General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has said if we are to follow the Bible example of how God fed Elijah, we are not meant to eat more than two times a day.
He gave the opinion in a live broadcast monitored by Church Times
The live broadcast is the morning devotion anchored by him shared on his Facebook wall on Thursday, November 26
Making reference to the Bible story of Elijah and how he was fed by the bird at the east of Jordan, he stated that God would have commanded the birds to feed Elijah seven or more times because there was no indication that the bird could be tired of bringing food to him.
“From what we saw, the birds fed Elijah twice. So, if we are to follow that example, we should be eating twice a day,” Adeboye said.
He said further that believers should cultivate the habit of fasting and praying noting that when one is fasting and the person feels like going to eat to break the fast, the person should understand that it is time to pray.
“When you are fasting and you feel like going to eat, it shows it is time to pray. Fasting without praying is like going on a hunger strike.” He said.
Beyond fasting, the RCCG leader counseled that food should not be a controlling factor in the life of the believer.
Quoting Paul in the Bible he said, anybody who is being controlled by his stomach is an enemy of the cross. “People should learn to keep their stomach under check.” He admonished.
Adeboye who spoke both in vernacular and English during the devotion said Bible scholars once opined that Esau got late to his father to receive his blessings perhaps because he was busy testing the food, he went to prepare for him.
He then counseled that Christians should not under any guise allow what they will eat give direction to their lives recalling that as far back as 1984, some people came to him and were wondering what he was still fasting for.
“Sometimes I just want to live a life of perpetual fasting but then one would need strength to preach, that is why we have to eat. So, when I say those who are above 70 may not have to fast, I am not talking of myself.”
The Redeemed Christian Church of God has declared fasting to all its members twice this year. One was at the beginning of the year while the other is ongoing. Members of the church are supposed to fast for 30 days. The fasting programme is expected to end on December 3.
