JUST A MINUTE PLEASE 🙏!(THE PREACHER'S CORNER)
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BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS,ARE THEY REALLY NECESSARY(ESPECIALLY FOR CHRISTIANS?)
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The latest carnival like global birthday celebrations of one of the acclaimed richest pastors on earth,*Nigeria's Bishop David Oyedepo,* brings to the fore again,an issue that we have been trying to unsuccessfully lightly write away.

Let's begin with someone who before his fall should know better;
1. A good name is better than precious ointment; and the DAY OF DEATH THAN THE DAY OF ONE'S BIRTH. (Ecc 7: 1-2)

Here's a man whom has tasted the best that the world can offer. No man has walked on the face of the earth richer or wiser than king Solomon. He ended his life by saying;
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. (Ecc 1: 2)
There must be something he experienced. Perhaps, he had a momentary glimpse of what God has prepared for the faithfuls and regretted pursuing earthly trappings and knowledge.

Then of course,we have Job whom out of unbearable pains cursed the day he was born and wished to die, because he knew there will be no pains on the other side,if his ways were right with God;
Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. (Job 3: 3)

I think we should end this section with a man generally acclaimed as a prophet of doom, just because he delivered the messages Father gave him to deliver without diluting them like our modern day pastors;
14. Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. 15. Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. (Jer 20: 14-15). This is actually touching,in that he even cursed the innocent bearer of what was supposed to be good news. All these Old Testament characters knew and believed the other side was better, and it's only righteous death that can get us there.

NOW, TALKING ABOUT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS IN THE BIBLE!
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The only two recorded Birthday Celebrations in the Bible Left a Trail of Deaths.

The only two birthdays the Bible does mention were for rulers who were enemies of God. Each celebration included an execution, so that the guests could gloat over the death of one who had displeased the king. In the first instance, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, executed his chief baker. (Genesis 40:2, 3, 20, 22) The Egyptian ruler did so during the feast because he had grown indignant with his servant. In the second instance, Herod, the immoral ruler of Galilee, beheaded John the Baptizer as a favor to a girl whose dancing at the party had pleased him. What repulsive scenes!—Matthew 14:6-11.

Yes, the Bible focused on two very exceptional birthdays . But the ancient Jewish historian Josephus reveals that these incidents were not unique. He records other instances of the practice of birthday executions for entertainment. There's no need to go into those historical facts, because of the associated pain.

Faithful Christians who either knew or read about these events wouldn't want to have anything to do with CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS. YET CRAFTY LUCIFER INSTIGATED THE MORE POLITICAL THAN CHRISTIAN POPE OF THEIR TIME AND DOUBLE DEALING,OR BETTER STILL, ID CARD CARRYING CHRISTIANS TO FIXED A DATE TO CELEBRATE CHRIST JESUS' BIRTHDAY...A DAY THAT RHYMES WITH THE WORSHIPPING OF THEIR gOD THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO ABANDON TOTALLY.

It happens today in our midst, eg, heading straight to our various cults,shrines or clubs immediately after worship service, especially on Sundays.

THE LIFE OF CHRIST JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE ON EARTH!
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Christ Jesus attended a marriage ceremony where He performed His first recorded miracle. He attended burials, like Lazarus whom He eventually raised,Jairus daughter, whom He also raised after being scorned by hired mourners. There's also an account of His meeting with the widow of Nain,whom of course He also raised seeing that the dead young man was the widow's only hope.

BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY ACCOUNT EITHER IN THE BIBLE OR CHURCH HISTORY WHERE CHRIST JESUS ATTENDED A BIRTHDAY PARTY. HE ONLY HEARD OF THE KILLING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THOUGH EXPECTED, WAS MOVED AS HE HAD TO LEAVE THE VICINITY.

Till tomorrow,no one knows the actual date of birth of Christ Jesus. Everything is and was guesswork, until influence made December 25th to be accepted a few took January 7th. And to make it easier for the truth seeker to know, THE GREATEST EVILS TAKE PLACE DURING THE CELEBRATION OF A SUPPOSED REDEEMER... ISN'T THAT ENOUGH CLUE?

Out of all CHRIST JESUS STATED AND COMMANDED US TO CELEBRATE HIS DEATH. IF THE BIRTHDAY WAS IMPORTANT,WHY DIDN'T HE COMMAND IT;
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luk 22: 19)

23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (1Co 11: 23-24).

NOW,IT ISN'T ABOUT THE PEW OCCUPIERS,BUT THE PULPITS KEEPERS, WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER. WHY SHOULD THEY BE THE ONES POPULARIZING BIRTHDAYS?

When it's close to the Xmas,you see the General overseers, especially of Pentecostal churches gathering their members together in retreats and Shilohs. Why? Because Xmas has come to stay,they gather their people away from the worst of evils that place during the period. THIS MEANS THEY KNOW THAT CHRIST JESUS NEVER PLACE EMPHASIS ON BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS,BUT RATHER ON HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK...DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME....

For the fantabulous birthday celebration that brought or led to this write up, I am wondering what members of the church,the less privileged termed as sinners, and probably have not had a meal and don't know where it would come from, and those who wanted their kids in Heritage schools of the church or their Covenant University that only the affluent can attend ,are thinking of at this time.

THE ROLL CALL OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ALONE(FORGET POLITICIANS FIRST),IF THEY TRULY HAVE A CONSCIENCE THAT'S NOT SEEKING FOR WEALTH OF TENTH GENERATION, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, THEY CAN SOLVE AT MINIMUM,THE PROBLEMS OF HALF OF THE ENTIRE NIGERIAN POPULATION...BUT GREED WON'T ALLOW IT.
I'M WAITING FOR THE ABUSE FROM WHOSE EYES ARE STILL BLINDED.