By Anthony
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It was a deeply stirring and thought-provoking Sunday at Acts of Restoration and Compassion (ARC Church), where worshippers gathered for a service that blended vibrant praise, fervent prayers, and a life-transforming message delivered by the Lead Pastor, Rev Paul Chikwem.
The service opened on a high note with an energetic praise and worship session led by the church choir. The atmosphere was charged with joy and reverence as congregants sang, danced, and lifted their voices in adoration, setting the tone for a powerful encounter. This was followed by an intense prayer session, where members engaged in heartfelt intercession, seeking divine intervention in their personal lives and in the affairs of the nation.
Taking the pulpit, Rev Chikwem anchored his sermon on Luke 15:11, drawing profound lessons from the story of the prodigal son. He began by addressing a striking truth: there is nothing wrong in demanding what rightfully belongs to you. According to him, the younger son understood his identity as a bona fide son, entitled to right, not mere privileges.
The cleric emphasised that ignorance of identity is a major cause of loss, noting that “what you know that I don’t know makes you better than me.” He warned that many believers are denied their rightful inheritance, not because it is unavailable, but because they lack the understanding and boldness to place a demand on it. “Your father may keep treating you like a child,” he said, “until you begin to behave like a man.”
Introducing his theme, “Good Morning,” Rev Chikwem shifted the perspective of the congregation from a casual greeting to a spiritual awakening. He explained that morning is not just a time of day; it begins when a person wakes up consciously. “You don’t say good morning to a sleeping person,” he noted, adding that many people may be physically awake but remain mentally and spiritually asleep. Until one truly awakens, he stressed, there can be no “good morning.”
Expounding further on the prodigal son’s journey, the pastor painted a vivid picture of misplaced identity and broken connection. He noted that the young man’s problem was not merely leaving home, but losing himself through wrong associations, which led to the squandering of his fortune and eventual descent into want. Referencing Psalm 23, he explained that being “in want” signifies a loss of divine covering and connection.
In a striking analogy, Rev Chikwem warned against stepping outside spiritual covering: “When you leave the wings that cover you, you lose the warmth and protection.” He described the prodigal son, a prince feeding with pigs, as a tragic image of misplaced identity, stressing that when people lose themselves, they begin to compete with those far beneath their true worth.
“Eagles don’t struggle with chickens,” he declared. “If you find yourself dragging with pigs, then you have reduced yourself to their level.” He cautioned believers against unnecessary arguments and unhealthy comparisons, urging them to recognise their worth and avoid environments that diminish their identity.
According to him, the turning point in the prodigal son’s life was not hunger or suffering, but losing himself. “Even himself had left him,” the pastor remarked, until the moment he came to himself. He added that true recovery begins with self-recovery. Without rediscovering one’s identity, prayers and fasting may yield little result.
Driving home his message, Rev Chikwem highlighted the prodigal son’s realisation: “I have a father, I have a home, I have a position.”
This awakening, he explained, marked the beginning of his “good morning”, a moment of clarity followed by decisive action.
He challenged the congregation not just to hear the message, but to act on it: to recover their true identity, disconnect from degrading influences, and return to their rightful place in God. “Don’t just hear the word,” he urged, “recover yourself and take corresponding action.”
The sermon concluded with prophetic prayers for renewal, as Rev Chikwem declared 2026 a year of new minds and restored identity for believers.
The service ended on a reflective, yet hopeful note, with many congregants visibly moved and inspired to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.
Indeed, it was not just another Sunday at ARC Church; it was a call to consciousness, a summons to identity, and a bold declaration that for many, “Good Morning” has finally begun.
