Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the President
and founder of the Living Faith Church worldwide, also Known as Winners’
Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, which has gone viral.
He was reported to
have made the statement last Sunday when the President of the federal
republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came to worship at
Faith Tabernacle, which is the headquarters of the ministry.
The
falsehood that is being spread around by mischief makers is that the
Bishop, while praying for the President, said, “I will open the gates of
hell to anyone who oppose you.” A little later, some others who in an
attempt to “defend” the Bishop, came up with another quote purportedly
said by Dr. Oyedepo, which is: “I will open the gates of hell to those
who oppose the peace of this nation.”
Well, let’s set the records
straight: The Press and Publicity Unit of the church, publishers of
Faith Tabernacle News, was at the 3rd service and recorded (on tape),
the President’s 6-minute speech, the congregational prayer for him and
the Bishop’s blessing on the President.
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,
who is also the presidential candidate of the ruling party – the PDP,
came to the church as the President of this country, not as a candidate
in the forthcoming elections. And Bishop Oyedepo prayed for him, as
instructed in the Bible book of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, as the President of
Nigeria not as a PDP standard-bearer.
HOW THE BISHOP AND THE CONGREGATION PRAYED FOR THE PRESIDENT
Even
though we have published it on this platform, for those who are yet to
read it, these were the exact words spoken by the Bishop while he was
leading the congregational prayers for the President. As always, he took
his bearing from the Word of God:
“1st Timothy 2:1-2: I exhort you
therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers and intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” Then on the priority list is
“For kings and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
“I only had an idea
of the President’s visit just yesterday. It wasn’t there last Friday
when we had the One Night with The king. So we are going to be praying
for our President. Let prayers and supplications and intercessions be
made for all men; first of all, for kings, and for them that are in
authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and honesty.
And after that I will do what the priests are asked
to do. It says “Speak to Aaron, that after this manner shall ye bless.”
Proclaim blessings as a priest of God over our President, and the
blessings will answer, in the name of Jesus Christ.
In Numbers
6:23-26, The Lord said to Moses and the children of Israel saying “On
this wise shall ye bless the children of Israel saying: The Lord bless
thee and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be
gracious unto thee; The Lord lift His countenance upon thee and give
thee peace.”
When that blessing comes to stay, something happens.
You see, the generation of the Old Testament knew the value of
blessings; they would even cry for it. Every blessing proclaimed upon
you today must answer on your life.
I like us to be on our feet
and lift the President up to God. Whatever you desire to see God bring
about in his life; bring about in our nation, begin to pray that prayer
right now.
Father, release your grace upon the President to manage the demands of his office.
Release unusual grace in increasing dimensions, to manage the demands of his office.
Cause your face to shine upon him.
Lord, grant the desires of his heart.
Grant Nigeria peace.
Under him, grant Nigeria greater advancement.
Thank you father, in Jesus’ name we pray.”
THEN THE BISHOP ALONE PRAYED FOR THE PRESIDENT
“This entire church proclaims the President blessed today
Blessed with divine wisdom to manage the demands of his office
Blessed with keys to see the miraculous in his life
Blessed with grace that will advance His cause in our nation
Every
time we pray here, God hears. The Bible says “Wherever 2 or 3 are
gathered, I’m there in their midst, and if we agree concerning anything,
it’s done for us.” Therefore, in the name of Jesus, our President is
declared blessed.
His going out is blessed, his coming in is blessed.
The will of God is blessed in his life.
Thank you father, blessed be your name, in Jesus precious name.”
And the whole congregation shouted “Amen.” That was it!
NOTE:
1. There was no mention of “hell” in the prayer
2. There was no mention of “the gates of hell” in the prayer
3. There was no mention of “opposition” or “oppose” in that prayer
4.
It is very clear that these mischief makers where waiting for an
opportunity, which presented itself in President Jonathan’s visit to the
church in the heat of the campaigns. And with what we have seen, most
politicians can do just anything to whip up sentiments and score cheap
political points.
5. The church has never been involved in
partisan politics but has been prayerfully active in ensuring that the
Nigerian ship doesn’t sink
6. The church has always obeyed the biblical injunction to pray for those in authority and the “peace of Jerusalem.”
7.
This is not an attempt to defend the church or Bishop Oyedepo, as we
already know that no matter how far a lie has travelled, the truth will
definitely overtake it.
8. This is also not an attempt to defend God, because the Almighty God is more than able to defend himself.
9.
As you read this, no one has even called to confirm from the ministry
the veracity of this claim and a video recording of the service which is
equally online has been labeled “doctored” by those who are bent on
dragging the name of the church into partisan politics.
10. For
the record, this is exactly what happened; whatever is being peddled was
obviously created by those who want to benefit politically from the
controversy; and promoted by bloggers who want to drive traffic to their
sites; and spread by those who already think they have an axe to grind
with their perceived lifestyle of Bishop Oyedepo.
Jesus is Lord!