Apostle Sylvester Arhin, the Takoradi Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, has admonished Christians to develop a spirit of forgiveness to redeem themselves from self-destruction.
He urged Christians to also have good and god-fearing counsellors, who could offer good counsel in time of distress just as King David had Ahithophel as his counselor.
“It is good to have counselors who knows the word of God. Ahithophel knew the word of God and his counsel was as an oracle of the Lord,” he emphasized.
Apostle Arhin, who is also an Executive Council Member of the church worldwide, gave the advice during a ministration at the Pentecost International Worship Center (PIWC) in Takoradi.
He quoted from 2 Samuel 17:23, which reads: “When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. After putting his affairs in order, he hanged himself. He was buried in the family grave.”
He explained that because Ahithophel allowed an unforgiving spirit to enter his heart, and failed to forgive himself and David, he later took his own life.
He enlightened that forgiveness was not only meant for the offender but most especially for the offended to free him or herself from the bitterness, which might lead to self-destruction as happened to Ahithophel.
He reminded Christians to acknowledge that they were not perfect beings but yearning and learning to be perfect through the word of God.
He recounted that because Ahithophel allowed bitterness and unforgiveness to rule over his life, even though he was noted for his godly advice became emotionally corrupted and offered bad advice to Absalom, David’s son.
“If we leave our matters of worry before God, he will fight for us. He will vindicate us and bring us victory”, he stated.
Apostle Arhin also invited new converts and those yet to come to the saving knowledge of Christ to commit their lives to God by accepting Jesus Christ into their lives to become children of God.