THE EFFICACY OF ONE ON ONE WITNESSING

THE EFFICACY OF ONE ON ONE WITNESSING

           Jesus christ left us with a command to go and make disciples of all nations. There are various ways to reach out to souls especially those that are not in the fold, from preaching in the church, outreaches to villages , campus, schools, morning cries, bus evangelism, preaching on radios, television , social media, tracts evangelism and many more . All these methods are effective and no doubts many souls have been won through it. Of all these methods, one on one witnessing is the most effective, though it may be slow but it generates satisfactory results. The Scripture affirms to it. Jesus christ engaged in all forms of evangelism as he preached from one village to another, he preached to crowd in thousands, he preached to one hundred and two, he preached to 12, he preached to three and he preached to individuals too. The documented one on one of Jesus’s witnessing were very effective and yield instant results. Jesus witnessed to Nicodemus who visited him at night, Jesus witnessed to the Samaritan woman beside the well. The disciples of Jesus also maximised one on one witnessing. Philip witness to Ethiopian Eunuch.

          One on one witnessing is efficient because you have direct contact with the person, there is eye contact, you can read the person’s interest and it becomes easier when the Holy Spirit takes over the process, you touch the person soul , you have the person’s attention and have opportunities to take feedback from the person, ask questions , interact and ultimately leading the person to make a decision to accept Jesus christ. The meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan woman encapsulated all these. Jesus initiated the conversation by asking for water from the woman, he was aware of the cultural boundaries between them, the woman refused by reminding him that Jews don’t have anything to do with Samaritans who are considered as mixed breeds as a result of intermarriage between non Jews. Jesus used that opportunity to present himself to her and preached the sound gospel to her, Jesus told her all she knew to know and the result was she believed Jesus as Messiah and went round the town to share the gospel of Christ to them. Jesus witnessed to one person, she was saved and witnessed to more people on that day and the Scripture recorded that many Samaritans came to know Jesus Christ as a result of her testimonies about Jesus christ.

         My experience

          I have engaged in tracts evangelism, bus evangelism, village outreach, witnessing in a lecture hall of 1500 capacity and 3000 capacity. Morning cries, market evangelism . In all these I have discovered that the most effective of all is one on one witnessing because you have the person’s undivided attention and you are getting feedbacks right there. Some years back in Ogbomosho, I was on street for one on one witnessing , I met a young lady with her fellow neighbours or friends. Immediately I got there and told them my mission to witness, she drew closer, others were watching afar and I preached. I discovered that she was so touched by the message that the atmosphere changed. After I ended the message, she told her friends that” this message entered me, as if I have never heard such in my life” . That is a feedback, you can measure the results unlike morning cries that you can’t even know whether they are listening or not. Or in a crowd except you give altar call you may not get response. One on one evangelism gives room to address their soul in a unique way. Have engaged ten people in one on one witnessing in a day and I preached different message according to their spiritual needs . Each soul have a unique spiritual need which the Holy Spirit knows about. One on one witnessing is very effective if you allow the Holy Spirit to take full control and charge. He will lead you to where your souls are. Miracles abound while ministering one on one, the Holy Spirit will give you unction and rhema to minister directly to their spiritual needs. At times you sense the power like a surge flowing through you. There was a time I was evangelizing one on one and the word became bitter in my mouth as I preached. By the time I finished, the person am ministering too could not even look at my eyes again.

     Steps in engaging in an effective one on one evangelism.

1 pray well before going out for one on one evangelism. It is in prayer you will have the boldness to witness and direction on where to go. There was a day I prepared to go for one on one witnessing. I have prayed. On reaching the field, I walk miles, seeing people but just could not preach to them. After a while, I decided to go back home, I was almost reaching home when I heard the Holy Spirit saying you did not pray enough, the reason you are unable to witness. I intensified my prayers in coming days, went back to the same place and I was able to preach to as many souls as possible. Zeal is not enough, you need power in the place of prayer.

2 live a fasted live. The price of their soul was expensive and Jesus paid it all. Fasting will make you sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and subdue the flesh. Witnessing is a work in the spirit. You have to labour in the place of prayer and Fasting, it is in that process that the spirit of this world controlling those souls are subdued.

3 live a consecrated life. Live what you preach. Let others see Jesus in you.

4 Give yourself to reading and meditation of the Scripture. Study the Scripture, let it be part of your

5 Be precise, don’t bore them with stories, preach only Jesus and be as brief as possible . Maintain eye contact and take feedback

6 Dress smart, neat and smell nice.

7 Be kind. You are representing Jesus. Whatever insult you receive, take it with gratitude without responding back

8 be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. There are people you will want to talk to but the Holy Spirit will restrain you and there are people you will want to avoid them but Holy Spirit will tell you to talk to them.

9 Allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of the discuss. Do not allow the flesh to “hi jack” the discussion and do not allow the witnessee to divert the discussion to politics, religion debate and argument.

10 Avoid dabbling into issues that will cause arguments. Preach only Scripture

11 Speak the language the person understand. If the person don’t understand you, the whole exercise will be futile

12 respect cultural boundaries. Do not speak against the culture of the person you are preaching to. Identify with their culture

13 Do not publicise your church or mandate them to come to your church

Generally, one on one witnessing is the work of the Holy Spirit, open your mouth and he will fill it. No one is an expert in it. At every moment you still need to depend and partner with the owner of the business for it to be effective and efficient. In the last days we need to depend more on Holy Spirit so that he can lead us to witness to people on individual basis. Every believer should engage in one on one witnessing as it is the most effective tool of evangelism to harvest souls for Christ in the last days. The effectiveness does not lie on the number of people you are able to reach but the number of people that give their lives to christ completely and served him for the rest of their lives.

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

30/12/ 2024

Redefining the Cross over service

            RE-DEFINING THE CROSS OVER SERVICE

   The cross over service is predominant in churches in Nigeria and a tradition on every new year eve . Cross over service was dated back to 18th century, John wesley started crossover service as an alternative to secular new year eve where they partied, dined and wined into the new year. The cross over service was majorly to reflect, pray and re-dedicate ones life to Christ. Christianity officially came into Nigeria in 1842, no record of cross over services in Nigerian churches until in the 70s and 80s which was marked with the surge of pentecostal and charismatic churches. The cross over services are usually a time for breakthrough prayers , prophetic prayers, spiritual renewal and fortification for the incoming year combine with prophecies for the year. Gradually, mainline churches also adapted the cross over services in the late 80s and 90s in order to keep some of their members who flock into these churches on 31st of December.

         Today, crossover service has become a church tradition in Nigeria. Many people who do not believe in going to Churches usually attend the cross over service just to pray for breakthrough into the year. There is so much ado about 31st December that you think it must be a special day that heavens are open and whatever prayer you pray on that day shall be answered. There is no day that is special, it is humans that make a day special, no day is special or unique to God. 31st December is Just like any other day in the calendar. Do not religiously believe that the day is special to heavens. Whatever God have put in your mind to do for him, start doing it now. Do not wait till you enter another year, all days are important, if we take all days serious the way we take 31st December, many lives would have changed for the best. People that have vision , goals and destiny to fulfill do not joke with their days. Twenty four hours is long enough to succeed in life. In a day so many things can happen that will turn life around for good. Take every day serious and see it as just the last day you have on earth. Have you ever wondered that we all have twenty four hours, some make judicious use of it and is not enough while to some it is too much for them that they have to waste some away in watching others that are actively using their time. The difference between the two is planning. If you do not plan your day well, it will not be productive, time is the currency on earth, if you do not plan how to use it, you will waste it. So many lies have been told under the guise of religion and one of it is if you pray well on December 31st, your year is settled and it will be different. You are crossing over from failure to success and many more. Prayers are not enough if it is not back up with planning, determination and diligence. The cross over is usually mark with theme of the year like “ 2025 my year of glory” 2025 my year of breakthrough “ 2025 my year of abundant blessings “ . Hardly will you find 2025 my year of walking closer with God” The theme are usually tied to prosperity and breakthrough. The cross over service should primarily focus on the spiritual well being of the people with focus to ascertain if they are still in faith It should be a time for them to sit down, reflect on previous years and come up with plans, goals and decisions geared towards making them a better disciple of Christ. Meditation is a spiritual discipline and should be a spiritual exercise Christians should do daily and more of it in on 31st December. Thinking and reflecting on what you have achieved for God and humanity.

               It is high time we had mind shift regards watch night service. We have had enough of watch night services, we have had enough of new year prophecies, we have had enough of breakthrough prayers, it is time we look inward and meditate on the state of our spirituality and that of the nation. There is need to intentionally teach and disciple church members who are willing to be ambassadors of Christ wherever they find themselves. If there must be a watch night service, it should be redefined by going to the foundation as practiced by John Wesley It should be a service that people will be led to praise God, release them to be alone with God, reflect on the past year and guide them to rededicate their lives to christ . Many crossover services in today’s churches are full of jamboree and fun without a call to live a consecrated life that is pleasing to God. If watch night services are done in the right way it will yield fruit of righteousness.

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

29/12/2024

Theological review of seven doors by Femi Adebayo

         THEOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SEVEN DOORS BY FEMI ADEBAYO.

         The film script is spiritually rich and theologically deep revealing that truly there are ancestral curses, covenants and consequences for every actions. Curses are real and they do not just happen without reasons. There are school of thoughts that draw their beliefs from the Scripture . The first school of thoughts believe that curses do not have a hold on Christians. Why? Jesus have been made a curse for them. As it is written in Galatians 3:13. Cursed is anyone that dies on tree, by dying on the cross, Jesus put an end to all ancestral curses or inherited curses. Just believe, curse have no way. They also base their belief on what Ezekiel said in ( Ezekiel 18:2) that every one shall bear the consequences of their sins and never shall the proverb be said again in Israel that the fathers have eaten sour grapes and teeth of the children have been set on edge. second school of thought believe curses can affect a Christian and all he needs to do is to pray his way out by standing on the works of Christ on the cross and God in his mercies will take it away.

            Both school of thoughts are theologically correct but to discard that curses or negative covenants do not affect a Christian may be wrong because there are several testimonies from Christians who are living witnesses of how curses and negative covenants limit them till God in his mercies give them victories over them. Knowledge is very important, many people have perished because of knowledge. Seven doors shows that being good is not enough, the king have a good heart with wealth of exposure to change the lot of the town but the evils of his father’s house spoke against him. His real enemies were not the beaded chiefs who were corrupt but the evil of his household. Household demons are always waiting at the peak of a man’s achievement to challenge a man and if the man is not strong enough he may loose his life. There are sacrifices strong man will not ask from you until you reach certain heights. The reason why you have to intensify your spirituality as you climb the ladder of success in life. King Adedunjoye was prepared for the battles that lied ahead of him, he was fortified and initiated . Trouble began when he was asked to knock seven doors but he refused. The king didn’t know that thrones are preserved by mysteries . His ignorance cost him a son before he was told the reason behind the seven doors. He didn’t ask why he need to knock seven doors . He simply felt it was wrong and discarded it. This is similar to a Christian who didn’t believe there are curses or evil covenant. So many young lives have been wasted and cut short at prime because they do not know that they needed to fight over the curse of untimely death. Nothing just happened. A story was told of a warlord in Ibadan that do ripped babies in foetus of pregnant wives with sword as sacrifices to the gods for victory in battles. Do you think those innocent blood will not cry for vengeance over the children that come from the loins of that man. There was a man in city of Lagos in 70s that raped five daughters of his neighbours and the father of the children laid a curse on him that all his daughters shall experience all he did for his daughter. The man got married , he had five female daughters and they were all raped and impregnated by men that did not marry them.

            The king asked the ifa priest a question. “ why did the gods choose to take vengeance during his own time? The king has forgotten that whatever his great grandfather did, he also did it in his loins. His great grandfather had a great share of the evil seed he sowed, to be bed ridden for over fifty years in pain was a great price for the evil he committed. He could not complete the payment of his satanic debt till death eventually came. The repayment was transferred to his unborn children. If you enjoy the good deeds of your fathers, it is not out of place if you have a share of their evil deeds too.Abraham paid a tithe to Mechizedech and the Scripture recorded that while he was paying the tithe, Levi a grand son was in his loin while he was paying the tithe. Abraham paid tithe, by virtue of that all his seed also paid tithe. Abraham made a mistake , he forgot to cut bird for sacrifice into halves and slept off in the process . On waking up, God told him that his generations will spend 400 years as slaves in a foreign land. Before you do evil remember your children will eat out of it and if you do good likewise, every seed that comes out of you will eat out of it. For every action there are consequences. Just like Sunny Ade sang in one of his songs, before you do evil think twice.

             Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, the crown that the king was tired of is what another Prince wanted. A replica of what happened in the era of his great grandfather, where one engaged the other in a duel and killed the other. That is evil pattern , had the staff carrier successful in his quest the king would have died just like that. The good the king did years back saved his life. It takes death of another man to save a man’s life when his death has been perfected by evil people.Spiritual battles are multi facet just like onion layers. After knocking of seven doors , there was another hurdle to cross, that was Esusu, the man standing on the negative covenants his great father had with him to afflict his family and his kingdom. God is a respecter of covenants. Covenant is blood binding, in as much you carries the blood of the person that makes the Covenant, it is also binding on you. It takes the blood of Jesus and his mercies to take away evil covenants . During the duel between the king and Esusu spirit, he could not prevail until he called his ancestor, it is only a spirit that can defeat a spirit. You cannot defeat a spirit with flesh and blood. When the ancestral spirit of his father appeared, he didn’t engage Esusu in a fight, he only gave him what he needed to kill him and he utilised it well. Victory does not come without a fight. No peace without war. The path to peace in ilara was rough but the end was great.

       A Christian had to wage spiritual warfare to overcome satanic curses and evil covenants. They are real, you cannot do the fighting of alone, invite Jesus to do the fighting for you by standing on what he completed on the cross to possess your freedom from the oppression of the devil. Knowledge is powerful, pray to know the mysteries surrounding your birth, lineage and town . Do a comprehensive spiritual mapping of your lineage and it will give you background information that will help you to wage spiritual warfare effectively. The film is secular but full of lessons for believers and unbelievers. The producer of the film has done greatly and have conveyed deep spiritual truths that are able to transform lives.

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

17/12/2024

The anointed lout

 The anointed “Agbero”

                 There are power in words. The words of some are powerful probably their tongues are anointed or they are beloved. Anointed are often believe to be people that are religious and morally inclined. My experience sometimes in April this year was an exception. I took a motorcycle to a destination and the rider alighted to buy four sachets of dry gins. (Pelebe ) He opened one to drink. I asked him why going on dry gin while driving. He told me that I would understand later. Few minutes , he alighted at a junction, hailing the union man who controlled the axis. He handed the three sachet gins to him and the man began to pray for him immediately he sipped the gin. I was watching the drama, at a point he stopped and told me that I should not look down on him but rather say amen to his prayers though I may be a pastor but God answer his prayers. He further told me that there is power in gin and the reason why our ancestors used it to pray. I just folded my arms watching him as he continued praying. After his prayers, the motorcycle rider zoomed off, he told me that chairman has been a very nice man and all he needs to do is to buy sachet gins for him and he will blessed him. I eventually got to where I will drop , To my amazement , he told me to give him extra cash. I said for what, he replied, owo adura ti Chairman gba( money for Chairman prayers) I smiled, and replied him that ; “ Chairman prayed for you and not me”.

           Just like a dream, I received thousands of naira as gifts on that day. Wherever I went that day, I was gifted money. I reflected and ruminated on the earlier events in the morning. Could it be a coincidence? Could it be Chairman have an anointed tongue? I also remembered a story I was told of a drunkard who was heavily drunk as of his habit, then a terrible windstorm began, the drunk man just shouted stop in Jesus name and the wind stopped. Is alcohol a spirit? 

              My conclusion is God’s gifts and calling are without repentance. There are so many touts, rogues, smokers, drunkards who carried the anointing of God. Though they are not saved but when they speak, God honours them. Another question for reflection is Can God give sinners spiritual gifts? Yes, have met people who God bestowed gifts of Dreams, whatever they see, come to pass but they are not saved. God is mysterious. His ways are different from out ways and we should learn to show love to all. The terrorist today, can become a pastor tomorrow. Paul terrorised the early Christians, God arrested him and made him a great Apostle. There is no one God cannot use to propagate his works. He said if you keep quiet, I will raise up stones. The stones can be nobody with bad records. Jeremiah said he was anointed from the womb to preach the gospel. There are Jeremiahs who are not yet saved but they are anointed. God have a way of preserving them and will redeem them for his glory.

Abolanle oladipupo 

©️ 29/09/2024

Stop Demarketting the Gospel

 STOP DEMARKETING THE GOSPEL!

        The gospel is simply the message about Jesus Christ. An eternal message, a message of hope, a message of salvation, a message of holiness, a message of glory, a message of repentance, a message of death and resurrection of Christ. A message of joy, a message that changes life, a message that gives a new beginning. A message that heals, A message that break yokes. A message entrusted to Kingdom heralds. The gospel is powerful. It is the message that draw people to the kingdom. Darkness dread the message and strives to render the message inefficient. The kingdom is attack day in, day out but the message is unchangeable. It is a dangling and ever sharpening sword. Violent men arises, unleashing violence against the gospel but they could not overtake the kingdom. To their amazement, the kingdom advances. 

    The enemy engages Demarketing tool, and it seems to be working. Kingdom members are becoming worldly, they are accumulating wealth, hoarding wealth and riches while people surrounding them are poor. They dispute about money and leadership positions. Taking themselves to courts and unbelievers presiding over the affairs of believers. Ministers of God engaging in filthy acts such as adultery, fornication, immorality, corruption and the likes. All these acts is making the gospel unpresentable to an unbeliever. The enemy is keen on making the gospel to lose his power. An unbeliever will say if the gospel cannot save Pastor X from stealing Church funds why should I become a believer.  

Demarketing is real, about 15 year ago, a strong Muslim brother approached me on campus and was kind of bringing up an argument why I evangelized and believe so much in Jesus Christ. I didn’t argue with him, but rather used that opportunity to present the gospel to him. The Holy Spirit convicted him and at the point of changing his mind. He said something “ If truly Christ is the way why do top pastors acquire wealth at the expense of the church. The church members are lacking but the pastor is living large “ He further said: “ I find it difficult to believe that they have Christ because the Christ I read about cannot do that”

The enemy has employed the Demarketing tool in drawing many people from Jesus and it is high time, we repented from all those acts that can make the gospel loose its potency to save and deliver people from darkness. Truly the end time is near and the time is short . The enemy is a roaring like a Lion looking for who to devour. We need to pray for the Holy spirit to shake the church one more time. So that everything that is demarketing the gospel can go away and the truth will stay. This is awakening, a revival when people we see themselves as God sees them and repent from every known sin.

©️ Abolanle oladipupo 

5th October,2024.

Absalom: The King Israel never had

 Absalom: The King Israel never had

A good looking man

Described as the most handsome man on earth

He was intelligent, smart and a outstanding leader

He hated injustice

He could not tolerate evil done against his sister

He took law into his hands

He assassinated his brother in a cold blood 

He critically observed his father's government

He addressed the weaknesses of his father's government

He formed a forum to interact with the people 

He coined a leadership style that appealed to the people

He consistently met the needs of the people

He became man of the people

As powerful as Joab was

He brought him to his knees without combat

What could have attracted the Kings Counselor to him

The man with the counsel of God

Was he doing it for a revenge?

Was he attracted to Absalom's leadership style?

Absalom slept with his father's concubines in a broad day light

He heeded to Ahithophel counsel

His camp was gathering momentum and support

David almost gave up

This was beyond ordinary

The hand of God was against him

He knew

Nathan's curse was at work

His kingdom was crumbling

At a point where all hope seems to be lost

Mercy spoke for him

Hushai advice prevailed over that of Ahitopel

Ahitopel knew that was the end of his kingdom

He hanged himself

Absalom displayed great leadership skills

He was not authocratic

He listened

He sought advice

He was closed to the people

He knew the people's plight

He led with mercy and passion

Had he been alive

It would have been difficult for Solomon to be king

He was a strong contender for the throne

He was wisdom combined with beauty

David loved him

David was willing to die for him to be the king

God's agenda is different from human agenda

Absalom had the leadership skills

God was not looking for skills

God was not looking for his beautiful qualifications

Was he character flawed?

Obviously yes

His hands were soaked with blood

He murdered Amon

He orchestrated a coup that lives were lost

He slept with his father's wives

His flaws might not be the reason God rejected him as king

No perfect human

We all have our flaws

It was not on record that Absalom had affinity for God

Probably His heart was not right with God despite his qualifications

Spirit of God subdue character flaws

A gifted and talented leader without divine checks are dangerous

In human perspective, Absalom could have been better as a king than Solomon

Absalom was better prepared

He was a man not afraid to lead a war

He had all the qualities but God said no

Only God knows why he chose Solomon as king

Solomon admitted his weaknesses

God qualified him and bestowed on him all he needed to be a king

Absalom knew he could not be the king

He could not wait till his father's exit

He staged a coup

Had God not intervened

He would enforce himself on the people

He would lead them according to his will

The name of God may not be glorified

The work of God for that generation might be put on hold

Obviously the Temple might not have been built by him

The heart of the people might have been turned away from God

He would have been tagged the people's king

He might have pleased the people

But failed God

Men were pleased with Saul's leadership

He always put Men's agenda above God's agenda

He was a men pleaser

He reigned for Forty years

His people so loved him that they became volunteers to monitor his arch enemy 

God did not want a repeat of Saul's era

He stopped Absalom

God worked against him

Till the power he desired consumed him

Oh Absalom

You desired a throne

You desired power

You were capable

You were prepared

You were desperate for power

You were willing 

But you have forgotten

 that it is only God that delegates power

And set people on thrones

 ©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

26/10/2023

THE TRAVAILS AND TRIUMPHS OF AN EVANGELIST

 

THE TRAVAILS AND TRIUMPHS OF AN EVANGELIST

        An evangelist is a man with a mission. He is a man with passion and hunger for souls. His primary purpose on earth is to win souls. He is given the mandate to depopulate the Kingdom of darkness. He is a hell razer. He is dreaded by the kingdom of darkness because he has been anointed to preach the gospel that will liberate people from the kingdom of darkness. All ministry gifts are in one way or the other dependent on him. The ministry gifts are interconnected with the purpose of edifying the church. A church that has  the five ministry gifts in operation is blessed beyond measure. To an evangelist, he want all souls to be saved. When he preaches, you will be so touched and broken on the spirit. He exhorts. He called the attention of people to the salvation of their souls. His preaching at times can make you ask yourself :  “am I saved”?  Outstanding Evangelists are men of the word, they are deep in the word and give themselves to word and prayer on daily basis. Evangelist can be spotted by

·        They are people of prayer. It is like praying machine is in them. They pray for hours and cannot just stop praying. It is in prayer they are empowered for the assignment

·        They are burdened to witness to people on a regular basis. They see evangelism as a duty and they do it with zeal.

·        They are not happy when they see people in sins. They call sin by its name. They can’t just look away from people living comfortably in sins. Their joy is to see sinners giving their lives to Christ.

·        Evangelists are well known people in the community because they are identified with the gospel of peace which they preach. Evangelist loves the company of people and are always relating with people. They are loving  and compassionate people.

·        Evangelists are always looking for opportunities to witness. They do not wait for invitations to preach in a church or crusade. At any slight opportunity they present the gospel  on the street, in the car, bus and they do it passionately

·        Evangelist are usually attached to a church. They do not move from one church to another. They have a church where they worship every Sunday and are accountable to the church.

·        Evangelist do not entangle himself with the affairs of this world. He has only one mission and that is to win souls and please his God who has enlisted him into his service.

            An Evangelist is a man of many travails. At times people around him do not understand him. They usually see him as someone that is extreme in his faith. The kingdom matters dominate and burn in his heart. He is concentrated on making heaven and taking as many people as possible along. He cannot cover sins, wherever he is, he is a beacon of light that exposes darkness. He is hated for standing on the truth and speaking the truth at all times. The evangelist does not care if the truth will kill you, he will say it right there. This unique attitude of him earned him a lot of enemies at work and environment. His colleagues in the ministry cannot just tolerate him at times because he is not diplomatic with issues. He usually sees what people call diplomacy as a compromise that will land them in hell. As a result of this he may not have friends even among fellow ministers. Some pastors will say force an evangelist to pastor at least three years, probably he may stop saying some of those things he do say. That is not always true. An evangelist will not even want to pastor a church. His nature will not allow it if he pastor a church, the church may scatter because he cannot just do it successfully. Can you make an Engineer to be a Doctor. This is not possible. This can only be possible if such an Engineer went to medical school and was trained. Though an Engineer, he can still do work of an evangelist. Evangelist that can be forced or accept to pastor a church will be the one that is theologically trained. A lot of errors are committed by an Evangelist who is not theologically trained and we often generalized it as “that is how Evangelist do”. Billy Graham was theologically trained, he pastored for a while before venturing into full evangelical ministry. He pastored well , he was outstanding because he was trained and gave himself to word and prayer. Reinhard Bonkee, a German evangelist was theologically trained, he pastored for three years before venturing into full evangelical ministry.

As an untrained evangelist in the University, I made a lot of errors, I said so many things then which are unnecessary. This earned me unnecessary enemies and hated for no reason. Imagine, leading devotion in the hall, and calling them out that there were lesbians in the hall. You better repent. That sounds too harsh. After theological training, there was a great change, a friend at the University saw me, he was so surprised and could not hide it but confessed “ you are reformed “. Theological training will refined an evangelist. An evangelist without Theological training in a Bible School or seminary is crude and may be toxic. Today only a few knows that I am an evangelist because I have been refined.

           An evangelist greatest problem is discouragement and rejection.

   Discouragement easily sets in. He laboured so much on the field and at times only a few chose to follow him to his church. At times he evangelizes and only a few surrender their lives to Christ. Sometimes no soul at all and this kind of situation makes him discouraged. He pray for people, they get breakthrough but only a few come back to say thank you.  A story was told of an Evangelist who was invited for a open day crusade and no one gave his life to Christ except a little boy. The little boy eventually became a world renowned evangelist. Another Evangelist preached, on the last day, no one came out for testimonies except a man who said God healed him from headache. The evangelist got so mad with God. Few days later he had a migraine, he prayed on it, nothing happened, he remembered how he challenged God for a man God healed of headache in his meetings. He asked God for mercies and God healed him. At times he prays and prays but the situation remain unchanged. People will mock him, call him names and this may dampen his spirit. An Evangelist was once challenged by his church pastor, you keep saying you are evangelizing but how many people have you brought to the church? The Evangelist felt bad, went on his knees and the following week God glorified himself. People came to the church and said evangelist preached to us and we decided to worship in his church.

     Discouragement is like an arrow or dagger in the heart of an evangelist. Discouragement have made many evangelists to stop evangelizing. Some have lost something precious to them, some are not motivated, and some are fainting because reward tarries. Some have prayed for people and those people forget them when they got their breakthrough.

Evangelists are not loved by the people of the world. People can just transfer aggression on them unnecessary for preaching the gospel in public places.  At times he feel lonely with no one to share his burden with. An evangelist can be difficult to understand at times. A few minutes ago he was bubbling in faith, sharing the gospel and suddenly he is lonely, meditating and praying. It is hard for you to understand him, even his fellow ministers can pick up offence against him. He wants to relate with other ministers too but they feel his own is too much. 

     Evangelists are the foot soldiers of the kingdom. This position them as targets for the enemies.  God have  ways of building up his evangelists. They are made in wars which are hard circumstances and situations beyond human understanding.

No matter how the enemy tries, God always make an evangelist to triumph. External battles from the enemy hardly kill an evangelist because God usually back him up mysteriously in such a way that it is beyond human understanding.

Rejection and discouragement is majorly a battle that is hard for an evangelist to win except he learns to build up his faith in God, find his identity in God and encourages himself.  Rejection and discouragement  often leads to depression which can make the health of an evangelist to deteriorates.

           God manifest himself in the ministry of an evangelist just like any other ministry. He usually give him harvest of exploits.  Notable revivals, crusades are spear headed by evangelists. Miracles, healings, deliverance flows like rivers of water in the ministry of an evangelist. Above all  God gives him harvest of souls to the extent that he cannot even know the exact number of souls that have been saved through his ministry. Beyond that, crowns will be given to him in heaven and he will be highly decorated and celebrated. The call to the office of an evangelist is a noble calling that gives God joy in heaven and the host of heaven. Obviously there are problems, an Evangelist see the problem as challenges which he must step on for him to triumph in ministry. He have wounds but God is his healer, strength and comfort. The ministry of an evangelist is a ministry of endurance and suffering. Paul had this to say:

 

2Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.

 

 2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2Ti 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 

      An Evangelist endured all, he have seen several revelations about heaven. He knows where he is going and he is determined in his mind to take as many people as possible there. He is sure of his crown of righteousness waiting for him, he is sure of mansion waiting for him, he knows that life is not a funfair but battlefield.  He is confident of his faith. He delights in his weaknesses, insults, hardships and persecutions. Why? God’ grace is sufficient for him and he knows that he will keep him strong till the last day. Not all people we call evangelists are evangelists in the real sense of it.  Evangelists have first hand spiritual experience and revelations that you may not believe if they share it with you. They are humble and their watch word is that Christ should be known and make great through them while they are  unknown.  There are very few evangelist in a generation. Evangelists are world shakers. Till today America has not recovered from the evangelistic ministry of Billy Graham. In the scripture only Philip was referred to as an Evangelist. Others do the work of an evangelist but are not evangelist in the real meaning of the actual word. You cannot desire the triumphs, victories, greatness of an evangelist without the travails.  His triumphs are enclosed with pains, suffering and endurance.

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

24^th September 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BE A MISSIONARY

 

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BE A MISSIONARY?

       A missionary is a job of dignity and honour. They are emissaries of God in a territory. They are Apostles of God. They carry the burden of the Gospel. They carry the message of the gospel. They combine the ministry of an evangelist and also that of a pastor in a locality. At times they establish new churches in the area where there is none and presides over it. They have a relationship with their flock and in some fields they know  all their members by names. The hosting community usually accord them honour as a representative of God in that domain who have left their comfort for the sake of ministering to their needs. The privileges, benefits, honour can make someone desire to be a missionary. Before you decide to be one  there are reasons why you should not choose to be a Missionary .

       Certain people came to Jesus, they loved his ministry, the way he moved around with accorded respect, dignity, honour , entourage. They wanted to be part of his team. Jesus looked at them and told them reasons why they should not? Let’s look at it  in the scripture

Luk 9:57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Luk 9:58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

      Jesus told him that he did not have a home of his own. As wild as foxes are, they have homes even birds of the air have  nests. Jesus had no place to call a home.  Your home is your comfort, where you sleep and refreshes your body. It is your privacy. It is where you retreat to after a long and hectic day.

You should not be a missionary because a missionary does not have a home of his own . He has left his comfort zone to a place that may not provide the comfort he was enjoying where he was coming from.  He is a sojourner there, whatever house he rents or build there will be left someday. He operates a open door, he does not have a full privacy, a member can come in at any time for help or assistance. He cannot switch off his phone. His phone must always be on. If he finds himself in a place without potable water supply, he will drink from the stream the community is drinking from, if the community does not have stable power supply, he will adjust to the system. Jesus told the man the consequences of his decision to follow him. If you will be deprived of your comfort, will you still be a Missionary. The man didn’t respond to Jesus question probably he thought Jesus was living in a beautiful mansion with the comforts of that time.

The another reason why you may not be a missionary is found in Jesus response to another man who he beckoned on to follow him

Luk 9:59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Luk 9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Jesus wanted the man to follow him. He saw a missionary in him but he gave an excuse. He wanted to attend the burial, dined and wined with his relatives.  He would also benefit from the shared inheritance of his father. He considered all these before telling Jesus that he had to bury his father first. Paul said in 1Ti 5:6  that:

But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

Jesus said let the dead bury their own dead. Anyone who lives in pleasure is worldly and he is dead.  Jesus told him that he is not of this world, let the people of the world celebrate and share inheritance but as for you proclaim the kingdom of God.  Do not be a missionary if you are not ready to prioritize your mission above pleasures. Demas abandoned Paul, he ran away from the mission field. Of which Paul wrote:

2Ti 4:10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.      As a missionary there will be social gatherings you will be invited to, but you may not be able to honour the invitation because you are engaged with the work of the LORD on the field.

    Another reason why you should not be missionary is found in Jesus response to a man that wanted to follow him .

Luk 9:61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”

Luk 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

         Another man wanted to follow Jesus but he insisted on seeing his family first.  He was emotionally attached to his family members. You cannot be a missionary if you are emotionally attached to your loved ones and cannot do away with them.  Do not be a missionary if you cannot excuse yourself from your extended family at times. A missionary at times may not see his extended family for years. Not that he did not want to see them. Who will he leave the flock for? Not that he is not emotionally attached to his friends, family and relatives. He prioritizes his mission above  family ties.

Finally do not be a missionary if you cannot endure suffering. Suffering is part of missionary work. Sufferings are not limited to not having food to eat or money to buy things you want. Sufferings is when you are willing to sacrifice your life for others.  Paul had this to say:

2Co 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

2Co 4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2Co 4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Paul was sharing his personal experience on the mission field. He was able to do great exploits for Christ because he was willing to sacrifice his life for the gospel. He did not hold his life back but pour himself into the mission. The outcome was great missionary exploits. Do not be a missionary if you are not ready to suffer for the sake of the gospel. The missionary must be ready to bear the marks otherwise known as scars for Christ. Paul wrote:

Gal 6:17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Paul gloried in his sufferings because that identified him as an Apostle.

   Some so called missionaries have runaway from their duty posts when the reality of what it takes to be a missionary dawn on them.  Mark run away at a point when the journey was tough, thank God for Barnabas who picked him up, encouraged him and later be of help to  Paul in the ministry. With all these, if you are still willing to be a missionary, You are indeed a missionary and the work of the ministry shall prosper in your hands.

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

21^st September,2022

 

 

 

     

GIVE YOUR BEST TO MISSIONS

 GIVE YOUR BEST TO MISSIONS

            God’s work done in God’s own way do not always lack provision but he will use people. No mission can run without finance. There is always a need to be met on a mission field. If there is a fertile ground, you can sow into, it is mission field.  Our idea of a mission field is a place where people are suffering and starving. This at times affect the way we give in supporting mission field.

       T here is always a call to give to mission but if you must give to mission, kindly give  your best.  Over the years when a call is raise to bring clothes, food and other materials to be used on mission field. I have seen people packing clothes that they cannot even wear, at times missionaries have to burn some of these clothes. How will you carry rags called clothes to mission field. If you must give clothes, go to boutique or stores and buy new clothes. You are giving it to God and God deserves the best.  If you cannot afford to give your best, hold it, God will raise others to do it.  Mission is God’s project and he cannot abandon his work. Men may look away but God will not look away. Why must you think that a pastor in the city should be made comfortable and a missionary in the village should not have access to the same comfort and luxuries like the missionary in the village. Why must you always think that Missionaries must suffer?  Comfort is relative. You can always make where you are comfortable. Paul spoke so well of the Church in Macedonia. They took great care of him and there was great results. 

Whatever the state of our mission field today? The church is responsible for it. You keep complaining of that missionary that he is lazy, he complains too much, he is hard, he is adamant, he is bossy. That is what you made of him. A look into the bugdet of some churches suggest that mission is not prioritize.  Mission will thrive if we prioritize it and give our best into it .

God is looking for those that will give their best to support mission .  One of the reasons God made some christians rich is to finance the kingdom. Whatever you have as a child of God does not belong to you? When last did you give your best to a mission Field?  

          Your best is not only your money. It can be your time. When last did you visit a mission field?  Your visit is an encouragement to the Missionaries working there. They are happy when you identify with them. When last did you call a missionary and encourage him on phone? When last did you text that missionary serving in a village?  You have fleet of cars in your garage why must you give a missionary motorcycle and not one of those cars. A missionary deserves to ride on a jeep too.  Mission is a collective efforts if we want our Missionaries to succeed on the field, we must give our best of time, money, possessions to support and encourage them. 

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

20th September, 2022

UNDERSTANDING FOREIGN MISSIONS

 

UNDERSTANDING FOREIGN MISSIONS

         Missions are God’s given assignments to his people to take message of salvation to people that have not heard of it.  The command is to preach the gospel to all nations so that there will not be excuse on that day that I did not hear. There are many places in the world that is still hidden to the gospel of Christ. It becomes imperative that we should take the gospel there. We cannot be comfortable where we are  and there are nations that are closed to the gospel. The gospel you are enjoying today, someone paid the price by bringing it . Some died on the way to Africa, Asia, they did not even get there, some came and died as a result of tropical diseases.  The souls in the unreached parts of the world are crying for salvation on a daily basis but our ears are deafening. Foreign mission is simply taking the gospel outside your country. There are many mission boards and agencies recruiting missionaries across the world. They are ever in need of missionaries because the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few.

          Foreign mission is not something you embark on because you are called to be a missionary. Not all missionaries will serve in a foreign land. Some will serve in home mission fields.  Serving in home missions does not make you inferior to someone serving on foreign missions. There must be a burden for the country you are sure God is leading you into. Souls are won on the knees not on the field. You pray for the people, fast,  thirst for their souls and launch out to witness to them. Hudson Taylor, missionary to china, he prayed: “ Give me China or die” . He was a cobbler, an illiterate but he was so sure that God was leading him there. He did not jump to china, the day he had promptings in his spirit. He prayed severally and prepared himself for the assignment.

       A foreign missionary can either be an independent missionary or an employed staff of a mission board or agency.  An independent missionary is responsible for his upkeep on the field and that of his family. He may have sponsors but he is not accountable to any organization. A staff missionary is working with a mission board, the mission board is responsible for his upkeep and gives report back to the board that enlist him. Either you choose to be independent missionary or staff missionary, you have to prepare yourself spiritually, physically, culturally, emotionally and financially. Do not wait until you get there before you start learning about their culture, dressing and food. Make a research. Understand the people you are going to. Are they educationally or intellectually sound? If they are academically sound , you know you have to develop yourself in that area so that it can enhance your access to them. Either as independent or staff missionary you have to prepare financially. If you are a staff, think of skills that you can acquire that can be converted to money while you are there. Finances can be delayed from the mission board, you should plan on how to sustain your family financially. Generally, some mission boards prefer engaging missionaries that are professional in their fields. Only a few missionaries board can financially sustain all the needs of their missionaries on the field. Almost all the missionaries that came to Africa from America , England, Canada, Italy  are professionals, there are teachers, Doctors, nurses, Theologians, lawyers, business men .  As they are winning souls, they are also receiving income from their secular jobs. Paul was an independent missionary accountable to the church in Jerusalem, he was a lawyer, a writer and also a tent maker. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers too. Luke was a Doctor. Paul was able to make great impact because he was not a burden to them. A missionary also prepare his family for the assignment.  Some mission board will not send a missionary without the backing of his spouse and children. It is a collective assignment.

       Finally on foreign missions, God have a way of preparing his people for any assignment. Paul was a Jew but he was born in Tarsus, Turkey the old  Roman empire . This gave him the Roman Citizenship status and gave him the rare privilege and benefits to travel round the Roman empire, stayed there without being charged heavy taxes.  He had a Roman name (Paul), he understood their culture, dressing and language.  God knew he would become a preacher to the Gentile nation even before he was aware and orchestrated his path in that direction.  If you will be a missionary to India, China, Arab, he knows what to do to ensure that you are thoroughly prepared for the assignment.  God will do his own to make you fit for the assignment. You also have to prepare yourself for the assignment.

©️ Abolanle Oladipupo

©️ 20^th September,2022

DANGEROUS PROPHETIC ANOMALIES

DANGEROUS PROPHETIC ANOMALIES

           Prophets are God’s gift to edify the church. The ministry of a prophet can not be overemphasized in a church. The church has benefited immensely from prophetic gifts. However there are dangerous trends in the prophetic office that we need to deviate from or else it will be a curse rather than being a blessings. The excesses of prophetic office is not just now. It has been since the first century. Paul addressed false prophets and teachers in his time. He called them out. Many wonder why Paul had to address several churches he established and addressing doctrinal issues. Some of the issues Paul addressed in these churches had become controversies in the modern church. Till today some churches will not allow a female to pastor their Churches. Some churches will not allow female to enter their Churches without head covered. There is a thin line between witchcraft and prophetic office. So many prophets are practicing sorceries and they think that they are still doing it right. A prophet is first a preacher who is deep in the word of God with a particular message for his generation. Whatever he says or do is guided or informed by the word of God. The word of God is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God cannot go contrary to the word of God. Unfortunately the spirit of the prophet has led many prophets and their followers astray. Many of the spirit leading are contrary to the word of God. These leadings of the spirits are becoming patterns which are dangerous anomalies to the church.

   These trends are numerous but notable among them is the practice of praying into water, soaps, Money, and other medium to effect healing, deliverance, and miracles. It looks normal on the surface but a deeper reflection shows that it is an anomaly that is cancerous to church growth. The scripture says the just shall live by faith. What heals is faith in God and his word not the water or any medium you prayed into. So many people have prayed on water, people used it and got their healing. That doesn’t mean that it is the water that heals but the power behind the spoken word of God. Jesus did not pray on water. He healed people based on their faith in God. Praying on the water is not the issue. As humans we believe what we see and we are likely to see that water as what heal us. It is not the water but our faith in God. Most African indigenous churches if not all practices praying on water, oil, handkerchief, soaps, oils as medium of healing. This practice originates from african traditional religion. Incantations are made on water , soap, oil, which serves as medium of healing. The scriptures teaches that healing takes place without praying on any object as medium. Everything we do as believers must be guided by the word of God. To worsen it all some of these churches sell these items to their members at a price. Spiritual bathing had no any root in the scripture. Deliverance can takes place without spiritual bathing. All you have to do is believe. The word of God is powerful and it cannot contradict itself. Praying on money before dropping it or going out to drop money as prayers is going on or as preaching is going on is not biblical. You are in the house of God not in a ifa priest house where you speak to money before dropping it. The fusion of the African Traditional practices into Christianity are majorly along prophetic lines. They will say that it is the spirit telling them to do that and yet people believe them. They believe because they did not understand the word of God. Moses did not use the rod as a magician. He used it under the direction of God. He followed instructions from the giver of the rid. The day he used the rod without the instruction of God, it cost him entrance into the promise land. The reason why many prophets will lead many people to hell is because of getting results from syncretism. The results also blindfolded the prophets, he begin to see himself as the healer, prides come in. Have you ever thought of it? Moses struck the rock with rod instead of speaking to it yet water still flows. God will glorify himself among his people but he will scold his servant at the secret place if he had not abandoned the secret place.

             Bible is the standard, it is the written word of God for our walk with him in this world. Unfortunately all these anomalies in the prophetic office are usually backed with a twisted word of God to make it appealing to their audience.

Jesus was aware of these and he warned in the scripture :

Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Mat 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

These people are famous ministers of God who had done exploits for God. Jesus rejected them because they are doing their own will and not the will of the God that called them. Jesus did not deny that they were not his servants. He was particular about doing his will. These servants of God were using Jesus to make themselves important, twisting the word of God to suit their lifestyle. Their bellies are their gods. They are making merchandise and fame from the gospel. Spirit of the prophet is the spirit of God. The Spirit of God is the word of God. The Spirit and the Word of God is one. Whatever your spirit says must not overrule the supremacy of the word of God. Any prophetic instructions that deviate from the Word of God should be thrashed into refuse bin. The prophets are not meant to direct your life. Do not subject your life to what the prophet says. The work of a prophet in this dispensation is to affirm what God have already told you, to comfort, to encourage, warn of impending danger if we choose to live sinfully and intercede for souls.

         A pastor shared a testimony of how God instructed him to start anointing service on one of the Sundays. He spoke to his member about it and he started it. He was using oil as a medium and it got to a level that people will abandon their churches on that Sunday and come in good numbers to his church. At a time God instructed him to stop using the oil during the anointing service because people are idolizing the oil as if it is the oil that is bringing about the miracles, deliverance and healing. God confirmed to him too , that same week, one of his members called him and told him that the oil is working wonders and trust the oil so much that he cannot do without it when traveling. The moment he stopped using oil at anointing service, a lot of people stopped coming for the anointing service.

The just shall live by faith and not by sight. God have no problem expressing himself through any medium but it becomes a problem when we start idolizing these things. In all the healing, deliverance, miracles Jesus did not use any medium except on an occasion where he spat on sand and used it to touch the eyes of blind man. On all other occasion he spoke the word.Speak the word, declare the word, it is the authority behind the word that will bring about healing miracle and deliverance. If you cannot sit down and study the word of God in a time like this, you will be a prey to prophets who are full of strategies, ideas and devices to rip people of their hard earned income.

              Truly Our fathers in African faith notable among them , Late Apostle Babalola used water as a medium to heal but there were several occasions, healings, deliverance and miracles took place in his ministry without using any medium. God cannot be boxed. He can work in several ways. Why must you limit God to handkerchief, soaps, oils, candle, incenses, spiritual bathing and many more. All you need is faith. Faith come by hearing and hearing comes from the word of God. Pastor w.F kumuyi ministry have experienced great healings, miracles and deliverances without use of any medium. He speaks the Word of God and God backed up his word with miracle, signs and wonders. Evangelist Billy Graham simply preached John 3:16 and miracles were taking place. The word of God is powerful. The word is truth. Preach the truth, teach the truth, deliverance, miracles and healings shall follow. That is the right pattern. Every other pattern is dangerous even if it is trending and becoming popular. Stick to the word and the word will not fail you.

Abolanle Oladipupo

©️ 18th September , 2022

THE NECESSITY OF HOME MISSIONS

 

THE NECESSITY OF HOME MISSIONS

Evangelism is the heartbeat of God. A living church prioritizes missions and evangelism. One of the functions of a church is evangelism. A church that is not reaching out to the unsaved will reduce to a social gathering. The key to the peace of the world has been given to church. That key is evangelism, a church that uses it well will enjoy unspeakable joy, peace and blessings. It is alarming that evangelism in churches has been reduce to programs, charities and social function. Evangelism that is not done in God’s own way will produce human results which is cancerous to the church growth.

           Jesus told his disciples that:

Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

         Evangelism is a ministry of power. You are in direct combat with rulers of darkness that have sealed the hearts of men from hearing the truth that can save them. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, souls cannot be saved. How can they be saved? If they were not preached too? Only men can preach to men. This mission has been given to men and not angels. All believers are to take it upon themselves and tell others about Christ. Gospel is like a burning fire, you cannot have it and will not be burdened to tell others about Christ.

Evangelism is broad and complex term but it simply means to announce or declare the word of God to others with the purpose of saving their soul from destruction. There are different roles you can play under evangelism. Missions is under evangelism. The word mission is a task or assignment. An evangelist reach out to all, he is not bound or restricted to a particular location. A missionary is assigned to a particular place, region, or area. He do the work of an evangelist, he do the work of a pastor and ensures that the souls are not just saved but they are fed adequately with the word of God. An evangelist task is to save souls from one particular area to another. He is not restricted to a particular place. Philip was a notable evangelist in the scripture, he was at Samaria, preaching the gospel, souls were saved, but at a time he had to invite peter and John to come over and Baptized them.  Missionaries are modern day Apostles, they are evangelists with a pastoral heart who are not just only interested in souls being save but  passionate about nurturing and feeding  the souls  with the word of God so that they can be matured in faith and Christ like.

          Jesus emphasized that witnessing should start from where you are. Gospel is peace. If your constituency is in peace, you will have peace of mind and rest of mind to go about your daily business, your church will grow and other neighboring states and countries will benefit from your prosperity.  Three and half years of Jesus’s ministry was focused on the Jews. Even though he recorded a little success among his people but the church was built on the few that accepted him. These disciples were also instructed to start their mission from Jerusalem.  

It saddens the heart that most churches in Nigeria has abandoned home mission fields. There are still some areas in the southern Nigeria that are hidden to the gospel. The problem of Nigeria is the North and it is because the church is not doing much in reaching out to the lost over there. The few churches that were in the North are built by foreign missions. It also pain the heart when you visit some churches in Kano, Kaduna, and you discovered that about 90 percent of the church members are southern Yorubas or Igbos who are residing there as a result of their businesses or jobs. No doubt there are persecution over there but believers should be able to risk their lives in telling people about Christ. Yours is to speak and Holy Spirit will do the saving. The bandits and Boko Haram threatening the existence of Nigeria could have been nipped in the bud if Christians play their part in reaching out to these people. There are missionaries from the south serving in dangerous territories in the north. There are also native missionaries right in the battle front witnessing the gospel but the support from the Southern Nigerian christians are not enough. The southern church prefer investing in foreign missions than investing in home missions in North. The missionaries in the north are abandoned and forgotten. During the Jos crises in 2002, a missionary serving in the north from the south came home  empty handed. He lost everything. He was in pains, embittered, he discussed the challenges and how the southern church is doing little or nothing to assist. He warned “ if you abandon this people, they will become a national threat and the peace you think you are enjoying in the south will become a problem” . The brother went back to Jos after the crises even when his brethren did all their best to stop him because of the risk involved. The man is still there doing great exploits for the Lord.

            Cowards die many times before their death. The scripture affirm in Revelation that cowards will not enter the kingdom of God.  The highest paid servant of God should be a missionary serving in hinterland but a good number of them live on stipends. If you make a missionary and his family comfortable, he will not run away from his post.  The church should declare emergency on home mission fields. The stability and peace of Nigeria can only be achieved if we reach out to the unreached and people we tagged as difficult. Prayer is not enough, we need to take gospel to the North, if you cannot go ,  make people over there comfortable so they can do the work well. Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt are areas that were occupied by first century christians but the lands were lost as a result of complacency of christians in that region. Church fathers like Tertullian spoke about it, he warned of heresies, complacencies but it all fell to deafening ears.  Let us take the challenge by taking local missions serious. We are doing our best but our best is not enough. We can still do more. Each church should have a plan on how to take the unreached part of Nigeria for Christ. Churches can come together and foster resources to build up mission in the unreached areas . The interior northern part of Nigeria is still part of the unreachable areas for the gospel in the world.  Charity should start from home, you can’t be taking missions to foreign countries when some local government in your countries are inaccessible to the gospel.  Foreign missions is good but the crux of the matter is that your home mission should not suffer. Let home mission be in your plans and see it as a necessity.

Abolanle Oladipupo

©️ 14^th September 2019

Why you should not pay tithe?

 Why you should not pay tithes?

           Tithing in biblical times is dated to the Abrahamic era, who gave a tithe to Melchizedek out of his spoils of war and he blessed him. Nothing was heard about tithing again until the Mosaic era when Moses commanded the rest of the tribes of Israel to pay tithes out of their means of income to the Levites who served in the temple at all times. 

Centuries later, the tribes of Israel neglected the temple, only a few are faithful to paying tithes and as a result of their actions. The Levites were hungry and were forced to go back to the farm and work. The work of the temple suffered, and the prophets of their time, Haggai, Malachi raised alarm against this and warned them of the dangers of not paying tithe.

           Jesus came, he didn’t abolish the laws, he came to fulfill them. He taught about sacrificial giving and giving as an act of worship and honour to God. Giving in the new testament is beyond ten percent but a function of how you love and honor your God.

Paul emphasized giving as a form of worship and dedication to God. He gave an account of how the money was spent. Donations and offerings were returned to Jerusalem and distributed evenly among poor brethren. Paul even said do not muzzle an ox while it works. A statement of the law connotes that laborers of the Gospel need to be paid out of the gospel.  

   Paying tithe is voluntary. If you do not pay tithe, things will not be hard for you, you will prosper and you will not be cursed.  Christians pay more than a tithe, we give our time and resources to God. If he wants our salary, house, or any precious thing from us, we are willing to give because he owns us and everything we have. Just like the Macedonian church, we have given ourselves to God and God owns all we have. Giving is not our problem because we love God and we have given our all to him 

So as Christians we pay beyond tithes, we give more to the work of God in accordance with our love for Christ.  A believer does not debate tithing because we give more than tithes to God.  The world thinks God’s work is run on offering and tithes.  They are bent on destroying the church by coming with fallacies, heresies, and false teachings on tithes. The more they promote this propaganda, the more the work of God prospers and his servants prosper more than ever before in history. This is a mystery. The church has gone beyond tithing. Our God deserves more than tithes. Only religious people pay tithes, believers walk by faith, we give artificially, and God opens floodgates of heaven for us. Church finances are getting stronger during economic crises and depressions. The church is an extension of God’s kingdom and it is run by faith and not by money.

©️July, 2022, Abolanle Oladipupo

A sinking ship

 Nigeria is burning 

Nero is dining

Nero is laughing

Nero is partying

Has Nigeria's end come?

Her acclaimed saviour is clueless

Innocent Rivers of blood are flowing daily 

Baboons have taken over the Ship

Baboons could not sail through

The ship is going backward

Oh! The ship is drowning

Who will save the ship?

Her resources have become a curse

She lived amid abundance yet she is in abject poverty

She had become a beggar among nations

She has become a subject of ridicule 

Nothing is achieved without security.

Every gain of democracy has been swallowed up by the titan of insecurity. 

Her glory has turned into shame

Her enemies are her closest allies

Her prophets have been silenced

Darkness is raging in the land

The strong that could help her have left her

The weak are remaining 

The green land is becoming dry

Her acclaimed Saviours have sucked her dry

She is dry to the bones

She is Stinking

Her able youths are leaving en masse

She is wailing in pains

Her economy is dwindling daily

She has become a haven for terrorists

A haven of kidnappers

A haven of bandits

A haven of corrupt and useless leaders

Oh! She is sinking

Will she get out of all these?

Or her end has come?

Oladipupo Abolanle

©️ 29th March,2022

UNBLOCKING THE WELL

           Unblocking the well

           Hand-dug wells are purposely dug to provide potable water. Seventy percent of the earth is water, when you dig to a particular depth depending on the area you will find water though it may not be an aquifer. Abraham was a sojourner who left Haran to Cannan. Famine set in Canaan and had to find a way of surviving. He was rich in cattle and have servants working with him in hundreds. He was a wealthy man and a billionaire in his era. In the course of his sojourn, he dug wells at Gerar which provided a source of water for his family and household. In the process of time, the inhabitants of Gerar blocked the wells he dug. Why could they have done this? In those days hand-dug wells are landmarks to mark ownership of land and at times serve as boundaries between two areas. The inhabitants of Gerar aimed at removing memories and legacies of Abraham. Abraham was a stranger who had become powerful by his wealth, army, fame, and number. He was the epitome of what you can call a great man. Isaac found himself in Gerar by what brought Abraham there, he knew the landscape, he knew that his father was a great man there, for Isaac it was familiar terrain, and in Gerar, Isaac prospered too. This could have angered the inhabitants especially when they knew his father. Jealousies arose, in a bid to recover the lands of his father, he sought to unblock the wells that the inhabitants have blocked out of bitterness. In a land where getting water is a hard thing, they blocked about five wells that could have sustained a community. This gives an insight that it is purely a fight and supremacy over who owns the land. Every attempt of Isaac to unblock the well was met with rivalry, opposition, and serious quarrel. At a point, they told him " Isaac you are more powerful than us, leave our land". This clarified that it was simply a battle of envy, hatred, and bitterness. Such battles are the most difficult battles to win. It has no ending point and it is only God that can give one victory over such battle. This battle is usually staged by those who are very close to us. They are insiders who everything about us. The best approach and strategy to win such a battle is to walk away. Isaac did not throw a fight, he walked away from them. As he walked away he kept unblocking, and as soon as they heard that he had unblocked a well, they threw a duel on two different occasions. Isaac did not give up, he did not get tired and before he knew it he had unblocked all the wells that the inhabitants of Gerar have blocked.

     Our fathers in the faith have worked so hard in handing over to us this faith. Some of them died in the process of keeping their faith. At a time the Bible was a forbidden book to have as a personal copy. It is kept in the monastery. Men who attempted to make Bible available for personal use died. Some were burned at stake.  The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. The fathers of faith are generals with scars and marks for bearing the burden of the gospel. With tears and blood, they dug wells of faith for us. Well of life that its water cannot go dry. Some of them died in the course of digging without even seeing the water. Of whom the book of Hebrews spoke of in Hebrew 11:13

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

The well of faith has yielded great water, the gospel is being preached all over the world, souls are delivered from the pit of hell,  people are serving God in Spirit and truth. Children of God are experiencing heaven on earth. What an unspeakable joy! Certain men have crept into the folds, they are wolves in sheep clothing, they are devil incarnates who parade themselves as an angel of lights.  Paul wrote of them in 

This set of people claim to be Christians and they are into the ministry of blocking the wells of our fathers with worldliness, indecent dressing, prosperity preaching, immorality, syncretism,  idolatry, corruption, lies, flamboyant life, flamboyant dressing, and any anomaly you can think of. They are the face of the church, they are the standards of a prosperous church, they have fame, riches, and influence. Their lifestyle does not synchronize with their message. Their gods are their belly. They have monetized the gospel. They have distorted the truth. Their lives do not agree with the truth they preach. They are blocking the wells daily and have made it so difficult to access clean water. The perverted gospel has been let loose. The enemy of 21st-century churches is not from outside but within. They are not persecutors but false teachers and false prophets who have blocked access to the waters of life. The well of life that our fathers of faith strove to dig. 

It becomes imperative for every Pastor and teacher to unblock the well. How? Preach the truth, live the truth, and teach the truth. It is only the gospel truth that can unblock these wells. Paul and John in their era were busy writing letters to the new Church, explaining the consequences of the negative doctrines that were in vogue then and how believers can afford it. It is a difficult task for Paul in his time. Why? purveyors of false doctrines were reputed to be Christians with influence, fame, and many followers. In the 12th century, some of these false teachers were friends with the emperor and they seized that opportunity to oppress and persecute those that held contrary views.  To unblock the well, your focus is on your church members. Those within your area of influence, educate them, teach them, unblock the well for them so that they can have access to the pure water of life. Scripture says those that believe, rivers of life shall flow through them. Commit yourself to teach the truth, give yourselves to the ministry of Word and prayer. Unblocking the well is not something that you will see results immediately, it can take months or even years. Do not give up if it does not bring immediate results but keep unblocking with the Word of God. Unblocking the wells is not an easy task but the results are worth it. At a time Paul called out and mentioned these false teachers and prophets. These good blockers of Paul's era were elites who were vast on rhetorics and could easily win people over with their sweet words. As a result of this Paul took some actions part of it was forbidding women to be elders in some churches and new converts because of the fear that they might easily be won over by these false teachers who were orators. Likewise, we need to take action by calling the attention of those who God has committed into our hands to these false prophets and their teachings which are cancerous to the body of Christ. We need to protect our flock from these wolves who have been let loose by the Devil to contaminate and pollute the wells of life. Unblocking the well is realistic and feasible if we will see it as a matter of urgency that needs our utmost attention. The coming of the Lord is nearer than before and the enemy wants to pollute the church and render the gospel ineffective by blocking the wells of life. It is the word of God that brings about salvation, deliverance, healing, and sustains a believer. If wells of life are blocked, the enemy will prevail and possess the lands that our fathers of faith have conquered for Christ. Morroco, Algeria, Turkey, and Egypt were dominated by Christians in the first century. These lands have been conquered by Islam and Christians were the minority. How did it occur? It all started from blocking the wells of faith. Tertullian, Augustus, Hippo we're Christian apologetics who cried out against false teachings and doctrines. Paul also wrote to the seven churches that were majorly based in present-day Turkey. Despite the cries of the church fathers and intense digging to unblock the wells, the church lost its dominance in those areas because at a point someone get tired of unblocking the well of truth. The kingdom of darkness shall not prevail over the church. This will only happen if we chose to be light and do not give up unblocking access to the pure well of life which sustains and gives life to dying souls.

Abolanle Oladipupo

 ©️ 19th March 2022