 Beloved in the Lord,
Permit me to add my voice to that of the Psalmist to echo once more the words of Psalm 115:1 “NOT UNTO US O LORD NOT UNTO US. UNTO THY NAME O LORD, DO WE GIVE ALL GLORY”
Beloved, it is with immense excitement that I welcome you all as indispensable members of this congregation to the joyous ceremony marking the solemn dedication of the Harvesters’ Cathedral.
The pursuit of this vision begun with a consuming yearning that was adamant to the unfriendly protests of impeding obstacles.
Hitherto, our lives bore records of no moving tale that could have honed us for the unforeseen misfortunes that ignited our fears and the overwhelming lows that thawed our hopes. But here now, our eyes hang like gleaming pearls before our very vision – (THE HARVESTER’S CATHEDRAL), a vision we held and carved through the love of an illustrious fellowship with ourselves and our beloved Master Jesus Christ.
We stand this day as souls united in spirit and in mind, here to dedicate the Cathedral to its undisputed master and saviour of our once-damned souls. In one accord we stand, to acknowledge his ownership and lordship over our destinies and over his church. He is the author and the finisher of our every good deed and today we stand to offer it all back to him.
Again, to the love of individual well-wishers do we extend our gratitude. We thank all who conformed to the example of the Holy Spirit and submitted to his admonishment that we esteem the honour of givers. We leave it to God, to compensate those who forsook the gratification of self and forewent their personal aggrandisement and the urgent demands of catering for the home, in order to contribute to the establishment of this Ministry, that the strength of those who did not relent in committing the pain of their toil to the assurance of the founding of the monument of our collective vision be replenished. It is with love and a merry heart that I specially acknowledge the esteemed presence of a beloved few to whom the completion of the Cathedral is almost as much a personal victory as it is Christ’s. This building now stands in testimony of the loyalty and the zeal with which they dedicated over three decades of selfless service to God’s ministry and to this church. God however is the most significant appreciator of all our good deeds. To all to whom we owe the marvel of this edifice and to all faithfully gathered here, be your contribution in substance or in kind, it is my fervent prayer that the Good Lord be more than gracious to you.
Brethren, I best remind you though, that the completion of this building only partially constitutes our commission and I beseech us all in view of the work that awaits to be done that we do not weary of doing good. Those that labour in the vineyard still remain few and though our difficulties and our challenges signal the end times, there is much more that can be done for God. It is good that, we have built this Temple, but this should not become our preoccupation in these crucial times as it happened to Peter! “And He was transfigured before them. And His face shone as the sun, and His clothing was white as the light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”-Mat 17:2-4. Peter missed the point in this revelation! The Father in heaven wanted them to know that, Jesus was the Messiah and that they should obey Him. It was not about the erection of monuments! Jesus’ commission to all His disciples still stands today… “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations”- Mat 28:19. The Great Commission should not be delayed or limited to the walls of this Temple.
In keeping with the theme for the Church for this year, be reminded that the choices we make in our daily lives are the tiny strokes of ink with which each individual composes the chapter entitled the ‘Gospel according to Me’. It proves prudent that we take some time to consider the bearing in which the story we tell on each page points the reader. Of utmost urgency it is, that we precisely determine to what end our examples will lead the follower treading in our footsteps. For the end to which they journey, we will arrive before them. Let us then, commit our ways to him who by the firm grip of a tender hand, will lead us to the refreshment of the still waters and eternal peace.
Stephen said to his executioners before being martyred “David….who found favour with God and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob; but Solomon built Him a house. But, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, "Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool. What house will you build Me, says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest? Has not My hand made all these things?" Act 7:45-50. It is God’s favour which has made what we are witnessing this day possible, none of us should take any credit for this Temple. The temple built by Solomon is not with us today because of disobedience! Let us be vigilant because we cannot ‘bribe’ God with anything He has created. Rather, this temple should engender us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God. Paul puts it succinctly “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” -1Co 6:19-20.
Let us all with serenity and humility, admit the indecisiveness of our hearts and the frailty of our minds, and with the muffled plea of a frightened little child, pray the Lord that with the tenderness of his Mercy and Love, his grip around our wobbly wrists may grow tighter and that with fondness and reproach, he may lead us along the barren paths of rocky ground leading unto victory. I hereby invite all to share with me in the celebration of this remarkable achievement within the circles of God’s Vineyard. May the Love and Mercy of the Lord be with You All.
Amen. |
