Years ago, we were privileged to have a former Vice Chancellor of a Nigerian University worship with us at Destiny Impact Church. I have had a relationship with him for years, and he’s been following up on our ministry. So he decided to pay us a surprise visit with his dear wife. He is a pastor in one of the leading denominations in our country.
As we rounded up the service, I welcomed him up stage to encourage the brethren. When he got up, he said something I would always remember; “Pastor, the notes I took and the lessons I learnt today, a person can attend Church for 6 months without learning as much as this. I’m blessed coming here.” We were not up to 30 people in that service that year, but I have always understood that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
Friend, if you would grow well and last in life and destiny, you need to prioritise truth above all else. Jesus has tied your freedom to the truth that you know (John 8:32). Listen, you can be saved but not yet free. Whereas Jesus has delivered you by redemption, it is your exposure to truth that determines your true freedom (Galatians 5:1).
A man is not truly free until truth declares his freedom. This is why the most important decision you can ever make after salvation is to join a Bible teaching and Holy Spirit inspired church (1 Timothy 3:15). Never forget this: your destiny of greatness is tied to your choice of a local church. Until you locate yourself in a God-ordained church family, you are still hanging in space, and nothing grows in space. You need to locate your place in a local assembly (Psalms 68:6).
One major advantage of joining a church family is the consistent and balanced feeding of the word of God (Psalms 23:1-2). Listen, nobody grows by jumping from one conference to another, just as nobody grows healthy by visiting social events looking for what to eat. God has packaged your meal in the church family. Conferences are simply supplements, not replacement.
The first assignment of a local church pastor in leading the flock to fulfil destiny is feeding (Jeremiah 3:15). Everybody needs to be fed with knowledge and understanding. This is why if you attend church and all you can talk about is the music, the ambience, the rice/chicken you were served, without knowledge and understanding, you have not attended Church. You have only attended another social event.
Pastors should prioritise feeding the flock. Nothing meets people’s needs accurately like the word of God (Psalms 119:89). As a pastor, you will pray for the flock, you will prophesy, you will care, and you will do all that are expected of a pastor, but if you don’t take time to feed them, you will only end up raising a confused assembly (Ezekiel 34:1-16). As you make a choice of a local church, go to where you would be grounded in the knowledge and truth of God’s word (2 Timothy 3:15-16). Is this clear enough?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria