Special Assistant to CAC President, Pastor David Tunde Asokeji
By Rachael Oke
As the world welcomes the new year, the Special Assistant to the President of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Tunde David Asokeji, has charged Christians to prioritize obedience to God's word, emphasizing that it is the key to possessing the blessings and opportunities that 2025 holds.
While addressing Christians on Saturday, December 28, during the third day of the "Possessing 2025" week-long program organized by CAC News, he stressed that obedience is crucial for a successful year.
Citing Isaac's example in Genesis 26, Pastor Asokeji highlighted obedience as essential to making the most of the coming year.
In his words, he said, "2025 is going to be for us a year of opportunity if we are willing to obey God."
He further stressed the importance of following God, even when His instructions seem illogical.
Pastor Asokeji explained this point, saying, "When I say illogical, I mean, looking at many of God's instructions in the Bible, they are senseless in the ordinary human mind - how could you get to the verge of the Red Sea and God will tell you to stretch your rod? Is it logical? He should have provided a boat or a ship, not just to tell me to stretch my rod."
"How can you get to the wall of Jericho, where there were houses on the wall and God will tell you to circle the city once a day and seven times on the seventh day." He illustrated.
It is only in obedience that our miracle will happen." He added.
Pastor Asokeji elaborated on the level of obedience required, stating that it must be total, not partial.
"Ninety-nine percent obedience is disobedience; delayed obedience is disobedience; negotiated obedience is disobedience; compelled obedience, waiting for something to happen for you to obey God, is disobedience." He noted.
He then referenced scripture, saying, "The Bible says, if you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land. No matter how difficult the situation of the land is, the word of God is sure that if you are willing and obedient there is good in the land; there is a good in the year 2025 that God wants us to possess."
Pastor Asokeji emphasized that as Christians, we should rely on the word of God as our guiding light.
He referenced Psalm 119, noting that God's word illuminates our path.
He also highlighted that Isaac, despite being a child of promise, faced challenges.
"Isaac was a child of promise who inherited generational promise of God from his father, Abraham. However, the fact that Isaac carried promised did not stop him from experiencing challenges." He cautioned.
"As a child of God, if anybody tells you that 2025 is not going to be a year of challenge, that person is deceiving you. Jesus never told us that when you become a Christian, you will not faced challenges but He said, I will be with you." He noted.
Pastor Asokeji reassured believers that God's presence is guaranteed, regardless of past or present challenges, as long as they follow His guidance.
He illustrated this point, saying, "There was a famine in the land and Isaac planned to go down to Egypt like his father did, but God told him not to go down.
Wherever God has placed you, be assured that He is with you, you are not lost in the crowd."
He also stressed the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with God in the new year, rather than relying solely on others.
"Today, many of us, base our faith on what our pastor, mentor, motivational speakers or social media influencers tell us; many young men and women do not even know what the Bible says anymore." He said.
Urging believers to take ownership of their faith, he said, "As a child of God, you must determine how God speak to you; you must be willing to have a personal relationship and it is important for us to be available for God to speak to us. You must know how God speaks to you."
Pastor Asokeji emphasized that obedience must be accompanied by hard work and intentional investment.
"For us to possess 2025, we must be willing to work; it is what we do that God blesses not what we think we will do." He stated.
"Sowing is an intentional activity. It may not be enough for you, but you must be willing to sow your seed and when I say sowing it involves investing, giving to the work of the Lord and being a blessing to those around you." He further explained.
Pastor Asokeji concluded by encouraging believers to persevere through challenges and not let opposition hinder their progress, just as Isaac did with the Philistines.