The Nation Newspaper

Category: worship

  • Amaechi gets highest Catholic Knights promotion

    A Minister-designate Rotimi Amaechi has been promoted to the highest rank in the Catholic church under the order of the Knights of St. John.

    The Exemplification honour of the Knights of St. John from Grand Master, Nigerian Temple Noble and Exalted Knights of the Holy Cross Knight of St. John International was conferred on the former Transportation Minister for his service to the Order and humanity for over 20 years at the Pope John Paul II catholic Centre  in Abuja.

    While speaking, Monsignor Kenneth Enang  in charge of the Pope John II Catholic Centre explained that the promotion was premised on his support towards the growth of the Catholic church.

    Read Also: Amaechi: elite must stop fanning embers of discord

    “We want to thank you Knights of St John’s, all the other knights, college of knights for the work you are doing for the church, for support we get from the Knights in many areas not only the financial support but the moral support.

    “The Knights of St Colombo’s built the seminary we have now at Kuje when Cardinal Ekandem was alive and many of the Knights have built churches and handed over to the church.

    “We ask God to bless you and your good works and let your labours not be in vain.”

    An elated Amaechi who is a committed catholic and a member of the Knights expressed joy for the promotion

    He said:  “For our leaders, our grand master here present thinking that we are qualified, my friend  Collyns and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, we are very grateful and happy for considering us worthy of this great position. Thank you and God bless you.”

  • London-based pastor offers N500m innovation fund for youths

    A Pastor at the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC) Tobi Adegboyega has announced a scheme to assist youths with N500m.

    Adegboyega, who has helped save young people from crime, poverty and death in London, said the scheme will take off during his visit to the country.

    He said his organisation SPAC Nation, a growing youth movement in the UK, will feed, clothe and offer youth the innovation fund.

    The 38-year-old will also give young entrepreneurs in Lagos, who have world-changing ideas they want to bring to the continent of Africa funds to achieve their goals.

    SPAC Nation is a Pentecostal church based in London, United Kingdom, which has embarked on several projects including £100,000 give away to student entrepreneurs in UK.

    It has also helped to start 40 businesses in London,

    Read Also: ‘Fed Govt in talks with AfDB on $500m Innovation fund’

    Adegboyega said: “My team and I have worked hard to change the lives of young people in the UK, now we want to do the same in Nigeria.

    “Our passion for young people and their future is unrelenting, so we won’t relent in securing that future for them.

    “We’ve built the template for helping them in London and we’re a few months away from Lagosians getting a taste of what could be a very bright future for thousands of young people and their families.

    “Nigeria is full of young people who have much potential but are in danger of being wasted away because of poverty, a lack of opportunity or the right connection. We are here to give the tools young Nigerians need to make it in business and more.

    “With the right mentorship and good financial backing, what could stop a young person in Makoko becoming a CEO in Ikoyi and beyond?

    “It is time to spread Nigerian intelligence, creativity and innovation in business.

    “I’m bringing with me a fantastic team of very talented individuals and we’re going to be at the frontline of making this happen.”

  • Okoh urges caution on RUGA

    The General Overseer Christ Holy Church International Most Rev. Daniel Okoh has advised the government to go back to the drawing table and find other ways of sustaining cattle rearing.

    He said the suspended Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) might send the nation on fire if not properly managed.

    Speaking during the monthly programme of the church in Lagos tagged: work of faith, Okoh said the federal government to trade with caution to trade with caution on the RUGA settlement issue to avoid heating up the politic.

    “There are so many ways of doing one thing and the government should take this back to the drawing table and find other ways of sustaining that part of agriculture in a way that it will not bring conflict in the society,” he stressed.

    He noted that people can still rear cattle without necessarily getting settlements in areas other than their own.

    He added that government can still go ahead to develop places already accepted to host the herdsmen.

    Okoh asserted the programme was a special life changing revival meeting, adding that it was the first time it’s being held in Lagos.

    “This programme is special because of the experience we are having in our nation this period.

    “A lot of people are beginning to lose strength and this meeting is a way of giving a word of hope to the people, that in the face of new challenges, what a believer should expect is to go back to the Lord to renew their strength.”

    According to Okoh, what the church was doing is to encourage people to walk on the part of peace in the face of provocation.

    “We know we have other means of resolving issues and bringing about peaceful co-existence.

    “It is our responsibility as Christians to continue to seek better ways of resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner because when people go to fight war, at the end of the day, they end up in a negotiation table.

    “We need to negotiate and get ourselves committed in resolving whatever crisis that exist,” he stated.

  • Operating in the supernatural by the spirit of wisdom!

    Welcome to another exciting week. I hope you were blessed by last week teaching. Today, we shall focus on: Operating in the Supernatural by the Spirit of Wisdom!

    From scriptures, we understand that Jesus was an embodiment of divine wisdom and He said, …as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. That means by redemption, every child of God is ordained to operate in supernatural wisdom after the order of Christ (John 20:21; Matthew 13:54).  But, what is Wisdom? Wisdom in this context is putting God’s Word to work. Jesus said, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock (Matthew 7:24-25). It is also written, And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs (Exodus 4:17; see also Romans 11:33). The ‘Rod’ in the above scripture connotes the living Word of God that puts us in command of the supernatural. Thus, we cannot operate in the supernatural without first engaging the instructions embedded in the Word of God.

    Interestingly, even though God’s Word works everywhere, it only works for those who put it to work. This is why every testimony of the supernatural is essentially a product of acting on some specific instructions from the Word of God. For instance, when there was a shortage of wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, Mary, the mother of Jesus, said to the servants, ‘Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it’. When the servants obeyed, the supernatural answered (John 2:5). Thus, until we productively engage the ‘rod’, we cannot operate in the supernatural.

    However, we must understand that it takes the Spirit of God to access the wisdom of God. Among others, the Anointing Oil is one of the hidden wisdom of God’s power. It is one of the ‘rods’ of signs and wonders delivered by Christ to His disciples (Mark 6:7, 12-13; James 5:14-15). We must recognise that the Anointing Oil is not an Old or New Testament phenomenon; it is an end-time mystery unveiled by God for all generations (Exodus 30:31). The Anointing Oil is also a mystery ordained to establish our mastery over all the works of the wicked one. Again, we understand from scriptures that every child of God is a seed of Abraham and whatever pertains to the natural Israel, relates to us as believers. Thus, the Anointing Oil is an all-time mystery for the redeemed of the Lord (Romans 2:28; Galatians 3:29).

    This is because spiritual understanding is what distinguishes one believer from another. Furthermore, it is important to know that every Word from God delivers at the level of our understanding (Matthew 13:23). Thus, spiritual understanding is key to commanding the supernatural. So, it is not just the application of the Anointing Oil that guarantees results, but the level of our spiritual understanding.

    What, then, is in the Anointing Oil?

    • Power: When Jesus gave His disciples the Anointing Oil, He called it power. That power was to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases (Mark 6:7, 12-13). The power in the oil also makes us untouchable, ‘unmolestable’ and irresistible.
    • The Spirit of the Lord: The Spirit of the Lord is the Spirit of supernatural breakthroughs. We understand from scriptures that when David was anointed with oil, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. It was that Spirit that empowered him to defeat Goliath. As a result, he became a national hero and was catapulted into the limelight at the age of 17 (1 Samuel 16:13).
    • The Yoke-breaking Power of God: We discover from scriptures that the anointing does not only stir God’s wrath against our enemies but breaks the yoke of the enemy in our lives (Isaiah 10:27).
    • The Fan and the Fire: The Bible reveals that there is fire embedded in the Anointing Oil. Therefore, when we take a shot of it, it is ordained to purge our physical bodies from sicknesses and diseases (Matthew 3:11-13).
    • The Healing Power of God: It is written, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him (James 5:14-15). The Anointing Oil is one of the vital balms in Gilead that keep us fit supernaturally with no side effects.

    How Do We Apply The Oil?

    • We can take a shot of the oil to root out the oppression of the devil from our bodies (Matthew 3:11-13, 15:13; Acts 10:38).
    • We also discover from scriptures that we can anoint places and things. When we do so, we set a divine seal upon them, and that makes them out of bounds for the devil (Exodus 30:26-29).
    • The oil can be applied on our foreheads or any part of our bodies that is hurting.

    In conclusion, it is important to understand that all encounters with the Spirit of God require a thirst and a longing. We must, therefore, crave greater encounters with the Spirit of wisdom in order to flow in higher realms of the supernatural (John 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:3-5). However, to contact the Spirit of Wisdom, we must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! For further reading, please get my books: Walking in the Miraculous, Operating in the Supernatural, Releasing the Supernatural and Commanding the Supernatural. I invite you to fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, 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, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280, or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org, Facebook: David Oyedepo Ministries International, Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin.

  • Adeniran canvasses repentance to tackle insecurity

    The District Superintendent of the Apostolic Church West and Central Africa (WECA) Rev Emmanuel Adeniran has called for national repentance for attainment of peace and stability.

    Adeniran said this at the 2019 Camp Meeting Concert of The Apostolic Faith Church West and Central Africa District at the ongoing camp meeting of the church at Faith City Camp Ground, Igbese, Ogun State.

    The event tagged: The gospel of power and exploits attracted over 30,000 delegates from across the world.

    The concert, one of the highlights of the three-week yearly camp meeting convention, featured the largest symphony orchestra in Africa, a 1,500-man choir and orchestra.

    Adeniran said Boko Haram and other militias groups ravaging the country are offshoots of sin and complete disregard to God.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Lawmaker hails Ugwuanyi

    He argued when God takes care of the heart of a man, his relationship will become godly and good neighborliness will be strengthened.

    According to him: “No amount of human orientation or indoctrination can transform a sin heart that is inherently filled with wickedness and sin.

    “Faith through the word, transforms from within, with an outward reflection of peace, joy and newness of life|.

    “If only we are determined to seek His face in prayers and supplications, God is willing and abundantly able to turn around our individual situations and that of our great country for good.”

    He challenged the federal government to rise up to its responsibility in a transparent manner and stem the tide of criminality.

    He appealed to Christians to continue to pray to God for divine wisdom for governments at all levels in tackling the rising spate of insecurity.

    He restated the commitment of the church in keeping the flames of the gospel alight on the continent as the church celebrates its silver diamond jubilee in Nigeria.

    Oloye of Oye, Ekiti State, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju appealed to churches in Nigeria to continue to pray for quick intervention on the spate of unrest across the nation.

    He warned the situation might lead to food security, especially in the South West.

    Ademolaju said: “In the south west region of Nigeria, we don’t know how we are going to feed ourselves next year.

    “Our farms have been ravaged and as today, no farming is going in the region. We don’t know what we are going to eat next year.”

  • Foursquare Surulere district closes 9th convocation

    Activities lined up to close the 9th Surulere District of Foursquare Gospel Church takes off on Friday, August 16 with a vigil at the district headquarters 56 Karimu Street, off Ojuelegba Road, Surulere.

    In a statement by the District Secretary, Pastor ‘Femi Akinwande, the programme started on Saturday August 10 with business meeting during which both spiritual and financial performances were presented to hundreds of delegates drawn from over 30 churches in the district as well as sharing of the strategic plans for new church year.

    In addition, specialised training in Discipleship and Leadership Training (DLT) was facilitated by the Yaba Axis Coordinator, Rev. Zacheus Olaniyan during the business meeting.

    Read Also: Foursquare Gospel Church tasks mothers on nation building

    As a way of reaching vast number of people with the gospel, six crusades will be held simultaneously on Saturday in different locations in Isolo, Aguda, Ijesha, Tafawa Balewa Crescent, Ojuelegba, and Ikotun areas.

    On Sunday, members and worshippers from all churches in the district will gather for the service of grace at the district headquarters church.

    The District Overseer, Rev. E.O.O. Adejoro El-Shaddai will be ministering at the service of grace on the theme of the convocation “The Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6).

    Newly elevated ministers from the Exhorter cadre to Licensed cadre of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria ministerial status from the district will be recognised and anointed for the service of the Lord.

    Equally, zone with the best performance both spiritually and financially for the church year ended June 2019 shall be appreciated while people with diverse needs and challenges shall be prayed for.

    The service is expected to start by 12:00noon.

  • Clerics canvass unity, seek national revival

    Clerics, under the aegis of Fellowship of Christian Ministers Nigeria (FCMN), have canvassed unity among Christians with a view to ending myriad of problems facing the nation.

    They said social- economic and political problems plaguing the country, would end, once Christians unite in fear and supplications to God.

    They spoke during the 2019 edition of their conference in Ebute-Metta, Lagos with the theme: “Nigeria: Behold, God’s hand is not shortened.”

    National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Reverend Samson Ayokunle urged Christians to re-dedicate themselves to God, by forsaking their sins, adding that sin hinders fellowship with God.

    Citing Isaiah Chapter 59, verse 1& 2, he noted the nation of Israel was in cultural, economic and political problems for sometimes because they failed to repent from their sins.

    He advised Nigerians, against following such paths.

    He said the country was witnessing religious crises and its attendant Santo killings of innocent citizens because Christians fail to call upon God.

    Read Also: Inter-Faith groups, 100 clerics storm Abuja to conduct 40-days prayers for Nigeria

    The Conference’s Chairperson, Rev Esthe Ajayi,  urged ministers to live a life devoid of mischiefs, adding that when this happens, God would move mightily in their midst.

    She admonished Christians to be steadfast and united to present a common front, with a view to tackle insurgency in the country.

    She said: “Nigeria is bigger in size and population and therefore can never become an Islamic enclave once Christians pray to God, in holiness.

    “Turkey and other countries are small, compared to Nigeria, hence the decision of their governments to declare them as Islamic states.

    “But in Nigeria, it is not possible, when we consider the size of the population, churches and other attributes.”

    She however, was disappointed by the low turnout at the conference, promising that next year edition would be greater, once the body is able to publicise its activities through traditional and social media.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the induction/fellowship awards presented to Mrs. Abimbola Ajayi.

    Presenting the award, the body’s National President, Dr Isaac Oguniran, said the award is in recognition of the strong contributions of Reverend Ajayi to the Christianity in Nigeria and beyond.

    He advised clerics to come together to solve the lingering tribal and ethnic problems facing Nigeria.

    Unity, Oguniran said, is critical to solving problems facing the Christian community and the nation.

    The association’s Public Relations Officer, Rev Akin Akeredolu, blamed the body of Christ for the problems in the country.

    He said failure of the church to live a righteous life has resulted in crises.

  • Methodist women kick against RUGA, same-sex marriage

    The National Women’s Fellowship has kicked against the suspended Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) by the federal government, describing it as a divisive policy that should never have been considered.

    The federal government, the women said, should instead promote policies that will unite Nigeria, promote freedom of worship and movement across the nation.

    They also blasted promoters of same-sex marriage, dismissing the practice as “aberration, unholy, abomination, unnatural, loathsome, repulsive, disgusting and completely unacceptable.”

    These were contained in a 14-point communiqué at the end of the 87th/43rd Biennial Conference of the fellowship.

    The communiqué was signed by National President Nneoma Florence N. Uche and National Secretary Sis. Omolola Olugbemi.

    At the end of the meeting in Lagos, which attracted foreign delegates, the women also appealed to relevant authorities to stem the tide of unemployment and hunger in the land.

    Read Also: RUGA: avoid ethno-religious war, govt told

    On same-sex, they said: “We expressly say NO to gay marriage, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgender, bestiality and any form of sodomy.

    “These evil practices are aberration, unholy, abomination, unnatural, loathsome, repulsive, disgusting and completely unacceptable.

    “We cannot compromise with them because they are anti-biblical and against our highly cherished Methodist heritage.”

    They also took a swipe at men who sleep with their daughters and maids as well as those who rape women, urging them to repent or face God’s wrath.

    On herdsmen attack, the fellowship asked the federal government “to do all that is possible to stop the herdsmen from encroaching into and destroying farmlands to allow food production to subsist.”

    Burdened by rising suicide in the nation, especially among youths, they said: “We implore the government to as a matter of urgency enact laws and policies that will prohibit, limit and checkmate the use of harmful substances, foods, drugs and drinks, including coffee to forestall their harmful effects on Nigerians and especially our youths.”

    On cervical cancer, they called for provision of “Human papilloma virus vaccine at a subsidized and affordable rate to help reduce the danger of death and ill health among our female citizens.”

  • The Nazarenes are wasting their time – Rev Bolarinwa

    The Nazarenes are wasting their time – Rev Bolarinwa

    Rev. Stephen Bolarinwa is the Pastor of The New Covenant Church, Ojokoro, Lagos. He spoke with Seun Akioye on the claim by the Nazarenes that they are living according to the tenets of the Bible. 

    Abraham was a polygamist, so was David and some other great men of God. God didn’t condemn these men but rather used them. Moreover, there was nowhere in the scriptures where God out rightly condemned it, so He must have permitted it. Do you agree?

    No I don’t agree. When God instituted marriage, He created them male and female; He didn’t say we should go for polygamy or polyandry. It was when sin came that all of that nonsense came and there was no one in the Old Testament that was correct. Abraham told lies, David was a murderer and adulterer, they were not complete, Noah was a drunkard, that’s why Jesus had to come. God created marriage when there was no sin; it was sin that brought all sorts of foolish things into the earth. God did not approve any of those people, it’s just that God will use the available vessel; that is why in the New Testament, and no polygamist was used by God.

    If you are a polygamist, God can still extend the same grace He gave to Abraham to you, isn’t that correct?

    You know Jesus said not all that said Lord, Lord that will enter the kingdom of God except you do His will. Anybody can do miracles in the name of Jesus, the name is powerful. God may not withdraw His anointing because somebody is in sin. Look at Samson, until he died God did not withdraw totally His anointing. Acceptance is not tantamount to approval, some people think God is stupid or slow, no, He is just waiting maybe they will repent and if they eventually do not repent, like Pharaoh eventually ruined himself, God waited until he perished in the Red Sea. God is extending grace to them they should not take it for granted there is no room for that in the New Testament.

    Yes or No, is polygamy a sin?

    To me, it is a sin

    The Nazarenes believe Jesus has not abolished the Torah which they still observe, is this still permissible or they are wasting their time?

    They are wasting their time. If one can enter the kingdom of God by keeping of laws, Jesus will not come. If you read Romans, Paul spoke to them. The law makes man to sin the more and there is nothing good in man that would make man to keep the law 100 percent. As a result of that Jesus had to come and that is why we are saved by Grace not by law. Nobody can keep the law 100 percent. All of those Torah they are talking about, none of them can keep the law, God gave them 10 and out of human manipulation they made it 610. Jesus said these people are serving me with their lips. You tell people they need not pay tithes and other offerings to God, is that correct? You remember to keep the Sabbath and say if somebody carries something on the head and sweat comes you will stone him to death. Jesus healed people on Sabbath they carried their pallets.

    The name Lord and God are translated to mean master, but the real name of God is Yahweh. Don’t you think people should adopt that or are the Nazarenes just being fastidious about it?

    Actually, Yahweh is the Hebrew name because it only has consonants they now introduced the vowels in it. That is how God introduced Himself in their own language. But they don’t even want to call the name, when they are reading their own Torah they jump it. The word Lord means Master and you will see in all of the Old Testament, the Lord is written in the capital letter.

    What about the Sabbath. It is on a Saturday. Are those who worship on Sundays breaking the law of God?

    Not really. Because Jesus resurrected on Sunday, worship shifted from Saturday to Sunday, why I will support Sunday is that resurrection is part of the makeup of your new birth. Roman 10-9 shows you must believe in resurrection to be saved. The Yoruba’s also have regard for Sunday; they called it “Ojo aiku”. It is better the day Jesus resurrected should be the day He is worshipped. I am not condemning those who chose to continue worship on Saturday, but they only need to make a shift since the worshippers of Jesus Christ have decided to worship him on Sunday.