General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian of God Pastor Enoch Adeboye has recalled the early years of his conversion and how people embraced the gospel of Jesus.He made the recall on Wednesday, August 7 at the ongoing convention of the church at the Redemption City along the Lagos Ibadan express road.Adeboye who preached on sanctification, said immediately after his conversion he had told God he would not want to be an ordinary Christian.He said he wanted the power of God. He however soon realise that it is possible to have the power of God and end up in hell. “I began to appreciate what Jesus said that by their fruits you shall know them and not by the gifts”
Three steps of faith
The RCCG Overseer said in those days, believers were taught three steps of faith based on Ezekiel 36. “One first experiences salvation, then sanctification, and then the holy spirit baptism.
“But I also discovered there are actually four steps which include selection before salvation, sanctification, and then holy spirit baptism. You would have been selected by God before salvation.”
He explained that sanctification is what follows after the blood of Jesus cleanses a man from sin. Sanctification is the process God takes away the stony heart from man and gives him a heart of flesh. This experience comes before the baptism of the holy spirit.”
Adeboye however noted that in today’s Christianity, there is no emphasis on sanctification.
“People get saved and then are baptised in the holy spirit without experiencing sanctification.”
Salvation is like the foundation while the holy ghost baptism is like the roof, sanctification on the other hand is the wall of the building. People have the foundation and then the roof without the wall. That is where the disconnect is in today’s Christianity”
Recalling the conversion experience of his early years in the faith he said, “When you are saved it won’t be long for people to notice. Your name will change. People will begin to call you a child of God. Suddenly you will find that your friends who have been calling you worldly names will now begin to say, leave him alone oo. He is now a child of God.”
“When you’re born again it won’t be long before you begin to attend church. Your responsibilities will change. You begin to witness for God. I am talking about how it was when we were younger. “
Encounter with Chike Obi
Giving a personal experience of his conversion, he said, “I remember when I got born again. It was on a Sunday night. On Monday morning as I got to my office at the University of Lagos. I met my head of department, the world-renowned Professor of Mathematics, Chike Obi. “
“As I was about to begin to speak, he looked at me and said Adeboye you look cheerful this morning. Did you go to a party last weekend? I said no sir.
“I said I had gotten an invitation to the greatest party of all, the wedding of the lamb of God. You can’t be born again and keep it down.”
Giving further explanation, he said, “When you are baptised in the holy spirit it’s easy to see. You will speak in tongues.
“Unfortunately, sanctification is difficult to measure. It’s a matter of the heart. Many Christians end up not knowing what sanctification is all about.”
He emphasised that it is sanctification that makes living holy easy.