“We are privileged this
morning to have with us in this service, one of God’s veterans on the earth
today, whose ministry, for the past 68 years has touched many lives across the
nations of the earth…I’m sure most of us, if not all of us, must have heard the
name Morris Cerullo. But this morning, it is our singular honour to have this
worldwide acclaimed man of God, a miracle apostle of Christ, to minister to us
of the grace that God has given him…I want you to please rise to your feet, and
with the joy of Christ, welcome with me to this platform Dr. Morris Cerullo.”
With these words, the great man of God and a global messenger
of Christ from the United States of America, was introduced to the Winners’ family on Sunday February 8,
2015 at Faith Tabernacle, Ota, headquarters of the Living Faith Church
worldwide.
Every genuine Winner knows that Bishop David Oyedepo, the
Founder and President of the Church, is not flippant with words. With the above
words of introduction, the atmosphere in the church was super-charged while
church members were expectant.
LIKE CERULLO LIKE MOSES…
But when the great man of God who was a guest speaker at the
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria 13th annual conference a few days earlier
mounted the podium, members of the congregation got more than what they
bargained for. First, he got members praising the name of the Lord when he
hinted he would soon be celebrating his 84th birthday! An 84-year-old man
bounced onto the podium with a youthful gait that reminds one of the story of Moses
in the Bible who at a very old age, his eyes were not dim nor his physical strength abated.
Talk about the eyes; this octogenarian clutched a fairly big
Bible and no one would have really bothered if he had pulled out a pair of
glasses or even a magnifying lens from his pockets. No, he didn't. Throughout
the short but powerful sermon, he kept reading from his Bible without squinting;
effortlessly! Was I looking at Moses?
Then he threw a bombshell albeit a pleasant one. He and his
wife Theresa (which he called MAMA just like we have our own Mama Faith) just
celebrated the 63rd wedding anniversary. A loud clap offering was inevitable as
it resounded round the Tabernacle.
From Papa’s introduction of this great man of God whom he
referred as one of God’s veterans, we already knew that he has been in the
ministry for 68 years. But not many knew before then that he got born-again at
the age of 15, in a Moses-like encounter with God. “At fifteen years of age, God came to me; I
saw the presence of God that Moses saw. God said to me, ‘Jesus is your Messiah.
And a little Jewish boy was born-again,” he continued in his stunning
revelations.
Immediately, I said to myself, “Like Cerullo like Moses.” But wait a minute, God’s servant, Bishop
David Oyedepo also got born-again at the age of 15! What is with that age?
OTHER OBSERVATIONS AND
REVELATIONS
Throughout the short sermon, I was left in awe as regards his
agility, choice of words, and how he lets go of his emotions when in the
Spirit, as it were, overwhelms him – he doesn’t hesitate to burst into tears!
Then his brief bio got my mouth agape: He lost his mother at the age of 2; his
father was a drunk; he was raised in a Jewish orthodox orphanage; never went to
any Bible school, etc, but this great God who does not choose the seemingly
qualified but qualifies the ones He chooses, picked him up from that home for
orphans, became his Father, and began to send him to nations to propagate the
message of salvation with signs and wonders following.
AND I BEGAN TO THINK…
The late Pa Sadella was still preaching at 114; Kenneth Hagin
lived long before he went to be with the Lord; Pastor Adeboye is still waxing
strong at 73; Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are well over 70 and are still
depopulating hell for Christ. Bishop Oyedepo is connected to all of them, and I
am connected to Bishop Oyedepo. God is not a respecter of persons. You catch my
drift?
Feel free to share. Peace!
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