Obong Akpaekong
God is looking for men and women with clean hands and pure hearts to serve in his vineyard. Pastor Umoh Ekwo, general overseer of Bible Standard Church said this in a sermon during the five-day Annual Convention of the church, which ended at Ndon Uruan, Uruan Local Government Area on Monday. The theme of the event was Divine Release.
Ekwo said God is not looking for men like Samson who was immoral, Ananias and the wife Sapphira, who were liars or youth like Gehazi, whose heart was after quick wealth but for the righteous, who would serve Him sacrificially, carry heaven’s anointing and bring joy to people and families. Many walked up to the altar and offered themselves when he called for such people.
Also speaking at the event was Edet Raymond, the church’s zonal pastor for Nsit Atai, in Akwa Ibom State. He spoke on the topic “Strong Faith for your Divine Release.” Raymond said that many people have been captured by the devil and been enslaved in sin, family curse, familiar spirit, water demon and witchcraft. He noted that the power of God was available in the camp to break such yoke and captivity.
Reading from Matt.14:27-28, Pastor Raymond said that Peter had strong faith in God and was able to walk on top of the sea with Christ. He said Ruth, (Ruth 1:14) refused to return to Moab because of her faith in the God of Israel, while the strong faith of the centurion in Matt. 5 and that of the Greek woman in Mark 7 made them receive healing miracles for the servant and daughter respectively. Raymond concluded with a prayer for salvation, healing of the people and other blessings.
Pastor Simeon Simeon, the Rivers State overseer, spoke to the people on the topic “Lord I will not let you go till I receive my Divine Release.” He read from Gen 32:24-29, stressing that Jacob wrestled with an angel to receive blessing. He said “Jacob was serious. He wrestled all evening. This night God is going to heal people as they wrestle with Him.”
Reading from 1 Sam. 16:16-18, Simeon said God favoured David and sent Prophet Samuel to anoint Him King and did not allow Samuel to make the mistake of anointing any of David’s elder brothers. In the case of the mother of Jesus, the angel announced, “Hail Mary. You’re favoured among women”, he said. Simeon led the people in a prayer for the release of the favour of God upon them.
In his message, Pastor Asuquo Nyong, the church’s pastor in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, enjoined the people to believe in the power of God to deliver from all situations.
Speaking on the topic ‘Loose him and let him go’, Nyong recounted how Lazarus died after a brief illness but Jesus miraculously raised him from death four days after and instructed his relatives to “loose him and let him go”, John 11:1-7, 33-44.
The account of the miracle sparked a frenzy of prayer in the worship tabernacle. Other healing scenes he shared with the people included that of a demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-14 and the woman that could not walk upright for 18 years.
Nyong said Christ had given power to believers to subdue demons, destroy evil spirits and heal all manners of sicknesses. Many people testified of healing and deliverance miracles during the event.
