BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, otherwise called Winners Chapel International, David Oyedepo, has said that Nigerians must be hardworking and have the fear of God in order to be glorious.
The bishop spoke at the 40th Holy Ghost Convention of the Christ Life Church, holding at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, with the theme, ‘The King of Glory.’
He said that the Almighty God, who created heavens and the earth, is hardworking, so a lazy man does not deserve to eat.
Oyedepo stated that the second coming of Jesus Christ was imminent, stressing that the Lord would not tolerate slothfulness on his return. Every Christian, he said, must adhere strictly to the word of God that commands them to occupy till He (Jesus) comes.
He compared the world with a marketplace, saying, “You don’t stand idle doing nothing in a business place. He who does not work should not eat. By doing nothing in the kingdom, you are not adding any value. There is nothing in doing nothing. The King of Glory says ‘Occupy till I come.’
“You must always be on duty because you don’t know the time He is coming. May you be found on duty when He comes.”
The clergyman said that the coming king is Jesus Christ. He asked, “What are we expected to be doing as we are expecting his coming? You must be found working. You must be engaged always. Though He is coming for rapture, He has always been coming for our appraisal.
“Stay awake, it’s your turn to change position. In all labour, there is a profit. I must say that nothing is greater than serving God, and having heart for God. You must be committed to soul winning. An investment in soul winning touches the heart of God. The real seed that adds value to your life is soul winning.
“The choice to serve God distinguishes people anywhere. Anybody serving God is ordained to be distinguished in his endeavors. It is a risk to stand idle at this time, be steadfast. What you don’t begin you don’t finish. It a beginner that will become a finisher. You have to stay awake because a state of slumber is a risk.
“The day you retire from a place, that is the time your promotion will stop. If you are a colonel in the Nigerian Army, the day you retired is the day your promotion stopped in the military. You will be addressed as a retired colonel. The Nigerian Army would not promote you to the rank of general based on your old age because you have retired as a colonel. So, you must be actively engaged in handling God’s work. Don’t stand idle; do something.”
Christ Life Church was founded in 1983 by Bishop Wale Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, who doubles as the National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
