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| Director of Youth Affairs, CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samson O. Gbuyiro |
By Oluwagbenga Bankole & Samuel Olamide Osifuye
The Director of Youth Affairs, Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria And Overseas, Pastor Samson O. Gbuyiro has encouraged students from tertiary institutions in the country and beyond, to engage the power of God they carry for a fulfilled life.
He said this during his Keynote Address at the Academic Stars Summit 2024 organized by the CAC Directorate of Youth Affairs, held at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.
Pastor Gbuyiro noted that to overcome impossibilities and ride on life's obstacles to the mountaintop of glorification, God has deposited His power inside all His children who are responsible for its release, adding that; "it is possible to carry such power yet live miserable lives and get frustrated if you fail to engage it."
The CAC Youth Director charged the students never to judge themselves by their background, prevailing circumstances, or weaknesses, telling them they are richer than their imaginations.
He added that; "your best will always arise when you tap into the best gifts and treasures deposited within you."
According to him, the gospel of Christ is not about languages or culture but about God's power at work through His children, challenging the kingdom of darkness, emphasizing this as practical Christianity.
Quoting Acts 1:8, Pastor Gbuyiro opined that there is no better way to prove our readiness for the next move of God in our land and the world at large than to respond to God by waiting and thirsting for spiritual endowments like the early Apostles in the upper room.
Dissecting 1st Cor. 2:4, the Clergyman said the deserved change and revival we need on campus require that the Sons and Daughters of Zion awaken and unleash their inner power (God's supernatural ability) in the face of challenges.
"Now that you have been made to understand the stuff you are made of and, particularly, the indwelling power waiting for expression, are you willing to unleash your inner power for exploits? Are you ready to challenge the uncircumcised of this generation? Do you see yourself daring and winning in what others are running away from? Can't you take advantage of this gross darkness to shine your light? Are you ready for the power demonstration? Can God count on you?," he said.
Pastor Gbuyiro further told the students that, "the dimension of influence, performance, and result you can generate in life is proportionate to the power working in you. Man is made to live from inside out; the real man lives on the inside. One of the great surprises in life is to see a man doing a task that he is allegedly not able to do, judging by his outlook or physical disposition."
He further stressed that in this regard, David's life expressed priceless lessons to challenge our faith and courage to let loose our inner power in the face of life challenges.
"Humanly speaking, there was nothing appreciable enough in David's outlook to convince King Saul and the entire army of Israel that he could kill Golliath. Therefore, Saul persuaded him not to waste his youthful life. Also, his own brothers misunderstood him and took his confidence and passion for pride. Reacting to this, Goliath despised David because he did not look like a warrior, judging by his age and physical appearance, with ordinary staff in his hand as a weapon. However, David will not be intimidated because God's power in him was waiting to explode like a time bomb, which Goliath, with his expertise and experience, will not be able to withstand and survive," he stated.
The Youth Director also told the students that; "you cannot imagine the potency of your inner power unless you unleash it. The potency of a bullet can't be measured or determined until it is released at a targeted object. It is unfortunate that, despite this heritage of power, many have voluntarily subjected their destinies to failure and defeat due to complaints and excuses. Let's be informed that there will be no challenge-free life; there is no such promise in the word of God."