| Those who fake speaking
in tongues are in trouble
By HENRY UMAHI
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
 |
•Success O. Ibeakanma
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
|
Success O. Ibeakanma, of The Master’s Royal Choice
Revival Ministry, Ketu, Lagos could be described as a breath
of fresh air in the soul-winning business. He holds robust
views on a number of issues as relayed in this stimulating
interview with Daily Sun.
Background
I read Philosophy at the University of Calabar. I also have
Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Theology and Ministry
from Morris Cerrulo Christian University. I hail from Umuahia,
Abia State.
Vision
As the name denotes, the Master’s Royal Choice Revival
Ministry is a divine faith revival ministry inspired by the
Holy Ghost to bring the knowledge of salvation, righteousness
and deliverance to every category of persons all over the
world. The birth of the ministry was in response to the divine
call of God I received. This call was based on the four fold
visions which are as follows:
To prepare people for heaven; To reach the unreached millions
for Christ through an unlimited evangelistic campaigns all
over the world and the unlimited demonstration of the power
of God as of old to deliver to the ultermost; To make God’s
people rich and give hope to the hopeless; and To restore
and revive the old time Christian virtues of faith, holiness,
love, zeal, hope, humility, perseverance, commitment and gifts
of the Holy Ghost (Apostolic Christian experience) that have
become very cold among the body of Christ in our time.
Moral temperature of the nation
The Bible says in Revelation that iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold. That there are so many churches
yet the crime rate is high means if we had less number of
churches there would have been more crime in society. The
churches are doing everything to make the country better but
one must remember that many are called but few are chosen.
Difference between orthodox and pentecostal churches
The difference between orthodox churches and pentecostal churches
is that in the former, things are done methodically while
the later operates according to the dictate of the Holy Spirit.
God is in both the orthodox and the pentecostal churches,
the difference is that the later allows the Spirit of God
to move them the way He wants to move, but the former follow
strictly laid down patterns.
Again, there are things that are allowed in the pentecostals
that are not allowed in the orthodox. We are talking about
things of the Holy Spirit. There is some kind of restrictions
in the way of worship in the orthodox because the pastors
restrict themselves to a particular way designed or agreed
by the leaders. It is not so in the pentecostal, which derives
from the pentecost. You know, the Holy Spirit moved on the
day of pentecost and incredible things happened.
Prosperity gospel
A pastor or preacher should preach the truth, the totality
of the Bible. When Jesus was on His earthly Ministry He said
He was rich. He finished everything. In the Bible, He said
that He was rich but He made Himself poor that through His
poverty, we will be rich. Jesus was talking about wholesome
prosperity. He was talking about prosperity in all ramifications,
including health, finances, spiritual life etc. So, if someone
preaches posterity without salvation there is a problem somewhere.
Speaking in tongues
Speaking in tongues started from the Acts. The Bible says
that when the spirit came upon them in the Upper room, some
of them were behaving like mad people or like people who were
drunk. How do you know that someone is genuinely speaking
in tongue? It will show in the life of the individual. Speaking
in tongues means receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
It goes with the power of God.
However, when the power leaves the person, he or she will
be speaking for the sake of it. Speaking in tongues means
that Jesus once passed through somebody but if the power has
left the person, he becomes empty though the ability to speak
will still be there because he has known it. Some even practice
speaking in tongues but in that case, it does not mean that
Jesus passed through the individual. If you are doing evil
and speaking in tongues, you are kidding.
Forgiveness and dangerous prayers
The Bible says forgive that you may be forgiven. Forgive those
who have sinned against you that the heavenly Father may forgive
you, which means that you forgive anything anybody has done
against you. If you offend people, also ask for forgiveness.
Also, you have to make peace with God. Now, the area of Holy
Ghost fire, binding, casting, falling down and dying is another
aspect of prayer.
The Bible says he that digs a pit shall fall into it. That’s
why we pray that anybody that send arrow let it go back to
him. When we pray fall and die, we are praying that the power
of the enemy should be destroyed. We all know that spirits
don’t die but when you say the power should fall down
and die, it simply means go out of that particular life, get
out of that particular environment.
Taxing churches
I will not support churches paying taxes because what the
churches are doing for the nation is greater than whatever
tax they may be required to pay. If the churches should start
paying tax and stop praying for the nation, there will be
trouble. Also, churches play the role of caring for the poor
who cannot reach government for assistance. Besides, churches
are not business ventures, so, there is no point asking them
too pay tax.
Prophecy extravaganza
Prophets should not to speak when God has not told them anything.
You know, some act smart and say what God has not told them,
but they will pay the price in due season.
Advice to Nigerians
My advice to Nigerians is to depend on God and they should
not play with prayers. They should be praying for themselves,
the country and those in authority. We should pray to God
to build them to achieve His purpose for us. Nigerians should
draw closer to God and depend on Him. So many people will
go to hell not because of the number of sins committed but
because they refused to make peace with God.
We should support President Olusegun Obasanjo rather than
trying to pull him down. I am not a political preacher, but
I can tell you that there are so many good things that have
come out of his administration. If we can be sincere, there
are so many good things that God has brought into this country
through him. People will not mention that. They only bother
about where he has erred, forgetting that he is a mere man.
When people fail to do their job, everyone blames Obasanjo.
It is unfair.
|
