The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Fulfill your promises, Adeboye tells Buhari, others

    Fulfill your promises, Adeboye tells Buhari, others

    The general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has tasked the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and other elected officials to make frantic efforts to fulfill their electioneering promises.

    He spoke with newsmen at the RCCG Headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta while congratulating the winners and other contestants in the just concluded 2015 general elections.

    Adeboye, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said: “Nigerians are expecting positive change in all areas of their lives; change in the healthcare sector, education, infrastructure, governance and reduction of the wide spate of corruption in public and private sector across the country.

    “If you say a word, you must stick to it. We must be truthful to our campaign promises. Please make frantic effort to achieving them.”

    He congratulated the winners and urged them to be magnanimous in victory and follow through on their campaign promises.

    He noted that there were no losers in the elections because they could always seek another opportunity to serve the people some other time.

    Adeboye, who restated his commitment to love and play a fatherly role to everyone no matter their political affiliations, said:  “I am a father to all. No matter the party you belong, I love everyone and would always be there to give my blessings and counsel to everybody.”

     He commended the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, for bringing his knowledge, integrity and forthrightness to bear in the process, saying it remains a watershed in the nation

     According to him: “In my lifetime, I have experience eight elections; this is one of the best elections in Nigeria. I am happy to be living in a time like this.”

  • How to make heaven, by Ewuola

    The Deputy General Overseer of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Professor Samuel Ewuola, has urged Christians to always desire to be qualified for a place in heaven after their sojourn on earth.

    He said Christians who are heavenly minded cannot be distracted by the sinful desires of the world.

    Professor Ewuola spoke at the Easter retreat of GOFAMINT, Ikere District, at the church’s campground along Ikere-Akure Highway, Asu Area, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    Delivering the retreat lecture entitled: “Building for eternity: The foundation, the structure and the finishing,” Ewuola described eternity as a dateless period which has no beginning or end.

    He also said that eternity as a large mass of time in which time is not measured by years, century, millennium, decades, years, months, weeks, days hours, minutes and seconds.

    In building for eternity, Professor Ewuola harped on the needs to build a strong personal relationship with God that will qualify Christians for admission into the kingdom.

    He said: “Foundation is a major part of any structure. It is the most important as it is the one that determines, to a large extent, the height, the structure, the weight, the utility and the life of the

    building.”

    The cleric identified components of the Christian life’s structure to include truth, diligence, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, righteousness, good works, prayer, avoidance of sin and watchfulness.

    According to Professor Ewuola, there must be recourse to old time Christianity which produced better, more matured and strong Christians who have the stamina and ability of finishing their heavenly race well than modern Christianity.

    He explained: “Present-day Christianity is more accommodating in pride, lies, ungodliness, hypocrisy, fraud in high places when social and material benefits are at stake. But can an individual or organization take fire in his/its bosom and not be burnt?

    “The love for position and struggle for posts are more common in the church today. Self-imposed positions, lobbied promotions to places of high responsibility are the order of the day.”

  • ‘The church must support Buhari for change’

    ‘The church must support Buhari for change’

    Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam is the regional secretary of International Federation of Evangelical Students in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa (IFES-ESPA). He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the ongoing electoral process and how the church can help effect change

    What is your general impression of the just-concluded presidential elections?

    I am very impressed by how Nigerians conducted themselves during the elections. They were calm, determined, sacrificial and committed to exercising their democratic right to vote and this they did peacefully. Initially, I could tell that Nigerians went to the poll more with apprehension than with excitement. The waiting period for counting, collation and announcing the final results were tense to say the least.

    The claims in terms of who got what number of votes, the accusations and the counter-claims by the politicians was beginning to create its own tension but Nigerians were determined to keep the peace and not resort to violence and vandalism as some politicians would have wished.

    This display of political maturity by the Nigerian electorate was unprecedented and worthy of commendation. The International Community took note. The presence of foreign observers helped immensely and it was they who told our story to the world.

    The just-concluded election also shows that the citizens have reclaimed their rights to determine who their leaders should be through the ballot box. They have also demonstrated that if elected officials fail to deliver the dividends of democracy and choose instead to loot the resources of the nation through their official positions of trust, they will be sent packing from henceforth.

    We had gotten to the point when elected officials were becoming tin-gods and their word is law and final. In democracy, the voter is the king. In any true democracy, the voice the people is supreme and their verdict final. From now on, the voice and vote of Nigerians will count!

    With a new government about to be formed, do you foresee changes in the nation?

    Nigerians voted for change and they will expect nothing short of real change from where we are today as a nation, moving forward. Fortunately, we have elected someone who is committed to bringing change and said as much in his first major speech after he took delivery of his return certificate from INEC.

    I hope with the outcome of this election and the yearning for change by Nigerians a changing narrative will emerge. This is the task before the in-coming administration of our president- elect. The Church in Nigeria has a prophetic responsibility to help the new president work to change the narrative of the Nigerian story.

    What does this imminent change mean to you? 

    Some of the changes I hope to see are in fixing corruption, unemployment, especially youth unemployment. The World Bank put the general figures at 22% with youth unemployment at about 38%. Poverty, insecurity and insurgency, the need for good governance that is accountable to the people, an educational sector presently at its lowest downward slide, sustaining the current economic growth rate of 7% which is now being threatened by falling oil prices, power outages, the role of moneybags in our democracy, stealing from the public purse reigns with impunity and many more.

    What would you consider the high and low moments of the poll?

    The highest point for me was when Nigerians trooped out en-mass in an orderly manner to vote. They wanted to be counted in defining the way forward for Nigeria through the ballot box. The citizens conducted themselves with such admirable civility to the relief of the nation and a waiting world. Please permit me to add this, the expectations of the people is very high and may God help Buhari and his team to deliver.

    The second high point was when President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and called General Muhammadu Buhari. That was the topping of the icing of the cake, moving forward with the Nigeria of our future dreams.

    By this singular act and later Buhari extending his hand of fellowship and reconciliation to Jonathan, in one of his first public speeches, shows that both men from now on represent the future Nigeria many of us have prayed and yearned for. This is a great moment to savour and we pray it will last.

    There were a couple of low moments. During the waiting period as claims and accusations of who won or did not win raged while the counting was still on-going. The challenge some voters experienced with the card readers and how this could affect the outcome.

    Some voices beginning to sound as though the whole election exercise was rubbish – the usual road to nowhere, often associated with Nigeria. But I must confess deep down in my heart, that I had prayed much before, during and after the election and asked God that this election should not result in another June 12.

    Then the momentary attempt to disrupt the collation exercise appeared comical, laughable and a chilling reminder of the undesirable in our Nigerianess. Thankfully, it was nipped in the bud.

    Are you impressed by the gales of endorsement in the Christian community? 

    Personally, I am not impressed by the gales of endorsement in the Christian community. But please do not get me wrong, it is not harmful for the Church to have ideological political preferences. The Church is free to have a mind of her own when it comes to political leanings.

    However, the church isn’t the architectural structure, which is visible for all to see. They consist of individual members and most times, these members vote based on their political persuasion. To use the pulpit to converse for votes for a particular politician or a political party is wrong. Just as it is wrong for the Christian community to do this, so also it is wrong for the Muslim community to do same.

    How much roles should religion play in Nigerians choosing who govern them? 

    If I am to be truthfully honest, it should play no role at all.  May be this is an overreaction. And if this is the case, I am sorry but I am simply sick and tired of the negative influence of religion in our politics. Please let me make clear again, this is just not a matter of concern for the church; the Muslim community is doing exactly the same.

    The first point of liberation for any person is coming to terms with one self, the same principle applies to nations. We must come to terms with ourselves and collectively say no to the role of religion in our politics whether as Christians or Muslims.

     

  • Engaging the miracle power of praise!

    Every investment in God’s Kingdom entitles us to returns. For instance, our material and spiritual investments in form of tithes, offerings, prayers, fasting and Kingdom service entitle us to returns; but not everyone gets returns because many of us do not know the process of taking delivery.

    It is important to understand that the sacrifice of praise is a scriptural requirement for taking delivery of our investment returns. As it is written: A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him (Proverbs 12:14; See also 18:20; 13:2).

    From the above scripture, the word “recompense” implies that there is an investment and the fruit of our mouths is that investment that guarantees our returns.

    What is the fruit of our mouth?

    The Bible says: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

    The ‘sacrifice of praise’ is praising God in anticipation of the delivery of our returns. In other words, it is the fruit of our lips that enforces the returns on the seeds sown. We must also understand that no matter what we sow, we will require the sacrifice of praise for guaranteed returns. Thus, the higher our praises the faster the delivery of our inheritance.

    Many don’t experience returns on the seeds sown because they will rather murmur than praise God for their expected returns. Therefore, we must understand that praise is not a religious entertainment or an item on a church programme; it is a spiritual weapon that beautifies the saints with the benefits of redemption (Galatians 6:7-8; See also Mathew 8: 17).

    Let us Examine Some Benefits of Praise that Accrue to us

    God silences our enemies through praise (Psalm 8:2). Therefore, to silence our enemies permanently, praise must become our lifestyle (2 Chronicles 20:22; Psalm 112:10).

    We receive instant answers to prayers: The more intense our praises are, the faster God answers our prayers. For instance, the Bible says that David praised God seven times daily. No wonder he received instant answers whenever he prayed (1 Samuel 30:6-9; See also Psalm 119:164; 2 Samuel 5:18-25). All through scriptures, David was never stranded, because he understood the hotline of praise. Therefore, no matter what is happening around us, we must never disconnect from the flow of the virtue in praise. This is because as long as we are in praise, we would always be favoured by God.

    Praise provokes divine health (Jeremiah 30:17-19).

    How Do We Invoke God’s Presence?

    God’s presence is invoked through high praises. As it written: But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3). When Jesus entered Jerusalem and the people cried and sang His Hosanna, He invaded the temple with a whip and flushed out all that bought and sold in the temple (Matthew 21:9-13).

    In the midst of that wild praise, Jesus cleansed the physical temple and when the blind and lame came to Him, He healed them. However, we understand from scriptures that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thus, when we offer praise unto God in the highest form, we invoke His wrath against anything molesting our bodies and He steps in to flush them out. Therefore, as you engage in fearful praises, I see Jesus invading your body with His whip and flushing out everything buying and selling there! (1 Corinthians 6:19; Matthew 21:9-14).

    We must also understand that every sickness and disease is a thief that came to steal our rights in redemption. That is why we must engage some degree of desperation in order to take delivery of our inheritance in Christ Jesus(Matthew 11:12). When we engage in high praises, God quickens every dead organ in our bodies back to life. Also, as we praise Him, the oil of joy releases healing virtues to our bodies to establish our total health (John 11:41-44; Proverbs 17:22; 18:14; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 42:5, 11).

    Friend, only those who are born of God, can engage the miracle power of praise. You can be born again now, as you pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — Wonders Of Praise and Understanding The Power Of Praise.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • ‘Religious leaders must spearhead change’

    The President of Christians and Muslims Peace Advocacy and Enlightenment Initiative, (CAMPAEI), Prophet Iwu Ogbu, has urged religious leaders to go back to the basics for the nation to experience genuine changes.

    He said changes only occur when a society is sufficiently educated to be able to choose goodness above evil, regardless of inducement to the contrary.

    Ogbu told reporters that the emergency of General Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect will trigger changes, which he said religious leaders must be willing to complement.

    According to him: “Change is possible if religious leaders go back to the roots. The reason why Nigerians are morally bankrupt, breaking laws with impurity despite all the churches and mosques in every nook and cranny is because the religious leaders are biased in their interpretation of God’s law.”

    Religion, he said, is the biggest problem in the nation.

    Ogbu told adherents of both religions to embrace harmony and peaceful coexistence, stating that the “Christian – Muslim dichotomy is a barrier to our unity, peace, understanding and progress.”

    He pointed out that those who imported both religions to the country do not fight themselves, wondering why Nigerians are displaying extremism over religious views.

    “Nigeria,” he said, “is one country, one constitution, one destiny. We must discern for ourselves what is right, and learn together what is good.

    “Neither Christianity nor Islam religion will take anyone to heaven but by your personal relationship with God. “Fighting for imported religion is a wasted labour.”

    He advised the president-elect not to be deterred by the negative reactions that his change mandate will generate from Nigerians.

    Ogbu recalled how he was jailed by the General Buhari’s regime from 1984-1987 for “importing goods without valid import license and offering custom officers a bribe of N55, 000.”

    He said such hard line measures straightened him and others arrested at the same time for varying offences.

    According to him: “Implementation of laws prevents or reduces impunity in any society. If we refuse to punish those who break the laws, how do we get rid of evil in our society?”

  • Adeboye, Bamiloye, others win award

    The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has won the integrity and character personality of the year at the 2015 Applause Achievers awards in Lagos.

    The award organised in honour of the 73th birthday of Adeboye, was organised by Salvation Crusaders Media in collaboration with the RCCG Drama Ministry.

    Its president, Pastor David Atoloye, said Adeboye was chosen for the award to celebrate his commitment to integrity, humility and steadfastness.

    Adeboye and other awardees, he said, were examples of those working in God’s vineyard without thinking of personal and immediate rewards.

    The President of the Mount Zion Christian Drama Ministry, Evangelist Mike Bamiloye, won the ICON of Christian Drama award while Shola Agboola of Evom World Outreach’s Open secret won the movie of the year award.

    Other awardees include Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola, as best supportive governor of the year while Pastor Tony Rapu emerged as best mission supporting ministry.

    Ayotunde Ayeloye was chosen as best actress of the year while Hail my king featuring Frank Edwards, Eben and Kenny K’ore won the album of the year award.

    The national director of the RCCG Drama ministry, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, said the awards were in celebration of the tremendous impact that drama and music ministers make for the kingdom.

    He explained it was necessary to celebrate the pool of talented, skillful and impact- driven Christians in the church to avoid losing them to the world.

    According to him: “We want to encourage our Christian artistes to stay in the kingdom regardless of the various challenges that they may encounter.”

    Responding to the recognition, a former R&B- turned gospel singer, Obiora Obiwon, said that the award was welcome development to the singing and drama ministry in Nigeria.

  • Baba Peculiar canvasses prayers for president-elect

    Lagos-based prophet, Olakunle Hephzibah of the Christ Apostolic Church (Peculiar Situation), Lagos has called on Nigerians to support General Muhammadu Buhari with prayers to succeed when he mounts the saddle on May 29.

    The cleric, who is fondly called Baba Peculiar, told reporters that Buhari needs serious prayers to serve out his term.

    Hephzibah said: “Nigerians should pray for President-elect Buhari for him to succeed and serve out his term. We need to fortify him against forces of death and destruction while in office.”

    Buhari, he said, will lay the foundation for a solid nation after which the real chosen one for Nigeria will emerge to take over.

    The cleric tongue-lashed many parading themselves as men of God, saying many of them are fraudsters after survival.

    “Most of those parading themselves as men of God are fraudsters looking for what to eat. And this is why most of their predictions don’t come to past.

    “Many of them predicted that President Goodluck Jonathan would get re-elected and today we are all aware that they lied. God didn’t tell them anything, they were only telling the President what he wanted to hear,” he stressed.

    While saying it was not wrong for clerics to associate with politicians, Hephzibah warned that they must not become tools in the hands of politicians.

  • Adeboye to Buhari: Listen to God more

    The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has enjoined the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s incoming administration to listen to God to tackle national problems.

    Adeboye, who was full of gratitude to God for peace recorded before, during and after the election, enjoined the president-elect to solve many problems bedeviling one at a time.

    He spoke last Sunday at the monthly special thanksgiving and prayer service he conducted at the national headquarters of the church at Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

    Adeboye, who was represented by his Personal Assistant on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said: “the incoming administration should listen to God because Nigeria’s problem is a compounded one and should endeavour to handle them bit by bit.”

    According to him: “The emergence of the president elect was the handiwork of God because his victory was against all odds. He must always remember to listen to God more than anyone.”

    The cleric acknowledged that although there is a huge task of building the nation before the incoming administration, iot should not be pressured to bite more than they can chew in their bid to meet Nigerian needs.

    At the special service organised for heads of families, Adeboye urged fathers at home to be good examples to their children.

    He said: “A home cannot go further without a father and a father who needs to take one further and be the head indeed needs divine touch.”

  • Nigerian cleric develops mobile educational app, Nkuzi

    The National Coordinator of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Belgium Mission, Pastor Mike Nwanegbo, has developed a mobile application known as Nkuzi Mobile App.

    Nwanegbo, who is also a member of the board of The International School of Flander, Waterloo, Brussels, one of the leading international schools in Belgium, said: “Nkuzi Mobile App is Africa’s number one students educational resource mobile app on android platform, aimed at helping students to pass their examinations with ease.”

    Explaining the rationale behind the application, the cleric said: “the idea is to make available past questions of GCE, JAMB, NECO and others to students through the mobile phone.

    “Instead of students playing games on their mobile phones, they can now download Nkuzi mobile app for free. Once downloaded, the student can choose a subject and the app will present questions and answers by simply clicking a button “Get answer.”

    The innovative pastor said he discovered that lots of students spend their time playing games on their mobile phones instead of paying attention to their studies.

    “So, I was moved to take their studies to them on their mobile world and this is a gift to the students in the land of my nativity,” he said.

    He stated that Nkuzi website could offer students other free services such as class work support, students’ forum, chat room and student counselling forum.

    Nwanegbo added: “Nkuzi has developed another app for ladies called ‘Women’s World’. This app helps a woman to calculate her menstrual circle, when to expect her period, and possibly get pregnant and also her safe period.”

  • Church leaders refresh for greater impact

    Hundreds of ministers drawn from converged on the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju Lagos penultimate weekend to refresh and brainstorm on how to achieve greater productivity in the vineyard.

    This was at a leadership retreat organised by senior pastor of the church, Taiwo Odukoya.

    Odukoya said the retreat, in its 15th year, was convened for the mutual edification of leaders in an atmosphere of accountability. Speaking on “ethics in ministry”, Pastor Clem Esemowei of Triumphant Church International, London urged the church leaders to maintain their integrity when facing temptation.

    He said they cannot afford to lose their standing before God and the people who they serve.

    Pastor Godman Akinlabi of The Elevation Church facilitated the session on “the virtual church”.

    He taught on practical guides to leveraging on the platform of social media for greater efficiency in ministry.

    According to Akinlabi, the content is king in the virtual space and the church is a repository of relevant content.

    “Our voice should be the loudest,” he said.

    Speaking at an all-night that rounded off the conference, Odukoya said: “God will always give you more capacity for your assignment. We often use less.”

    He also answered myriad of questions on issues in the church in a no-holds barred way.