Leadership Empowerment Summit by Bishop David Oyedepo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Handling Holy Things Correctly

1 Chronicles 13:7-10 — David and Israel moved the ark of God on a new cart out of the house of Abinadab. When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark — for the oxen stumbled — and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and he smote him because he put his hand to the ark.

Then in 1 Chronicles 15:13, David found the explanation: because they had not carried the ark at the first after the due order, the Lord had broken out upon them. They went back to the book, checked the order behind the ark, and discovered it would not ride on a new technology — it would ride on the shoulders of men.

Caution — the body of Christ is under stress globally. We are face to face with a new cart syndrome. Pomp and pageantry without checking what is killing the church. We must beware of despising divine authority.

Traditions of the Church of Christ

Isaiah 66:2 — But to this man will I look: even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word. We cannot treat God's word with levity and expect him to treat us with dignity. He that honours me, I will honour. You despise me, I will esteem you lightly.

Tradition one — Repentance with proofs is the only way to be born again.

Acts 2:37-38 — Men and brethren, what shall we do? Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance is so vital. And to bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, there must be evidence. 2 Corinthians 7:10 — godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. The proofs of a regenerated spirit are the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.

Where is the love of God, now that you claim to be saved? Where is the peace that the Prince of Peace offers? Where is the joy of salvation? If they are not there, you are not there. We must not mistake membership of a church for salvation, or appropriations for regeneration.

Tradition two — Prayer and fasting.

Matthew 6:6-7 — But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which seeth in secret. Note: when you pray, not if you pray. It is an agenda, a program, a culture.

Matthew 6:17 — But thou, when thou fastest — not when you have trouble. When thou fastest. Fasting is part of the program of the church of Christ. It quickens the spirit man and keeps you above the flesh. It is not an emergency measure — it is the fasting that has already empowered you to see what others cannot see.

This going on — by prayer and by fasting.

Tradition three — Preaching the word in season and out of season.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 — I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ: preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine — after their own lusts they shall heap up teachers having itching ears.

To be word-tired is to lose your redemptive worth. The word is the anchor of our faith.

The Prophetic Mandate — 44 Years

On April 10, 1982 — 44 years ago — God set out the prophetic pillars of this commission in handwritten minutes, exactly as recorded by the secretary. Every prophetic word has gone forth to us.

Before the internet came on the market, it was written: you shall stand in one place and be watched on a screen across the nations of the earth at the same time. A tent shall be built that will take 50,000 people. Items previously impossible — now standing.

No devil in hell can overturn the agenda of God for his church and his people who care to believe. What God says he will do, he will do — if you believe. Blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things spoken to her from the Lord.

Don't be tired of prayer and fasting. Don't be tired of soul winning. Don't be tired of engaging with the word. Don't be tired of fellowship. It will be ongoing till he returns.