The Kwesi Twi Krom (KTK) congregation experienced a special divine service on Sunday, 25th July, 2021, with Bishop Charles Asare, when a host of Ministers’ Wives from Accra joined the congregation. Their mission? It was yet to be revealed, but their 3-hour road trip from Accra was well aligned to the theme of the text word.
The Bishop served the congregation with a word from 1 Thessalonians 4:9: “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”
In his introductory remarks, Bishop Asare hailed the congregation for coming out in their numbers for the divine service. He encouraged them to keep it up and asked for God’s blessing on them. “Indeed when we come to God’s house, seated in front of His altar of grace, He grants us all we need, our hearts desires and all the things we truly need in our preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ,” he continued.
God gives us the seed
The Bishop recounted a story he read from a divine service by Chief Apostle Leber reported in the church’s magazine. A man dreamt that he entered a shop where the salesman was an angel who was telling everyone entering the shop that “we have everything”. Upon hearing that, the man quickly requested “peace on earth, love and harmony in the congregation, help for everyone on earth, and so on”.
The angel quickly interrupted: “Sir, there is a misunderstanding. We do not sell the fruit here. We just sell the seed.” It was up to the man to cultivate the seed in order to achieve the fruits which included love, peace, harmony, help and all that the man needed. The Bishop explained that whenever we come to church, God gives us the seed – which is the Word. It is our responsibility to nurture the seeds – the Word, into fruits and then into blessings – for our benefit.
Where is our love?
God has planted the seed of love in our hearts as the text word suggests. Bishop Asare recounted another story where a Christian family in need was discriminated against by some local church members in their time of grief. “Where is our love? Why do we go to church? What is our understanding of God’s word?” he questioned. We know that God has already exposed us to His love.
Right from the beginning of creation, God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve despite their disrespect for His command which led to their dismissal from the garden. God’s love is also evident in the redemption of enslaved Israelites from the land of Egypt. Yet again, God’s love is climaxed in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the salvation of all (John 3:16). God calls us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).
Continue in love.
Apostle Paul encouraged the people of Thessalonians to continue in love. Showing love and compassion to one another is also a prerequisite to our eternity with God (Matthew 25:40). As we continue in the Apostle’s doctrine in the sacrament of Holy Baptism, Holy Sealing and Holy Communion, we are to open our hearts to love one another as God has loved us.
The Bishop was supported by District Rectors Quainoo, Arhin, Owusu-Acquah, Sarkodie, and Deputy District Rector Nyame.