The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Remain hopeful, Kumuyi charges Christians

    The General Superin-tendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has tasked Christians to continue looking up to Jesus as the surest refuge against life challenges.

    He spoke at the just- concluded annual Easter Retreat of the church with the theme: “Wonders of the cross and special touch of miracle”.

    The retreat held simultaneously in every state in Nigeria and virtually all Africa countries, including Europe and Latin America.

    Kumuyi noted that the beauty of Easter was the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for humanity, which facilitated a great power to save, heal and prepare believers for heaven.

    He said that the resurrection power of Jesus delivers from the corruption of sin into a new life of godliness and glory.

    The holiness preacher challenged Nigerians to put their trust in God.

    He said: “We can only become beneficiaries of Christ’s victory, healing, dominion and success in a world of crises when we repent of our sins and look up to Jesus who has the power to solve all the problems of mankind.”

    He urged participants to exhibit the virtue of endurance as there is always a price to pay for every achiever in life.

    On challenges facing Nigeria, he assured the nation will overcome.

    “We have passed through these testing times before and we overcame. We must lessen our negative sides and play down our perceived differences,” he stressed.

  • ‘How the church fuels corruption

    ‘How the church fuels corruption

    A radical preacher and non-conformist, Apostle Lawrence Achudume is the general overseer of Victory Life Bible Church, Abeokuta, Ogun state. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the 21st anniversary of the church and sundry national issues. Excerpts:

    Did you ever imagine the church was going to come this far 21 years ago?

    Did I imagine the church would come this far? To imagine means a mere creation in one’s memory or head. But based on what God has spoken, I knew we would come this far. Even though many people prophesied the church was going to close down…

    …Christians?

    Not just Christians but pastors. Many of them threatened the church would close down; we would not go far or even survive the first three years. Someone just sent me a text that I can read out to you now. It says: God has been so faithful to us in VLBC in the past 21 years. Many started with us but today are no more. Some left the church because of arrogance… Some have left the church because they were looking for a man to help them. I remember a pastor who left and said in three years, VLBC will collapse. But here we are!

    I heard what the pastor and some many other people said then.

    What was their grouse?

    You know some people believe except they are the ones doing it, God cannot be there. If it is not them, it is not good. Only them were called, others were not called. I remember someone said we have kerosene anointing. You know when kerosene burns for sometime, it goes out. We heard all manner of those things then. But I never replied for once because there was no need.

    Never?

    I never did.

    Directly or indirectly?

    I never did either way for once.

    Why didn’t you, considering they were disparaging something dear to your heart?

    My brother, there was no need. I never even reacted from the pulpit. I realised a man is a man. The best of a man is a man. Man is not God. There is no point to reply what men were saying. God did not say so.

    But did you have cause to pray over such evil pronouncements?

    I never did. I knew what the Lord told me. I don’t pray about what man says; I pray only on the words of God. I don’t pray over man’s myopic, infinite opinion. Some are still saying it but I just switched off from such talks. So, talking about imagination, I did not imagine it. But I believed based on what God said. But I believe we are not yet there. We are just starting.

    You are just starting after 21 years of exploits?

    Yes, we are just starting. I see 21 as an age of maturity. We are about to enter a realm that will not command envy but peace. I believe we will command outstanding breakthrough and testimonies.

    How far have you gone on the proposed new church auditorium?

    We are going to lay the foundation the Monday after the convention. It will be located in the centre of the city, somewhere known as Olorunsogo. The land is there; a four-and-half plots that we are going to use. It will serve as the National Headquarters while where we are remains the International Headquarters.

    In 21 years, can you recall one or two outstanding testimonies that keep swelling your heart?

    Unfortunately, I am not one who records things God has done so that it does not look like I am the one doing them. But what keeps amazing me is people rising from glory to glory. I have seen people rising from nowhere to where God wants them to be. Apart from the joy of salvation, they live in total peace and rest. That amazes and swells my heart.. Yes, the dead have been raised and demons cast out but the greatest joy is the transformation among people here.

    One of the things people have against you is that you say things the way they are. Will you ever change?

    No, I won’t change. It’s too late to change. I am aware people have that against me but that is who I am. If I want to say you are a thief, I will say you are a thief. I won’t say you look like a thief. Before I call you a thief, you better believe you are though you may deny it. I will call you a thief because I want you to change not because I hate you or I am angry. I can’t stand compromises and half-truths.

    You have also taken on government officials at different times. Don’t you ever fear for your life?

    I told a governor recently ‘you better be careful because you have only eight years in office. Get rid of the sycophants around you’. The convoy will be gone and you will be left alone. I believe you cannot do anything against the truth but for the truth. If I say a governor or president will leave after eight years, is that not the truth? It is the truth. You cannot embellish that.. Other former governors have left and now walk without siren or escorts. It will happen to all incumbents now one day.

    I was in the airport one day when someone slapped a former governor. He could not do anything. He was just looking. You are just there for now. Being a governor or president is no big deal. You will be gone soonest, at most in eight years. I travelled recently with a former vice president and we sat close. He was without escort. That is how it is. You will leave one day whether you like it or not. All these things are too temporal and ephemeral.

    Are you bothered about the corruption in churches today?

    Yes, I am concerned. You see you cannot detach church leaders from the corruption in the society today. Pastors should be models of integrity and faithfulness. There are those who cannot preach without negotiation. There are those who feel bad when they are not paid certain amount after ministration. That is also a form of corruption. Once you are focused on money, you will always be angry and frustrated. If you are pastor and you cannot tell the truth, you are corrupt.. Government officials come around you but you cannot talk to them. You’d rather give them more honour than they deserve. That is a form of corruption.

    If you go to State House to beg for money from commissioners and government officials, it is corruption. You are making them to compromise. A pastor who doesn’t tell corrupt people he knows to change is also corrupt. When you live in immorality as a preacher, you are corrupt. A pastor who celebrates being close to the president is corrupt because he would never be able to correct or criticise the president. A president should be happy to be associated with you as a pastor, not the other way round.

    What is the way out?

    God is raising people full of integrity and honour. I see people without greed coming up. They are not motivated by money but consider it nothing.

    What is unique about this convention?

    Everything about this convention is unique. To start with, the theme is the oil of greatness. I have discovered it is not education that makes a man great. Education is good for integration and gives one a boost. But if you look at those who really amounted to somebody in life, they had more than education. Many of them were not even educated. Look at Steve Jobs, look at the 17-year-old boy that discovered software, which fetched him $30 million from yahoo. They were not educated. Bill Gates was not made in school.

    So, we are de-emphasising degrees and paper qualifications. You can destroy a certificate with an ordinary fire. So, what qualities make for greatness? It’s good to have a springboard to launch out in life but to depend means one is signing up to die in poverty. So, myself and invited speakers will be thrashing all these issues out.

    Do you believe Nigeria can be fixed?

    Of course, I do. I believe Nigeria is the greatest nation on earth. I have travelled far and wide but I am yet to see a nation as blessed as Nigeria. We have 67 untapped natural resources. I can’t think of any in the entire Western Europe. So, I believe this country is great. I was invited to a meeting somewhere in Europe recently to address doctors and consultants. I was shocked 60 % of them were Nigerians. I know several cities in Europe where Nigerians control the entire medical industry.

    I believe Nigeria will not break up. Those thinking we will break up are the ones that will break up. Nigeria will not break. It will only keep getting better. God had a reason for creating Nigeria and He has not changed His mind. I believe God will raise a leader that will revolutionise this nation. Just watch out. It will happen sooner than we all expected.

  • Church holds centenary celebration

    St Georges Cathedral of First African Church, Ipaja Town has concluded  plans to stage her centenary celebration from April 8-13  at the church cathedral in Ipaja, Lagos.

    The chairman, planning committee and award, Prince Owen Adeniran, told reporters the event with the theme This God is our God features revival service, colloquium, bible teachings, drama, thanksgiving and award ceremony to individuals with immense contributions in the private and public sector.

    He said the church established in February 1913 with 27 members has grown in leaps and bounds to the glory of God blazing the trails of evangelism and discipleship within the African church.According to him: “God has been faithful to us as there is no doubt the fact that the church planted one hundred years ago like a mustard sees has passed through different stages of development and today as the parish has become a cathedral, but an enviable one among the existing cathedrals.”

    The cathedral vicar, Venerable Moses Adeniran, urged the church to remain steadfast in all good works and the teaching of the scriptures so that the glory of this present age will be greater than that of the former.

    Guests expected at the celebration include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Executive Chairman, Ayobo-Ipaja, Local Council Development Area, Hon Yusuf; traditional rulers, Primate of the Mission, Most Rev E. Koya, the Archbishop, Rev Paul Onanuga, and others.

     

  • ‘Sacrifice vital for nation-building’

    Nigerians have been urged to sacrifice and invest their lives to make the country better.

    The District Superintendent of the Apostolic Faith, West and Central Africa, Rev Adebayo Adeniran, made this call last Sunday at the annual Easter concert of the church with the theme “I gave my life for you”.

    He called on leaders to rid themselves of sin and corruption, stating they were called to eradicate suffering from the nation.

    According to him: “A nation rid of corruption is what befits us. Only righteousness exalts a nation and only God can free us.

    “So we must turn to God as a corporate entity and avoid corruption which is a reproach to us and God. Thus, Easter is the most important feast of Christendom.”

    There was a drama presentation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and orchestra music by the 2000 man choir on classical Beethoven; Geo Bernard; W.A. Mozart; Joe Paterson.

    Present at the concert were former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan and former Governor of Lagos, Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson (rtd), among others.

  • A decade after, Taraba remembers great cleric

    A decade after, Taraba remembers great cleric

    A section of Nigeria’s anthem which reads: “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain” manifested on Easter Sunday when the people of Taraba State converged in Bete, Takum Local Government Area, to remember the good works of one of their late fathers, Rev. Andrew Useni Bako.

    If life was a movie, Bako acted his part well on the planet-stage before the final curtain.

    In any movie, the actor, unlike the boss, never dies.

    Bako was the actor: although he gave out his ghost, his spirit lives.

    His role was evangelism, and he brought the Good News which the people of Bete said has shaped their lives.

    The clergyman was born in the diminutive village of Bete on March 14, 1942 to the family of Mallam Bako Rishante and Ladi Bako. Bako’s father -a Jukum man, who got the sobriquet ‘Bako Mission’, was one of the first few people to denounce idol worship in Taraba.

    The young Bako had the desire to serve God as a cleric, which was bolstered by the training he received from his parents.

    In 1967, he got married to Mrs Pantuvo Bako, a teacher of Christian Religious Studies.

    The good couple was blessed with eight children. One of them is Hon. Mark Useni Bako, who organised the Memorial Thanksgiving Service of the late great man of God who died of illness in 2002.

    The service held at the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN) in Bete.

    To immortalise the deceased, a temple in the church premises was christened Rev. Andrew Useni Bako Memorial House.

    The occasion witnessed many dignitaries across the state. Among them were the deceased’s friends in the priesthood, his teachers, classmates and students. They all paid glowing tributes to the late cleric.

    The crème de la crème at the event included: Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Istifanus Haruna Gbana, member, House of Representatives, Hon. Sam Tsokwa, Chief Judge of the State, Justice Josephine Tuktur, Deputy Speaker Abel Peter Diah, Chief of Staff, Mr. Garvey Yawe, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ambassador Emmanuel Njuwah, commissioners and advisers, other members of the legislature, the head of service, permanent secretaries and chairmen of local government councils, among others. Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar was represented by the Adviser on Security Matters, Rt Group Captain Sule Gani. Other guests, mostly senior lecturers, came from Benue and other neighbouring states.

    That day Bete, which is usually a rustic settlement, came alive.

    The newly built church which was also dedicated to God was filled to capacity with many hanging outside.

    Rev. RY Shamaki preached at the event. He said: “In this world, some people collect debts here and there. When they die their creditors will line up to register the debts.

    “The late Bako brought relief to his people. He is no longer living but his name has brought us [together] here.”

    He advised Hon. Mark Useni (Bako’s eldest son) to continue with the good works of his late father by using his position to open the doors for other people to better their living.

    A friend and schoolmate of the late cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Nungala, said: “Bako was a spiritual man.”

    He added: “I know Bako as a pupil in the primary school many years ago when he was not a pastor. He was a spiritual man and he hated lies in all his life. We called each other ‘yo’ (meaning friend). We were friends within our colony of friends.

    “We moved together, even in the House of God. We also served together as members of the state Christian Pilgrims Board. Bako was always very straight forward.”

    Nungala’s sad moment, however, came when “I spoke to Bako but he couldn’t answer me.”

    He said: “My friend is there with God.”

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, one of Bako’s students, said the late spiritual leader was a thorough-bred scholar and arguably one of the most endowed Taraba indigenes that had the rarest privilege to school in America in those early days.

    “So, Rev. Bako had just returned to Nigeria as a brilliant teacher. His accent and writing on the chalkboard were fascinating for every student to cherish. I am missing him as a teacher and mentor,” he said.

    Bako’s teacher, Mallam Ibrahim, said he loved people.

    “For that reason, we called him Pastor Useni Bete instead of Useni Bako. I knew him in 1953 before he became a pastor.

    “But even then he behaved as though he was a clergy. He always came to discuss with me on key issues affecting the community.”

  • Be committed to your priesthood, Martins urges priests

    The Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, has called on priests and members to remain faithful and steadfast in their services to God and humanity.

    He spoke while delivering his homily during the Chrism Mass celebration held at St. Michael, Raphael & Gabriel, Satellite town Lagos.

    Martins urged priests to keep the dignity of priesthood and not forget the grace and honour given to them to serve in the Lord’s vineyard.

    He said: “God has given us the responsibility to keep intact the dignity of priesthood hence the need for us to be faithful in our service to Go and humanity.

    “Let us listen to the spirit of God and wholeheartedly commit to our primary assignment which is to preach the gospel of Christ and not political theology, football analysis, economy issues. We are specialists in promoting encounter with God and people.”

    He explained the special mass is a yearly event which usually takes place during Holy Week in every Catholic diocese.

    During the period, he stated, the clergy of the dioceses renew their priestly vows and the bishop blesses the holy oils that will be used in Catholic ceremonies throughout the year.

    The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Odoemena, described the mass as historic in the archdiocese because the bishop is celebrating his first Chrism Mass in the Parish under a new pope.

  • The great commission

    “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).

    The great commission is very crucial. The last words of a man before leaving the earth are regarded as sacrosanct. The Lord Jesus Christ when he was leaving the earth uttered what was uppermost in His heart.

    And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark16:15).

    All the four accounts of the gospel ended with the account of the great commission (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21). Even, in the first chapter of the book of Acts of the Apostles, Jesus was still reminding the disciples about the great commission (Acts 1:8). The supreme task of the church is to preach the gospel to every creature. That is the assignment we are given and we are not to fail in it. The commission is great because of seven vital reasons:

    •All men are lost (Romans 3:23, Luke 19:10).

    •The devil is on rampage (John 10:10a).

    •Hell is real (Psalm 9:17, Luke 16:22-23).

    •Heaven is real (John 14:1-3, Rev. 21:1).

    •Jesus is the ONLY SAVIOUR of mankind (John 14:6, Acts 6; Acts 4:12).

    •He died for mankind (Philippians 2:8).

    •He gave us the command to do it (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21).

    Jesus Christ already paid the price for every soul to be saved. Anybody that is not born again is lost no matter his appearance. So, we must preach the gospel if we don’t want people, including our loved ones to go to hell. We must not sit back and allow the devil take what does not belong to him.

    Moreover, in witnessing, we are to go out and chase the devil out wherever he has occupied. By virtue of creation, every soul belongs to God and by virtue of redemption every soul belongs to God. The devil has no claim over anybody.

    You are to go out and lay hands on the sick and get them healed, you can do it in Jesus’ name.

    Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

    The greater One lives inside of you to do this great task.

    I am ready to stretch myself beyond limit to preach the gospel because Jesus has paid the price. We must not allow the devil to rob us of what Jesus has already paid for. You have been blessed to be a blessing to your generation. You must never be at ease concerning the great commission (Amos 6:1a).

    It is time for everyone to arise and get involved in soul winning.

    For further information, counseling and prayer, please contact me on telephone number: +234 816 308 7780, +234 816 363 6364 or send an email to bishop-waleoke@sotsm.com. You may also write to P.M.B 60, Agodi Post Office, Ibadan.

     

  • Let’s seek peace, says Muoka

    The General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has tasked Nigerians to seize opportunity of the Easter period to foster peace and love in the nation.

    In his Easter message, he said the concept of the occasion is inextricably tied to hope and peace.

    He said: “The world’s peace is only a freedom from outward trouble, but Christ’s peace is a deliverance from inward guilt, though it does not give us an exemption from outward trouble, yet it assures us of joy, peace and deliverance.

    “To show appreciation of what our Lord Jesus Christ achieved for us and at same time mark the final defeat of our enemy, the devil, we should use the occasion of this Easter to promote peace and love among ourselves.

    “We should reflect on the essence of Easter and see if our life style is measured in line with His teaching of peace and love.”

    Urging Nigerians to accept the peace offered by God, Muoka added: “The peace brought to humanity as a result of His suffering, death on the cross, burial and final resurrection is the peace that lasts.

    “It is not peace from without, but from within. It is not such as promised to pacify and quell the persecutors, but a promise of inner calm amidst the storm.

    “It is not a stinted measured store such as the world bestows, but a full, free gift from the overflowing bounty of God’s love.”

  • ‘The secrets of marital bliss’

    ‘The secrets of marital bliss’

    Mrs. Ejiro Awobasivwe is the Co-ordinator of the Women with Anointing Ministry, a Port-Harcourt-based non-denominational organisation. She spoke with Patience Saduwa on marital conflicts, home management and sundry issues. Excerpts:

    Did you think the ministry would grow up to this level when you started?

    We never in our wildest imagination think it would reach this stage. When we started, we were just 23 women in our first gathering. We just thought it would be a small group of women that would come and be praying. But I think the plan of God was different. When we grew to 120, we decided that we had to get a different meeting place. That’s what pushed us to get this hall. The ministry is open to all – both married and single women. There’s no segregation.

    What challenges did you have to contend with?

    The major challenge we faced was the issue of offering. The Lord told us not to collect offering; that when we come together, He wants to be the only focal point. That when we bring in money or business, it would divert people from His attention. But the women were complaining that how can we not bring offering and every time you come you give us refreshment? They felt I was trying to get all the blessings. But we made it clear that God is raising a generation of cheerful givers, people who understand that you need to give cheerfully not compulsorily. Nobody will compel you to give offering. We found out that some of these women don’t go to church sometimes for women’s programmes because they are ashamed that they don’t have any offering to give. N50 can make some of them not to go to church as they feel it’s too small. But here no one expects anything from them so they are comfortable.

    How would you assess marriages around today?

    There’s something the Lord told me I will use to answer that question. He told me one day that he doesn’t hate divorce as much as He hates couples who live together without any kind of union. He hates a situation where a man and woman live together without any unity. I found out that most Nigerian marriages are like room-mates or flatmates.

    There’s really no intimacy or relationship between them and in most cases the woman is more or less maligned or oppressed in the home. She’s limited in the home. That’s what I found out. And the good men always seem to marry very aggressive and troublesome women while the aggressive women marry the quiet type.

    There was a case of a sister that we encountered. She was at a stage when the husband was like if you come back, I will kill you. So, we told her not to return home then. He had battered her; she was bruised and battered. Even when she was in the hospital, he was sending messages to her that he would kill her if she returned to the house. But we let her know that her marriage would not end like that so she should not be afraid. We worked with her, counselled and encouraged her. She went to stay with a friend and we continued to pray for her.

    But today, they are back together and they are doing very well. I think when things get to this stage it’s the frustration of the men to try to force something out of these women. Most of the women are not submissive and are cantankerous. They want to compete with their husbands and the men want to put them in their place. That’s what causes the conflict.

    What are some other problems facing marriages?

    There’s the issue of communication but I also believe strongly that many Nigerian marriages are more or less destined to break up. I believe strongly the issue of polygamy is a problem in our marriages today. The generation before us was very polygamous so we find out that the spirit of polygamy is still at work in this generation. Though it has another form of expression – so we have polygamous men in monogamous relationships; men with one wife but their affections are spread around many women. This is because the spirit of polygamy does not allow a man to be satisfied with the affections of one woman.

    Because of the restraints that society has placed on a man, he now marries one wife but simply keeps all sorts of women outside. And when the women come with the issue of infidelity by their husbands, I try to make them see that your husband is not cheating on you because he wants to but he can’t help it. So, instead of you fighting him and making your home a battlefront, go on your knees and ask God to break from him the spirit of polygamy and give him the grace to love you and to be monogamous in his relationship. In most cases, they will come out on top when they apply counselling.

    There is also spousal abuse. Some women find it so difficult to overcome spousal abuse. There was a woman who came for a programme and the topic was on when there’s no intimacy. We didn’t know that this woman had not been intimate with her husband for many years and they were living together under the same roof. Later she came for counselling and as I was talking to her, she was telling me I didn’t know what she had gone through.

    What she held against her husband was what he did to her when she was pregnant with her first child. I think she lost the pregnancy and she never forgave him for that. They were finally able to resolve what they had been struggling with for years.

    We’ve also had a lot of problems with men who claim to be Christians. It’s more painful for the women because when they marry an unbeliever they know they won’t expect anything from him. But we have problems with these so-called Christian men and these men have no culture. They are either very abusive, possessive or just promiscuous. I have a woman whose husband is a worship leader and any female that comes around him, he tries to approach and corrupt.

    So, what does she now do? These are some of the problems these women are facing apart from problems like spousal abuse, possessiveness and so on.

  • God’s wisdom works!

    The sun has never failed since creation, the moon has never failed, the waters in the sea have never failed and the fountains that spring up the rivers have never dried up since creation. Climatic change or no climatic change, creation remains intact.

    Whatever year God did, whatever time He created the world, ever since creation, it has never experienced a breakdown or review. God’s wisdom works! No wonder, God’s Word says: The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19).

    Ever since God made man, man has never needed a review or upgrading. So, creation is a validation of the functionality, dynamism, stability and sustainability of divine wisdom (Psalm 104:24). God’s wisdom works and will always continue to work.

    God’s Wisdom Engenders Mighty Works!

    God’s wisdom is not just wisdom of mighty words; it expresses itself in mighty works. That is why all carriers of this virus are men and women of exploits!

    Some carry HIV and malaria fever, but there are carriers of the virus of divine wisdom. Divine wisdom is not found in the land of the living; it is a heavenly virus. But when you are ‘infused’ with this virus, you will have mighty works for evidence. Isn’t that a wonderful virus?

    When that wisdom answered in a man called Solomon, all the kings of the earth came to hear him. Why? Because of the proofs! …Half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard (1 Kings 10:7). The proofs were heavier than the words. When a professor gives a lecture and is given a standing ovation, it’s as a result of mighty words; but God’s wisdom is evidenced by mighty works (Proverbs 3:19.)

    There are over 500 galaxies in space. God established the heavens, and they are all circulating where He put them. So, His wisdom is evidenced with mighty works. Therefore, by this vaccination of divine wisdom; you will become a reference in the school of mighty works!

    What Is Divine Wisdom Worth?

    •It creates solutions and levels out challenges: Job 28:10 says: He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. So, it creates solutions and makes discoveries. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. Divine wisdom has the capacity to level out the challenges of our lives, as if they never existed.

    •It is not found in the Land of the living: It is not available anywhere on planet earth. It is not available for purchase (Job 28: 13-20), yet its value is inestimable.

    •It has dominion over destruction and death: Job 28:22 says: Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. Because of these divine wisdom genes in Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego, they could not be burnt with fire. By reason of these genes in Daniel, the lions could not eat him up! Divine wisdom genes make you indestructible (Proverbs 3:1-2).

    •It is also worth your enthronement: It enthrones its carriers. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice (Proverbs 8:15). This wisdom enthroned Joseph and Daniel. It is a virus of enthronement. You emerge tops at your endeavours and in your field.

    •It’s worth durable riches and righteousness: This means riches that are not affected by economic circumstances. The eco-nomy takes cover on, ‘all things being equal,’ because they know they are never equal. All the laws are laws of probability, but concerning this wisdom, Proverbs 8:17-18 says: I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

    I am not talking about temporary appointment as governor, minister or senator. I am talking about durable riches, after the order of Abraham, whose wealth continued to multiply years after his death, and is still multiplying today.

    •Divine wisdom is loaded with virtues that enhance human dignity: Divine wisdom creates strange order of solutions. Proverbs 8:12 says: I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. This invention does not connote engineering and technology only; it involves creation of solutions.

    •It’s the platform upon which we ride the waves of glory: This wisdom of God is our access to realms of His glory (1 Corinthians 2:6-7).

    •It guarantees peace: This wisdom guarantees peace and pleasantness. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17). You are not allowed to be under pressure; it’s a tranquilizer!

    Friend, the power to enjoy the benefits of divine wisdom is the privilege of children of God. You become a child of God as you confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. You can be His child now, if you have not been, by saying this prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver mefrom sin and Satan, to serve the Living God. Today, Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for saving me! Now I know I am born again!

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