 |
| DCC Superintendent of CAC Ebute-Meta DCC, Pastor Gbenga Adelusi |
By Oluwagbenga Bankole
The Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Ebute-Meta Districts' Coordinating Council (DCC), Lagos, Pastor Gbenga Adelusi, has emphasized that the Holy Spirit remains the sustaining pillar and foundation of the Church of God.
He made this known while delivering a lecture at the Honorary Pastoral Ordination Training Programme of the Christ Apostolic Church, held at Ikeji-Arakeji, in Osun State.
Speaking at the sacred gathering in Ikeji-Arakeji, Pastor Adelusi delivered a message titled, “The Holy Spirit: The Pillar of the Church,” drawing his teachings from Matthew 16:18, Luke 24:49, Acts 2:1–4, and Acts 20:28.
He explained that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, who promised to build His Church with the assurance that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
According to him, this promise was fulfilled through the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, which marked the birth of the Church.
“The Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church and remains its sustainer. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church will lack power, direction, and spiritual vitality,” he said.
Pastor Adelusi stressed that the early apostles understood the importance of the Holy Spirit, noting that they waited in unity for His coming, which demonstrated their dependence on divine empowerment rather than human ability.
He further clarified that the Holy Spirit is not inferior to God but is the third Person in the Trinity, equal with the Father and the Son. He described the Holy Spirit as the Church’s Counselor, Guide, Comforter, and Source of power.
“The Holy Spirit is not an errand boy but a divine personality appointed to stand by believers, guide them, and empower them to fulfill their divine mandate,” he stated.
The cleric also explained that the Church does not refer to physical buildings but to the body of redeemed believers called out of the world to worship and serve God.
He warned against attempts by individuals to take the place of the Holy Spirit in directing Church affairs, emphasizing that everything the early Church accomplished was done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Highlighting the functions of the Holy Spirit in the Church, Pastor Adelusi noted that the Spirit empowers worship, strengthens fellowship, enables evangelism, provides teaching and instruction, supports ministry, and ensures proper organization within the Church.
He added that effective preaching and ministry must flow from the infilling and overflow of the Holy Spirit, noting that human wisdom, education, or position cannot replace the power and guidance of the Spirit.
“The Holy Spirit is the life, power, and strength of the Church. He guides the Church into truth, helps believers to pray, gives spiritual gifts, and enables the Church to fulfill its divine purpose,” he said.
Pastor Adelusi concluded by encouraging the ordination trainees to depend fully on the Holy Spirit in their ministerial calling, reminding them that the success and effectiveness of their ministry would be determined by their submission to His leadership.
Structured evangelism and church planting remain key components of the three-point agenda of the Church President, and this pre-ordination training exercise is expected to further strengthen the vision by providing more labourers for effective church planting and evangelism.