with Pastor Eli which focused on varieties of discussions regarding fasting, prayer and how husbands should dwell with their wives.
I will be using a few of the scriptures which were deliberated by pastor Eli in the course of the meeting to expound what I understood from the MI program.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 7:3-5 as used in the indoctrination program, we were meant to understand that the woman is meant for the man and also marriage is meant to be complimentary with the man responding positively to the needs of the woman and the woman likewise.
From this scripture, couples are advised to separate from each other only in the course of fasting against being tempted by the devil and bringing bad name for the church.
Pastor Eli also emphasized on what God wanted as fasting, although this scripture came in response to the suppression of the poor by the wealthy and the rich in Israel as the prophet Isaiah admonished them.
Nonetheless, Pastor Eli cited the book of Isaiah 58:6-8 in response.
These verses of the scripture prescribed the kind of faster God required from us and more especially from those who are oppressing the poor, the needy, those in prisons and beggars in the street.
God said when we remember the downtrodden, and forgive those whom we've tied down by our conscience, and especially we shouldn't hide ourselves from our own flesh, then will we break out on every side like the morning and then will God hear us when we call.
Pastor Eli majorly underscored the need for people not to separate themselves from their own body regarding couples. Through this scripture couples aren't meant to deny themselves of their body because they are both one body which is why the scripture said that they separate themselves not from their body.
God's emphasis on fasting is clear both on the stead of couples and everyone in general. The biblical emphasis is lucidly stated when we keep our own part of the scriptures, God will keep to His own words by fulfilling every bit of what He has promised because He isn't a man that he should play pranks on.
In Matthew 6:16 as emphasized on the course of the meeting, We are guided on the kind of fasting that is acceptable unto God as Jesus taught His disciples in the above scripture.
We shouldn't try to prove to people that we are fasting. We are to show our concern to God because even if we disclose to people that we are fasting, they have nothing to do about that which is why Jesus taught His disciples not to go into fasting exhibition to Men.
I learnt that fasting is a personal thing between one and his maker and not a thing to prove to people that you have arrived. Pastor Eli also emphasized on people who would go to the extent of broadcasting their congregational fasting engagement on air which is a proof that they seek approval of men rather than the recognition of God.
In response to this, we must live our lives so as to please God and not to prove anything to men since our reward is with the Lord and not with men.
Matthew 5:28, this scripture laid emphasis on lusting after a woman. it further stated that fornication isn't only when a man had sex with a woman that is not his wife but when we look on ladies or women with the desire to have them, we have done it already but we were also encouraged as believers especially the female folks not to put on those wears that exposes the body that woos men to such sensual desire.
A woman should always look modest and her nakedness is only meant for her husband and not for public survey which is actually the reason rape cases has proliferated.
Also in proverb 19:14, emphasis was laid on a prudent wife, which is a gift from the Lord. In this response, Pastor Eli emphasized on the need for women to keep themselves clean and not look haggard, especially from the mess of their children but they are to look good for their husbands.
Really prudent woman has to make sure that her home is kept, she should also be a good helpmate for her husband, making sure that the home is ordered as the saying goes that cleanliness equals godliness. Proverbs 18:22 also correlated with this scripture emphasizing that a married man stands in the position of receiving favor from God.
These scriptures underscored the need and importance of marriage than fornicating because the word of God is supreme, and whatever He promise is exactly why He'll do. So it's better to marry and have your own wife or husband than to go about fornicating with unmarried women and men which has the possibility of denying someone of the promises of God.
Screenshot from the zoom meeting
Believers shouldn't abscond the place of fasting and prayer as this is the backbone of every believer thatust go far in his/her faith but couples aren't to use the guise of fasting and pretentious commitment to God to deny themselves of their body because the church powerless and useless if Christ should who is the husband od the Church should deny His spirit from the Church so married people should be sincere and also give themselves to prayer when the need arise.
Believers has to cherish the place of helping others and also remembering those in need whom probably we cannot reach in person, hence we must reach out to God on their behalf.
We have to extirpate hypocritical fasting which has the potency of nullifying our commitment in praying to God over our needs and problems.
Husbands should cherish their wives and they in response should obey them according to the demand of the scriptures.
I wish to draw the curtain at this point. Hope we learnt something from my engagement in the course of the MCGImass indoctrination program. God bless MCGI and everyone in collaboration with the gospel in this response, bye and 馃挆
