The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Wise associations

    He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

    If you’re going to get the most out of your life, you’ve got to learn to recognise dangerous relationships, then know how to walk away from them. Be more discerning about the company you keep! Sever any tie that strangles or limits you!

    Why? Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1Corinthians 15:33)

    A dangerous relationship is like a leg with gangrene; if you don’t amputate it, the infection can cost you your life. Unless you have the Wisdom and the Courage to cut off what won’t heal – you would eventually end up losing a lot more, because whoever cannot increase you, will eventually Decrease you.

    Have you heard the story about the scorpion who asked the frog to carry him across the river because he couldn’t swim?

    The frog said, “If I carry you on my back you’ll sting me”. “The scorpion replied, “If I did that, we’d both drown. “The frog thought about it, found it convincing and told him to hop on. But when they were halfway across the river the scorpion stung him anyway. As they were both drowning the frog said in disbelief, “You promised you wouldn’t; why did you sting me? “The scorpion replied, “I can’t help it; it’s my nature to sting!”

    Today ask God to help you discern the dangerous relationships’ in your life and to give you the strength to disconnect from them. Your future depends on it!

    Re-evaluate your life and friendships

    Isaiah the great prophet could not commence the task that God called him to do until King Uzziah died:

    In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple

    (Isaiah 6:1)

    Abraham has to separate from Lot before God reveals Abraham’s inheritance to him.

    The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. (Genesis 13: 14-15)

    Unwise relationships and associations have destroyed the potential and the abilities of multiplied thousands of could-be winners.

    Below are few criteria on how to distinguish an enemy from a friend:

    Four characteristics of an enemy

    •Those who are more critical than they are complimentary and encouraging

    •Those who belittle and laugh at your God given dreams and goals

    •Those who embarrass and humiliate you

    •Those who drain your energy and waste your time through useless conversation:

    Four Qualities of wise associations

    •Those who speak words that builds your faith and confidence.

    •Those who see the worthiness of your God given dreams and goals

    •Those who become enthusiastic when you enter their presence

    •Those who remind you of your special gifts and abilities

    Become more selective, connect with anyone who celebrates you and disconnect from anyone who tolerates you.

    Pray this with me

    Dearest Father,

    Please give me the wisdom to choose friends who are godly. I pray that you would take anyone who is not a godly influence out of my life or else transform that person into your likeness. Take away any loneliness or low self-esteem that would cause me to seek out less than God-glorifying relationships.

    In Jesus’ name I pray that you would teach me the meaning of true friendship, teach me how to be a good friend and make strong, close lasting relationships. May each of my friendships always glorify You. annetheevangelist@yahoo.com

  • Engaging prayer and fasting for financial fortune!

    Recognize that prayer and fasting on their own, do not guarantee financial fortune. But they provide a platform for accessing supernatural wealth.

    How do prayer and fasting empower believers for financial fortune?

    This is a good question, particularly if you have heard me say that God’s prosperity plan has no respect for prayer and fasting, because it is a covenant.

    •Every provision of the Kingdom is only accessible by revelation: Understand that revelation is the key to every provision in the Kingdom and financial fortune is one of the provisions of redemption (2 Corinthians 8:9).

    Every of our inheritance is only accessible by revelation and prayer and fasting are boosters of revelation. Until we can see it, we cannot access it. Until we can see it, it cannot be given to us (Genesis 13:14-15).

    So, God’s Word is the highway to our inheritance, because every of our inheritance is only deliverable through revelation (2 Peter 1:3). Prayer and fasting are the spiritual platforms for outbreak of revelation. There are certain things we may not get, except we are in a fast. Why? There is a blindfolding force from hell that is against our breaking forth in revelation (2 Corinthians 4:4).

    There are certain things we will never believe, until revelation dawns. The devil does not want that to happen, so he blocks our access. Some of these hindrances will never go, except by prayer and fasting. So, prayer and fasting enhance our access to the needed revelation to access our provisions in redemption, which includes financial fortune.

    •Every story of financial breakthrough is traceable to divine guidance: Divine guidance is a vital gateway to realms of financial fortune. We become spiritually sensitive to divine leadings in prayer and fasting. Every supernatural breakthrough is traceable to divine guidance, because when God leads the way, all the gates will lift up their heads.

    •Abraham was guided into realms of financial fortune. When the Lord is leading, He guides us into realms of irresistible breakthroughs. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want. Goodness and mercy shall follow us (Psalm 23:1-2).

    •We engage prayer and fasting to cast out opposing forces standing on our path to financial fortune: There are forces that are sitting on people’s destiny that won’t let them lift up their heads. In the course of our prayer and fasting, we are to cast out the forces of wickedness sitting on our destiny of prosperity. (Zechariah 1:21).

    •So, we dislodge the horns of the gentiles in prayer and fasting. We destroy oppositions to any aspect of our destiny, including our financial lives, in prayer and fasting. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).

    •We engage prayer and fasting to access higher dimensions of grace: We access grace in prayer, but we access great grace in prayer and fasting. It takes grace to align with the covenant demands of financial fortune.

    You need grace to be a giver, particularly when you are in need. That kind of grace was upon the Macedonian church (2 Corinthians 8:1-3).

    The altar of prayer is the throne of grace; we obtain grace to help in the time of need (Hebrews 4:16). So, it takes grace to be a tireless giver. Prayer and fasting, on their own, do not entitle us to financial fortune; they entitle our access to the provision by revelation, so that God can be committed to confirming it in our lives, particularly as we engage in the demands. In other words, we access the grace to align tirelessly with the demands of the Covenant from the altar of prayer and fasting.

     

    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

  • Nobody can stop the gospel, says Foursquare scribe

    No amount of oppositions, hostilities and conspiracies can stop the spread of the gospel within and outside Nigeria, the National Secretary of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Ikechukwu Ugbaja, has stated.

    He said the gospel is a living organism that is unstoppable by the “forces of arms and human hostilities.”

    Ugbaja spoke last week with newsmen at the Yaba National Headquarters of the church on the forthcoming International Conference for Ministers and Leaders (ICML) organised by the church.

    The conference with the theme making maximum impact holds from April 14-19 at Foursquare Camp Ajebo, Ogun State.

    Asked to comment on the ceaseless attacks against churches and Christian communities in the north, Ugbaja said those who imagine they can wipe out the gospel through the arms of flesh and ammunition are mistaken.

    He said persecutions strengthen and fortify the church as against the extinction agenda of the attackers.

    The cleric assured: “The gospel is here to stay. Nobody can exterminate Christianity out of this land. The gospel is a living organism that cannot be stopped by the forces of arms and human hostilities.”

    On the ongoing national conference, Ugbaja stated that Nigeria would emerge from the exercise stronger and better.

    He said the confab is necessary after 100 years of experiment, stating that Nigerians need to come together to discuss whether the project is working or not.

    “Nigeria is evolving and will work because it is still under construction. We’d get there by the grace of God and Nigeria will work,” he said in response to whether or not the nation is working.

    He blamed the woes of the country on leadership, arguing that “when God intends to transform a leader, he focuses on leadership. When you get the right leaders, everything else falls into place.”

    Ugbaja stated that the conference, which over 10,000 workers, leaders and pastors of the church have already registered for, would have 23 plenary sessions focusing on leadership skill development for family, generational thinking and stamina for ministry.

    There would also be 19 learning tracks, 26 units/groups and 13 regional Discipling A Whole Nation (DAWN) presentations.

    56 speakers are expected at the conference including the General Overseer of the church, Rev Felix Meduoye, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, Rev Nahor, Prof. Vuyani Ntintili from South Africa and Rev. Mike Adegbile.

  • SU seeks prosecution of sexual abusers

    The Scripture Union of Nigeria has called for concerted efforts to combat the rising wave of sexual abuse of young people.

    It urged churches and parents to collaborate to prevent further sexual abuses and bring offenders to book.

    The National Coordinator of the group, Michael Ayodele, stated this during a media parley in Lagos.

    Ayodele said: ‘‘We call on all churches and religious bodies in the country to rise up and join this fight against evil and injustice against our children who it is our mandate by God to bring up in the fear and nurture of God.

    “That such evil is occurring in the church is a slap on our face and showing its occurrence among pastors and church leaders is a worse pain inflicted on our Holy God.

    “The church should be in the fore front of this fight to save our children and uphold our testimony.

    “While the occurrence of sexual abuse by pastors and church leaders, the silence or  inaction  to respond to such pastors to bring then to book is unacceptable and seems to confirm our connivance with evil.”

    He added: “We are saying that the voice of the church should be louder and discipline of culprits should be stronger to deter others from it.

    “Parents must therefore adopt positive parenting and properly educate their children adequately on social evils of our time and the way to prevent the children from them.’’

  • ‘God would visit Nigeria in anger’

    God will soon visit the nation and avenge the many injustices against the masses, the General Overseer of the Wind and Fire Christian Ministry Lagos, Prophet Azibuke Okoro, has declared.

    He warned leaders against acts of impunity, saying the grace of God has been overstretched over their lives.

    Okoro, who lamented the epileptic power supply across the country, said God has run out of patience with leaders over the exploitation of the masses.

    According to him: “The wind has already blown and God said His grace is expired on Nigeria.

    “He said I should tell all Nigerians to engage in incessant prayers and forsake their evil ways.

    “The recent stampede of the immigration applicants is part of the impunity we are talking about. If the nation had set its priority right, Nigeria would not have been in such a mess.

    “God said he will move in Nigeria with His strong hand. The wicked people have provoked me to anger with their sacrifices of innocent blood.”

  • Theme: It is not over!

    Theme: It is not over!

    Text: “…..there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again…..”(Job 14:7)

    When we take a cursory look at what is happening around us in the polity at such a time viz turbulence of politics, gross economic instability, unsecured security system across the length and breadth of the nation, unreliable transportation system, pervasive job insecurity, gross unemployment, public sectors taking turn to go on strike and avoidable human losses consequent on ill-equipped health sector, it is logical to harbor the thoughts of fear, dejection and hopelessness. We might actually begin to look at ourselves as failures or consider our nation as a failed state.

    Beloved in Christ, there is no bad case with God. There is no failed life or state before God! He has promised us that if only people called by His name can call on Him with humility and turn from our evil ways, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chro. 7:14). Whenever we call on God and forsake our pervasive evil ways, He is able and willing to turn things around for us. He said that with men (family, leaders, security officers etc) some things are impossible, but with Him all things are possible (Matt. 19:26; Mk. 9:23).

    From our passage, God promised that there is no hopeless case with him. In fact, He said even a dead tree that had been cut down has hope of springing back to life. He said that even if the root of a tree has waxed old in the earth and the stock has died but the scent of water will bring it back to life.

    The Almighty God is God of all flesh with whom nothing is impossible (Jer. 32:27). He was the One who created the heaven and earth (John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17). From His glorious antecedents, there is nothing He cannot do. When the Israelites had no food and water to drink in the wilderness, He made ways where there was none – they had quails from heaven and water came from the Rock.

    When the Egyptians continued to harass the Israelites on their way to the Promised land, the Almighty God intervened and fought for them. The Red Sea that opened for them to pass through was the burial ground of their pursuers.

    Beloved, the Almighty God is a man of war (Exodus 15:3). Whenever you call on Him, He would intervene in your case, provide for you, change your story, restore your lost grounds and fight your battles for you (Joel 2:25). He has promised that even when people or institutions saddled with the responsibility of care, provision and security fail, He will never leave nor forsake us (Is. 49:15-16; Hebrews 13:5).

    It does not matter what you may be passing through at this time, God is able! When you call upon Him during this time of lent and pray for your family and our nation, He would hear you, wipe away your tears, make you happy and minister life to your health, marriage, family, business, places of interest and nation in Jesus’ name.

    Prayer: Oh Lord, let the scent of water touch every aspect of my life and restore all my lost grounds in Jesus’ name.

     

  • ‘No credible elections in a dishonest nation’

    ‘No credible elections in a dishonest nation’

    Popular evangelist, Rev. Uma Ukpai, spoke with newsmen recently on affairs in the nation. Sunday Oguntola was there. Excerpts:

    Is Nigeria working?

    Nigeria is not only working, it is very healthy. You see part of our problem is what one can call the problem of ignorance.

    I am surprised that people expect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Party (APC) to say the same thing always. No they shouldn’t say the same thing always. All of us learn by the opposite views. APC should give their opposite views; they should give us an alternative that the government is doing these but they should have done that. That is what the opposition is all about.

    Secondly a nation that has no problem has no future. Life has no trouble-free zone. I am yet to see a nation that has no problems. In fact, when we speak of corruption, people amuse me and this is because corruption is in every nation as well. The degree of corruption may not be the same but certainly corruption is in every nation.

    What I am trying to say is that Nigeria is in a beautiful shape. Life is made in way that we all grow by the lessons we learn, by the problems we solve.

    So, you consider the presence of the APC as a good omen for the polity?

    It is good, for life without problems is useless; any man that has no enemy is an idiot. We need people who will push us so that we can do better. Therefore, the emergence of (APC) is a beautiful and wonderful omen from my point of view. God is in control and command of the nation we call Nigeria.

    How would you x-ray the performances of President Goodluck Jonathan in critical sectors?

    Well, I am sure that the country knows that in the area of power reforms, he has tried and struggled to change things positively. Do not forget that it is not easy to change that sector within three years. So I score him very high because something is certainly happening.

    In the area of corruption, a country where you have so many illiterates and those who are poor is bound to be corrupt. I don’t know how others define corruption; corruption to me is an attempt to find the shortest road out of every given trouble.

    Refusal to follow the law to its logical conclusion and transmitting easy way out of problems, it is almost inbuilt in us all; nobody likes trouble. Nobody wants to be delayed by police officers when you can expedite all you want to do but you will be breaching the law by doing that.

    So corruption is almost part of our second nature and only God can change us. Therefore, for anybody to boast of giving us a government that will have no measure of corruption, that person is a liar. Will somebody please tell that person that he is telling us lies that a new person will emerge as a new leader and everything will change overnight? Some of us have lived long enough to know that things are not done that way.

    In the area of economy, I think the economy is doing fine. The value of naira in our hands has not yet gone down. The ability to confront government that abused Nigerians is something he has done very well also that is a plus for him.

    In the area of education, I may not know much why ASUU keeps going on strike but the little I know is that they don’t really have too many reasons on why they keep going on strike. However, the establishment of new universities is another plus.

    Security has improved a great deal at least where I live. I don’t stay in Abuja; I don’t know what they are going through but where I live, security has improved greatly. You hardly hear of kidnapping in Akwa-Ibom State and that is a big plus for him, a very big plus.

    I think these ones are enough to show that he is doing very well but I want to say that three years cannot be enough for any man to change things in this country even if you are a Nigerian.

    Do you think the forthcoming 2005 elections will be free and fair?

    That question amuses me. Don’t forget the fact that these elections we are talking about involve Nigerians and not Ghanaians. It will be done the same way we have always done things.

    Have we always been honest in the areas of elections? Can the first person that knows about election in Nigeria raise his hand and tell how elections are conducted in Nigeria? Those of them that know the secrets, the hidden things of election, can they please tell us how elections are conducted in Nigeria? Maybe they don’t know we know that there is no element of honesty in the whole game.

    Why? This is because we ourselves are not that honest. How do they expect a community of dishonest people to do things in an honest way? It is not possible. So, can we please continue with the game of fooling the non-politicians?

    If that will bring peace. But if you are asking that election be done the proper way, then all of us must repent between now and 2015 and practise honesty, sincerity and legality.

    If we cannot repent, can we all shut our mouths and stop these noise making and continue with the way we have always been fooled by the organisers of the election?

    But do we just shrug and continue like this then?

    It’s all up to us to decide if we really want a change. All the stakeholders should be honest and repent between now and 2015 and stop deceiving us because we cannot have credible elections without repentance.

    We have to repent first, everybody and then when we repent, we then practice honesty and sincerity before God and before our own conscience.

    The national confab kicks off soon. Do you think it will fix Nigeria?

    It was the former American President Bill Cliton that said contact dissolves conflict. If contact dissolves conflicts then let them meet and iron out our differences and maybe suggest how best to rule this country, it will help us.

    Do you agree there should be no-go areas at the confab?

    Whatever will bring confusion should be avoided. Only what will help us and build us up should be touched and focused on for discussions

    What fears do you nurse about Nigeria?

    Nigeria is a beautiful river that filters itself. So these things people are doing in our view shall certainly be filtered out at the appropriate time.

    The insurgency in the North continues unabated despite the emergency rule in the northeast. How can we destroy the Boko Haram menace?

    We need to tell ourselves the home truth that Boko Haram is a prepared organisation, prepared to harm and destroy Nigeria. An enemy of that class cannot be wished away, an enemy of such magnitude cannot be destroyed within days. As long as God is on the throne, Nigeria is on the safe side and we shall overcome.

    How do we move Nigeria forward?

    All that they need to know is to find out what are the questions.

    You cannot give or provide answers to questions you don’t know.

    What really frightens me is that the Bible says when God wants to punish a nation he gives them young men who don’t know the questions and to lead the nation. So when you don’t know what the questions are, you cannot give the answers. So all those who are stakeholders and all those who have interest in Nigeria should again find out what the questions are and find solutions to those questions.

  • Fountain of Praise lifts orphans with N3million

    A faith-based non-governmental organisation, Worship for Change, has donated over N3million to the Centre for Destitute Empowerment Idimu, Lagos and God’s Will Orphanage, Ayingba, Kogi state.

    The fund was raised during the Worship for Change benefit concert held at the Shell Hall, Muson centre Lagos last October.

    Artistes that graced the event include Bob Fitts, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Flo, Frank Umoh, PITA and Psalmos.

    The convener, Pastor Wale Adenuga, said the goal is to lift children in orphanages.

    The ace gospel musician said the orphanages were nominated through online voting by the general public.

    The lead worshipper of Fountain of Praise said: “I think there is a whole lot that needs to be done because everywhere around us there is so much squalor and poverty.

    “I think that if people realise that their lives is not just for themselves then the idea to make a difference will spring up in their mind.”

    The Centre for Destitute Empowerment Idimu with over 82 children received a cheque of N1.55 million.

    Its president and founder, Pastor Samson Okoliko, appreciated the gesture.

    He said: “The amount is not the important thing but the effect it makes on the lives of the children. We are assuring you that the money will be invested well and we would continue to update you”.

    Another 1.55million went to God’s Will Orphanage founded by Mrs. Elizabeth Opanachi.

    The home caters for 45 children.

    She said:  “I feel thrilled today because this work that we do needs support and without helping hands, you cannot succeed with the children’s needs.”

  • Understanding the blessedness of prayer and fasting! (2)

    Welcome to your regular column. Last week, I tried to explain what fasting is all about. Fasting, I said, is a big-time business with high-level profiting. It is not just staying away from food, which can be equivalent to dieting, but it includes fervent prayer in accordance with the will of God.

    Also, I gave some reasons why we fast and pray. I said, among others, that we fast and pray to overpower all the opposing forces on the path of our glorious destiny in Christ.

    This week, I will be teaching on the profitable approach to fasting and blessings that accrue to us in fasting. May God give you understanding.

    The profitable approach to fasting: For our prayer and fasting to deliver maximally, we must observe the following protocols:

    •Be thankful, praiseful and worshipful: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name (Psalm 100:4). You don’t have access in prayers, without following this protocol in prayer. Don’t come complaining, murmuring or accusing, because until we thank God adequately for the past, we do not qualify for further blessings.

    •Come boldly and not beggarly: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). If we must obtain anything from God, we must come boldly and not beggarly (Proverbs 28:1). Every child of God is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So, when you are confronted in life, no accusation permits the devil to defeat you. You wear His righteousness in battle.

    •Come with faith: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a must. Prayer and fasting will be wasteful without faith.

    Faith is your covenant signature for taking delivery of your possessions in Christ. We are not begging the devil to leave us; we are commanding him to flee. Therefore, we must build our faith to a level of command. Faith comes by hearing and understanding the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

    •We must engage in Kingdom promotion as a priority in our prayers:

    After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). The place the Kingdom of God occupies in our prayer life, determines largely the level of answers to prayers we can experience. So, by investing in the well-being of others, God takes care of our own. It is a mystery of the Kingdom that gives us mastery over the issues of life.

    Blessings that accrue to us in fasting:

    Fasting is a spiritual platform for outbreak of revelations: Every outstanding breakthrough you notice in the Kingdom, is a product of an outbreak of revelations (Isaiah 58:8, 10). Every time you experience an outbreak of revelation, a revolution takes place. Those that fly as the cloud are those that have received light (Isaiah 60: 1, 8). Therefore, as you engage positively in this fast, your light will come and it will shoot you up in the air.

    It empowers our access to the high places of life: Fasting and prayer are a spiritual platform for our flight into the high places of life (Isaiah 58:14). You will never meet a Christian in an extraordinary place, who is not given to the discipline of fasting and prayer, because oppositions will not allow him to get there.

    It facilitates empowerment for dominion: God has ordained that we rule in the midst of our enemies, and fasting is a platform that empowers us for dominion (Psalm 66:3). Therefore, as we build up spiritual empowerment, our dominion is enhanced.

    It is also common knowledge that every aircraft is powered from the ground for a flight. Until adequate power is generated, no aircraft takes off in the air. This shall be our most awesome and colourful year, but we must take responsibility to adequately power the year. Receive grace to engage maximally in this fast! Be blessed!

    Friend, the power to engage in a fast, is available if you are born again. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Deliver me from sins and satan, to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now, I know I am born again!”

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: Winning Prayer and Keys To Answered Prayer and Born To Win.

    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., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 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

  • Commit to giving, Adventist President charges Christians

    The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nigeria has canvassed for more commitment to philanthropic gestures among Christians.

    The church said that is the only way to fight poverty among Nigerians and demonstrate the love of Christ.

    President of the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Ted Wilson, stated these last week during the centenary celebration of the church at the Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State.

    Wilson, who led other officials of the church in Africa and Nigeria during the thanksgiving service, stressed that giving is the best way to touch others and emulate Christ.

    He lamented that the middle class, which used to be the powerhouse of economic development, is gradually disappearing.

    According to him: “What we have now is the rich getting stupendously richer while the poor even become poorer.”

    He explained this is why the church is spearheading efforts to alleviate poverty and uplift the downtrodden through several outreach programmes.

    Illustrating with Mary of Bethany’s decision to pour expensive perfume on Jesus, Wilson said: “If the woman did not do what she did, when she did, I bet you that perfume will not have a better opportunity for its use.

    “Sometimes, you keep what you shouldn’t keep and it rots in your hand.”

    Addressing privileged Christians, he said: “Are you giving what you should give or you are keeping what you should give?”

    He wondered if contemporary Christians wouldn’t have diverted the resources that early missionaries used to build schools, hospitals and other facilities across the nation.

    The church, Wilson explained, is all about helping people and empowering them to do something good for themselves and the country.