And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jer.3:15 KJV)
Last Thursday being May 2, my spiritual father, Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo celebrated with all his sons and daughters all over the world 38 years of impactful ministry. It was a week long celebration for the Winners Family Worldwide.
Thirty Eight (38) years ago, God delivered the liberation mandate to him in an 18-hour vision. Ever since then, the mandate has graciously spoken consistently, loudly and undeniably. I count myself privileged to be a partaker of this manifold grace.
In John 5, I saw a man who for 38 years was full of excuses and could not fulfil destiny. On the other hand, I see in my spiritual father, a man who placed demands on God and himself these 38 years, to maximize his destiny. And of a truth, the world is better for it.
My wife and I celebrate our man of God, pastor, mentor and father for so many reasons. Among other reasons, God used him to consecrate and commission us to full time ministry on September 7, 2016 and has imparted to us the spirit of faith via the Word of faith which he preaches and by laying on of hand. Also, I learned some lessons from him that have placed me on the peculiar path of auto success in life and ministry.
Therefore, I crave your indulgence to share some of these lessons. I believe they’ll bless you tremendously as they did to me and still do.
1. Seek God First!
Seeking God first and the interest of His Kingdom is what he called “The Jackpot of Life.” Seeking and putting God first in your life guarantees the best of the rest.
2. Have a Mogul Mindset!
He made me to appreciate my great and superstar personage in Christ. And he would always say, “Nothing defines destiny like mentality.” As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
3. Never Be Intimidated to Declare Your Prosperous Heritage!
The more he’s criticized for preaching and teaching prosperity, the more he boldly declares his prosperous heritage with undeniable evidences. What you don’t boldly say, you don’t firmly hold. The Psalmist says, “… Yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
4. Love Work!
I heard him say, “Nothing works until you work.” He works an average of 16 hours a day and he’s yet to take his vacation in 38 years. He said recently that he’s paying a global price for the global vision. Only a pursued vision produces! The grace we’ve received is to empower us to work even more abundantly than those without.
5. You Need faith to Do Exploits!
His faith in God to do according to His capacity and not according to man’s capacity is exemplary and worthy of emulation. The record breaking 50,000-Seater Faith Tabernacle that was built within a record time of one year; the speed and international recognitions of Covenant University; and the meteoric rise, spread and supernatural impact of the ministry globally, testify to his unwavering faith in God.
6. Impartation is important for impact!
God’s servant is always quick to acknowledge Pastor Enoch Adeboye as his father in the Lord. His remarkable references to the impartations he received from Kenneth E. Hagin, Kenneth Copeland and Archbishop Benson Idahosa are intoxicating and contagious. He’s a product of impartations. Success is a collection of relationships. The Bible says, “And are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner stone.” (Eph.2:20)
The good news is that God has blessed us with carriers of divine gifts and verities for our perfection, edification and for the work of the ministry.
7. Be Quick to Give Thanks!
He’s quick to return the trophy to God via thanksgiving after each victory and in all situations. He said very recently that until you thank God for the last, you don’t qualify for the next. And it must be done promptly. Delayed thanksgiving is a sign of ungratefulness. We must give God thanks as receivers of His goodness and it must be done promptly.
To be continued…
Remain ever beautified,
✝️Tochukwu Kemakolam
Prime Minister