The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Dr. Mensa Otabil, has urged individuals without immediate family relations to consider leaving their inheritances to the church.
During a sermon titled “Reaping what you have not sown,” delivered, Dr. Otabil emphasized the importance of ensuring that one’s wealth is utilized wisely to benefit the needy and future generations.
“If you don’t have any biological children leave your inheritance for your nephews and nieces, and if you don’t have nephews and nieces, leave it to the church,” he encouraged.
“Won’t it be nice for somebody to say, ‘I am leaving this inheritance to ensure every child attending this church receives a good education, and I have endowed their school fees to infinity’? That is what it means, so although you may not be here, your money will be educating people; your money will be helping people,” Dr. Otabil expressed passionately.
Acknowledging that not everyone may have biological children, he stressed the significance of leaving an inheritance. Whether it’s for nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, the church, or the community, Dr. Otabil encouraged the congregation to leave legacies that continue to speak for them even after they are gone.
“The passage says ‘your children’s children,(Proverbs 13: 22) but not everyone has a child. That doesn’t mean you don’t leave an inheritance. You have nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, you have your church, you have your community—leave an inheritance that keeps speaking for you after you are gone,” he urged.
This sermon is the last part of Dr. Mensa Otabil’s four-week series on the principle of gathering, which delves into how Christians can gather their resources and maximize their potential.
The series aims to inspire individuals to consider the impact and legacy they leave behind, emphasizing the broader impact of contributions to the church and community.
Urging Christians Against Payment For Prayers On Their Behalf
The Reverend Dr. Mensah Otabil urged Christians against paying others to pray and fast on their behalf.
He revealed that it was wrong for Christians, to seek, to buy the power of God – money for power, influence, access, and opportunities for greatness.
Addressing the topic, ‘How Do You Work the Works of God?’, alongside the theme of the Conference: “Jesus the Miracle Worker”, Dr. Otabil emphasized that believing in Jesus, as the son of God, was the only way to Godly success and miracles.
“Some of you men, who are very well positioned in life, sometimes you feel you can buy your way to God’s glory and grace,” he explained.
“Some of you have got all kinds of boys and girls who we call prophets and prophetesses, and they are yours. You purchase them, you pay them, you feed them, they pray in your house. Once you are working, they pray all day and night for you,” he further stated.
The General Overseer reminded the faithful that it was not possible for one to outsource his or her spiritual life.
“It does not work that way. So, if you think somebody you pay can pray for you for God to hear, you need to check your whole thinking process,” he advised.
It was imperative that every Christian had his personal encounters with God through Christ. Many in the bible, he said, received their miracles upon believing in Christ as the Godsent son.
Jesus emphasized this in an answer to some of his followers who wanted to do the works of God, having been impressed with his miracles of feeding the 5,000 and walking on water.
Sharing some of his teething experiences in ministry, Dr. Otabil advised Christians to operate in their unique gifts of the Holy Spirit but not be counterfeits of other men of God to become fruitful. They should also aspire for excellence in Ministry, their professions, and every endeavor of life.
