By Samuel Olamide Osifuye
Christ Apostolic Church, Pentecostal Chapel, Pentecostal District Headquarters, Life and Power Zone, Lagos, marked an extraordinary 28 years of spiritual impact and service on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
The jubilant celebration, held at the church premises, was a grand event filled with powerful worship, testimonies, and a dynamic sermon. This anniversary event followed a one-week revival themed "Kingdom Power", which prepared the congregation for the momentous occasion.
The anniversary featured song ministrations from a variety of church choirs. The Angelic Voices, the host choir, led the congregation in uplifting praise, while the Echoes of Angels (Children’s Choir), CACMA and Good Women Choir, Fountain of Glory District Choir, and Hosanna Voices from the Life & Power Zonal Headquarters also offered harmonious performances.
A powerful testimony was shared during the service, recounting a miraculous healing that occurred during the Kingdom Power revival. A man, who had been bedridden and struggled with frequent urinary incontinence, was brought to the church by his wife. After being prayed for, the man experienced an immediate change: he stopped wetting himself. Also, eight people gave their lives to Jesus Christ at the conclusion of the revival. This healing and salvation experienced served as a vivid demonstration of God’s power and left the congregation in awe of His miraculous works.
In recognition of exceptional dedication and service to the church, Commitment Awards were presented to Mr. & Mrs. Olaitan Adeniyi and Mrs. Omolara Olayiwola. Their unwavering support of the church’s mission over the years was celebrated, inspiring others to commit themselves to God’s work.
The event also celebrated the successful completion of a 26-week Discipleship Training program. Participants who had devoted their time to spiritual growth received certificates in several categories, including Christian Foundation & Baptism, Intending Workers & Christian Service, Christian Service & Ministry, Yoruba Adult Christian Service & Ministry, and Christian Membership.
The sermon, delivered by Superintendent of CAC Life & Power Zone, Pastor Michael Tunji Oladapo, was centered on the theme "Kingdom Power Demonstration: Apostle Paul as a Model." Drawing from 1 Corinthians 4:20, Pastor Olatunji emphasized the critical role of divine power in authentic Christian ministry. He stated, “There’s no amount of talk that can produce results without power backing it. If your sermon is backed by power, people will listen and accept your God.”
He explained that the Greek word for "demonstration" (apodeisis) means to display or showcase, while the term dunamis refers to the supernatural power of God, which is indispensable for effective ministry.
Pastor Olatunji referenced several biblical examples where God’s power was visibly demonstrated. He pointed to Apostle Paul’s healing miracles through his handkerchief, which led many to believe in God, as well as the healing of the crippled man at the temple gate in Acts 3. This miracle set the stage for Peter’s sermon, resulting in many coming to faith.
Offering practical guidance on how believers can receive and manifest Kingdom Power, Pastor Oladapo encouraged the congregation to live lives of purity, avoiding sin, and to cultivate a child-like faith. He highlighted Hebrews 11:6, which says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” stressing that faith is not only necessary for pleasing God but also for demonstrating His power. He further urged believers to recognize God’s sovereignty, align their will with His, and develop a deep hunger for His power through prayer, meditation, and the study of the Word.
The sermon also reflected on key moments in Scripture when God’s kingdom power was revealed. These included the act of Creation, where God spoke and the universe came into being; Noah’s Flood, where God’s power eradicated sin; the Exodus, where God delivered the Israelites with His mighty hand; and Daniel in the Lion’s Den, where God’s protection led the king to acknowledge His sovereignty.
Pastor Olatunji concluded with the example of Jesus in Acts 10:38, where it is written, “He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,” illustrating that Jesus demonstrated the power of the Kingdom in His earthly ministry.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Superintendent of CAC Pentecostal District, Pastor I.T. Ariyo emphasized that the starting point of the gospel is to make people hear the good news through preaching. “The gospel must be preached, it must be heard,” he stated.
However, he stressed that simply hearing the gospel is not the fulfillment of the kingdom. He explained, “The true demonstration of the kingdom involves an experiential and personal encounter with God's power,” adding that this encounter serves as evidence of the kingdom’s impact. According to Pastor Ariyo, “The gospel is not confined to Christian traditions or rituals,” but must extend beyond the church to the world in order to demonstrate its transformative power convincingly.
Pastor Ariyo called for a shift in how Christian services and ministrations are approached.
He urged the congregation, “Preaching, teaching, or any form of ministration should not be an end in itself, but a means to affect people's lives.”
He challenged them to ensure that their preaching and teaching lead to “genuine encounters with God that will bring about transformation.” Without this, he warned, “people will seek alternatives outside the church.”
Present at the celebration were the Superintendent, CAC Life and Power Zone, Pastor Michael Tunji Oladapo; Superintendent, Fountain of Provision District, Pastor James Akinpelu; Curate, CAC Pentecostal District, Pastor Gabriel Aminu; and many others.
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