Top Pastor Flays Oyedepo View On Church Closures

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The Senior Pastor of The Covenant Nation, Poju Oyemade has disagreed with the claims of some Nigerian pastors that the continued closure of churches by the government has ulterior motives.

In recent days, the social media has been awash with the assertions of some Nigerian pastors that the closure of churches is suspicious, considering that markets are allowed to open.

Bishop David Oyedepo, the Senior Pastor of Living Faith Ministries, on Wednesday, argued that continued closure of churches is an attempt by the ‘power of darkness’ to halt the growth of the church, noting that those in government were being influenced by the dark powers.

The revered cleric questioned the rationale for the opening of markets for six hours and not allowing churches to open for two hours.

Earlier, the General Overseer of Love World Incorporated (Christ Embassy), Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, criticized pastors who agreed with the government to close down churches, noting that the church heals more people than hospitals.

Pastor Poju, in an Instagram post, said the closing of churches do not stop the power of the Holy Spirit to move, noting that the Apostles in the Acts of Apostles carried out miracles on the streets and not in physical buildings.

“Closing the doors of a physical building does not in any way mean the closure of the anointing of the Spirit from working,” he said.

He further said power resides in Christians not in physical buildings and can be activated if Christians pray in there various homes and streets.

In his words, “There is a difference between expression of emotions and the manifestation of the anointing to heal the sick. There is nowhere in Jesus’s ministry where the healing of the sick was preceded by a congregational service.

“In the Book of Acts, the sick were healed predominantly on the streets with no fanciful service going on. Closure of a church building does not stop the rivers of living water from flowing out of your belly. It resides in our inner man.

“There was collective prayer to receive a supply of the Spirit which led to outdoor manifestations.

“Did he not say to the Church at Phillipi, I know this shall turn to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus. The Church was miles away from where Paul was.

“Charles Finney began a massive revival by people praying in their homes all keeping watches at the same time. They all chose the exact time to pray and they did in their homes until the Spirit broke out on the streets.

“They did not criticize any other Church or ministry of weakness. Criticizing others doesn’t attest to the fact that you have strength. They only stayed with God until something broke out on the streets.”

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