The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Don’t abscond, Uja appeals to pilgrims

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja has told intending pilgrims the futility of abscondment.

    Abscondment, he said, reduces them and the nation’s image.

    He spoke last week in Abuja while playing host to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    He explained that abscondment limits one’s capacity and voice.

    According to Uja: “Abscondment is not a good thing for anybody. I want Nigerians to stop abscondment; Nigeria gives us a better life, a good life.”

    The NCPC boss stated the Commission faces the challenge of tackling abscondment because the Israeli authorities give liberty to everyone with a valid visa as a matter of policy.

    He explained even when a potential absconder is detected, there is nothing much the Commission could do as long as the pilgrim still has a valid visa.

    To however assured “we are still working with the government of Israel to see how some of these things can be fine-tuned”.

    He tasked the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to call on Nigerians in Diaspora to assist the Commission to fund pilgrimage.

    He pointed out Israel stabilised a nation through Diaspora funding.

    Uja further stated the Commission would have been involved in other pilgrimage destinations aside the current three but for the challenges or dangers in some other destinations.

    Dabiri- Erewa congratulated the NCPC boss for his well-deserved appointment.

    She stated that she had observed the dynamism Uja brought to bear in the Commission.

    She promised “my office will like to work with your Commission. There are a lot of Nigerians that work in Israel legitimately”.

  • How to make Nigeria work, by Ohuabunwa, others

    President of Nigeria-America Chamber of Commerce (NACC) Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has identified seven factor that will trigger the much-needed socio-economic greatness in the nation.

    He spoke at the 4th public lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria in Lagos with the theme making Nigeria work: a job for all.

    Ohuabunwa, the immediate past President of Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), said there must be immediate devolution of power to the federating units for economic progress.

    He described allocation of 70 per cent of the nation’s annual budget to servicing public service as unacceptable and counter-productive.

    He said Nigeria must reduce costs of governance at all levels as well as embrace true fiscal federalism to get out of economic woods.

    According to him: “What we expend on servicing elected and public servants in Nigeria is killing.

    “Why should have 36 ministries and ministers when we can do with much less?

    “Why should we have a bicameral legislature when one chamber is enough? Why can’t we have part-time lawmakers at the federal and state levels?

    “We have to reduce costs of governance by all means otherwise we will sink deeper and deeper into economic mess.”

    He also called for massive investments in education and healthcare, saying educated masses will put government on its toes and make better contribution.

    The founding President/CEO of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc said government must also commit to strict and even enforcement of laws and order.

    He pointed out investors are only looking for physical safety as well as commitment to honouring contracts to pump billions into the nation’s promising economy.

    He assured once government invests in healthcare and education as well as enforce order, the private sector will take over the task of galvanizing the nation’s economy.

    The keynote speaker said government must invest in infrastructure and make job creation the plank of all economic policies.

    “Every week when they award contracts in FEC meetings, we should have figures of how they impart on job creations. Every contract, every policy must create jobs for Nigerians.

    “This is because when people are productively engaged, half of their problems are solved. They don’t even care what government is doing again,” he submitted.

    Ohuabunwa stated government must also unleash the entrepreneurial spirits of Nigerians as well as diversify to agriculture, manufacturing and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    Chairman of the event, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said government must move beyond rhetoric to implementing the many sound policies in the nation.

    According to him: “Unless we go beyond the realm of talks to implementation, we have not started the business of making Nigeria work at all.”

  • My civil war experiences, by Adeboye

    General overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has recalled the sordid ordeals he and other Nigerians went through during the 1967-1970 civil war.

    He said Nigerians should stop talking about war because whoever has experienced it will never pray to see it again.

    He spoke at a special thanksgiving and prayer programme of the RCCG headquarters (Throne of Grace) Ebute-Metta, Lagos in commemoration of the Nigeria Independence Day celebration.

    Rather than talking about war, he said Nigerians must do everything to work against it and unite to fix the nation.

    Adeboye, who spoke on freedom for all, recalled his experiences during the civil war.

    According to him: “l was in the University of Nsukka when the war broke out and from the experience l gathered from the sordid condition of war victims, l would never pray for another outbreak of war in Nigeria.

    “I do not want war in Nigeria.  Please stop talking about war.  We should now concentrate on praying that God would restore the glory of Lagos and Nigeria in general.”

    He added: “I have exchanged N500.00 with $800.00 in this country and that is the reason rather than encouraging anything that would lead to war, I would rather pray that God would restore the glory of Nigeria.

    “I believe that if there is no war, Nigeria shall be great again” he said.

    Adeboye, who spoke through the Assistant General Overseer, Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said at 57 Nigeria is supposed to have attained the level of maturity to the extent that the nation can manage any situation without allowing it to degenerate to chaos.

    He reminded the government that Nigeria is a democracy and every problem should be addressed with the reality in mind.

    He appealed to the government to deal gently with agitators of the Independence Peoples of Biafra, calling for dialogue instead of force to rein them in.

  • Covenant Success Habits!

    Even though success is a universal desire, many people go about chasing shadows because they do not understand how to get there. Interestingly, success is much more a function of character than activity (2 Peter 1:10). Principles and character must go together to maximise result in the pursuit of destiny. A wise man once said, ‘You don’t decide your destiny; you decide your habit and your habit decides your destiny.’ In other words, where we find ourselves in life is entirely a function of our habits. That is why I have often said that it is our attitude that ultimately determines our altitude. Therefore, there are certain Covenant Success Habits which I believe we need to possess to enhance our success in life. These habits are fundamental in the school of success because without them our success is not in view. They include:

    • Decision: In the school of success, we are responsible for our decisions. Decisive men are successful men. They don’t look back but are ever forward looking. Also, they don’t take no for an answer as their hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord. There are so many people that God has shown their destinies but are afraid to take a decision to move. I remember when the Lord called me in an 18-hour vision, I was not indecisive. I made a decision to run with the heavenly vision; else, I would have been stranded today! Let us understand that indecision is a plague. Its effect is frustration, depression and devastation (Revelation 3:16). So it is not enough to have a goal, but we must make quality decision as far as that goal is concerned.

    Association: Many believers are victims of wrong associations. Let us understand that our relationship in life can either make us or break us; they never leave us neutral. There are many people around our lives that will never allow us to see the fulfilment of our vision except we separate from them. So, right association is a booster of vision. Don’t be deceived! Friendship is by choice and not by force. We have the responsibility to decide the people we walk with. Many destinies have been ruined as a result of wrong associations. We must understand that anyone who has a negative influence on our lives is an enemy, not a friend. Beware! (Mark 9:38-40; Psalm 106:32-33; Mathew 7:6).

                   Concentration: One of the factors that will enhance the fulfilment of our vision in life is concentration. This has to do with being focused. Concentration is sticking to our discovered vision. Those who stick to their goals are those who are steadfast in the pursuit of that goal. We don’t know how high we can fly until we stick to our jobs or assignments. When we have discovered our destinies, we must give it all our attention; mentally, physically and emotionally as the power of concentration always guarantees distinction.

    Gratitude: This is acknowledging the grace of God, as we move towards the fulfilment of our vision. We should look at where we are and convince ourselves of God’s backing in getting there. Unfortunately, many people despise the hand of God in their little businesses and become stranded in life. As believers, therefore, we must beware of ingratitude because it shuts us off from God’s blessing. We should never take God for granted as it is risky to do so. When we despite the days of small things, we miss the greatness that lies ahead. Grateful people don’t miss greatness. Remember, it was gratitude that brought Solomon into his place of encounter. Those who truly celebrate their God in the Kingdom become celebrities (Psalm 103:1-3).

    Joyfulness: Joy becomes part of our nature when we become born-again. This is because; it is part of the fruit of our regenerated spirit. One interesting thing about life is that only excited people excel in it. Interestingly, every moody, long-face person has a long way to go. The longer the face, the longer our way. Until we become depressed; we cannot end up as failures. So, we must beware of depression as that is the bait of the oppressor, the devil. When he succeeds in introducing depression into our lives, he has made us victims of life (Isaiah 3:10).

    Uprightness: God’s provision for man’s success has uprightness as its foundation (Proverbs 10:9). For instance, Job was an upright man, and he was the greatest in the East. Many people know the system of success, but don’t have the result. This is because the foundation of uprightness is not in place. Without uprightness, the struggle for success continues.

    Faithfulness: There is always a reward for being faithful. It guarantees us a fulfilling future and raises us above limitations. If we have been faithful over a little, God will make us master over much (Luke 16:10). For instance, if someone pays his tithes faithfully, despite having little, he has committed God to move him to abundance. When we eat our tithes with the excuse of being poor, we become stranded in life. No excuse is tenable for disobedience in the Kingdom. As it is written: …if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee( Deuteronomy 28:15). This scripture re-emphasises the truth that our misfortune in life is rooted in our disobedience to the fundamental laws of  the scripture. We shall not end as victims! (Deuteronomy 28:1).

    Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”  For further reading, please get my books: Success Strategies, Success Systems, Maximising Destiny, Exploring the Secrets of Success. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • 26 years after, CAC crisis nears end

    Hope is rising on the final reconciliation of the 26-year old crisis in the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) fold.

    The warring factions that had been at logger heads with the mainstream General Executive Council (GEC) met at the Pastors’ conference recently.

    The Pentecostal Church had been in crisis since 1990 when its leadership dismissed some Pastors including late Prophet Timothy Obadare, Pastors J.O Adegoroye N.E Udofia, J.A Akintola and P. Alayo over alleged anti-church activities.

    The aggrieved factions went to court for resolution of the disputes, the last of which favoured the GEC adjudged as the authentic ruling body of the church.

    Also, the criminal case against its leaders was resolved in their favour when the Federal High Court, Ibadan dismissed the suit.

    However, a delegation of the Supreme Council led by Pastor Henry Ojo visited Ikeji-Akeji conference for a solidarity re-union where he delivered the message of their leaders to the GEC.

    Among those in the delegation are Pastors Henry Ojo from Port- Harcourt, James Onagwa and Matthew Olaseinde while another team was led by Pastor Paul Obadare of World Soul Winning Evangelistic Ministry (WOSEM).

    Ojo appreciated the rousing welcome accorded them at the confence, stressing the delegation acted on directives of the Supreme Council faction.

    He said it was high time the CAC put an end to the protracted crisis, pleading for reciprocal visit by the GEC to Supreme Council Pastors’ conference at Alasepe Camp Ground, Ikire.

    Obadare urged all factions to reconcile to fulfill the CAC’s motto “one fold and one shepherd”.

    Akinosun expressed happiness for the visit by the other factions, stressing the crisis was a sad commentary on the church.

    According to him: “I have always believed that court cannot be the best alternative to solve the problems within the CAC.

    “All human efforts to unite the church using human wisdom had failed but God had resolved to end the crisis in His own time.”

    Akinosun promised the delegations if the church finally reconciled, no one would lose its status or ranking.

  • Churches challenged on social inclusion 

    Churches must place greater emphasis on social works to change their immediate environments, the Executive Director of Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Dr Otive Igbuzor, has stated.

    He spoke at the 57th birthday ceremony of the Convener of Catalyst for Global Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJ), Pastor Sam Aiyedogbon in Lagos.

    Igbuzor regretted that global wealth and poverty are increasing simultaneously, saying churches have to rise to become a force for the voiceless, defenceless and helpless.

    He noted that the system of the world increasingly provides incentives for few people to be rich while a majority wallow in penury, which is against the values of social inclusion that Jesus teaches.

    Although he noted the reformation movement in the 14th century and birth of pentecostalism in the 20th century led to the revival of the church, he lamented that the church neglected the social dimension and integrated mission of Jesus within their environments.

    Igbuzor, who is also the Presiding Pastor of Compassion of Jesus Global Mission International, cited a recent research by OXFAM indicating that in 2015, three richest people in the world have more wealth than the Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) of 48 countries.

    The same report indicated that the wealth of five richest people in Nigeria will eliminate poverty completely from the nation, he declared.

    He challenged the church to continue to speak truth to power, declaring prophetic ministry must be revived, no matter whose ox is gored.

    Chairperson of Transition Monitoring Group, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, challenged churches to intervene in national reorientation and value orientation.

    She noted the church wields a lot of influence on the people and their intervention in promoting the values that unite everyone together cannot be undermined.

    The chairman of the occasion and convener of CPJ, Aiyedogbon, said the idea to start the foundation was through divine inspiration.

    The General Overseer of Realm of Glory Church said: “I was writing a column in one of the newspapers from 1996 to 2009 on religion and where I addressed the challenges in the society and excesses of the pentecostal churches were part of what led to the formation of the foundation.

    “As an individual, when you see a need or a problem and you are passionate about it, you pray, speak and have engagements in your conversations with people and obviously it will make God to birth something in you and that’s how the idea came up.”

     

  • ‘Why people have wrong views of Celestial churches’

    ‘Why people have wrong views of Celestial churches’

    Senior Evangelist Prophet Gabriel Salako is Shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Ifesowapo Parish in Ota, Ogun State.
    He speaks with Sunday Oguntola on the many misconceptions about the church as well as the 25th anniversary of the parish. Excerpts:

    When and how did the church start?

    We started this church on Alade Street in Oshodi where we were living in 1991. About 10 to 15 families came together and the church started in our living apartment. By 1992, our co-tenants got angry that the church was becoming bigger. They rightly pointed out it was a residential apartment, not a church’s building.

    So, we started looking for a space. We got a land in Iyana Iyesi, Ota, in 1992 and we have been here since then. When we came here, it was all bushy. But our first service was in May 1992 and God has been helping us since then. We have over 200 adults and 250 children in the church now. So, we are celebrating our harvest/25th anniversary from next Tuesday with revival.

    We want our members and others to know what the Celestial Church of Christ really believes in so that we can reduce the many misrepresentations about us.

    Talking about perception of the CCC, some people see it as a fetish church. What is your reaction to this?

    We get to hear a lot about that. You see the truth is that CCC is founded on traditions received directly from God. There is nothing fetish about what we do. The only ‘sacrifices’ we offer are the ones ordained from God. For example, God could give a member message to go to the river for spiritual bath or pray on candles.

    Now those who don’t understand that will see it as fetish. That is because God didn’t reveal it to them. CCC is not founded on human traditions or make-ups. Whatever we do is what God ordains. However, there are a few bad eggs that have bastardised some of our traditions.

    For example, you go to beaches and see many so-called CCC prophets and prophetesses. But the truth is Baba Oschoffa didn’t ask us to do that. What he said was that we should bring beach sands and put them in the Holy Place or Land of Mercy for prayers. Once the sand is there, it is believed you have whatever you are looking for in beaches there.

    The CCC members and prophets/prophetesses you see in beaches are just wasting their time there. There is nothing they should be doing that. But those who don’t know will see them there and say all CCC members are always in the beaches.

    When Jesus was leaving, He said there were things He would have said that the disciples cannot absorb but when the Holy Spirit comes, He would teach us all things. So, it is the Holy Spirit that is teaching us what we do in CCC. Yes, there could be bad eggs but ultimately the church is founded on revealed truths and traditions.

    When someone comes to me for prayers, I tell them I have nothing to say until we have received prophetic messages through trance. It is only what God tells us to do then that we do.

    But some people say the prophets/prophetesses are mostly speaking from self-interest. How are we sure they are speaking the mind of God?

    The Bible says by their fruit, you will know them. Truly, there are many prophetesses/prophets saying what God didn’t ask them to say but then there are genuine ones. When you see them, you will recognise them.

    But those who deceive people are easy to know. You will always know they are not speaking from God. Recently, I went to a prophet with a woman somewhere here. He gave the woman many messages but when I relayed them to my wife, she dismissed him as fake. He was using diabolical means to look into the future of people. There are many like that but we know them when we see them.

    What’s the official stand of  CCC on polygamy?

    You see CCC allows men to have more than one wife but it is conditional. Look at our founder, Baba Oschoffa, he had more than one wife before he died. It was the same with our father Abraham and King Solomon. God never blamed Solomon for having too many wives but for marrying from foreign lands.

    The CCC believes if a man is capable and has the means to love all his wives equally, he is at liberty to marry more than one. If he can provide for all of them equally too, he is free. Most men don’t want more than one wife but circumstances force them to.

    So, the Church is neutral on polygamy. If it is within your powers, it is fine. If not, stay away. That is what we believe and practice.

    But why don’t you have more than one wife?

    It is my personal choice, really. This is what I have chosen to do. It does not make me right or better than others. Those who have more than one are fine too, provided they can fulfil the conditions. It is just a matter of personal choice. It is not a sin to have more than one wife.

    There are many stories on why CCC members don’t wear shoes. Some point to the biblical Moses encounter while some say it is because Oschoffa had big legs and couldn’t get shoe sizes. Which of them is right?

    The truth is it is because of the instruction by God to Moses to put off his sandals in the holy land. There is nothing like the story of Baba Oschoffa not having shoe sizes that fitted him. I saw him many times. We spoke many times. I saw his legs. They were not oversized or too big. He didn’t cover them at all.

    I attended many seminars where he taught us the fundamentals of CCC. So, there is nothing like that insinuation. It is just a rumour, a mere make-up. We are just following the scriptures.

    Are you bothered by the mass exodus of youths to new generation churches from the CCC?

    Yes, I am really bothered because I tell people that most members who leave always return worse off. I put the blames on parents because many of them do not teach our youths the fundamentals. You see when we have children in CCC, they are always christened in church. We would read Deuteronomy 28: 1-14 to the hearing of the new born.

    Those who stay put always enjoy the blessings recorded in verses 1-14 but verses 15-the end is always the experiences of those who leave. Most of our youths who leave always return when they find out their lives have been messed up.

    But the youths claim they leave in droves because the church has remained too rigid and not contemporary. What would you tell such youths?

    You see, that is where the problem lies. God says He is the unchangeable changer. He does not change. But our youths want to change everything. They want to change God, if possible. It is not going to work because God doesn’t change.

    Whatever He wants is what we want too. We cannot dictate to Him how to do things. We cannot change His traditions or methods. The possibility is when we change things, He would stop answering us. If God says resume your service by 10am and we say ‘why not earlier so that we can close early for some other things?’

    Youths don’t want to stay in church for more than one hour but we cannot go through with God without spending time. Some of them want to do things their way but God will not change and we are better off listening to Him.

    Many wonder why CCC parishes are always situated near rivers. But this church is not any close to a river. Is that just an insinuation or right observation?

    It is just an insinuation. There is nothing that says CCC parishes should be near rivers. Some can deliberately choose such locations because of quicker access to rivers for spiritual bathing. But there is no instruction or mandate to be around rivers.

    Some parishes can choose to be there because that is where they can find cheaper lands. Other than that, there is nothing that says we have to be there always.

    Is it true CCC is into money rituals too?

    The truth is we have this problem because many tie prosperity to God’s favour. I believe God can bless a man when he has served him enough. Other than that, no man has what it takes to make any other person rich. A Shepherd that assures a member of prosperity after some rituals is fake and lying.

    The only one that can make one rich is God. And He will do it at His time. Nobody can force or blackmail Him to make anyone rich. It is only when we have done enough for God that He can truly bless us.

     

  • Revival, Nigeria’s greatest need, says Shodeinde

    igeria needs revival more than anything else, Presiding Pastor of The Saints Gospel Church (a.k.a. Shadow Tabernacle) Igando Lagos, Jacob Shodeinde, has said.

    He recommended revival as panacea to the nation’s woes, saying it was time  believers embarked on radical and aggressive evangelism.

    Shodeinde lamented that Nigerians, especially Christians, have relegated evangelism to the background in pursuit of money and other perishable items, a development he tagged as regrettable.

    He spoke at the second edition of the thrice-yearly Jesus Passover of the church where worshippers took turn to testify of God’s faithfulness to them through the ministry.

    According to him: “Revival is the responsibility of every child of God; everyone who has given his/her life to Christ.

    “It is the only solution because there is so much confusion in the world today and we need revival but, unfortunately, many people are running after worldly pleasures.”

    Reminding all of the inevitability of accountability, the cleric said: “God will ask everyone what they have done with their lives. God wants us to progress in righteousness and strive to please Him in all our ways.

    “He wants us to take revival very serious and not just running after things of this world.”

    He, however, saw light at the end of the dark tunnel in the ongoing political dispensation, urging participants to be hopeful.

    “You will all receive blessings and favour from God before the end of this political dispensation. The God of Hand of Fire does not disappoint,” he said.

    The Onigogo of Igogo-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Adewunmi, who was part of the service, described Pastor Shodeinde as a man completely dedicated to the propagation of God’s kingdom.

    The monarch added: “He is a focused man of God who believes in the service of God and humanity.

    “He is very spiritual and not after worldly pleasure.”

     

  • Talk Your way to Success!

    Talk Your way to Success!

    We discover from Scriptures that success is God’s will for us and as such every child of God has been redeemed for all-round success. However, success does not fall on people’s laps neither is it obtained on a platter of gold. There is always what to do to enjoy every provision God has made for us in His Word.

    Among others, one important step to our success is to talk our way into it. It is impossible to encounter success without talking success. This is because the words we speak either make us or mar us. We determine the things that happen to us by the words of our mouth. Whenever we speak success, as contained in scriptures, we are speaking the right word that contains irresistible great forces that cannot go unheard.

    As regards our success in life, many Christians don’t believe it is scriptural to be successful and as such they keep closed mouths. Remember, it is often said that ‘a closed mouth is a closed destiny’. In actual fact, they think it is pride to talk success. They prefer to be wretched Christians than to be associated with success. But Jesus did not teach us so, He said that we are the light of the world. In other words, we are redeemed to be Pace-setters, pathfinders and trail-blazers for the world to follow.

    He also said that we are the salt of the earth; that means we are designed to preserve humanity from decadence and to give taste to the tasteless world. In addition, Jesus said that we are cities set on hills which cannot be hidden. That helps us to recognise that every child of God is ordained for global relevance, influence and exploits. But as we all know, we cannot claim what we cannot proclaim, our inheritance notwithstanding. In other words, what we don’t believe, we are not empowered to become and until we say it, God is not empowered to deliver. If talking success is too big for our mouths, it would be too big for our hands (John 1:12; Genesis 13:14). Therefore talk success! Until we talk it, we can’t have it. This is my secret over the years and it is still working for me. Remember, the Bible says: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21; See also Mark 11:23). The words we speak are powerful and can affect us positively or negatively. Thus, to experience success through the words of our mouths, we must understand the following:

    • Our Words Are Seeds: The Words we speak are seeds, which bring forth fruits after their kind. As it is written: …the seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). This means that how much of the word of God we express through our lips in any area of our lives, determines our harvest. Thus, when we feed our hearts with words of success and express them through our mouths, we are sowing seeds of success. Unfortunately, some people no matter how hard they work cannot enjoy success. This is because despite the fact that they are great givers and diligent workers, they sow seeds of failure with their mouths. This is why there are many great doers, but poor talkers. In spite of their great doings, they still remain small. We must recognise that God is not to blame for our failures as He regards what we say as the conclusion of our expectations. As it is written: … for ye shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23). Therefore, we should stop saying negative things about our present conditions; rather, we should start speaking what is written in God’s Word.

    Our Words are Likened to Rainfall: Also, the words we speak are likened to rainfall from heaven. Just as the Word God sent forth out of His mouth never return to Him void, so also the words we speak never return void. They are like rainfall that causes a sprouting forth of whatever seed is sown in the earth. Remember, no matter how much seed a farmer puts in the ground, if there is no rain, the seed would perish in the earth. Likewise, the words we speak would either bring down rain to water the seeds sown or establish a drought that will destroy the seeds. It is time to begin to water the labours of our hands, by speaking the right kind of words (1 Corinthians 3:6).

    Filling our Hearts with the Right Words: We understand from scriptures that: …out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Mathew 12:34). This implies that our mouths speak forth the overflows of what is in our hearts. When we become drunk with the words of success, we speak them naturally. As written in scriptures, life and death are in our mouths, so we should speak life, that we may enjoy success in life.

    God is Committed:  In the school of success, what we say with our mouths is as important as what God says. Thus, God is committed to what we say, just as He is committed to what He says.  As it is written: That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers (Isaiah 44:26). Every one that serves God is His servants, and He is bound to confirm our words. So we must speak the right words so as not to lack results because God will confirm it. God is committed to whatever we say, whether it is said in the public or privately. He can’t act until we have uttered the words. So stop talking trials because what we talk is what we possess. Rather, start talking testimonies and we will stop seeing trials and failures.

    However, God is only committed to what the redeemed say. Thus, if you are not saved, God will never confirm what you say. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Success Strategies, Success Systems, Maximising Destiny, Exploring the Secrets of Success. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Okoh inaugurates board for cable station

    •’Our church deserves standard TV station’

    The Anglican Church will continue to run a world standard electronic medium to keep winning souls for God, its Primate, Most Reverend Nich Okoh, has said.

    He spoke when he inaugurated the Board of Directors of Anglican Cable Network Nigeria Television  (ACNN) headed by veteran journalist, Chief Folu Olamiti, at the church’s headquarters in Abuja. The Church turns 500 this month.

    The primate charged the ACNN Board to work hard and register as a household name in Nigeria with appealing programmes.

    He commended the philanthropy by Mr. & Mrs. Modupe Alakija towards the church, recalling that the initial funds offered by the family led to the take off of ACNN.

    He called on well-meaning Anglican churches across Nigeria to rise in support of the TV project with funds meant to drive the success of the television project.

    Olamiti thanked the primate for confidence in the Board, vowing that members would do their best to take the TV station to the next level of professional excellence.

    Other members of the newly inaugurated Board of Directors of the ACNN include the Rt. Rev’d Blessing Enyindah (Deputy Chairman); the Rt. Rev’d Chidi Oparajiaku; Mr. T.B Akinyeye; Dr. G.T.N Ajakpo; Ven. Dr. Dade Sadare, Mrs. Bisi Amagada and Mrs. Ngozi Adighibe.