My connection with Hagin, Idahosa, Adeboye helps me to remain focused in ministry  – Bishop Oyedepo

Bishop David Oyedepo, founder and presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church (LFC), aka Winners Chapel, has said he is still connected to his spiritual lineage despite being in the ministry for decades.

Bishop Oyedepo stated this on Tuesday 28 November during the unveiling of the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelisitc Ministries.

Pastor Isaac Oyedepo is the second son of the senior Oyedepo. He has been a pastor in LFC since 2007. He was the church’s resident pastor in South Africa and Maryland, USA.

Bishop Oyedepo, who founded LFC 42 years ago, said disconnecting from one’s spiritual lineage is “horrible” adding that believers are built on the foundation of apostles and prophets.

He recounted that God called Moses and connected him with Jethro who counselled him so that he wouldn’t die early. He added that God called Joshua and asked him to go to Eliezer the priest for counsel.

“Disconnection is horrible. Believers are built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. This implies we have our tap roots in Christ and secondary roots in the apostles which is divinely orchestrated.

“God called Moses and connected him with Jethro. He needed the counsel of Jethro so he won’t die early. God called Joshua to lead Israel and yet asked him to go to Eliezer for counsel.

“Impact is a function of connectivity both to Christ and the giants who have that way before,” he said.

Bishop Oyedepo said his connection with some God’s generals and giants of faith has helped him to remain focused and productive in the decades he has been in ministry.

He said, “I’ve no issue believing anything. Kenneth Hagin laboured on the issue of faith and I entered into it. How much did he pay, I don’t know? To live a sweatless life is to plug into the labour of others. It is a lack of connectivity that makes men struggle. Any tree without a root is gone. It is only a matter of time.

“Even Christ was called the son of David. Kenneth Copeland had his roots in Oral Robert and Kenneth Hagin. Idahosa had his roots in Godson Lindsay.

“I have jealously guarded my roots in Christ and all my secondary and tertiary roots to date. The faith of Hagin is actively working in my life to date. The sensitivity to the issue of the Holy Spirit and tireless passion for soul are still at work in my life to this day. The wisdom of enlargement without sweat is of Enoch Adeboye (and) is at work in my life today.

“Can you miss the daring and bold spirit of Benson Idahosa in me? No. It’s 20 years now since Hagin went home, my spirit is still connected, my voice is connected, and my life is connected.

“They are all spiritual DNA you connect with through genuine connectivity of the spirit. No one comes near me without knowing where I am coming from. In the same vein, I have a good number of ministries that are representing the grace of God in my life.”

Oyedepo advised his listeners to guard their roots in Christ.

“There is no new-generation Bible. Jealously guard your roots in Christ by doing things that please Him. Guard your sources. Genuine connectivity requires a sustainable value of meekness. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land. Your calling to ministry is not on merit. It is an election of grace,” he said.

He also asked them to connect genuinely in order to bear fruit.

“You have to be connected to bear fruit. For everyone hearing me, stop playing games. Genuine spiritual connectivity is key. What God does is confirm the words of his prophets,” he said.

Turning to his son, Isaac, Oyedepo said, “Your times are in his hands not his time in your hands. Follow God at his place. Don’t be part of those who malign ministries. Never get to a point where you say ‘this thing is only happening with me.’ It is same Jesus everywhere. These upcoming ministers think they are everything when they have not begun.”

Bothered about future of young ministers

The clergyman, who began his full time ministry in 1981, when he established LFC, said he is bothered about the upcoming ministers. He wondered why they make assertions and statements that are not biblical.

“They make assertions that are baseless. They make flamboyant statements that have no basis. As I listen to them, I am bothered about where we are going. Many glory in their educational background and not in the grace of election,” he said.

Stating that he was not brought up as a preacher with that tradition, Oyedepo said he witnessed “first-hand an aura of meekness in the life of those who have gone ahead.

“T.L. Osborn towards the end of his life asked me to pray for him. I turned the request down because I felt he should the one to pray for me.”

According to him, there is no future in the steps being taken by the young ministers.

His words, “I know God is slow. These young folks! Some of them grew in my hands. But their expression of authority bothers my soul. My prayer is that pride will not get in their way.”

Encouraging new ministers

Bishop Oyedepo, however, said he has no qualms encouraging people to start their ministries.

“I have prayed for about six people going into their ministry recently. I have prayed for them and given them materials that will be a blessing to them.

“We once separated 68 pastors into their ministries. It is a huge thing. No single ministry can do it alone. This is one liberal place where you have access to follow God’s vision for your life.

At the event were some of Oyedepo’s spiritual sons, including the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Abuja, Paul Enenche, and the Senior Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, David Ibiyeomie.