The Power of Hospitality (5) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: The Power of Hospitality (5)

Dear Reader,

You are welcome again to this column. So far, I have been discussing with you, The Power of Hospitality. I believe you have been blessed.

I need to refresh your memory on why you must be hospitable. Hospitality is a universal ministry essential to the Christian life, as walking and talking are to physical life.

However, hospitality is applied love. It is the practical application and expression of the biblical command to “love your neighbour as yourself.” Hospitality is the active environment in which spiritual truths become connected in relationship with both God and men. Hospitality is a matter of the heart. How large your heart is, will determine how many people you can accommodate.

Also, during the course of this teaching, I threw light on the motives behind hospitality. My husband, the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church World-wide, often told the story of his late grandmother. This woman was so kind that she used to cook for the children of her tenants. The Bishop, who was young, then, could not hide his feelings. He asked his grandmother why she bothered herself feeding other children. This was her response, “I am sowing seeds for the future so that my children and generation will not lack help”. Today, this is practically speaking. You, too, can start sowing seeds for your unborn generations.

Thirdly, I taught on the power of hospitality to defend. Lot, Abraham’s nephew was delivered from the destruction in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). Job also escaped untimely death, because he was a righteous man given to hospitality (Job 31:32).

Last week, we saw how hospitality could be the next step to your desired miracle. The Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:12-17) got her miracle baby and Rebecca (Genesis 24:14) got a husband to marry, simply because they were hospitable.

Lastly, on this edition, I will be discussing the “Re-building Power of Hospitality.” What does it mean to re-build? This connotes that there was a building before, which has been destroyed and it is now put back in shape. Below are the things that hospitality has the power to effect. Hospitality can:

Rebuild community.

Restore relationship.

Reconcile races.

Revive families.

It is possible to say that your community or your race is different. Also, everybody minds their own business. Remember, in your community, you can begin this change. There is a way you can touch someone and the person will pass on such gestures on to others. If you have a broken relationship with someone, be kind to someone that is close to such a person. This will take revenge out of your mind. That relationship that you want to trash, may be the one that you will need, to get to your next level in life.

One of the reasons for racial conflict, is when one race or tribe refuses to accommodate the other. When Israel was moving into Canaan, all the nations that fought against them were destroyed by God. Why? They were not hospitable. This is what Jesus said about the righteous: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me (Matthew 25:34-36).

Hospitality, in addition to your salvation, will earn you the Kingdom of God. Also, things of the Spirit are not to be taken with levity. You must watch over them and make sure they produce fruits in your life.

A change of heart is all you need, in order to effect changes in others. Jesus Christ is the only one that can help you out.

However, being able to re-build the power of hospitality entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour. Are you ready for this new birth experience? If you are ready, please say this prayer of faith with me: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me of my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”

If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, congratulations, you are born again! You are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).