Recognising genuine divine call
The calling of God is without repentance. And Jesus Said; “by their fruits, ye shall know them. We can’t question Papa Adeboye’s calling by God. Other younger men of God like Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis were rightly called by God. Samuel was called by God at a young age, a very tender age for that matter. And God moved with him so much with great anointing in choosing the kings for Israel (Saul/David) and at difficult times hearing and leading Israel to God. Men that are called by God are focused, sacrificial, holy and full of anointing, and much more they are men of the spirit,
Message on rapture
Prosperity preaching is good. But, it’s very important to balance it with holiness and righteousness. The fact is that rapture will take place. Any church that is not preparing their members for the coming of Jesus is not helping the members or the pastors themselves.
Derivative lawlessness and sin
Righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach. It’s not only churches, even mosques and traditional worship centres. We are very religious in Nigeria; but we don’t follow the basic rules of life Discipline has left our consciousness in this nation. We have free thinkers spread mostly in advanced countries. They don’t follow any religion. Yet they don’t give bribes to police or any other basic deviations from laws of the land. It’s a national thing these days. It never happened in the days of our forefathers and that’s why they live long and albeit lived a happier life. Churches and mosques around are good but it has to help our morality and help us follow the laws of the lands.
Incessant bloodletting, especially in the North
Just last week, I was in Magadali at the, Yola and Borno/Adamawa border and passed through all the bridges that Boko Haram bombed. I met an old man, who was in Boko Haram’s captivity for two years and I heard a lot of tales. I also saw children not going to school or learning trades. As the weekend came, the news of trouble in Kaduna broke. The bloodletting and drums of war/violence whether religious or with political undertones have to be stopped by government of the day. Education will help, skill accquisition will help but poverty and hunger must be eradicated. Anyone who is living a good life won’t want to engage in war…it is the duty of our leaders to empower our youths. Feed them, give them good health care and train them educationally or skillfully. An idle hand is a devils workshop, most of the youths are not lazy, they are only just not engaged or happy. We went to primary school with happiness. We even went with our Muslim brethren to Quranic schools and some followed us to choir practise. The environment was good. Leaders were responsible.
Christians’ participation in politics
We have to be honest. There is politics in church, even in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). There is also politics in mosques. Everyone should participate in politics to make the nation better. Either Christian or Muslim, the right motive has to be in place. Don’t plunder the resources, leave a mark of progress. Make it better than your predecessors. Greed and selfishness don’t help any man or his society. I encourage many Christians to go into politics. In fact, I recently encouraged and supported a childhood friend who was vying the federal House of Representatives seat; he eventually didn’t get the ticket but I told him to try again. We pray that our politicians won’t see politics as a “do or die affair”. Such words do or die affair are not worth it for a Christian. But we are encouraging Christians and even clerics to also participate. When you are not there, you can’t have a say!
Advice to youths
Our youths are one of the best. Very recently, I was chosen to represent Nigeria in entrepreneurship training involving other countries like India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and Croatia. Nigeria stood out. We are much better than youths from other countries. Our environment stagnates us. My best advice is “be the best where ever you find yourself” either in polytechnic, university, Shell or civil service or a trader. The other advice is that our youths should be entrepreneurs. Look at a problem, bring an idea or solution out of it and make the idea work profitably. Reliance on paid jobs seems not the best all over the world. One can work briefly after tertiary institutions but have a mentality of an entrepreneur or a trader. Above all, cast all your cares on God and be prayerful. The other better advice goes to our leaders and older generation, they have to create an environment to make the youths thrive.
Upsurge in crime
I have mentioned it in passing. Crime among youths is on the rise because they are not being well catered for. They are not well fed or given good health, no promise of better future. Crime is everywhere, but it’s rare to see a German youth committing crime because he’s out of school or he’s not having skill training. Also moral decadence and lifestyles of older generations, seem to also influence crimes. In the 90s it was 419, now it’s yahoo yahoo. The missionaries helped a lot to shape the youths in the early years of our nation. We hope our government will do same, however government can’t do anything. We hope our religious institutions would also increase awareness about morality. Parents also have a role to play. However, the youths should have a self consciousness of living rightly and focusing on a better live.
‘Fake’ clerics
The Bible is complete: by their fruits you shall know them. Wherever the word of God is not preached or followed, people have to be careful. If the scripture is not read or shared by a leading pastor in a sermon, the sheep should be careful. It’s like the shepherd not taking the sheep to the field for pastures. We have fake church members too, so we will surely have fake clergies who run and act contrary to the will of God and the dictates of the Holy Bible. These are also signs of end times.
Tithing in the church
Tithing is commanded by God. All Christians should endeavour to pay it. It is for their benefits. I grew up as a Methodist, tithe is compulsory, there is even a tithe card, out of that tithe, schools are built, new diocese, payment of priests’ salary and other things. Any giving in the church is an opportunity to be blessed. I have a Sunday school teacher who told me his dad was a school teacher, anytime the dad is to pay tithe from his salary, he will pick the neatest notes out of it. Today, all of his children have neat achievements. However, I personally don’t force people to give, I encourage and lead by example. Preachers are to preach the word of God, we pray that holy spirit will imprint in the minds of the hearer to be a doer. But sincerely, tithe doesn›t make lives of a Christian to be tight when given with a right heart and motives.
Advice on the 2019 elections
In a in few months, we will enter 2019, Nigerians have to be prayerful. But we also have to have a sound mind and choose the best leader for this great nation. Our prayer is that it will be a smooth transition as it happened with former President Goodluck Jonathan to President Muhammadu Buhari. Let there be no bloodletting and discord. What we faced in the last three years was not really nice. The grace of God was just sufficient for the masses.
Politics in the country
We are not supposed as clergy to support a particular political party. But both PDP and APC have to get it right. None of them should allow the masses to suffer. In a Middle East country, the citizenry don’t lack basic amenities of life whether they go to school or not. Whether they have a vocation or not. In fact, in that country rice is free, chicken is just sold at a minimal rate. You are protected and there is value on human life. Nigeria with the surplus wealth and brilliant technocrats should be able to do similar arrangement. The trend of politics in Nigeria is such that the middle class is about to be wiped off parties have to correct this anomaly. The rich are getting richer and the poor more hit. No middle class again. Whoever is chosen or voted in should rule with fear of God and be fair to all citizens of this nation.
What God told me about Nigeria
Just like Caleb said, I see a land flowing with milk and honey. I see a blessed nation, a nation of grace and where dreams of many generations will be fulfilled. The star of Nigeria will forever shine.
and then