The Archbishop who led the Bible Study sessions of the Synod of the Diocese of Abuja held at Cathedral Church of the Advent Life Camp Abuja, did an exposition of the Synod theme – “Planted by the waters: The beauty of walking with God” taken from Psalms 1:2-3. He said that the text is a gateway to the Book of Psalms and the entire Bible as it provides the key to the blessedness espoused in the Psalms and the Bible. Noting that the Psalms are the outpouring of the hearts of the writers, he said that David had his fair share of blessedness and proclaims the blessedness in walking with God from his life experience.

He pointed out that the statement that “blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly…” shows that being blessed is a choice. He said: “Some may choose to have other sources of what delights them other than God, and still, some may choose to not meditate on the word of God… Anyone whose decision is to be a blessed person should note at least, five choices to make upon reading the Psalm.”

Describing walking with God as having a special, godly and acceptable relationship with God, Enyindah said that it is a lifestyle that agrees with God on daily basis and devoid of distractions.  Such life must be different from the world in attitude, dressing, etc. “Brethren, when we walk with God every day, the world cannot help but recognise that, in spite of our imperfections, we have been with the Lord… The blessed man is the child of God who refused to be distracted by the world or controlled by the spirit of our generation” he said.

The Bible expositor urged the people to meditate on the word of God by applying it to their lives. He identified the problems and skirmishes in the church and society today with the people’s failure to apply the word of God to their lives. He described the word of God as both mirror that helps us to check and see where we need to change and a light to lighten the dark world. “We live in a dark world. This darkness cannot be dispelled by philosophy, education, economy, science, common sense, practicality, experience or even combination of all of them. The word of God is the only remedy”, he asserted.

By Princewill Ireoba

The Synod, which was presided over by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, The Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who is also the Bishop of the Diocese, was themed: “Planted by the Waters: The Beauty of Walking with God (Psalm 1:2-3).” In his 88-page Presidential Address (a.k.a Bishop’s Charge) delivered on the Ceremonial Opening Day of the Synod, Primate Ndukuba called on the people to walk with God as God requires it and also blesses and punishes people based on how they walk with him. He said: “God demands from every servant of God, a close walk with Him. Every person whoever that pleased God had walked closely with God. To walk with God is to obey God in total surrender and submission to His Word, His Will and Instructions. God commands blessing and punishment based on the extent of our walk with God. He says ‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins’ (Lev. 26:21). Faithful men of old who pleased God walked with God.”

Ndukuba said, walking with God, entails at least 7 things, namely, metaphorically being a tree planted by the source of water, delighting in the Law of the Lord, meditating on the Word of God, obedience to God’s instruction, being led by the Holy Spirit, mission and evangelism and the righteousness of God. The Primate cautioned the people of the factors that can distract them from walking with God, which included the enemies of God, the prosperity of the wicked, flesh, sin, suffering, affliction and persecution.

Earlier in the Synod’s Opening Service, the Bishop of Kaduna, the Rt Rev. Timothy Yahaya, told the synod that it is only in following the Lord that joy can be found. Yahaya enjoined them to adhere to instruction of upholding and obeying the Word of God as given in Joshua 1:8 for prosperity and good success. “Success outside obedience to God is not good success and engenders dissatisfaction and frustration”, the Bishop said.

Also, at the Synod’s Closing/Thanksgiving Service, the Bishop of Lokoja, The Most Rev. Emmanuel Egbunu highlighted the blessing awaiting those who walk with God. He noted that the idea of blessing pervades the entire Bible and that Psalm 1 is like the gateway to the sanctuary and uses literary device of contrast to communicate the message of blessedness. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked” shows the great roles counsel has over our lives. He regretted that special advisers and counsellors in our country lead us into destruction even when they are paid huge amounts of money.

Egbunu called on the people to return to the Lord and to his word. “When we speak about the beauty of walking with God, it comes from delighting, meditating day and night on the word of the Lord”, he said.

Archbishop Blessing Enyindah, who led the Synod Bible Study also joined in the call to walk with God as the sure way of entering blessedness.

The Synod featured presentation of seminar papers and Choir cantata and attended by Chief Osita Chidoka who chaired the Synod’s Opening Ceremony/Launching of Bishop’s Charge. Other dignitaries that attended the Synod included the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Dr Buba Lamido, the former Primate, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh and over 30 archbishops and bishops. Others were SGF Boss Mustapha, Sen. Andy Uba, Sir Chikwe Udensi,Prof. Jerry Gana, Sir Olusegun Adekunle, High Chief S.N. Ukachukwu and Prince Sunny Ukachukwu.

By Princewill Ireoba