THE QUESTION: Did Bishop Oyedepo really threaten to ‘open the gates of hell’?

THEN OYEDEPO

Before we get into the message this morning, I like us to do what the Bible enjoins us to do in 1 Timothy Chapter 2 and Verse One. ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; and on the priority list is for kings, and for them all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.’

I only had an idea that we would be privileged to have Mr. President today, yesterday. It wasn’t there on Friday night when we were here for one night with the king, and so we are going to be praying for our president. Let prayers and supplications and intercessions be made for all men, first of all for kings and those that are in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. And after that I would do what the priests are asked to do; he said speak to Aaron that after this manner shall yea bless the children of Israel.

I proclaim yea blessings as a priest of God over our president and the blessings will answer in the name of Jesus Christ. In Numbers Chapter 6 and Verse 23, the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, the LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord makes his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee and give thee peace.’

When that blessing comes and stays, something happens. You know, the generation of the old Testament knew the value of blessings. They would even cry to get it. I like us to all rise and lift our president up to God, intercede for him; everything you desire to see God bring about in his life, bring about in our nation, begin to pray that over him right now. (Church prays)

We make intercession for kings and those that are in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Lord we pray for our president, for unusual release of grace to match the demands of his office. Oh, my God, release your unusual grace in increasing dimension to match the demands of his office. Lord, lift up your countenance upon him; cause your face to shine upon him. Lord, grant him the desires of his heart. Lord, under him, grant Nigeria peace. Under him, grant Nigeria more progress. Under him, grant Nigeria greater advancement. Lord we bless him in the name of the Lord today, and we pray that these blessing remain upon him. Thank you, father, In Jesus precious name we have prayed.

This entire church proclaims our president blessed today (church shouts amen), blessed with divine wisdom to match the demands of his office (church shouts amen), blessed with peace to see the miraculous in his life (church shouts amen), blessed with grace that would advance his cause in our nation (Church shouts Amen).

Every time we pray here, God answers. He said wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I would be in the midst of them. And when we agree concerning anything, he said it is done for us. Therefore, in the name of Jesus, our president is blessed (church shouts amen). His going out is blessed, his coming in is blessed. The will of God is blessed in his life (Church shouts amen). Thank you father, blessed be your name in Jesus precious name.

Give the Lord a big hand and please you may be seated…

THECABLE’S FINDINGS

Seven different members of the church who attended the third service spoke to TheCable at separate times. All denied that Oyedepo mentioned anything related to opening the gates of hell on Jonathan’s opponents. Although one of them who apparently is no Jonathan fan did not hide her contempt for the president, she still denied that the pastor threatened to open the gates of hell.

“Nothing like that was mentioned. He didn’t say so,” she said.

“He only asked us to pray for him, and most people didn’t stand up. Personally, I did not stand up, because it is too late to be praying for a president whose tenure expiry in a few months I am eagerly waiting for.”

THE CHURCH ITSELF

TheCable called one of the ‘Contact Us’ numbers on the website of the church.

“It is not true that anything like that was said during the service,” a soft-spoken man who answered the call but refused to mention his name said.

“You people in the media are the ones saying all of this, but the church is not worried.”

From the video account of the Jonathan visit and the responses from the seven church members, it is unlikely that Oyedepo threatened to “open the gates of hell” on the president’s opponents.

Now, the next question is: Who fabricated this gate-of-hell utterance?