Ministering at the November monthly
Holy Ghost Service with the theme: ‘Great Expectations’, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye (Daddy G.O.) revealed how he was gripped with the fear of death during one of his
numerous trips outside the country.
Holy Ghost Service with the theme: ‘Great Expectations’, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye (Daddy G.O.) revealed how he was gripped with the fear of death during one of his
numerous trips outside the country.
Known for using personal experiences
to illustrate his sermons Pastor Adeboye recalled how he was gripped with fear and close to
death during one of his trips with the then Nigeria Airways.
to illustrate his sermons Pastor Adeboye recalled how he was gripped with fear and close to
death during one of his trips with the then Nigeria Airways.
In his words: “Contrary to what many
of you may think I am human and I have my fears too. There were times I have
had cause to fear and doubt because I am human but God always ended up
disappointing my fears and doubts.
of you may think I am human and I have my fears too. There were times I have
had cause to fear and doubt because I am human but God always ended up
disappointing my fears and doubts.
“In one of my trips with the then
Nigeria Airways, the pilot had announced, when we were already airborne, that
there were indications that the plane would crash-land. Immediately the pilot
made the announcement, I was afraid and as if that was not enough, he said
there were expert fire fighters who would put out the fire when the plane
crashes.”
Nigeria Airways, the pilot had announced, when we were already airborne, that
there were indications that the plane would crash-land. Immediately the pilot
made the announcement, I was afraid and as if that was not enough, he said
there were expert fire fighters who would put out the fire when the plane
crashes.”
Continuing, Pastor Adeboye said:
“Immediately I embarked on a quick run through my life just to be sure I was
ready to meet my Maker. I also told God that I never knew this was how I would
end my race. I was really afraid,” noting that there are some things that will
happen to people that will make them to be really afraid, anointing or no
anointing.
“Immediately I embarked on a quick run through my life just to be sure I was
ready to meet my Maker. I also told God that I never knew this was how I would
end my race. I was really afraid,” noting that there are some things that will
happen to people that will make them to be really afraid, anointing or no
anointing.
Laughing over the situation which
has become a testimony, Adeboye said the fear of death temporarily took over
him and other passengers until God assured him that he was not going to die and
that the situation occurred so that God can communicate with him.
has become a testimony, Adeboye said the fear of death temporarily took over
him and other passengers until God assured him that he was not going to die and
that the situation occurred so that God can communicate with him.
“When God gave me that assurance
that we will not die that He only wanted to have a conversation with me, I felt
relaxed and as God would have it, the Lord took charge of the plane and we
landed safely,” he narrated.
that we will not die that He only wanted to have a conversation with me, I felt
relaxed and as God would have it, the Lord took charge of the plane and we
landed safely,” he narrated.
In another related account, Pastor
Adeboye explained that because of his previous experience which God took
control of, he was not disturbed.
Adeboye explained that because of his previous experience which God took
control of, he was not disturbed.
“In another of my travels, the pilot
had announced that there would be a lot of storm at the arrival terminal going
by the weather report. The implication is that there will be trouble while
landing.
had announced that there would be a lot of storm at the arrival terminal going
by the weather report. The implication is that there will be trouble while
landing.
“When I heard that announcement I
knew God was in charge. I took the little meal they served because I ride in
economy; but the man that sat beside me could not eat. I asked why he was not
eating and he replied: ‘so you understand English; don’t you hear what the
pilot just said that there will be a lot of storm at landing because of the bad
weather.’
knew God was in charge. I took the little meal they served because I ride in
economy; but the man that sat beside me could not eat. I asked why he was not
eating and he replied: ‘so you understand English; don’t you hear what the
pilot just said that there will be a lot of storm at landing because of the bad
weather.’
“I said I heard.” He was confused
thinking what kind of human being is this? But he insisted he was not going to
eat. So I offered to help with his food since I was still hungry and he freely
gave me the food.
thinking what kind of human being is this? But he insisted he was not going to
eat. So I offered to help with his food since I was still hungry and he freely
gave me the food.
“I ate the food and slept off. God
took charge. By the time we were about to land, the pilot announced to us that
the weather forecast was wrong. We got down safely. I looked at the face of the
man sitting beside me and he looked at my face and laughed. But then the Lord
told me that the weather forecast was not wrong that He was the one who
diverted the storm”.
took charge. By the time we were about to land, the pilot announced to us that
the weather forecast was wrong. We got down safely. I looked at the face of the
man sitting beside me and he looked at my face and laughed. But then the Lord
told me that the weather forecast was not wrong that He was the one who
diverted the storm”.
Linking another personal story with
that of Abraham and his wife, Sarah, Adeboye explained that there were many
instances where he had doubted God “but some times God looks beyond our faith
to bless us and do His wonders in our lives because of His mercy.”
that of Abraham and his wife, Sarah, Adeboye explained that there were many
instances where he had doubted God “but some times God looks beyond our faith
to bless us and do His wonders in our lives because of His mercy.”
Adeboye maintained that Abraham,
described as father of faith, doubted God when he fell on his face after God
had told him his children would be as the stars; Sarah laughed when the Lord
told her she would have a son but God still went ahead to bless her.
described as father of faith, doubted God when he fell on his face after God
had told him his children would be as the stars; Sarah laughed when the Lord
told her she would have a son but God still went ahead to bless her.
Stressing that as individuals, we
have our moments of doubts and worry, he said “God will still do what He would
do. The leper that came to Jesus was healed even when his faith was not strong
enough to receive his healing. The Shunammite woman told Elisha not to deceive
her when Elisha gave a prophecy she would have a child. But the Lord still went
ahead to give her the child. At a point, John the Baptist doubted if Jesus was
the messiah or not.”
have our moments of doubts and worry, he said “God will still do what He would
do. The leper that came to Jesus was healed even when his faith was not strong
enough to receive his healing. The Shunammite woman told Elisha not to deceive
her when Elisha gave a prophecy she would have a child. But the Lord still went
ahead to give her the child. At a point, John the Baptist doubted if Jesus was
the messiah or not.”
The man of God recalled an incident
long ago when a woman came to the church’s maternity in Ilorin to deliver and
said she had made a covenant to die on the day of her delivery.
long ago when a woman came to the church’s maternity in Ilorin to deliver and
said she had made a covenant to die on the day of her delivery.
“I was invited to the scene and
wondered why the woman who was about to put to bed would decide to die in our
maternity. So I prayed for her and came to Lagos. A day after the woman brought
forth a baby and the midwives observed there was another baby inside her who
was not coming forth. And this woman refused to be taken to the hospital. Some
brethren came to Lagos to report the incidence and wanted my intervention and
prayers.”
wondered why the woman who was about to put to bed would decide to die in our
maternity. So I prayed for her and came to Lagos. A day after the woman brought
forth a baby and the midwives observed there was another baby inside her who
was not coming forth. And this woman refused to be taken to the hospital. Some
brethren came to Lagos to report the incidence and wanted my intervention and
prayers.”
Adeboye said when the brothers came
he had to put up a bold face and reprimanded them for traveling all the way
from Ilorin to Lagos because of the issue. He said he prayed with them that the
woman would have delivered before they got to Ilorin.
he had to put up a bold face and reprimanded them for traveling all the way
from Ilorin to Lagos because of the issue. He said he prayed with them that the
woman would have delivered before they got to Ilorin.
According to him; “When the brothers
left, I went to my room and locked the door and prostrated before God, crying
to Him to intervene in the matter. God answered me and said but I just
dismissed those people and assured them that the woman would be delivered her
baby before they get back to Ilorin. Why do you still doubt the prayers you
said earlier?
left, I went to my room and locked the door and prostrated before God, crying
to Him to intervene in the matter. God answered me and said but I just
dismissed those people and assured them that the woman would be delivered her
baby before they get back to Ilorin. Why do you still doubt the prayers you
said earlier?
“The Lord rebuked me. I tried to
excuse myself and said I just had to dismiss them so I could really settle the
matter with you, Lord. The Lord asked me to go and eat. I replied, Lord I have
been fasting but He said go and eat. Till today I did not know if the food
passed through my mouth or nose.
excuse myself and said I just had to dismiss them so I could really settle the
matter with you, Lord. The Lord asked me to go and eat. I replied, Lord I have
been fasting but He said go and eat. Till today I did not know if the food
passed through my mouth or nose.
“But the truth is that God still
went ahead and answered the prayers even when I was in doubt of the prayers I
had prayed. The woman was delivered of the second child in her womb and two
more babies making four babies from her,” Pastor Adeboye emphasized.
went ahead and answered the prayers even when I was in doubt of the prayers I
had prayed. The woman was delivered of the second child in her womb and two
more babies making four babies from her,” Pastor Adeboye emphasized.