The 77-year-old General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has always led the church’s monthly Holy Ghost Service in person since its inception in 1986.
Even with the restriction on religious gatherings to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, he has not taken a break. He led the service in April and early this month in a broadcast from his home to the millions of people who anxiously expect it.
Since inception when it was birthed on God’s promise to use the platform to touch the lives of people, attendance has continued to soar. It has been so fast that two large auditoriums are now used for it at the Redemption Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
That is despite the fact that all branches of the church in over 198 countries now have viewing centres for people to participate in the service, and also through various online platforms.
The largely interdenominational service noted for signs, miracles and wonders has continued to be a major attraction of the church but unknown to many people, the General Overseer does not just stroll to the pulpit on service days.
It takes days of physical preparation, and a spiritual part, which is unseen.
Asked about the strong manifestation of God’s presence at his services in a recent online live chat, he revealed: “I discovered in any ministry that if you would spend time with God in secret, He will spend time with you in the open.
“In other words, if you would wait upon Him before any programme, then He will show up!
“For example, when I want to prepare for the Holy Ghost Night, I make sure that I spend at least a couple of days, locked up with Him – away from my wife, away from my children.
“It is just God and I alone; I would be waiting on Him, praising Him, and seeking His face for the programme ahead.
“So, I don’t just walk up to the stage on Friday night – having spent all the time talking with my friends!
“And after I have spent hours upon hours, day and night with Him, automatically, He responds!
“When I get to the altar; He would come up and begin to manifest His Glory.”
Though there was no opportunity for the physical presence of people at the Redemption Camp, the May Holy Ghost Service was highly anticipated and therefore drew large participation from across the world, according to church sources.
Continuing the theme, “Let There Be Light,” which was the fifth in the series, Pastor Adeboye showed the effects of God’s light on people who pray for it.
He stated that every great gift is from above, light that comes directly from God – pure, white light; and the crucial thing about the light of God is its purity.
So, when we pray ‘Let there be light,’ we are saying let there be purity. That, he said, could mean several things:
God, please give me pure healing: total, complete, comprehensive, healing with no sign that I was sick.
Pure healing could be a second touch or recreation as in the case of Naaman, who got pure healing from leprosy without any scar.
The womb of Sarah was dead, but it was recreated, and she had a baby – Isaac.
God give me pure life: vigorous life; life filled with vitality.
Caleb told Joshua at age 85 to give him the mountains to settle there. He was still strong!
Stop managing life, cry to the Almighty God for vigorous life.
God give me pure wealth. There is a link between light and wealth. All the great natural wealth of the earth like gold and diamond are hidden in the ground and need light for purity.
The Shunamite woman had wealth, but she had a pure wealth through the intervention of the Almighty God, which gave her a son.
God give me pure joy: There is a link between joy and light. The joy of the Lord is pure joy.
God give me pure peace: There is also a link between light and peace. The peace of God passes all understanding.
God give me pure success: Another word for pure success is excellence; when God shines His light upon you, you will begin to excel. God give me beauty of purity could mean Lord expose my beauty. All colours are the same when there is no light, so it takes light to bring out beauty
Everyone has beauty in him/her
As a shepherd, David was singing to animals until light came to his family and he began to sing to kings.
Light shined on Esther and made her a beautiful Queen who saved the Jews.
The light of God shined on Joseph and he was remembered and brought out of prison and later became a prime minister.
In conclusion, he said, all these beautiful things from the light of God are available to those who have given their lives to God and are pure in heart.