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| Pastor Samuel O. Oladele |
By Boluwatife Oparinde
The President of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas Pastor Samuel O. Oladele has emphasized the need to be strong in the Lord in this perilous time.
Pastor Oladele, represented by the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor Emmanuel O. Odejobi stated this at the Grand-Finale of the 40th Convocation Ceremonies of Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary (CACTS), Main Campus, Opa, Ile-Ife held on Friday, November 26, 2021.
Taking his text from Ephesians 6:10, Pastor Oladele expressed that it is necessary to be strong in the Lord because paradoxically, "we are going to fight to claim souls. Satan owns the souls we are going to claim. Someone that owns souls is not a lazy one. The goods of satan is our intention to go and claim, and these goods of Satan are the souls of men."
"The goods of Satan are the souls under his custody. The goods of Satan are the souls that belong to him and the purpose of which Jesus Christ came is to seek and save these souls. That is Operation Walk and Work," he said.
The cleric also identified some of the ways of being strong in the Lord from the surrounding texts of Ephesians 6:10, which are, the loins of truthfulness; loins of fruitfulness; breastplate of righteousness; shield of faith and sword of the Spirit; shoes of evangelism; and the helmet of salvation.
According to him, "righteousness is knowing and doing what is right. The shoes of evangelism is peace - preaching Jesus Christ. Make sure you maintain peace at all times. The helmet of salvation is Holiness. Without holiness, nobody can see the Lord."
Pastor Oladele who analogized that Christians must be brave, furthered that, "your two hands must be occupied because as you are going out, you must be offensive and as well be defensive. You maintain being defensive with the shield of faith."
Laying strong emphasis on being offensive and defensive, he cited that Jesus employed a defensive weapon "It is written" three times which made him escape the temptation and snare of the devil after he had fasted and prayed for forty days and nights.
While addressing the menace of ministers with several self-acclaimed titles, Pastor Oladele, who stated that, “the sons of Sceva said 'Paul we know, the Jesus you are preaching we know, but who are you?' Satan will continue to make mockery and jest of you," advised ministers to run away from doom and come naked so as to be covered through grace of the dear beloved Master (Jesus) and never to encounter shame.
Facing the Graduands, the Visitor of the Seminary said that, "if you wish God to be with you, these are the only things you need to do. To be fully armed as soldiers of Christ. Before you go out, we want you to know, there is also the place of Experience (which he described as "iririology"). You are going out to face challenges, and if careful enough, you will not ignore this charge."
In his closing, he led the graduands to pray for decoration, preparation and being equipped by Christ so as to avoid failures in their ministerial journeys.