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Rev. Ezekiel Oyebode, Minister in charge, GoodNews Baptist Church, Bauchi
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
As Christians all over the world commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with the commencement of the Holy week, Nigerian Christians particularly those in positions of governance have been advised to imbibe the spirit of humility, honesty and integrity as they served the people on whose shoulders they rode to the various positions.
The advice was given by the Minister in charge of GoodNews Baptist Church, Wuntin Dada, Bauchi, Rev Ezekiel Oyebode while delivering his sermon on the celebration of the Palm Sunday which signified the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
Ezekiel Oyebode who is also the Chairman, North-East Baptist Conference, also charged them to emulate Jesus Christ who exhibited humility and simplicity by riding a donkey triumphantly into Jerusalem where he completed the act of salvation of human beings.
The Clergymen however lamented that what one sees today are Christians who are in privileged positions of authority behaving as if they got themselves there on their own forgetting that God saddled them with the responsibility of representing Him there.
He further lamented that rather than serving the public in accordance with the tenets of Christianity, they have evolved their own way of doing things thereby making life hard and difficult for many.
Reading from Mathew 21:1-11, Ezekiel Oyebode said that Jesus Christ throughout his stay on earth to discharge his messianic duties exhibited humility, gentleness, trustworthiness, openness and other virtues which are expected of his adherents.
He stressed that with the situation of the country in the area of insecurity and economic hardship, it is time for Christians in government to stand up and fill the gap by taking up the Armour of prayers and fasting for divine intervention from God.
According to him, “You should know that God gave you the opportunity to be there, He expects you to be good Ambassadors knowing that you are stewards who must give account at the end of time”.
“You should remember that one day, you will be out of the positions and come back among the people you neglected. How will you feel when they too refused to recognize you at the time of your need of them”, he added.
He also reminded them that throughout the holy week which will climax with the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, they should exhibit acts of holiness in whatever they do in order to be examples of Christ-likeness.
The Pastor then urged Christians to use the Easter period for sober reflection understanding that Jesus Christ died for all to be set free from the bondage of death and have salvation.
