Solemn Faith International Church News
The General Overseer of Solemn Faith International Church, located at Road 21, No. 14, Federal Housing Estate, Woji, Port Harcourt, Pastor Mathew Eleojo James, has charged Christians not to allow their tribe, tradition, culture or family background to become a limitation to their growth, development and fulfilment of destiny.
Pastor James gave the admonition during the church’s Sunday service held as part of the second edition of its Cultural Day Celebration, where he preached on the topic, “Ordained to Be Above Only.”
He said a person’s foundation or area of origin should not determine how far he or she can go in life, stressing that believers must possess the right knowledge of their divine placement in order to sustain their position of elevation.
Citing Hosea 4:6 and Daniel 11:32, the cleric explained that knowledge of God’s purpose and promises is essential to living above limitations.
According to him, a person’s tribe should not affect his or her rising in life, noting that God can use people from seemingly insignificant backgrounds to accomplish great things. He referenced 1 Corinthians 1:27, Matthew 20:12, 16 and Zechariah 2:1-6 in support of the teaching.
He further warned that tradition must not become a source of affliction, urging Christians to distinguish between cultural practices and traditions that are inconsistent with the word of God. He cited Matthew 15:2-3, 6 and Numbers 13:32.
“Your foundation shouldn’t sponsor your limitation,” Pastor James declared, drawing from Genesis 48:17-18, while also stressing that culture should not hinder a believer from functioning in his or her God-given capacity, with reference to 1 John 2:20.
The pastor identified holiness, the name of Jesus, spiritual resistance against the attacks of the enemy, the effective use of individual gifts and the help of the Holy Spirit as essential factors for sustaining one’s position of elevation.
He urged the congregation to embrace the “holiness anointing,” citing Deuteronomy 14:2, Psalm 45:7 and Hebrews 1:9, and emphasised the authority available in the name of Jesus, referencing Philippians 2:9-11, Acts 3:12, 16 and Proverbs 18:10.
Pastor James also encouraged believers to quench the “fiery darts of the wicked” through faith and spiritual vigilance, citing Ephesians 6:16 and Hebrews 11:34, among other scriptures.
He stressed the importance of putting one’s God-given gifts to work, noting that the deployment of gifts creates opportunities for supernatural advancement. He cited Proverbs 18:16, James 1:17 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-12.
According to him, believers also need the help of the Holy Spirit for divine encounters and fulfilment of destiny, referencing Acts 2:1-4 and Genesis 28:13.
Pastor James described the position of being “above only” as a divine prophecy, a position of choice and an inheritance available to believers through Christ’s redemption.
He noted that believers are chosen by God to be above only, citing Deuteronomy 7:6, 14, 26:19 and 28:1, 13, as well as Deuteronomy 10:15 and 14:2.
He further declared that “above only” is an inheritance in Christ, drawing references from John 8:23, John 3:31, Ephesians 1:19-21, Ephesians 4:1 and Genesis 8:4.
The cleric warned that ignorance of one’s spiritual rights could expose a person to unnecessary oppression, stressing that understanding one’s position in God is critical to overcoming limitations.
Among the memorable statements from the sermon were: “If you don’t know your right, the devil will take you for a ride”; “Our lifting is in His name”; “If you must rise to the top, you must fight from the floor”; and “The deployment of gift guarantees the release of your shift supernaturally.”
The Cultural Day Celebration also featured colourful cultural displays, with members of different ethnic groups showcasing their heritage through traditional dances and special musical presentations.
The participating groups included the Ekwere, Igala, Cross River, Igbo and other cultural groups, creating an atmosphere of unity and celebration.
The celebration, according to the message of the service, served as a reminder that while people may come from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, they are all connected to roots and heritage that form part of their identity.
Pastor James, however, emphasised that one’s root should provide a foundation for positive growth and identity rather than become a barrier to fulfilling God’s purpose and attaining one’s God-ordained destiny.
