2011 is a year of righteousness - Otabil

Accra, Jan. 1, GNA - Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Bible Church (ICGC), has declared 2011 as a year of righteousness, saying those who seek God in righteousness shall never lack. Speaking at the Church's Crossover Service at the Accra Sport Stadiu= m on Friday night to usher in the New Year, he said, if Christians got their lives right with God and make him number one in all their endeavours, He would do unto them things that they had never imagined.

Dwelling on Mathew 6:28-33, Pastor Otabil said God would always add unto those who seek him. Pastor Otabil said striving to achieve hopes and aspirations were legitimate, but 93what God is saying is that we should make him the top mo= st priority this year" to pave the way for him to pour out his blessing according to riches in glory. He encouraged the large gathering to make it a priority to know God better this year. "For this reason it is important to leave our old ways and enter the New Year with righteousness. If this becomes the cry of our hearts then God has something special for us" he said. Giving examples of the importance of righteousness, he mentioned Noah whose righteousness saved his household from perishing in the flood that destroyed the earth. He also cited the fact that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because o= f the absence of ten righteous men in that land.

Pastor Otabil noted that if few people in the country lived righteous, Ghana would be exalted. He added that righteous people were bold and feared by the devil, adding that 2010 was just a chapter of the story of every believer and urged them to stand firm until it was finally over. "It takes the grace of God for man to be righteous," he said and h= e called on Christians to ask God for the grace that makes man straight befor= e his maker.