INTRODUCTION: My name is Reverend/Evangelist Ogbonnaya Godswill, George (Some know me as George Kapin); Director of Affairs, Weefree Ministries Worldwide. My wife, Eileen Okwerenkediya Ogbonnaya is here with me (Stand up to be recognized & greet God’s people). Together we bring you special greetings from Houston Texas.
I am highly excited, privileged and honored to have with me my brother and Servant of the Most High, Pastor George Okoro of Living Word Ministries, Bremen, Germany. (Rounds of a plus…clap, clap, and clap for Jesus. Give it up for him).
WELCOME: 1). Permit me, on behalf of the family to welcome everyone to this Service of Songs and Wake. I appreciate that you are here to share in this august event – sad moment of grief and loss with the bereaved.
2. I am here once again to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of late Mazi Thomas Kanu Okoro as a whole and very especially to the immediate family of deceased, late Mazi Nwosu Kanu Okoro – the widow, Mrs. Veronica Nnenaya Okoro and the children, Jennifer & Chika (daughters) and Chiemeka (son and heir).
May the God of all comfort, comfort the whole family and may His spirit grant you all peace of mind as you navigate through this difficult moment in life.
3. I want to thank the family of late Mazi Osu Okoro and especially the Committee of Friends of Osu for their support, time, ideas (talent) and contributions; and for putting together such an amazing program as this. As crowded as it may be they gave God Ist place by allowing the worship service to be part of the whole events and giving us the opportunity to minister on this occasion. We say thank you. It’s not only a good thing to do; it’s a proper/right thing to do.
4. Tonite, we have gathered here for 2 great functions:
i)To honor and celebrate the deceased late Mazi Osu Kanu Okoro and give God thanks for the life he lived AND ACHIEVEMENTS MADE, ESPECIALLY HOW HIS LIFE AFFECTED OTHERS.
II). To support the family to enable them to respectfully and in dignity ship the remains of the deceased and give him a befitting farewell, funeral and home-coming celebrations.
TEXT:
i). Ecclesiastes 7: 2b – Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. ii). John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me.”
Preamble: We reject every spirit of heaviness and depression and invite /take up the garment of praise.
+Bad news never comes at a good time. Whether it’s a flat tire or ulcer turned into cancer or death of a loved one; negative and tragic experiences happen all too often. Yet God brings good out of many bad situations. It may not be immediately. We have to trust God enough to wait patiently for His time, turn around, breakthrough that brings good out of bad situations.
+Osu’s family will ever stay to remember April 4, 2019 – the day the head of the family exited to eternal glory.
+Death has been likened to a Freeway. When one gets to where he/she is going, he/she exit. A day comes that everyone exits.
One could’ve assumed that everyone is conscious of these fundamental facts of life.
· We live in the world as strangers / sojourners.
· The world is impermanent; of course nothing on earth is
· In the midst of life, there is death
· Death is a necessary end
· Death could be the only vehicle leaving for eternity/heaven
· Yet everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
*Know that Man’s life is styled days
+It’s not conferred upon us by wholesale in months and years
+But by retails of days, hours, minutes, and moments.
+Man does not live forever. Sooner or later he passes away. We however are unwilling to accept it.
+Human beings hardly learn from the past or do heed to warning signs
+Rather we live in procrastinations and end in regrets – had I known.
+Some believe it shall not happen to them or they still have time to play with.
+They console the bereaved; organized Wakes for the deceased, danced to spiritual music and make some donations to help the family of the deceased. These are kind gestures and highly appreciated.
+Just pulse a minute and ask yourself: If death struck today, shall I make heaven? This question is not only life determined but also life revealing and life challenging.
**This brings to mind an old song by Jim Reeves:
This world is not my own, Am just passing through….
+This song is no longer aired or sung. Our age does not know it. It is considered old fashioned since we live in an instant age – we have instant coffee, instant milk, and instant or drive through marriages.
+Yet the wordings of the song are still very relevant and curious reminder of who we are and where we are.
REALITY OF LIFE: (ADAGE):
· “We live life once but if we plan it well, once is enough.”
· “We live life forward and learn from it backward.”
· “Good life does not depend on how long but how well.
STAGES OF LIFE: There are 4 stages of life we live in (4 R’s)
i. Stage of Rascality
ii. Stage of Romance
iii. Stage of Rheumatism/Retirement
iv. Stage of Rest
Some people are blessed to complete these stages while others may pass from stage 1 to 4 or from stage 1, to 2 to 4.
Our Text: Eccl 7:2b says, “Death is the destiny of all, the living should take it to heart.
Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”
+If only we know how insecure, uncertain and unreliable our life on earth is, we would apply wisdom on how we spend/utilize it.
+Surprisingly many are living as if they will live on this facet of the earth forever
+Amazing wealth as if we shall carry any back; could serve as a ransom for any soul. The redemption of human soul is costly, only the blood of Jesus could pay for it.
+ We become too earthly minded and become complacent
+ Easily intimidated by little things like shadow, flying roaches. They shout they have come!!!
+Some have lost sense of urgency and fear of the end
+“It is appointed unto man once to die and after then judgment” – (Hebrew 9:27).
Would you gain the world and lose your soul?
Remember again, Death affects everyone …. (Eccl 9:2)
§ The righteous and unrighteous
§ The Rich and the Poor
§ The Wise and foolish
§ The good and bad
§ The high and the low
§ The clean and unclean and
§ Those who sacrifice and those who do not
+The bible reveals that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
+Today is the day of salvation
+You may not have another time to repent and seek life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.
+I do not mean finding religion or Church family but a relationship with Jesus Christ
Many conscious of the limited span of life and have insured their lives with large sum of money; *Built estate and mansions *Amaze large sum in Bank account
*As good as all these are, none can stop one from dying. These are riches without Christ.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate security. He’s the resurrection and Life and He’s the Way to the Father.
Jesus knew His disciples would pass through difficult times. He comforted them:
“Do not let your heart be trouble; believe in God and believe also in Me” (John 14:1)
TORNADO WATCH AND TORNADO WARNING:
As we ponder on the imminent of death, it’s kind of like the different between a Tornado Watch and Tornado warning:
· A Tornado watch says the conditions are present for tornado to occur at any time
· A tornado warning says that a tornado now has been sighted in your area, in your immediate vicinity, so this is the time for you to take cover, to take shelter, right away
That’s how it is with death. The condition is ripe, and present
It’s time to take shelter in Jesus. He ‘s the eternal protection and ultimate safety
Jesus said,
§ I am going to prepare a place for you
§ I am the Way to the father
§ I am the truth that set free
§ I am the source of eternal life
Acts 4:12 says , “Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven to men by which we must be saved.”
Ephesians 2:18 says, “Through Him we both have access to the father by one spirit.”
CHRIST IS THE WAY:
· THE ONLY WAY TO GOD ( Matt 7:14; John 14:6)
· The way to escape (1 Cor. 10:13)
· The way into the holiest (Heb 9:8-15)
· The way of truth (2 Peter 2:2)
· The right way (2 Peter 2:15)
· The way of Righteousness (2 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 7:30
TICKET:
As my wife and I were travelling from Houston to New Jersey, we got to the Airport and obtain tickets. The tickets enable us to board the plane. Without the tickets, our access into the plane is dim. Jesus is the ticket to the father/eternity.
If Jesus is going to prepare a place for you, are you prepared for the place He’s preparing for you?
If Jesus is the Way and Life, do you know Him as your Savior and Lord of your life?
Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people
So make your choice because death is inevitable. Where would you be when you die?
ALTAR CALL