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Easter messages from the clergy…
Learn to overcome betrayal — Ps Mensa Otabil
The Founder of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensah Otabil has urged Christians who feel betrayed to learn from Jesus’ example of dealing with betrayal in order to receive healing and restoration.
Pastor Otabil in his ‘Word to go’ series said many people were battling with how to overcome betrayal but could make reference to Jesus’ practical example to get over such situations.
Referencing Luke 22:47-48, he read, “And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
In Jesus’ scenario, he said, the disciples were accustomed to praying with Jesus in Gethsemane when they were in Jerusalem which served as their place of rest and of quiet, and to stay away from the crowd.
He added, Judas knew that, that was the time to get Jesus alone because the Jews did not want to arrest Jesus in the public space.
Pastor Otabil said, they looked for someone in the camp of Jesus to get him in the quiet place and that was how Judas led the team to Gethsemane where they arrested Jesus Christ.
“And for a little prize, Judas betrayed the man he had stayed with, learnt a lot from and shared so much relationship with. And he did it with a kiss,” he said.
“It is amazing how betrayal is camouflaged as affection because it happened with a kiss. So Jesus asked Judas if he was betraying him with a kiss. That was to bring some consciousness to Judas that he knew what he was doing so that after that, he could think about what he had done and repent,” he stressed.
In the midst of that, he said, Peter one of the disciples, cut the ear of one of the people who came to arrest Jesus but the Lord rather healed the ear.
“Amazing that the last recorded healing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was at the time when he was betrayed by a close friend and being arrested and in the midst of all that, instead of bitterness, there was healing,” he stated.
“That is the awesomeness of Jesus as he was fully in charge of his emotions and constantly doing the will of the Father which everyone must emulate,” he added.
He explained that, betrayal was painful for anyone to go through especially when someone used what they knew about another to do harm.
However, he said, with the example of Jesus, he said especially going into the Easter festivities where Christians remember the death of Christ and everything prior to that, it was important to look back and let go of betrayal.
That, he said, would provide healing and restoration and not make a person become a bearer of pain and anguish.
By Michael D. Abayateye
Easter is for spiritual, physical, emotional wellbeing of Christians — Rev Addo-Yobo
The General overseer of the International Victory Praise Chapel, Dome, Rev. Humphery Addo-Yobo says it is worth celebrating Easter as it commemorates Jesus Christ’s death for the spiritual, physical, emotional and total wellbeing of Christians.
He said the transformation of Jesus into the human flesh to taste death for the sake of the sins of man was worth celebrating because even with humans, forgiveness among men usually comes with some excitement.
In an interview with The Spectator, he explained that Easter must not be observed with malice and wickedness but with a clean heart and sincerity.
He justified this with a scripture in I Corinthians 5:7.
It reads: “Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed.
He said as Christians, it was important to strive towards having a clean heart, which would be free from sin.
Reverend Addo stated that the celebration of Easter was a necessity because it was the gateway for man’s salvation through the new birth of Christ.
“I Corinthians 5:8 states that Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of evil and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth.
Reverend Addo Yobo also mentioned that the celebration of Easter signifies Jesus’ victory over death, adding that “Christians must celebrate Easter with the understanding that Satan has been destroyed.”
He urged Christians to celebrate Easter in a way that symbolises that Jesus Christ has defeated death and won victory for us.
By Elizabeth Agyeibea Ackon
Reflect the sacrifice of Jesus on cross – Ps Hammond
The Resident Pastor of Tabernacle Worship Centre, Burma Hills branch, Pastor Daniel David Hammond has called on Christians to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for mankind during the Easter season.
“Easter allows us to see clearly what is of eternal value and that which is temporary, but living in a fallen and broken world can often cloud our vision,” Ps Hammond said in an interview with The Spectator.
Sharing his thoughts on the season, Ps Hammond stated that “We sometimes concentrate more on this earth which is temporary and forget that the spiritual is more real and of eternal value.”
“Much like Easter celebrations, we know which is worthier of our focus. However, our sinful nature causes us to focus more on ourselves and immediate pleasures,” he added.
He said Christians must learn to put their trust in the Lord, for the Bible says “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departed from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.”
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:5-7).
Ps Hammond said trusting in God and obeying Him was the only way to live a fulfilled Christian life.
By Andrew Parker
Celebrate triumph of life over death — Prophet Eric Boahen
The leader and founder of Reign House Chapel, Prophet Eric Boahen Uche, has charged Christians to celebrate the triumph of life over death this Easter.
According to him, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the gift of salvation by God.
He said, In Christian tradition, the Resurrection represents Christ’s victory over death and the promise of eternal life for those who follow him.
He made this call when speaking to The Spectator ahead of Easter.
Prophet Eric Boahen wished everyone a Happy Easter and said “May the joy of Christ’s resurrection fill your hearts with renewed faith and hope.”
According to him, this renewed hope has what it takes to lift people to the next level in their lives.
Prohphet Boahen added that Christians must use the period to reflect on the circumstances surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This, he said, would go a long way to affect how they do things in one’s quest to be Christ-like.
He further charged Christians to spread love during Easter, by putting smiles on the faces of others far and near
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
