– Charles Ikutiminu

www.inyangokutinyang.com

Designed and Clothed in Love

Genesis 3
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Ephesians 1
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Psalms 8
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

The Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit, prays for the Church in Ephesus. He prays for God to give these believers individually and collectively a spirit of wisdom and revelation that will help them know him better as Father. The goal of this prayer is that they will see clearly. See what? Love’s calling on you. Love’s deposit of true wealth in you. Love’s unlimited power to work on your behalf when you keep trusting.

Paul was praying that just the same way Adam’s eyes closed in the garden the eyes of the saints will be reversed and be opened.

Psalms 8: 4 says Man was “crowned with glory and honor” The word “crowned” means “To encircle (for attack or protection); especially to crown (literally or figuratively): – compass, crown.”

By design Man was created in the image and likeness of God and was encompassed or cloth in love. When Adam sinned, he lost the ability to see who he was and the forcefield or cloak of love than encapsulate him.

Ephesians 1 (The Message)
3 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
4 Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)
6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

It is only when we are cloaked in “the Love nature” our heavenly Father are we truly whole and made holy. Putting it in another way, there is no wholeness or true holiness in our lives apart from a deep and acute awareness of the Love of God in us and for us.

Adam’s and Eve’s spiritual eyes closed to this spiritual Love reality, and their physical ears opened to SHAME, GUILT, FEAR, UNRIGHEOUSNESS, PRIDE. They will later hear God coming in the garden and hide behind the trees and hoping God didn’t see them. That is what sin will do one’s sense of judgement (good luck hiding from God!). But the response of Adam is interesting, because when God asked him where he is? He says; “I heard your voice in the garden and the hearing of your voice produced fear in me, because I was afraid and I hid myself, because I was naked.

Rev. Charles O. Ikutiminu, is the Lead Minister and founder of CrossPassion Ministries International; an organization with a burden for effective discipleship in the Kingdom.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s of Art degree in Communication from Regent University. He is also a graduate of Rhema Bible Training College.

Charles has served as a Pastor for more than two decades. He has developed significant leadership capacity both as a Lead Pastor and Associate Pastor with ministries in Africa, Europe and North America. God’s call has always been undergirded by intercessory prayers with a passion for effective discipleship and the nurturing of healthy family relationships in the local church as a reflection of Christ’s redemptive love.

Charles has also travelled extensively both in the United States and internationally speaking in Local Churches, Bible Schools and leadership conferences with a focus of mobilizing strong local churches and businesses, led by healthy leaders and leadership teams that take serious the Great Commission both in the church and in market place ministry.

Charles is married to his campus sweetheart Adekemi and they are blessed with two sons, Oluwasemilore William and Kenneth Oluwatosin.