The Redeemed Christian Church of God began its 72nd convention on Monday, August 5 capping Day 1 of the convention with a message by the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on heaven
Adeboye charged members, especially house fellowship leaders to be clean both in their hearts and their homes if they want God to dwell there.
The convention is an annual programme of the church which attracts members of the church from across the globe. Thousands have gathered at what is known as the “Redemption City” along Lagos Ibadan Express road for the event which has heaven as its theme.
Adeboye described heaven as where God is enthroned. “Heaven is wherever God is enthroned. If God is in your heart, heaven is there. If God is in your home, heaven is there.”
While stressing that heaven is the throne of God, he charged his listeners to make their lives conducive for God to dwell. “Your heart has to be clean for God to dwell there. He will not dwell in a filthy environment.”
He also took time to explain the importance of home fellowship centres. “Those who host home fellowship in their homes stand a chance of having God enthroned in their homes. That is why homes that host house fellowships must be clean in and out.
“You have to make sure the place is very clean. Your toilet must be clean. Everywhere must be clean. Clean your house as if you are expecting a visitor, clean it up as if the G, O is coming to visit you. Clean your toilet. God wants to dwell in your house. ”
Apart from having a clean environment for home fellowships, Adeboye pleaded with house fellowship leaders to clean up their language.
Referring to a couple of scriptures, Adeboye said, “You have to be holy in all manner of conversation. God is paying attention even to your jokes. Some jokes must not be heard coming from an angel of God. Being a house fellowship leader is a serious business.
“We are talking about heaven. When we talk about heaven we are talking about purity. There must be nothing impure allowed. As House Fellowship leaders, you can no longer be careless. Your commitment to God must be serious because God is watching. Your love for God must be hotter than when you first gave your life to Jesus so that God will not take away your lamp. When you open your home to Him, His light is in that home shining. ”
He stressed further that when there is fellowship in a home, that home becomes a beacon of light to the people in the surroundings.
He then shared testimony of how some home centres of RCCG were saved from being flooded in the US.
The RCCG General Overseer said, “Years ago there was a hurricane in the US. We heard about it. We prayed. Before it got to my children in Houston it had been downgraded but it still left a flood, a heavy rain. It brought a massive flood to the town. Years later I was visiting the US and I visited the house of one of my sons, and I got this testimony.
“The whole streets were flooded at least to window level. But there was a house where a drop of water did not enter. The flood entered house 1, house 2, house 3, house 4 jumped house 5 and then moved to house 6 and so on. The only different thing is that in the house the flood jumped there was a symbol indicating RCCG house fellowship holds here.”
Adeboye said homes that host house fellowships are protected by God.