by Kayode Jason

 

Unlike Aribisala, I cannot lay claim to have pastored a church but as a church goer I know that God blesses us primarily for the promotion of His kingdom on earth. 

[READ: Exposing the lies of Nigerian Babalawo pastors by Femi Aribisala]

“Bishop David Oyedepo says poverty is not of God.  He insists a child of God has no business being poor and declares: “There’s a proven covenant cure for poverty.”  If this were true and proven, all the world’s poor would have become rich Christians by now.

Let us juxtapose the bishop’s enticing words with the word of God and see whose report should be believed.  Jesus says: “You will always have the poor among you.” (John 12:8).  Moses says: “The poor will never cease from the land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11).  So where does that leave Bishop Oyedepo’s “proven covenant cure for poverty?”  It is a pie in the sky.”

 

I read YNaija often and by extension I often also read Femi Aribisala’s articles. Sometimes I agree with him, sometimes I just chuckle and move on but today for the sake of those who may wish to know the truth about biblical prosperity, I have chosen to reply him. [I will like to recommend Kenneth Hagins’ book, The Midas Touch for more reading on biblical prosperity]

Femi Aribisala claimed to have been a pastor for nine years, [Why Pastors Don’t Go To Heaven (2) By Femi Aribisala  [READ HERE]  I expect him to have read the entire Bible at least once in those nine years so am shocked that he thinks poverty is of God. May I quote copiously from the scriptures?

Poverty is not of God and covenant cure for poverty is not a pie in the sky.  “But keep in mind the Lord your God: for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, so that he may give effect to the agreement which he made by his oath with your fathers, as at this day” Deuteronomy 8:18 [ BBE version].

The power to get wealth is given to each individual when the terms of the   agreement God made with an oath is fulfilled. God’s agreement is an eternal  agreement, still in effect till today.

“And I will make between me and you and your seed after you through all generations, an eternal agreement to be a God to you and to your seed after you” Genesis 17:7 [ BBE version]   

Again the scripture says

“Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” Psalm 66:12 [KJV version]       

God singles out individuals who chooses to follow His terms of agreement and

He blesses them.

“Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged .Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody” Isaiah 51:1,2,3. [KJV version]

And

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Revelation 3:8. [KJV version]  

Aribisala wrote “If this were true and proven, all the world’s poor would have become rich Christians by now.” Biblical prosperity is a covenant walk, it’s not a promise. Most Christian assumes it’s a promise so we neglect to do our part but we expect God to fulfil His. God said you do this and I will do that.

“He has kept his agreement in mind for ever, the word which he gave for a thousand generations;” Psalm 105:8. [BBE version]

I would rather that I fulfil the terms of the agreement and I expect God to do His part. I would rather be part of those giving unto others than be the poor that people will give to. The terms of the covenant are simple:

[1] Be born again. Without this no one can be truly blessed.

[2] Be a faithful tither. Malachi 3: 10,11,12.

[3] Be a committed giver. Psalm 20:1,2,3,4.

God gives wisdom and knowledge and thereby we have the power to get wealth.

“Truly there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is washed out…. But where may wisdom be seen? And where is the resting-place of knowledge…. God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place … And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge” Job 28:1,12,23,28 [BBE version]  

Unlike Aribisala, I cannot lay claim to have pastured a church but as a church  goer I know that God blesses us primarily for the promotion of His kingdom on   earth. God blesses us so as to rescue the individual from shame, begging is   shameful also lack and want is stressful. God blesses us so we can   bless humanity.  Zechariah 1:17. Joel 2:25,26,27. Proverbs 28:27.

“In the churches, truth has fallen in the pews and falsehood has become the  established doctrine” 

I agree that there are charlatans in cassocks but are the men listed in the article  charlatans? No sir, they are not. I have heard Bishop Oyedepo assert severally  while preaching that Winners church owes no man dead or alive.  I have heard  him quote Zechariah 5:3 severally warning the congregants; “Then said he unto   me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth; for   everyone that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every   one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it”.  Pray tell, how can a man who say such words be deemed a “babalawo pastor”?

I Corinthians  6:1,2,3 came to my mind as I read what Femi Aribisala wrote   about Bishop Oyedepo, Pastors Matthew Ashimolowo, Wale Adefarasin and  Kenneth Copeland.  One of my mentors once said, “Beware of the son who  publicly disparages his family members. If he can speak anyhow of his blood  how much more you”. I guess I should heed his words as should you.

I cannot speak for any of the four men mentioned. I doubt even if any one of  them would want to reply Aribisala. I just have a question for him; isn’t it  written that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance?

———————–

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.