Religion
A Catholic Charismatic Renewal teacher, Bro. Geofrey Okereke, has urged Christians, particularly teaching ministers of the Abeokuta Diocese of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, to remain steadfast in their faith amid the moral, social and spiritual pressures of the contemporary world.
Realnews Magazine reports that Okereke spoke at the Annual Teaching Ministry Retreat organised by the Teaching Ministry of Abeokuta Diocese Catholic Charismatic Renewal, held on July 18 at Sango.
Okereke gave the charge during a teaching session titled “Standing Firm in Our Contemporary World,” delivered at a formation programme for members of the teaching ministry.
Drawing from Hebrews 12:1-2, he said Christians were living in a rapidly changing world where values, ideas and societal norms continually evolved, but stressed that God remained constant and His truth never changed.
According to him, while society reinvents itself from one generation to another, God’s truth neither expires nor requires updating, but is continually revealed to believers through the Holy Spirit.
“The world changes every decade, but God does not evolve. His truth does not expire, it does not need rebranding or updating. What changes is our understanding as God reveals His truth to us,” he said.
Okeke noted that because society was unstable, believers must anchor their hope on the unchanging nature of God rather than on shifting social values.
Quoting Malachi 3:6 and Matthew 7:24-27, he said Christians who built their lives on God’s word would remain firm regardless of life’s storms.
He described the Christian life as a race requiring perseverance rather than speed, urging believers not only to begin the journey of faith but also to continue faithfully until the end.
“The race is not over until you cross the finish line. It is not about how fast you start but about how faithfully you finish,” he said.
The teacher encouraged ministers to evaluate their spiritual journey by asking whether they had merely begun the race or were making steady progress toward fulfilling God’s assignment.
He urged participants to imitate Apostle Paul’s example in Philippians 3 by putting behind both past failures and past successes.
According to him, dwelling on previous achievements can become as dangerous as dwelling on failures because both can hinder fresh encounters with God.
“Your success yesterday can become your greatest obstacle today if it makes you stop learning, praying and depending on God,” he warned.
Okereke also urged believers to remove every spiritual weight capable of slowing their Christian race.
He identified sinful habits, bitterness, unforgiveness, malice, distractions and unresolved offences as burdens that weaken spiritual strength and hinder effective ministry.
“Unforgiveness is one of the heaviest burdens a Christian can carry. You cannot preach forgiveness effectively while harbouring bitterness in your heart,” he said.
The speaker stressed that standing firm also required endurance, describing periods of spiritual dryness as normal experiences in the Christian journey.
He said seasons when prayer became difficult or spiritual enthusiasm diminished should not be mistaken for spiritual death.
“As there are rainy and dry seasons in nature, there are also dry seasons in our spiritual journey. Walk through them patiently because every season eventually passes,” he advised.
Okereke urged every minister to discover and faithfully pursue the unique assignment God had entrusted to him or her.
He cautioned against unhealthy comparison, envy and competition among ministers, stressing that every believer had a distinct race marked out by God.
“We may be age mates, but we are not grace mates. Respect the grace God has given to others while faithfully running your own race,” he said.
According to him, ministers who understand their divine assignment will celebrate the gifts of others instead of competing for recognition or positions.
He further reminded participants that physical illness, disappointment, poverty or personal hardship should never become excuses for abandoning God’s work.
He noted that many biblical servants faithfully fulfilled their calling despite suffering severe trials.
Addressing the need to remain focused, Okeke urged believers to fix their eyes on Jesus rather than on fellow Christians.
He warned that placing excessive confidence in human beings could lead to discouragement whenever those individuals stumbled or abandoned the faith.
“If your eyes are fixed on people, you will stop when they stop. Keep your eyes on Christ because He alone is the Author and Finisher of our faith,” he said.
The teacher identified materialism as one of the greatest challenges confronting contemporary Christianity.
He described materialism as an excessive pursuit of wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual growth, righteous living and sound Christian values.
Okereke cautioned against reducing prosperity solely to financial success, saying the Bible presented prosperity as encompassing spiritual well-being, good health and material provision.
He said equating faithfulness with financial wealth alone distorted the Gospel and placed unnecessary pressure on believers.
“True prosperity includes the prosperity of the soul, good health and material blessings. When one aspect is preached at the expense of the others, the message becomes unbalanced,” he said.
He also warned against adopting teachings from social media or other Christian traditions without examining them in the light of Scripture and Catholic doctrine.
According to him, Catholic teaching ministers must be firmly grounded in Scripture, guided by the Magisterium and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“Not every popular preacher is doctrinally correct. Every teaching must agree with Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church,” he said.
Okereke further identified denominationalism and self-promotion as growing threats to Christian witness.
He lamented that many ministers now preached themselves instead of Christ, seeking followers for personal ministries rather than leading people to Jesus.
“Our assignment is not to promote ourselves but to present Christ. Ministry is God expressing Himself through us,” he said.
The speaker also decried the commercialization of the Christian faith through excessive emphasis on fundraising, merchandising of religious practices and exploitation of worshippers.
He maintained that spiritual programmes should primarily focus on winning souls and transforming lives rather than generating revenue.
“What should determine the success of a programme is the number of lives transformed, not the amount of money realised,” he said.
Speaking on qualities required of teaching ministers, Okeke urged participants to reject pride, remain teachable and willingly accept correction.
He stressed that continuous learning, humility and accountability were essential for spiritual growth and effective ministry.
According to him, every teacher should strive to become scripturally sound, spiritually sound and doctrinally sound.
He encouraged ministers to maintain regular Bible study and prayer, cultivate friendships that encouraged honest correction and healthy competition, and mentor younger believers.
He also advised participants to accept God’s dealings in their lives, explaining that divine discipline often prepared believers for greater usefulness.
Okeke said Christians should minister out of genuine love for God and compassion for people, noting that effective intercession and teaching could only flow from sincere love.
He concluded by reminding participants that the ultimate goal of Christian ministry was eternal life.
Quoting Colossians 3:2 and Ephesians 6:10-14, he urged believers to keep their minds fixed on heavenly things, remain strong in the Lord and continue serving faithfully until the end.
“No matter how powerfully we preach or how much we accomplish in ministry, everything amounts to nothing if our ultimate goal is not to make heaven,” he said.
F.O
Tags: Catholic Charismatic Renewal Stand firm Teaching Ministry