I was a young believer at church in Lagos when I received the gifts of healings. (1 Corinthians 12:9). The owner of the building where the church was situated was one of Nigeria’s pioneer industrialists, a man by the name of Odutola of “Odutola Tyre Soles” fame. He was a multi-millionaire in his 90’s at the time. But he had one affliction: he was paralysed on one side of his body.
The pastor of the church decided that I should go and pray for the healing of the landlord. So, one Saturday, we drove out of town to Ijebu Ode to see him.
The man was in good spirits. But he complained to us that his children wanted him dead so they could get hold of his property. He said he opened the newspapers one morning to discover there were obituaries placed by his children saying he had died.
This made what happened next all the more embarrassing. The pastor introduced me as a gifted member of his church full of the anointing to heal. He told him Jesus had sent us to pray for his healing. But there was one small condition: The Lord wants him first and foremost to give our church his building.
When I heard this, I wanted to crawl into the ground and hide. I was so embarrassed and angry to have been included in these 419 schemes.
Mr. Odutola was not impressed. It was clear that he was familiar with this type of manipulation. He smiled and pointedly refused to say anything about giving our church his building. Nevertheless, we prayed for his healing and left. I realized from then that I had to be careful in my dealings with the pastor.
Coming this December 2022.
“KINGDOM DYNAMICS: WHY PASTORS DON’T GO TO HEAVEN”
by Femi Aribisala.
(Available in Nigeria and abroad).
