By Innocent Anoruo
Senior Copy Editor
Prelate of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim (C & S) Worldwide, Israel Akinadewo, has cautioned against actions in the body of Christ which place a rock on the church.
He warned that those who place a rock on the church end up in a headlong collision with the power of the Almighty God.
The church should be on the rock and not vice versa, he counselled in his sermon entitled “Upon this Rock, I will Build My Church” at the dedication of Saint Mene Otubu Parish on Alafia Street, Surulere, Lagos.
The dedication, which was held in the church auditorium, drew many Christian leaders from across the country.
They included Anambra State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Tim Okpala; Lagos State CAN Chairman, Alexander Bamgbala; Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide General Evangelist, Joseph Otubu; and David Onanuga.
“When a church is built on the rock, it has a solid foundation,” Akinadewo affirmed, and the building becomes “a never-say-die project, which people all over the world will attest to.”
He said those whose actions affect the church negatively put a rock on the church, especially those who aspire to positions they are not ordained for.
He encouraged people to be ambitious, but not inordinately ambitious.
“Most people are short of ideas of the positions they are aspiring to, and which God does not want for them.
“Even the ones on whose rock the church is built have no creativity to excel, for their main target is to do that which another person has been assigned to excel.
“When you make yourself a solid rock for the rock to be built on, and you have creatively re-engineered and re-energised the church to a level of envy, people of low esteem will see you as their enemy; they talk ill of you, and will even aspire to bring you down.
“But people of high esteem, Godly people, men of integrity and honour, will appreciate you and encourage you the more.”
Akinadewo warned that putting a rock on the church is like refusing to open for Jesus Christ when He knocks at the door of our heart.
“When our souls are free of immorality, filth and other sinful acts, Jesus Christ will visit us, become our Friend and we shall joyfully be His children.
“But if the reverse is the case, we are putting the rock on the church, that is, we are sending Jesus Christ away from our lives.”
He said to be on good terms with God, one must understand the mystery of God, surround oneself with those who fear God, desist from testing God, avoid negative rivalry, and leave the stage when the ovation is loudest.
Characteristic of C & S churches, the sermon was interjected with praise songs by the choir, and Akinadewo recalled that he used to be a choirmaster.
Hymns were sung and psalms recited.
And prayers were said for thanksgiving and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, blessing, and mercy of God, as well as the growth of the church worldwide.