By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The general overseer and founder of God’s Greater Grace General Assembly Intl Incorporated, Benin, Rev Sunny Akenbor, has said that God Himself has no regards or rewards for earthly titles like foundational members, deacons or deaconesses but those who diligently seek and do His will.
He disclosed this while speaking on the topic: “God of the eleventh hour” during the Sunday church service in Benin.
Rev. Akenbor, taking his bible reading from the book of Matthew 20:3-16, gave a vivid account of labourers who were employed at the different time but were paid awesomely without recourse to when each was employed, provided the work was executed to specification.
Akenbor said what matters is ones relationship with God and not how long one has been in the church or the titles one bears.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
“And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
“Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
“And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way.
“I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen”, Matthew 20:3-16
Akenbor said God sees and acknowledges every work done in His veinyard, therefore it should be done with all sincerity of heart.
Dwelling much on the topic of the day, the general overseer of the church reminded members that the eleventh hour means the latest possible time before it’s too late, or at the very last moment.
He said God showing up at that moment is very remarkable as it marks a turning point in a man’s life.
He added that having toiled all night long and all hope was lost, Peter, with a simple instruction from God, he got his eleventh hour mouth sagging miracle.
“He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
“Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break”, Luke 5:3-6
He said God will surely meet the needs of His children before the year runs out no matter the initial setbacks they have experienced at the beginning of the year till this very moment just as He did to Joshua at the Valley of Aijalon where He granted his wish.
“Joshua commands the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon so that Israel could have more daylight to defeat its enemies”, Joshua 10:12.
He also urged the members of the congregation to always trust God in all circumstances and be prepared for their eleventh hour miracles.
