Pastor Mich 'Tunji Oladapo
By 'Gbenga Bankole
The Zonal Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Life and Power Zone, Pastor Mich 'Tunji Oladapo has charged missionaries on the need to grow in the fear of God.
Pastor Oladapo said genuine fear of God implies total reliance on Him and what His power can do, saying that we must trust Him for what is able to do and what He refuses to do.
The Cleric stated this on Thursday September 15, 2022 while ministering on the topic "Growing in the Fear of God" at CAC Missions Conference 2022 holding at CAC All Saints' Chapel, CAC General Secretary, Ibadan.
He noted that growing in the fear of God is enhanced by daily feeding on the Word of God (personal devotion I Peter 2: 2: Joshua 1:8), daily commitment to prayer (1 Thess 5:17: Luke 18:1ff), fellowshipping and spiritual partnership (Prov. 27:17; Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:37-42), positive mentoring (Exodus 18), aggressive sharing of your faith daily (evangelizing -Acts 8:4.), shunning bad association (1 Cor. 15: 33; James 4: 4:11 Cor. 6: 14-18) and being heaven-focused (Col. 3:1-2).
The Cleric stated that the fear of God leads to loving God and our neighbours, explaining that "the early Church was characterized by godly fear and love that led to an affectionate fellowship with God and among the brethren. The fear of God must grow into the love of God in us and toward other Christians. We are to love God with our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our might (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)."
Pastor Oladapo said if actually you grow in the fear of God, "you will not manipulate His word for your selfish interest to take advantage of innocent people of God. You will not go to the mountain and begin to pray evil prayers against a colleague minister that is flourishing in his/her ministry.You will live a life of integrity like Abraham, Joseph, Job, Samuel, Elisha, Nehemiah, Daniel, whose lives and ministries are worthy of emulation, who were ever after the welfare and wellbeing of their people and not to defraud or extort them. You will not prioritize materialism above spiritualism, not using your ministry to extort and impoverish innocent but gullible people. You will not have secret wife/husband in the ministry, thinking that nobody knows.
"Remember God is omnipresent and Omniscient (Examples abound of Missioners that have special spouses in the field to perform wifely roles).You will live a life of daily self examination, examining yourself whether you are still in faith or not (2nd Cor. 13:5). Your desire will be to please Him in all things and at all times (1 Thess. 4: 1: Hebrews 11:5). You will conduct yourself and ministry with the consciousness of the fact that one day you will give an account of your stewardship before Him (2nd Corinthians 5:10). Always bear it in mind that God has not created an animal that He will not be able to tame or control. You're not greater than your Creator."
According to him, genuine fear of God demands trusting that God alone is sufficient in all situations, plus nothing minus nothing.
"When someone truly fears God, it makes the person yield to Him - no matter what. It implies not arrogating to oneself powers and authority that belongs to god. It means allowing God to take the glory for the successes and achievements in our lives and ministry. We should not put ourselves in the position of God. Sadly, however, this virtue of godly humility is missing out among the ministers of God today. Many ministers of God today see themselves as God in their respective places. God has no master. He has neither a leader nor a mentor. He doesn't take instructions from anyone. This is what many ministers exhibit in their character today. Many ministers today show no regard to the authority of the Church. The fear of God creates a deep desire to obey and please Him above all things, not wanting to disappoint Him and also taking into consideration having to give an account of ourselves before Him. Godly fear, therefore, is more than mere respect for God. It goes far deeper, acknowledging there is a reckoning that will take place," Pastor Oladapo said.