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1. Thessalonians 5:12-13;
“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
1. Timothy 5:17;
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine
Our mandate in SADOZ is bringing souls to Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost baptism, and discipleship.
This article focuses on one of our major mandates in SADOZ, which is “discipleship.”
I’ll be explaining disciple from two perspectives, namely:
1. Disciple as a personality.
2. Disciple as an act.
During my research, I discovered that another word for “disciple” is “student.”
A student is a person who is undergoing a learning process of a particular subject.
A disciple from the perspective of Jesus Christ is someone who has subscribed to the teaching ministry of Jesus or someone who attached himself to Jesus’ discipleship college.
Acts 11:26 -” And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
When you look at the word “disciple,” it is different from a believer because all Christians are believers, but not all believers are Christians. “It is the disciples who are called Christians, not the believers.”
Those that are called Christians are those who have submitted themselves to the ministry of Jesus.
We have a lot of people who believed in Jesus as their personal Lord and saviour, but when you look at their lives, some things need to be tutored out of their lives.
It’s the disciples that are called Christians, not the believers, that’s why I said all Christians are believers, but not all believers are Christians.
Those who are called Christians are those who have submitted themselves to the teaching ministry of Jesus.
The word “Christians” means “Christ-like” because they behave just like Jesus.
You look like what you are looking unto.
The disciples were called Christians because whenever they want to speak, they speak like Jesus, whenever they want to pray, they pray like Jesus. Jesus has tutored them in a lot of things.
For example, if you say you’re a disciple of a particular man of God, it means you have surrendered yourself to the man of God, and he’s teaching you every concept from the word of God that you need to know.
A disciple as a personality means you’re a student who has submitted to someone to teach you.
Disciple as an act can be seen in the book of Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost:”
NLT – “Therefore, go and make disciple of all nations.”
In this context, the disciple does not mean a student, but for you to understand, you have to go back to King James Version and relate it together. A disciple was substituted with another word which means “teach.”
Disciple as an act simply means to “teach.”
Every believer is having the mandate and potential of a teacher. It is mandated for you to teach the word because that is the last commandment of Jesus Christ to every believer.
So far you’re a believer, you’re attached to the command of “going” and the teaching also is being demanded from you by God.
That is why we called Matthew chapter 28:19 “the great commission.”
The word “Commission” is a combination of two words, which means “command and mission.” That is the command mission that the Lord has given to us. If you’re not into discipleship as a believer, you’re malfunctioning in the presence of the Lord. If you’re complacent in the ministry of discipleship, you’re not fulfilling your full potential as a son of God.
Below are some mandates that have been given in the bible as pertain to discipleship:
2. Timothy 2:2, Titus 2:1, 1. Peter 3:15.
Firstly, Jesus gave the command to all believers in Matthew 28:19.
In 2. Timothy 2:2, Paul gave the same command to Timothy, his son. Paul was telling Timothy that he has been taught the word of God, then he told Timothy to teach reliable and trustworthy people so that they will teach another generation as well. Paul was telling Timothy that the teachings he gave to him were a continuous process.
Paul was seen addressing Titus also in Titus 2:1 to promote the kind of teaching that promotes awesome teaching. That is, even in your acts, you’re teaching people about the kingdom of God.
Lastly, Peter was seen speaking to the new converts in 1. Peter 3:15 that if someone should ask about their Christian home, they must be ready to explain because when you’re explaining, you’re teaching.
Some People believe they have to grow to a particular stage spiritually before they can teach the word of God. What will make you grow more as a new convert is to go out and teach the word of God.
Someone who plays football is known as a footballer, someone who cooks is known as a cook, and so on. So, someone who disciples is called a discipler.
A relationship that exists between a discipler and his disciple is called “discipleship.”
You might want to argue that the greatest command according to 1. Corinthians 13:13 is “love.” We have the greatest command and we have the greatest commission. But the greatest command is equal to the greatest commission.
The greatest command is love, and for you to prove your love to God, you must go out for souls, (John 21: 15-17.)
What brought someone to the cross is “preaching,” but what makes them grow is “teaching.”
If you say you love the Lord, you must subscribe to the ministry of discipleship.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Discipleship is accepting the Lordship of Jesus, not the saviourship of Jesus. So many people believed that Jesus is Lord, that has automatically got them born again, but when it comes to the Lordship of Jesus, it connotes that “we are learning of Jesus and submitting to the Lordship of Jesus’
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
If you’re not disciplining souls as a believer, you’re not bearing fruits, you are just like the fig tree which Jesus was expecting fruits from, but it doesn’t bring forth any fruit.
There are some believers today who are not into discipleship and they not submitting to the discipler over them. Those sets of believers are fruitless believers.
The race of every man and hope of our calling as a believer is to become like Jesus. The race everyone is running today is to attain the full stature of Christ of which you’re going to attain that at the stage of glorification. What will help you to build your stature is when you subscribe fully to discipleship.
Some people have been saved, sanctified by the blood of Jesus and they are satisfied, that is not discipleship. Discipleship is that you’re saved, sanctified, and serve in the ministry of reconciliation. You’re to reconcile the world and Jesus together. Jesus gave us the task of reconciling people to Him. Discipleship is all about reconciling the world back to Jesus.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
You may think that it’s at the point of confessing Jesus as their Lord and personal saviour that they repent, the point at which they repent is the point at which they stop that which they’re doing.
There were some things we used to do before giving our lives to Christ, and even after giving our lives to Jesus, we were still doing them, but when we came to a teaching class, we were exposed to the dangers that were there, and how to come out of the sinful habits. The moment you turn away from that sinful habits, that is the moment that you repented.
Repentance means turning away from that thing you used to do and then to another way of life entirely, and that’s achievable through discipleship, and when you’re into that, it’s a system of making heaven rejoice.
No one will say he’s now the master discipler. That’s why you’ll see some patriarchs of faith still kneeling teaching us lessons that the spirit is teaching them.
So, no mortal man is above discipleship.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
He’s going to teach you everything you need to know. The Holy Spirit cannot be taken out of discipleship. When you read SADOZ’s vision, you’ll see it there that the Holy Spirit is our Discipler. The Holy Spirit is our Master Discipler.
SADOZ is all about “discipleship,” that’s our major mandate. These two (2) approaches are what we do:
1. Individualistic Approach: This means one on one approach. That is, having someone you’re teaching the word of God personally.
2. Group Approach: This is the group dimension of discipleship.
Jesus carried out the two (2) approaches to discipleship in His early ministry. We have different categories of people who followed Jesus:
a) The multitudes.
b) The crowd.
c) The 120.
d) The 70.
e) The 12.
f) The trio; Peter, James, and John.
g) The beloved.
After Jesus teaches the multitudes, the disciples will still come to Jesus one after the other and tell Jesus that they don’t understand what He has taught them. So, Jesus will explain it to them.
How does this pertain to SADOZITES?
We are expected to be a Koinonia leaders. A Koinonia leader is someone that is submitted to the discipleship of Pastor Ife Adetona and MotherTreasure.
When you’ve submitted to their teaching through various means, like KBI, weekly bible study, and fountain publication, and afterward, it is expected that you teach what you’ve been taught in your group.
Some people will say they have to grow to a particular stage spiritually before they can teach. For you to know the word of God more, be a Koinonia leader., if you desire to be a Koinonia leader type KOINONIA LEADER to wa.me/2348106522911
When I was younger, I used to hear the saying that “pastors are like oranges, people squeeze out the juice and discard it.” Every pastor would agree that he has experienced his fair share of being treated as an orange by those whom his life and ministry has blessed. I have had my share too and still do.
Let me tell you two orange stories of myself.
I knew this man from distance. He has lost his job and lost all hopes of getting another. He came across our ministry, get blessed spiritually and physically. Things started turning. I prayed with him, God answered, he was called to his place of work and paid him the arrears including the time he was not working. Do you know what he did? He said he wanted to come to see me at least just to see my face. I welcomed him like a guest. We talked about different things and I prayed with him. While he was leaving my house, he saw some stuff that my neighbour sells. He said he wanted to buy a few to add to what he had already. Before I said no problem, he had bought goods worth 32 thousand naira and paid on the spot. Oh! I forgot to add, he brought something for me, a 200 naira worth of Apple (3 for #200).
Another story.
This lady had a health issue that became a family concern. I was praying with her. Her parents started calling me as well to intensify prayers. They were always reaching me. It took some months but God did it. Her system was cleared and she was confirmed healed in a hospital. She called to share the news with me. Before I said praise God, she hung the call. I didn’t even hear from her parents from that time till now. It was long I heard from her as well.
These are just 2 of 200 stories that I can rip off to you offhand. What about those you feed spiritual meals from babyhood till they turned giants? And look at me one day to say- I know you helped me but you’re not my father- lolz.
To the glory of God, I have countless people who remain grateful and loyal but that’s not the focus today.
You need to read Dag-Heward-Mills book: “Those who Forget”, you will see stories that will make you put yours aside. Just this year, at Winners 40th anniversary, Papa faced where pastors from different ministries were seated and said: “stop worrying yourself, there’s no ministry where people do not leave.” That statement is deep and profound.
I know many pastors whose prayer point is that everyone they prayed for turned their backs after testimony. They thought it is “ise-aye”, a work of demons.
It has been long that I realized that no matter how a man of God acts, there will always be people that will treat him as an orange. So, I said to myself: “why be an ORANGE WHEN YOU CAN BE AN ORANGE TREE!”
Yes, I want to be an ORANGE TREE, that bears big and sweet fruits in abundance all across the year. You are free to pluck all you want and turn your back. But I want to leave a memory of sweetness on your tongue that no matter how far you go, you will return to have another taste.
By the time you return, you won’t be able to throw stones and sticks at me again. You won’t be able to despise or take me for granted. You will have to wait in the queue because a lot of people would have filled the spaces you once had in abundance. You will watch from afar and wait for your turn.
I want my fruits taken to the markets and sold from there. I want it displayed in show glasses. I want it blended into juices and parked in cartoons and bottles. I want to be a sweet and ever-producing ORANGE TREE.
For ministers who feel bitter towards those that turn their backs on them. I have no sympathy for you but pity. You think your reward is with them. They are your customers, not your employer. Any worker that expects to be paid by the customers will be neglected by the Employer.
Look up to God that called you, they are not the ones that call you. The Orange Tree depends on heaven for rain and sunlight and it is happy seeing all sorts of people pluck from it.
Let me cap it with the story of Apostle Joshua Selman. In one of the miracle services, he called a person’s name prophetically. When the lady came forward, he recognised her. He said something like: “oh, many of you don’t know this sister. In the days we used to hold crusade under the tree”. I don’t know what took her away from AJS but that day, she returned, queuing, watching from afar.
Man of God, stop lamenting jare, work on your fruit production. You have limited choices: do you want to be an Orange fruit or an Orange tree.
I healed the sick
I filled men with the Holy Ghost
I baptized men with the Holy Ghost
I cast out demons
I raised the dead
You know I can rewrite those statements above like:
The sick were healed
Men were filled with the Holy Ghost
Demons were cast out
The dead were raised
Or, write it this way:
God healed the sick.
God filled men with the Holy Ghost
God raised the dead
There’s nothing wrong with the first statement. What is wrong is our traditional belief and perception of humility.
I can choose to write using the second or third statements but I intentionally use the first in some of my speeches just to CHALLENGE and CHARGE you to come up higher. We must KNOW our stand in God and be able to proclaim it unashamedly. It may seem like pride or taking God’s glory but GOD is proud of you when you realize your true position as a joint heir.
Some things we call “humility” appears before God as “filthy rag” and some things men see as “pride” God sees as “glory”. That’s why the Bible says we are made for show- to show forth the GLORY of God.
What Glory?
Jesus says the Glory which the Father has given me, I have given them!
When Jesus equates Himself with the Father, some people rushed to stone Him thinking they were defending God but they were wrong, very wrong.
Jesus sending out His disciples said-
YOU go heal the sick
YOU go raise the dead
YOU go cleanse the lepers.
Freely YOU have received, freely, YOU should give.
When the writer of Mark was reporting what happened, guess what he said:
They healed the sick
They cast out demons
And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:13
When they returned, they told Jesus- demons were subjected to US. The Bible didn’t say Jesus scolded them. The Bible says JESUS REJOICED.
Luk 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said.
So, when I see people who condemn my statements, I just smile. Some even feel like slapping or cursing me. I am used to it. Jesus was almost stoned- isn’t it?
That demon said Jesus I know (comma), and PAUL I know. See class! Even demons know this truth! The class is called JOINT HEIR.
BALANCE
To every truth, there’s an extreme. To avoid the extreme I always ensure that I return all the glory to God in every of my speech or testimony. In the last write-up, I said GOOD TOOK ALL THE GLORY BECAUSE HE DID ALL THE WORK. Peter told the lame man- “look unto us, we have something for you”. Same Peter told the people that were applauding them “We didn’t do this by our power”. The disciples said: “Demons were subjected to us THROUGH YOUR NAME” (returning the glory to whom it is due). I am also careful not to over-flog or overuse the word. At most, you’ll see me write it just once.
Concerning Baptizing people in the Holy Ghost, I baptized 10 people yesterday. While 7 people prophesied. Some of them spoke in tongues the first time and prophesied the first time.
Jesus said, “BAPTIZE THESE NEW DISCIPLES in my Name”. It’s not just about water baptism. Paul talked about the “doctrine of Baptisms”. Note plural. Meaning, there’s more than one kind of baptism. If you asked me, the one Jesus was emphasising is HOLY GHOST BAPTISM. In short, He said to me- Baptize people in the Holy Ghost. Just as He said- HEAL THE SICK!
Since you guys will not allow me to rest on this question “collect and let me rest”. Lolz. That’s just a joke. Let’s talk this thing once and for all.
The book of 1 Corinthians 8:1 till end captures it and so, I will just summarise it and also allude to other Scriptures on it.
NB: my note is not about a particular religion, my reference is within the context of the Bible passages alluded.
1. A portion of an animal killed is offered to an idol or god.
2. The other part is distributed or sold in the market.
3. If you don’t know the source of the meat, just eat don’t trouble yourself.
4. If you know the source, best don’t eat at all rather than shalaye-ing.
5. If you want to eat, check your conscience and check if it affects the faith of younger believers and children around you. These children and young believers won’t stop at just eating meats but may conclude that Christianity is the same with pagan religions or that they can mix freely.
So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believerb for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 1 Corinthians 8:11
TWITTER TONGUES ARGUMENT
Recently, there has been a continuous campaign on Christian Twitter to denounce the act of praying in tongues for a long time as against praying in understanding. I began to wonder if these people do not pray regularly or if I am the one that doesn’t pray well (I pray regularly).
I have seen statements like you can’t pray in tongues” absent-mindedly” and claim you’re praying. Is there anyone who prays in tongues for a long time without falling asleep and has their mind at full attention all through? At times, my mind used to blank off. I don’t know about them. Apostle Paul says: when he prays in the spirit, his understanding (mind) is unfruitful.
Some also said something like: “If you can’t pray in understanding through the same length you pray in tongues then something is wrong”. Really? How do I pray with understanding for as long as an hour? What will I be saying? Those days on the mountain, I’d be saying ” Agbara, gbe wo mi” that is, “Power! Power!” Or “so mi di ina”. That is, “Fire! Fire!” I can do that for hours just changing a few words.
Today, I feel I should be doing better than that. So, I switch to tongues. You, yes you, that pray for hours in understanding, what do you use to say- teach me.
When you have a need or a burden, you can pray with understanding using scriptures for 30 to 60 minutes or even longer. But this doesn’t happen all the time! That’s why I said: do these people pray regularly or do they just pray once and decided to write a thread?
If you are praying in a group meeting, you can pray in understanding for a longer time raising varied prayer points.
If you are using a prayer guide or a list of prayer points, you can do well with understanding. Even though, you would still sprinkle tongues here and there.
But if you pray personally all the time, you will do more of tongues and your mind may not be active all of the time. Do I have a witness?
And that you pray in understanding doesn’t mean your mind doesn’t wander off or go blank too. The longer you stay (either in tongues or understanding) the more it is likely for your mind o wander off, you just keep pulling it back.
Our apostolic fathers from 1930 prayed more in understanding, muttering the same words like “power”, “fire” and you see God use them mightily. Do you know why?
Praying meaningfully is one thing (SECTION A). There is a Section B- “staying in his presence”. Praying meaningfully gives answers, staying in his presence gives anointing. So, it wasn’t their continuous repetition of “fire” that produced effect but staying all the same. When people saw the signs and wonders performed by the unlearned apostles, they observed that “THEY HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS”.
If the old ministration of praying in understanding for long produces so much glory and effect, how much more will the new ministration of praying in the spirit produce (2 Corinthians 3:7-8) Aren’t we seeing the effect already?
Let no one blackmail you from praying in tongues for a longer period.
But you also need to learn how to pray a burden with understanding using the word.
My generation (I am not an old man) started with “praying with understanding”. So, we were nurtured in the word! Your generation (again, it’s not by age) started off praying in the spirit/tongues so, some didn’t learn so much of the word. This is what I believe those writers are trying to correct.
Bottom line: it is absolutely right to pray in tongues for a very long time rather than praying with understanding. But as much as you know how to pray in the spirit, also learn how to hold intercessions and prayers with the understanding, quoting the word.
Recently, there has been a continuous campaign on Christian Twitter to denounce the act of praying in tongues for a long time as against praying in understanding. I began to wonder if these people do not pray regularly or if I am the one that doesn’t pray well (I pray regularly).
I have seen statements like you can’t pray in tongues” absent-mindedly” and claim you’re praying. Is there anyone who prays in tongues for a long time without falling asleep and has their mind at full attention all through? At times, my mind used to blank off. I don’t know about them. Apostle Paul says: when he prays in the spirit, his understanding (mind) is unfruitful.
Some also said something like: “If you can’t pray in understanding through the same length you pray in tongues then something is wrong”. Really? How do I pray with understanding for as long as an hour? What will I be saying? Those days on the mountain, I’d be saying ” Agbara, gbe wo mi” that is, “Power! Power!” Or “so mi di ina”. That is, “Fire! Fire!” I can do that for hours just changing a few words.
Today, I feel I should be doing better than that. So, I switch to tongues. You, yes you, that pray for hours in understanding, what do you use to say- teach me.
When you have a need or a burden, you can pray with understanding using scriptures for 30 to 60 minutes or even longer. But this doesn’t happen all the time! That’s why I said: do these people pray regularly or do they just pray once and decided to write a thread?
If you are praying in a group meeting, you can pray in understanding for a longer time raising varied prayer points.
If you are using a prayer guide or a list of prayer points, you can do well with understanding. Even though, you would still sprinkle tongues here and there.
But if you pray personally all the time, you will do more of tongues and your mind may not be active all of the time. Do I have a witness?
And that you pray in understanding doesn’t mean your mind doesn’t wander off or go blank too. The longer you stay (either in tongues or understanding) the more it is likely for your mind o wander off, you just keep pulling it back.
Our apostolic fathers from 1930 prayed more in understanding, muttering the same words like “power”, “fire” and you see God use them mightily. Do you know why?
Praying meaningfully is one thing (SECTION A). There is a Section B- “staying in his presence”. Praying meaningfully gives answers, staying in his presence gives anointing. So, it wasn’t their continuous repetition of “fire” that produced effect but staying all the same. When people saw the signs and wonders performed by the unlearned apostles, they observed that “THEY HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS”.
If the old ministration of praying in understanding for long produces so much glory and effect, how much more will the new ministration of praying in the spirit produce (2 Corinthians 3:7-8) Aren’t we seeing the effect already?
Let no one blackmail you from praying in tongues for a longer period.
But you also need to learn how to pray a burden with understanding using the word.
My generation (I am not an old man) started with “praying with understanding”. So, we were nurtured in the word! Your generation (again, it’s not by age) started off praying in the spirit/tongues so, some didn’t learn so much of the word. This is what I believe those writers are trying to correct.
Bottom line: it is absolutely right to pray in tongues for a very long time rather than praying with understanding. But as much as you know how to pray in the spirit, also learn how to hold intercessions and prayers with the understanding, quoting the word.
Let me start by emphasizing that everyone, as an entrepreneur, has something to sell or a particular service to render.
I often joke that while you buy shoes, bags, clothes, phones, and recharge cards, among other things, have you ever stopped to think about what YOU are selling?
Our topic today is “What to Sell,” and it’s important to consider how you can transition from being a perpetual buyer to becoming a seller.
Even SADOZ is selling something through KBI (Koinonia Bible Institute). It’s clear that there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who sell and those they sell to.
To make money, you need to be in the first category. And please, don’t label yourself as just a salary earner. Those who sell and make money are the ones who can afford to pay salaries. You too can choose to be an employer.
If you were only permitted to do or sell one thing, what would it be? Consider all your interests and the things on your mind, and then choose one business or venture that you would prioritize.
Another approach is to monetize your passion. Is there something you can effortlessly do? Something you enjoy doing even when tired? Perhaps you even offer your services for free without hesitation. Why not monetize that?
For instance, there’s a young man I know who loves fixing electrical issues, despite not studying it in university. Whenever there’s an electrical fault in the house, we’d rather wait for him to return than hire anyone else. He puts in hard work and sweats profusely, but he considers it an opportunity to gain more experience. That’s passion. When deciding what to sell or what service to offer, consider what you find easy and enjoyable.
Skills can be acquired consciously or unconsciously, in formal or semi-formal settings. Some people are fortunate to gain skills through their environment or their parents’ occupation. Any of these skills can be monetized. Personally, I learned about printing because my father is a printer. Although I didn’t directly monetize that skill, it opened doors in the publishing aspect of our ministry. Understanding the processes involved allows me to maneuver the market to our advantage, reducing costs for our printed materials. Today, we have 76 books in print, a remarkable achievement for our relatively young ministry.
When you read a book or participate in courses like those offered at The Koinonia Bible Institute, you are engaging with knowledge products. This sector is one of the most lucrative and profitable businesses. Many authors have passed away, yet their books continue to inspire generations. You can write about what you know or record your knowledge to create products for others to purchase. There are countless individuals earning in dollars on platforms like YouTube and Facebook, blogging, and creating content related to knowledge products. Akin Alabi, a Nigerian businessman and politician, built his career by researching and compiling knowledge about various business strategies into journals and handouts, which he sells directly to those in need. This is similar to what’s done in affiliate marketing.
Sometimes, people are unaware of a need until someone presents them with a solution. For example, the selfie stick wasn’t deemed necessary until someone invented it, and people realized its utility. Similarly, the idea of a desktop charger emerged when people began watching movies on their mobile phones and needed a convenient way to prop them up. Social media platforms like Facebook were non-existent until they were created, revealing needs that people didn’t even know they had. You may discover that people thirst for something only when it is made available to them.
Some individuals possess valuable information about certain investment opportunities, allowing them to capitalize on advantageous moments. For instance, during the emergence of COVID-19, people who were aware of the scarcity of facemasks and hand sanitizers were able to profit from selling them.
In conclusion, we all have something we can sell, whether it’s knowledge, a skill, a service, or a product. It’s about finding something valuable to offer and exchanging it for money. However, it’s crucial to avoid a hustling mindset and instead adopt the mindset of a focused business owner. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing, so be selective.
If you’re interested in exploring this topic further, I recommend reading our book, “What Can I Sell, How Can I Sell” by Ife Adetona. To obtain a copy, please contact us at +234 903 597 2506.
Thank you for your attention.
It is a trend to see denominational pastors take an aggressive stand against non-denominational ministries. Their reason: “They always end up as a denominational church”. Yes, non-denominations mostly ended up as a church but is there any church in Nigeria that did not start as a non-denominational ministry? Point to one. From CAC to RCCG, to Deeper Life, to MFM, to WINNERS and so on. It is always a “group of people from different churches meeting together to pray and study the word”. Your Pentecostal or charismatic church is either a breakout from a Church or a non-denominational turned Church. This is not only in Nigeria but across the world. The oldest Pentecostal church in the world- Church of God in Christ, America gave birth to Assemblies of God and Foursquare Church. If we begin to trace the history of Orthodox Churches, they are all dissents from the Catholic Church. If we trace the history of the Catholic Church, it was an (“interdenominational”) church that united different groups of “denominations together”.
If you will ask me, I will say THERE IS NOTHING BAD IN A NON-DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRY becoming a church. In fact, it is the MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD in birthing a church. Winners stayed non-denomination for 3 years before birthing forth as a church.
A church is effectively conceived as a non-denominational and then delivered as a denominational assembly.
Non-denominational leaders always start out condemning some things in their mother church and later become a church. Only for their members to also condemn some things and start a system to correct the errors and then become a church too. The cycle goes on
However, there are interdenominational ministries that never became a church and they have been around for decades. Scripture Union (Nigeria) is here for over 150 years. CAET is also here. SADOZ is here.
I believe some pastors are just being insecure. You need to put a structure in place such that NO ONE CAN BREAK YOUR CHURCH. SADOZ is not a church but as a ministry, NO ONE, I REPEAT, NO MAN can tear away SADOZ. By God’s wisdom, we have set up structures to prevent that. In our 9 years, I have ordained at least 3 sons in the house who have gone out to start their own ministry. They were openly ordained and discharged, there was no tearing. Aside from those three, several others have, from here gone out to form their own ministries. Yet, no breaking or crack.
Are there excessive from young people wanting to pioneer a work? A LOT! We all demonstrated one excess or the other and it won’t stop. It is churches and pastors that should put structures in place because whether you like it or not, PEOPLE WILL LEAVE your ministry to start a new work.
Aboru! Aboye! Abose!
There is something called “register” in the English language. “Asalamwalekun” is a register in the Islamic religion, “Aboru” is a register to the Ifa religion, “Praise God” is a register in Christianity. An Islamic cleric will not stand before his congregants and shout “PRAISE GOD”. Then begins to explain that God is an English word for Allah.
There’s something called a strange fire. Two sons of Aaron lost their lives because of it. Strange fire is when you introduce a foreign concept used for worship in a pagan religion to the worship of the Almighty God.
This is something a new convert wouldn’t even do but I am surprised that some of you ” grown-ups” are ignorant of it. In a religion, words are deep. It’s not just about “it is a Yoruba language”. They are occultic coded words of the initiate. It has been said that Aboru, Aboye and Abose are the actual names of deities in the Ifa religion. You don’t even have to know the story or context before discretion is applied.
This is not about the singer. I don’t have any issues with her. As of today, she is still one of my most regarded Yoruba gospel music composers. I don’t correct or talk to anyone that will not even hear what I have to say. But I have a duty to the body of Christ, to you! So that you won’t be swayed. The Bible says if we judge ourselves as a Church, outsiders will not judge us. Before we begin to hear “cappo”,
” yemoja”, “aluta”, and ” saluanabirikareem” on the altar.
FOR EMPHASIS, “aboru” is a word that should never be said in Christian worship. Just like a Christian gospel minister should not share a podium with a Muslim worshipper as we saw some time ago.
Second, when you are corrected, listen don’t continue to argue or defend. You don’t have to understand or be convinced. A leadership position is highly tricky. You’d be slipping without knowing because you can only be corrected once. If you disagree everybody around you will keep saying “Yes ma”.
Some of the believers that criticised prophets whose predictions failed in the last elections seem to be happy doing so. I feel it’s because they don’t operate in the prophetic office and they are jealous too.
They quickly compare today’s prophets with the Old Testament prophets. What they don’t know is that the OT prophets related more “naturally” thus the 100% accuracy, 100% of the time. They saw as if they were seeing with their natural eyes. They heard as if a man was talking to a man. They were given both the word and the interpretation.
Today’s prophets approach by faith. It comes more naturally to some than to some. It comes more naturally at some times than at some times. Many times, you will be shown and given the vision but you are left to interpret it.
Why is it like that?
God doesn’t want us to be like Prophet Isaiah or Ezekiel but like Adam before his fall who KNEW the names of all the animals without being told or shown in a vision.
I am not saying those who missed it do not have any fault. But we should cut them some slack and stop talking down on the whole ministry or discouraging them most especially younger ones all in the name of “correcting”.
Let me show you where the mistake was. There is no true prophet in the land including those who missed their predictions that didn’t know at the first time that Tinubu would become president. Listen to me carefully. In many cases, it was out of INTERCESSION- “Lord, no this can’t be” and their desire to see another person on the throne that led to a sort of “PERMISSIVE prophecy”. The Bible says when desire or wish becomes strong (lust), it can mislead (James 1:15)
You pray for someone who is dying, you knew immediately in your spirit “he would die”. You began to groan and say “NO”. Soonest, you heard the relief which you interpreted as “he won’t die”. You announced to everyone. They felt relieved, but the person eventually die. Then, they turned to you and call you a fake pastor. If you have pastored for at least 10 years, you would relate to this example that I just gave. You insisted the person won’t die because you wish that the death be reverted and nothing is impossible.
Here’s the lesson to prophets: Accuracy is separating your DESIRE from your PROPHECY. If you receive a negative word at first and you later got a positive word, don’t say THE LORD TOLD ME. Just say: I DECLARE or I DECREE. Do not DESIRE to hear God over a matter when you won’t let go of your WISH else, you get a leading according to the idol of your heart.
To those criticising, I am saying this for the 1000th time: If you have never missed a prediction, it is because you have never made a prediction. If you are 100% accurate, you never operated in this office. I can even show you the mistake of Prophet Agabus in his interpretation of his vision from the book of Acts. I will also show you a place where Paul said his prediction would fail if some actions were not quickly taken.