Advice To The Graduands.

        Advice To The Graduands. 

(I Tim. 4:12-16.) "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example to the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity... Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, 

to doctrine. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." 

(Tit. 2:7-8) " In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an 

opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. 

01. It is my happy privilege to stand with you all, at this time of your happy moment. Infact among you are my dearest Brothers and Friends. God knows I have love and 

encouragement for every true gospel 

preacher. For more than two decades, I have been traveling among the churches. I believe that I can offer some observations that will be beneficial to all you, today.

02. Preaching the gospel is the greatest work on this earth. Your preparation for this work must not end with a two years of training. You must be a student of The Book always. Make it a daily practice to read and study the Word of GOD, the Bible. Try to know a little more about it today than you knew yesterday. You cannot afford to miss this great source of spiritual wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

03. Do not preach the gospel because of the financial remuneration. If you do, you will become a Hireling. If you are faithful to the Lord, He will care for you! Do not desire too much. Your living habits should be simple. Do not seek the best-paying places. The poor need the gospel too. Jesus was poor. Do not forget that. Never turn a place down because the pay is not big. Try to really earn what the brethren give you. If you cannot earn it, do not accept it. You cannot earn your monthly

support by lying in your bed. Have regular 

habits. Retire at a reasonable hour. Rise at an early hour. Do not waste precious time. Make every hour count. Do not look down on Preachers who are ahead of you. Do not run them down! Be courteous to all!

04. Stay out of the kitchen! The sisters will appreciate that. They will get the meals and wash the dishes. It is not meet for you to leave the word of God to serve tables. Give yourself continually to the ministry of the word and to prayer. You can help your own wife in the kitchen. Do not be too friendly with women, especially the young women. Be discreet. Give the enemy no room to talk about you.

05. Tell no dirty jokes. You may crack a few clean jokes, but do not be given to too much levity. Saving souls is a serious business. Seek for opportunities to speak with people about their souls. Let them know you are reallyinterested in their salvation. This interest cannot be feigned. It must be real. It will be real if you are a true Christian, a Disciple of Christ.

06. Have no questionable habits. The church and the world are watching every move you make. Have no habits that you would not want the world, and your brethren to know. Do not give yourself to alcohol, women and other things in this category, in any form. For your own sake and for the sake of dying souls, you 

cannot afford to do this. These might cause an honest soul to stumble. You have no moral right to use money given to you for preaching the gospel for any such purposes. 

07. Be punctual. Get to the Church services before time. Greet Brethren with a warm 

handshake and a friendly smile. Let them 

know you appreciate their presence. Be 

appreciative of every act of kindness shown you. Do not take everything as a matter of right. The brethren are good to preachers. They given them the best they have. The least we can do is to let them know we really appreciate it. Do not lay your burdens ontheir homes. Make yourself congenial.

08. Preach the gospel. Do not preach your 

opinions too much. When you do express a personal opinion, be sure to let your hearers know about it. Do not take part in church troubles. If the gospel of Christ will not straighten out the trouble, there is not much you can do about it. Do not take sides, Preach the truth. Do not allow personal friendship to blind you to the truth. The best friend you can have is the one that will kindly and firmly tell 

you the truth. Do not forget that in all church problems, and troubles, there are three sides: "my side," "the other side," and the “Lord's side”. Try to stay on the Lord’s side always. Reason kindly with the brethren in the spirit of meekness. Remember that many Brethren are not as bad as they are painted, and many others are not as good as they are painted!

09. Pray much. Spend much time privately with God, in prayers. Do not allow very many hours to go over your head without sweet communion with your Heavenly Father. Work hard on your teachings. Prepare your teachings in advance. Have them well in hand before you go into the pulpit. Pray over them. Do not seek to please men in your preaching. 

Seek to please God. If you succeed in 

pleasing God, all faithful men will be pleased with you. Say what you believe the Lord would have you say. Do not be a moral coward. Be instant in season and out of season. Be firm in your preaching. Be kind. Do not be ashamed of your tears.

10. Do not be easily discouraged. Remember, there are always some who have not bowed to Baal. Do not be too much interested in "success". Be interested in being faithful. Do not try to run your race, so as to outrun some 

other preachers. It will be sufficient for you to only run the race that is set before you. Try to excel yourself. Learn much by observation. Watch the ones who have great influence for good. See where the secret of their inner strength lies. Try to inculcate these principles into your life and your work.

11. Make friends with the young. Try to help them over the hard places. Remember, that little boy will be a man tomorrow. He will not soon forget the interest you took in him and the kind words you said to him. They will shape 

his destiny. Be doubly kind to the old. They do not have longer time to stay here. They can give you much good advice.

12. Be scrupulously honest. Owe no man 

anything. Make no financial obligations you cannot meet. Leave no debts behind you. This will kill your influence, and kill you morally. You have no right to be preaching if this is your habit. Beware of Church money. Be transparent!

13. Conclusion. My dearly beloved Brethren, may God bless you, and abundantly bless the work in your hands,

Amen!!!

Benson Omole Min. (08060066660; 08032208899)