Bishop David Oyedepo, the esteemed leader of Living Faith Church Worldwide, delivered a powerful message during the August 2023 Week of Spiritual Emphasis. In his sermon titled “Meet Jesus The Great Physician And His Great Prescriptions” (Part 3), he emphasized the inevitability of facing challenges in life and how champions are molded through overcoming them. Drawing from the war in Heaven, where Satan tried to assert control but was ultimately defeated, Bishop Oyedepo emphasized that challenges are not a sign of spiritual weakness.
He urged his congregation not to be disheartened by challenges, citing the example of the righteous man Job who also faced difficulties. However, he underscored that it is against the teachings of scripture to be defeated by these challenges. Instead, he encouraged his listeners to resist the enemy actively and not question God, but to engage in the fight.
Bishop Oyedepo’s message can be summarized in three key points: Firstly, challenges are an ordinary aspect of life and do not indicate a lack of faith. Secondly, champions arise by triumphing over challenges, drawing inspiration from the war in Heaven where Satan was vanquished. Lastly, he called upon his congregation to be proactive and not passively accept defeat, reminding them of their calling to fight and not to doubt or question God’s sovereignty.
He emphasized, “Challenges are not strange to life. Champions are made of challenges. Now we are seated in Heaven but there was war in Heaven. Satan fought to take over. Satan vowed to keep making war with the seed of the Word. It’s not unspiritual to be challenged. Job had no issues in his walk with God, he was challenged. But it is unscriptural to be defeated. Don’t watch the enemy take you for a ride; put up a fight. You are called to put up a fight not to start questioning God.”
He further explained, “We are permitted to ask God questions but we are not permitted to question God – We may stay forever there. All that needed to be put together for you and I to live a triumphant life is already settled; it is our part that we need to settle. Every armour available to you when the going goes tough, put them together and quit you like men and fight. Not complaining like a captive. It is not unspiritual to be challenged.”
In conclusion, Bishop David Oyedepo prayed for the congregation, encouraging them to rise against the works of the wicked and trust that Heaven would respond to their actions in the precious name of Jesus.