By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The general overseer and founder of God’s Greater Grace General Assembly Intl Incorporated, Benin, Rev Sunny Akenbor has admonished believers to always show kindness to those administering the word of God to them, noting that, there are immense blessings attached to it.
He gave the admonition while marking the “Pastors Appreciation Day” of the church in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Rev. Akenbor said the reasons for giving to the servants of God, is not because they are poor or hungry but because giving to them, is a leeway for the children of God to be abundantly blessed.
Akenbor said Apostle Paul made it evidently clear in the bible when he referenced a church which attended to his need as a missionary.
According to him while quoting the book of Philippians 4:14-19 “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
“For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
“I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
“They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”.
The clergyman also alluded to the Shunammite woman who attended to the need of a prophet and his servant and not that they requested for it but the woman sensed that, he could be a servant of God and she decided to show him and his servant hospitality.
The man of God said, due to the kind disposition of the woman to total strangers, she who was hitherto barren, became a mother of a child.
“Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food.
“So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.
“And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.
“Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lamp stand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.
“And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there.
“Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him.
“And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?
“She answered, “I dwell among my own people.
“So he said, “What then is to be done for her?
“And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
“So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.
“Then he said, “About this time next year, you shall embrace a son.
“And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”, 2 Kings 4:8-16
He said when you appreciate a man of God, it paves a divine opportunity for you to be so blessed beyond measure.
He further encouraged believers to always avail themselves of God’s blessings by supporting whoever that is administering to their spiritual needs.
