“Though we fall every day, because of the flesh, Christ is there to help us. The devil tried to tempt Jesus three times, to destroy the work Christ had come to do. But the devil failed because Jesus was not of the flesh.” Thoughts from a divine service by Lead Apostle Benjamin Ohene-Saffo.

On Sunday 29th May 2022, Lead Apostle Ohene-Saffo conducted a festive united Divine Service at the Adenta congregation where the Taifa, Madina, Oyibi and Legon congregations joined in the fellowship. The Bible text for the service was from Philippians 2:9-10, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

What made man fall?
The Lead Apostle decided to start his sermon from the creation of man. When God created man, He did so in His own image. In Genesis 1:27-28, God gave man authority over the creatures of the world. Adam, however, lost this authority when he disobeyed God. He listened to the desires of his flesh and lost all that God had given him authority over.

The Lead Apostle emphasized how powerful the flesh can be, and how it led to the fall of other notable figures in the Bible. For example, Esau lost his birthright to Jacob because of the flesh. The devil knows we can lose everything by the flesh, so he tempts us where he knows we will fall.

Christ overcame...
Jesus came to complete what Adam could not do. The devil tried to tempt Jesus three times, to destroy the work Christ had come to do. The devil failed because Jesus was not of the flesh; He could not be tempted through the flesh. He was able to overcome what the devil had done at the beginning of creation. The devil failed in tempting Jesus because Jesus’ focus was not the desires of the flesh: be it food, worldly power, fame, riches, and all the many pleasures that the world offers. “Many people will try to deceive us with words that sound like the truth. Even the devil quoted scripture in his attempt to tempt Jesus, but Christ knew the truth, so He did not succumb to the devil’s temptations.”

…Therefore, Christ is exalted above all
The Lead Apostle warned the congregants of false prophets who preach doctrines contrary to what Jesus taught. He cited an instance of the worshipping of angels in a church he attended at a young age. That church would turn into chaos whenever the so-called angels entered the church. “When I understood the Bible, I knew that was wrong, because Christ is exalted above angels” the Lead Apostle reflected. Angels are only messengers God sends to us to serve us is evidenced in Revelation 22: 8 – 9.”

“Just like Christ, we must not give in to the flesh, because, if we gain the world and lose our souls, what will be the benefit? Let us exalt the name of Jesus Christ always, and make His name become bigger in everything that we do” the Lead Apostle concluded.

Apostle Charles Addo Asare, Deputy District Rector John Hammond, Community Evangelist Prosper Agbozo took turns to serve the congregation.