Demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit

BY ARCHBISHOP J.O.AKINFENWA

Zechariah 4: 1 & 6 says, “And the angel that talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.

Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, this is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

We would be able to enter into our real status like the apostles of old, like the prophets of old, and as in the days of the early church only by the enablement of the Holy Spirit. Our access into God’s promise of dominion and manifestation can only be activated by the release of power through the Holy Spirit upon us.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the divine power to do things for our God. In Acts 1 :8, Jesus Christ says “And you shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you...” The Holy Spirit is the one that will ignite us. That means, to set on fire, kindle, inflame and touch -off the lives and ministries of believers as well as to be able to produce necessary effect and spiritual impact upon our generation.

In Acts 1: 1-8; the account reveals the disciples of Christ were really sorrowful, fearful and timid. They were really afraid of the Lord leaving them. They were asking if the Lord would now take over the political kingdom of the country of Israel (Acts 1 :6). But the Lord promised them power and divine ability when the Holy Ghost would come upon them. This is what happened in their lives. They became ignited; activated and divinely empowered for the work of God and they were not afraid again. The first preaching that Apostle Peter rose up to do raked in about three thousand converts in one day. The fire of Pentecost began and continued to burn in their souls.

Yes, we need that fire upon us; even today we need such power. We need to demonstrate such divine enablement in order to affect our generation. For us to visibly manifest the glory of the Lord among the nations, we need the unction to function. For it is the anointing through the Holy Ghost that makes the difference, that gets the work of God done sweetly, cheaply, without frustration, but with ease.

The only way we can access the power of God is through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ our Lord, the Messiah, came to the earth, initially for about thirty years He had no impact. They didn’t know Him, He did nothing, until when the Holy Ghost came upon Him in Matt. 3: 16. For thirty years He was just the quiet son of Joseph, the carpenter. But at His Baptism the Holy Ghost came mightily upon Him and He became an instant celebrity. Acts 10:38, Luke 4: 14.

He, thereafter, began to move about doing good, preaching with power and great authority. The wisdom with which He operated was referred to as a mighty wisdom. Miracles, signs and great wonders attended and attested to His earthly ministry. The power of the Holy Spirit launched Him into the realm of fame and prominence.

Jesus said to the disciples when He was about leaving the earth in Luke 24:49, “... Tarry ye at the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from high.” He is re-echoing same to us today as we have the gospel harvest of our generation in view. You can only go places, when you are endued with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Charles Grandison Finney said, “Power from on high is the supreme need of today.” And in the words of F.B. Meyer, “If Christ waited to be anointed before He went to preach, no young man ought to preach until he too, has been anointed by the Holy Ghost.”

All correspondence to the editor, The Living Word, Ibadan Anglican Diocese, P. O. Box 3075 Mapo, Ibadan. For your prayer and counselling needs, visit or call these lines. Archbishop’s Palace, 3 Arigidi Street, Old Bodija Ibadan. Tel: 02- 8101400 or 8102298, GSM: 08039135983, 08060947795. E-mail messiah@Skannet.com.

The mess of the last day Church and the spirit of anti-Christ

By Prophet Wale Olagunju

THE church is a place where God is worshipped a supposed reformatory ground where people’s lives are moulded to the standard taste and desire of the living God. It ought not to be a breeding ground for criminals of all sort.

But what can we say or what result do we expect when the head is rotten, definitely in clear terms the whole body will be affected. The requirement of God from anybody who is set to carry his vessel is so clearly stated. It is pure holiness, no more, no less. 1 Tim. 3:1-13, Tit 1:5-9, 1 Pet 1:16.

From all church workers, right from Brotherhood down to the Bishophood, God requires nothing but holiness. Anybody that must stand before God to minister is required to measure above abroad. Such a person must be ready to forsake sin and all the glamour attached to it.

Today, it is an eye-sore to see Pastors who ought to be Soul winners dining with the devil. No wonder today’s church lacks serious discipline and as a result, has shown itself as member of a rotten society.

Because of the bad international credentials of some Nigerian pastors, people today are tempted to ask if there is any true church of Christ in Nigeria.

Many Nigerian pastors today have become desperados in their chosen career as most of them are never called by God. They do all sorts of unholy things to get money. They extort money from their members and other innocent souls under the guise of the scripture. They use the name of the Most High God and Holy Spirit to rob innocent souls.
Think about how money is raised in the church today, you will find out that it is questionable, dishonourable and alien to God. It is anti-scriptural, anti-historical and insult on the church of God.

One thing is however sure; everybody (including the so called men of God) will stand before the throne of God to give account of his/her stewardship.

A scan through the list of atrocities being perpetrated by these pastors will reveal astonishing crimes against God and humanity. Today’s pastors are not winning souls for Christ again. They have abandoned their primary role and are daily busy enriching their pockets under the pretext of god saith. In the church today under the so called Pastors, right in their nose, covetousness and corruption of all sorts is clearly and audibly pronounced. Pastors, this day have abandoned their primary assignment and have opted for messages of break-through and prosperity.

It is only a mentally deranged person and a matured son of the devil that would say that the churches led by these pastors are not seriously sick, corrupt and are in business of making money instead of serving God in holiness.

Despite the large number of churches and pastors today the sinful and corrupt nature of Nigerians is on the increase. The so called soul savers are like make threading on rocky path. They are impactless. 2 Peter 1:1.

The early church did not permit woman praying without covering her head 1 Cor. 11 not did they allow them to wear trouser Deut. 22:5. All this you would found in the end time church with satanic slogan, hellow somebody, Hi Sir.

If there is any business that flourishes today like hot cake, it is this end time business called church. Their members go about with the Tag born again Xian & speak in tongue, but they are far from being regenerated no wonder there is room for divorce and remarrying in their church. Matt. 19:3-9.

Coming to there wedding program they open their breast for people to see, what manner of satanic marriage is this? And their pastor were happy in blessing such a marriage.

Prophet Wale Olagunju, presiding Bishop, Divine Seed of God Chapel Ministry.