This renowned prophet was born in April 25, 1904, Odo-Owa, Oke-Ero Local Government

Kwara State, in Nigeria; In the family of Pa David Lawani Rotimi and Madam Martha Talabi
Rotimi. He died in July 26, 1959 (aged 55) Ede, Osun State , southwestern, in Nigeria.

THE SATANIC PROGRAMS AGAINST APOSTLE AYO BABALOLA

Apostle Babalola was heavenly anointed by God even before his birth. The kingdom of darkness
(astrologers]; whom are specialized in detecting glorious and special stars of an unborn human
being were able to decipher the greatness of his ministry exploit. However, his whole ministry
data and glory was sent to Sister Olufumilayo Adebayo who was a demonic agent during those
era and also specialized in satanic exploit in African continent.

She was perturb on how she can inter-change or manipulates the glory and ministry exploit of an
unborn child. Nevertheless, she soul-ties Ayo Babalola with a demonic reincarnate woman from
the pit of Hell as his future wife.

READ ALSO; Divine Ministry Encounter Of Apostle Ayo Babalola.

Apostle babalola eventually get married to her but she frustrated and terrorized his ministry. He
was a mighty man of God who married the head witches of Yoruba land in Nigeria, a demonic
re-incarnated wife from the pit of hell. Though his wife frustrated his ministry both physically
and spiritually yet, by Grace of God he prevails.

Confession By Evangelist Olufumilayo Adebayo.

During our report meeting in the kingdom of darkness, when we
sent the astrologers to go and made a research, in order to know,
what cause the problem and reason why 8 souls were able to make
heaven at that particular year.

In their research they discover that, this barrier was broken by God in the land of Africa, in
Nigeria. The Devil immediately commanded them to go and verify. Who is that person that
cause's this problem?

But the report made me afraid. Because they came back with a report of a man, whos I
made judgment for, in the kingdom of darkness, when I was in California. That man name
is called Apostle Ayodele Babalola. The founder of the church called C.A.C (Christ
Apostolic Church)
Apostle Ayodele Babalola
That was the man I made judgment for, in our Kingdom that time and I told you that, the
judgment I made for that man is that, I program demon and re-incarnate demon as human being.
And I made him to marry that wife. And truly, physically on earth, am sorry to say, those people
that are member of that church, knows the story of that church very well. They knew the very
woman that man married didn't repent until she dies.

Not that she didn't want to repent, but even though she repents,
God will not accept her, because she is a demon re-incarnate. So, if
you knew about that church story very well, you will knew that am
not lying. So, we program so many things about that church, but I
thank God, God help that man, called Apostle Ayodele Babalola to
overcome the power of this woman. Even though, this woman
disturbs this him. But still, he make Heaven. All glory be to God.

And I pray that the Hand of God will come upon that church and destroy everything that still
remain, every plantation of the devil planted in that church and the church shall live and grow to
the glory of the Lord in Jesus Name. So, as i was saying. It was the case of this man that comes
out.

They say it was this man who was the cause, which brings the barrier that made the
number of people to make Heaven like that. And argument started how a single man
can break such barrier. Its so strong, or is it, the message that is so powerful or the
anointing. And the Astrologer's now told us, isnt the message or anointing. He gives
order in the church, that the entire member should not wear earring and they
must not use jewelries at all.

The above confession was culled from evangelist Olufumilayo Adebayo, 990 years in
kingdom of darkness confession; The woman who spent 990 years in the kingdom of
darkness and her demonic manipulation against Apostle Ayo Babalola.
Apostle Babalola only mistake was his choice of wife. History has it that the woman
he truly loved was a single mother, been a respected christian leader, the elders of
CAC considered it an embarrassment for their leader to marry a single mother.

Hence, they misled him to marry the spinster who later became the thorn in his flesh. There was
a time she poured palm oil on the white garment of the man of God on his way to a crusade
ground. Another time after returning from the mountain after long days of prayers and fasting,
the wife served him a delicious meal to break his fast.

He had only taken about 2 or 3 morsels when the wife told him" i thought you were a true
prophet, because you should have known by revelation that the chicken in the food was
stolen" The great man of God gently left the remaining food and returned to the mountain to ask
God for forgiveness.

One of the days, he was expected to preach in an open air crusade but suddenly his wife locked
him inside the room and ran off. The man just look up and cried "Oh Lord, see what my wife
has done" The Lord ask him to lay his hands on the wall and immediately he found himself in
the crusade ground. He usually floats on air while preaching, he can also pray for 3 months on
knee without standing up.

READ ALSO: Danger Of Wearing Ornaments, Gold And Jewelries On Body.

Pa Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola once told his fellow ministers during prayer meeting to knee
down for SHORT prayer. After about 2-3 hours of kneeing down, the minister becomes frustrated
and sat down, leaving only Apostle Babalola still on his knee praying for about 5-6 hours. The
following day, they asked him "Baba, if you ask us to pray a short prayer with you which took
almost 6 hours, How many hours will your LONG prayer last?"

Many of us knew Ori Oke Aanu (Mountain of Mercy) Praying Ground, Erio-Ekiti in Osun State
Nigeria. This mountain of prayer was founded by this same Apostle Babalola. There is a spot on
top of that mountain rock where he knee to pray and his knee pierced through, leaving a giant
hole in the rock due to his long hours in praying. That hole is still over there till-date.
He was the only man that traveled overseas for missionary works without airplane or ship. He
usual traveled abroad with his ministers for missionary work neither by air or water, he
only gathered his minister for prayer and instantly they disappeared into thin-air.
Sometimes, when preaching the angel will left-up his two legs and he will begin to move and
float in air without his feet touching the ground.

Apostle Ayo Babalola MINISTRY CALLING.

Babalola was born of Yoruba parents at Odo- Owa, Kwara State, Nigeria. He was brought up as
an Anglican. He was registered at an elementary school at Oto-Awori on Badagry Road, Lagos
State, in 1914. He got to standard four, before he became a blacksmith's apprentice and he
learned it for two years, before he became a steamroller operator under the PWD (Public Works
Department), then under the control of Great Britain, learning to become a steamroller driver.

After 15 days of learning to drive the caterpillar, he was able to drive it without any assistance.
After nine months; he became a master in his class. A steam-roller was first given to him on 1
April 1928 to work on the Osogbo Ilesha road. On June 14, 1928 he was transferred to Akure
Ilesha road.

On 9 October 1928 at about 12 o'clock he was by his steamroller by the river Ariran, it was here
he heard a loud voice from above like the roar of thunder which called his name thrice saying
"Joseph! Joseph!! Joseph. Leave this job you are doing; if not, this year you are going to be
cut off from the earth."

Again On 11 October 1928, while trying to repair his machine, he heard an audible voice from
the Lord to abandon the job and start preaching. That is how he received the call and he went
into fasting and prayer. The watershed in his early ministry came when when he was commanded
by God to go to his hometown to warn his people against Idolatry , fetish practices and evil
works.

According to him; The Spirit told me to go to my hometown , where I was born. The Lord said I
should rub my face with ashes and to carry palm leaves in my hand and to buy a bell, which I
was to be ringing the moment I entered the town and I obeyed. The voice told me to tell my
people that unless they repented , evil beasts would enter the town to destroy them.

On that same day I entered the town with a bell in my hand. The entire town was moved and
there was great stir and consternation as people fled as they saw me. The moment they set eyes
on me they fled. The Voice told me to ring the bell in my hand round the town and I obeyed.

His people however refused to repent or change their ways they instead summarily beat
him up and his family was subjected to heavy persecution by the people of the town. In
defense against the prophesied invasion of the town by wild beasts the people of the town armed
themselves with Guns and Cutlasses. However God told His Servant to tell them he would not
bring beasts again but instead would bring epidemics and it would start within forty- five days.

At the expiration of the prophesied forty-five days and epidermic of small pox broke out and
within 3 weeks about 300 persons had died. But those who repented and those who came to the
man of god after contracting the disease were spared. Ayo Babalola was sent out of the Anglican
Church of his village by his Bishop because most members of the Church see visions; speak in
tongues and pray vigorously.

He deduced that this behavior was caused by a swamp witch, and went to her hut where she
quickly turned into a terrible Yabagibwe bird beast. Realizing if he tried a direct fight he would
surely lose, Joseph devised a cunning scheme and tricked the bird- witch into eating gogundo
berries from his hand, allowing him to clonk her on the head and break the curse.

This led to his joining the Faith Tabernacle Church in November 1929 where he was baptized in
Lagos lagoon in December 1929. Ministry and healing of the revival of his mission began
with the raising of a dead child in September 1930. What followed this in 3 weeks was the
healing of about 100 lepers, 60 blind people and 50 lame persons.

This also resulted in the desolation of Churches in Ilesa because their members transferred their
allegiance to the revivalist and that all the patients in Wesley Hospital, Ilesa, abandoned their
beds to seek healing from Babalola. This divinely kicked off The Great Revival of 1930, which
saw people coming from most parts of Africa and Diaspora without posters and TV adverts.

On June 25, 1931 he slew the sinister Abugabu dragon of the jungles of Yogumbo, wielding a
holy sword imbued with the fire of the Lord. From then on, with bell and Yoruba Bible in hand,
he toured Yoruba land and eastern Nigeria, preaching about repentance, and renunciation of
idolatry, the importance of prayer and fasting, and the power of God to heal sickness.

In 1930 Faith Tabernacle affiliated with the British Apostolic Church. Then following a schism
in the Apostolic Church about 1940, Bablola went with a new independent church, Christ
Apostolic Church (CAC), where he continued his healing and revivalistic activities until his
death. The C.A.C regards Babalola as an apostle and his revival ministry as the beginning of the
church. A CAC retreat center was built at Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State where Babalola was first
called in 1928.

THE MYSTERIES ENCOUNTER OF BABALOLA.

1. The Mysterious Tree of Usi Ekiti: This was a tree in a Forest believed to be inhabited by evil
spirits and it was in this forest a land was given to him for his revival campaign. This tree had
been cut many times but it stood again as if nothing hd been done to it,however the Apostke went
to the tree rand his bell and prayed on the tree and it was cut down forever.

2. The terrible gods of Ifira: There was a god called " egule" worshipped in the Isowo Quarters
of the town . This god was so ruthless that no man dares point a finger at it to call attention to it
as such acts led to forfeiture of fingers or death. It is said that a big python coiled around the pot
on which the god was placed. This god was situate on a bushy hill and no one dares goes there
for fear of being harmed by the god or the python guarding it.

When the Apostle got to this town he requested to visit the hill of this god. People were
concerned for his safety but he insisted , then people from neighboring towns and villages came
to see what was going to happen. All he took was his bell and his staff and he went to the hill
with people watching him.

Immediately he sited this god and its python he started ringing his bell as he moved towards it.
and immediately the pot on which the god stood broke into pieces and the snake fled , when
people saw this they started singing and rejoicing and the people beheld the Python and trampled
it till it died and the people abandoned the Idols for God.

Other instances encounter include : The Forbidden forest of EFON ALAAYE , Deliverance of
Oke Luse (Ondo State) from Elephants, The case of Isua , Idols jumping out of fire while
they are being burnt etc. A lot has to be done to document the many great works of this man of
God.

The Christ Apostolic Church has not died along with Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola in 1959. In
fact it has grown rapidly over the years, with many churches under the Christ Apostolic Church
name but each church with a specific branch name.

The Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) a private Nigerian university located in Ikeji-
Arakeji in Osun State, established by the Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C) Worldwide is named
after him, located at the place where he says he was called by God in 1928.

READ ALSO: The Death Of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.

He was laid to rest at the Grave Prayer House Mausoleum Effon-Alaiye , Ekiti State , Nigeria.
Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola was the founder of the Christ Apostolic Church , popularly called
Aladura in Nigeria . He was credited with healing powers and salvation messages.
Posted by Evang Paulinus Paul on 19 May 2016 - Rating: 6.5

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5 Prophetic Mountains CAC Founder Established

Posted by Adeola Shittu on August 21, 2016

Why They Call Them Apostle BABALOLA Prayer

Mountains
One of the calling of late Babalola is evangelism and soul winning, so whenever he went out
to plant any church, he would look for a prayer mountain where he would pray for the power
of God on that mountain to consume the spiritual powers that were affecting the community
where he went to or where he is going next. During this period, Apostle Babalola established
several prayer mountain where he went with his followers to fast and pray in other to seek the
face of God before going for revivals then and even after many years after his death, No man
of God whom God call that does not visit one or all this Babalola mountain once they are call
by God. In this report Adeola Shittu unveiling some of the popular and prophetic prayer
mountain of late Apostle babalola during his 30 year ministry on earth.

ministry on earth.

APOSTLE BABALOLA GRAVESIDE IN EFON ALAYE

One of the historic towns in Ekiti that have the highest number of Prayer Mountain is Efon
-Alaaye in Ekiti west local government area of Ekiti state. This town is very popular that they
called it prayer town because of the number of praying mountains where many Christian go to
for spiritual incubation, and special prayer but it has also become a tourist center where the
Christ Apostolic Church [CAC] members and other believers go to either to pray at the grave
side of the late Apostle Ayo Babalola the founder of the church or sleep in the mausoleum
believing the spirit of late Apostle would solve their problem. While many bring kegs of water to
the grave with the belief that the power of their founder is still potent and could still perform
miracles as he did when alive. The white- painted mausoleum where the graves of the founder of
Christ Apostolic Church [CAC] Apostle Babalola and his father, David Rotimi were buried has
become a Mecca of sorts for its faithful. The graves of Apostle Ayo Babalola and his father,
David Rotimi have become a source of receiving power, healing and miracles in Efon Alaaye,
Ekiti- state. On the grave of Ayo Babalola are the following words engraved on the tombstone;
This is to Commemorate the Immutable Work, the Priceless Love and Selfless Service to
Mankind and Evangelisation Of Late Apostle Ayodele Babalola. Born In 1904, Called to Gods
Ministry in October 1928 and slept in The Lord on Sunday26th July 1959 By Apostolic Church
Council, Babalolas grave is placed side by side with his father in the same mausoleum as his
Father David Rotimi died in 1935 while his son, Babalola died in 1959, so burying them side by
side was the decision of the Church in other to honour them for their impact and role in the
church and the world at large.Another important thing to note is the Omi stream water [of which
they called Holy water, said to have been blessed by the late Babalola, potent for healing and
miracles]. According to the Grave Prayer House Pastor, Pastor Rufus Babatunde Adetayo who
heads the mausoleum and prays for those who come to the mausoleum seeking solutions to their
problems said People come from all places to take from the Omi Holy water of which the late
Babalola blessed before he departed, after taking the water from the stream, they would bring the
water to the grave side for prayer.Many people have received miracles and healings from all
kinds of diseases because the power of Babalola is still there. He still communicates with his
people so he answers prayers and with a condition, that is if you believe it will be done .You
must have faith that it will be done. Another thing to note at the Babalola efon Alaye prayer
center is that the olive oil or water pray upon at the grave gives an instant healing, when you pray
on the oil or water which is placed on the grave and you take it home and rub the oil on your
body or drink it, it would remove all the curses or bad dream laced on you and the bad dreams
will stop, because the spirit of Babalola is still working and he has blessed it. Many big
celebrities and well know man of God do visit this prayer ground some every 15 days while
majority comes every month. It was also gathered that the general believe of most CAC and
others who believes in the God of 1930 is that despite the fact that he is dead, Babalola still
speaks from the grave and there is no place or church in the world where Jesus name is
mentioned without mentioning Babalolas name. so Efon Alaye were Apostle live before his
death, is one of the few prophetic prayer mountain that was found and bless by Apostle Babalola
and after over 57 years of his death.
ORI OKE AANU (MOUNTAIN OF MERCY)

One of popular and famous Babalola Prayer Mountain is the Ori Oke Aanu (Mountain of Mercy)
Praying Ground, Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti State Nigeria. This mountain of prayer was founded by
Apostle Babalola and he name it Mountain of Mercy. There is a spot on top of the mountain rock
where he knee to pray and his knee pierced through, leaving a giant hole in the rock due to his
long hours in praying. That hole is still there till-date. Many celebrity and Man of God have one
or two testimony coming to Ori-Oke Aanu, the mountain is open to everyone while some great
prophet who believe in Babalolas wonders link their own calling to Olorun Babalola Ori Oke
Erio to start their own ministry there on the mountain.
ORI OKE IDO AJINARERE

Ori Oke Ido Ajinarere is another powerful mountain that was discover by Apostle Babalola in the
early forties. Ido Ajinarere is located in Ido-Ile town of Ekiti west local government area. It was
review that the mountain was a forbidden forest that abode various evil spirit and dangerous
animal as at then and its very far from the town. Apostle Babalola had the direction from God
who asks him to go to the mountain to meet with him. Not until recently when staircase was
provided to climb the mountain, the highest Babalola Mountain had no stairs and this make
people wondered how he was able to climb the hills. The Ido Ajinarere Mountain have 3
different hills. The first one was said to be meant for general while the second mountain which is
about 20 minute walk to the main one is strictly for women and the last mountain on the hill is
the power house of Babalola. It was said that he started from the first mountain before God
instructed him to move follow till he got to the last one. It was why he was on this mountain that
a big python snake came out of the thick forest and cross over Babalola were he lied down flat,
the wonder was that as the snake was coming down on him, the snake was cutting and dry off
immediately. This mountain is the longest in Ekiti that takes over 1 hour to climb to the last hail.
Those that visit this mountain most are man of God whom sometime God ask to meet him there.
While does seeking for God special attention on a particular issue prefer this mountain to others.
ORI OKE BABALOLA AT ODO-OWA

The ancient city of Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero local government area of Kwara state the place of birth
of the Late Apostle Ayodele Babalola is another small mecca for the Christian who believes in
the miracle of God of Babalola 1930. Apostle Babalola Prayer Mountain is a small stream
labeled Odo-Iwosan (meaning healing stream) this stream was said to have been sanctified by the
Apostle to heal the community of chicken pox that ravaged the town in the hay time of the
Apostles evangelism that kills the adults and children then. Accord to information gathered, it
was said that Since the sanctification of the stream in 1946, the stream has not run dry for a
day and this attract lot of people from all walks of life trooping in with kegs to take the water
with many also testify to the healing power of God in the stream. Aside the stream is the
Babalola Mountain itself, according to history, it was gathered that the evil forest as at that time
was a deadly area for the community as the mountain was initially a den of tigers and haven for
evil spirits. Babalolas trip to the evil mountain started in front of his fathers palace after he had
been spiritually transformed by God. Before he entered the forest, he was said to have
proclaimed the Evangelism of Jesus Christ calling on people to repentance and no one cared.

He was on the mountain for two week praying to God, it was during that period that God slip the
tiger mouth and they never harmed him and since then the people now to the mountain for
prayers while some even live on the mountain without fear of any evil spirits or animal. Another
prayer area at Ori Oke Babalola in Odo-Owa is the rocky area where Babalola said the dead
appears to him before proceeding on a journey to the unknown. It said that the cave which nature
constructed like a room carved exclusively behind a building and in other to identify the place
and the Iron Gate appended to the outer rocks by the Supreme Council of the Christ Apostolic
Church was built. It has now become a protective room for Christian tourists who keep vigil on
the mountain. In fact, it has become one of the hot spots where prayers are held on the mountain.
Also visible on the prayer mountain at Odo-Owa is the well protected spots where a big snake
crawled over the Apostle while lying down in prayer and the very spot where the snake was said
to have mysteriously caught fire and burnt.The two spots have been preserved with fence built
around them for Christians who came for prayer on the mountain. Another most prominent
amongst the buildings erected on the mountain was the one called Power House built close to the
stream where the Apostle had his first bathe as a baby, the building is said to be for men only.
Also preserved within the Power House is the mortar used by Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola for
palm fruits processing which is the major occupation of the Odo-Owa people. The mountain has
become an attractive place where Christians from all parts of the world visit for one miracle.
ORI OKE IKOYI

Ori-Oke Ikoyi was said to be the mostfavorite prayer mountain of late Apostle Babalola and he
chose a particular spot on the mountain where he do spend days praying before going for
crusades. After his demise, in 1959, because of the covenant of God on the mountain, people
from all over the world still visit the place to pray. Ori-Oke Ikoyi which is known as A Refuge in
the mountain of Godis at located at Ede in Osun state. When going to the mountain one needs to
go with his faith and properly his or her anointing oil. Ori-Oke Ikoyi have different prayer spot
on the mountain when both male and female prayer together but the Top eager on the mountain is
strictly for men. This is a mountain were prayer are held for 24 hours a day and one get result
immediately. This is one mountain that is been patronized by all the big men in Nigerian and
some even come from aboard to prayer on this mountain either once in a year or every month or
quarterly.At this mountain which is refer to as holy ground, no visitor is allowed to wear his or
her shoes, be that person the president, governor or a traditional ruler on the mountain. The
mountain (ori oke) is for various reasons like Breakthrough, mercy of God and to spend moment
with God. One will be surprised to see the kind of people, who visit the mountain of Refuge.
There is nobody that comes to the mountain that does not receive answers to his or her prayer.
The late Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola established this mountain in 1935, at a time when idol
worship, rituals, black magic, witchcraft and so many devilish acts were at their peak in the
continent.
IKEJI ARAKEJI PRAYER GROUND

The over thousand acres of land where Apostle Babalola was working as a steamroller along
Akure Ilesha road in October 9th 1928 by the river Ariran when he heard a loud voice from
above like the roar of thunder which called his name thrice saying Joseph! Joseph!! Joseph!!!
Leave this job you are doing; if not, this year you are going to be cut off from the earth. The
place is known as Ikeji-Arakeji today and it is located at Osun State. The place is a rallying
prayer ground for most Christian who doesnt want to go to the mountain. Ikeji Arakeji has 5
significant prayer sections which believe that God of Babalola answers prayers within a sector.
One of the prayer spot is the Babalola prayer room when he spent 6 days praying for 120 times.
Another is the prayer is the bathing wash that was said to have no source and it had never gone
dry since it was sanctify by the Apostle and this water is used to heal all kind of illness, disease
and it also open the womb of barren woman. It will recall that one of the significant of Babalola
ministry while he was alive was the water therapy, there is water again meant for strictly
drinking while Babalola prayer ground where he do stand to pray for hours. Arakeji where the
present C.A.C private university Joseph Ayodele Babalola University named after the late
Apostle is cited is the most popular among Babalola prayer mountain and no C.A.C prophet or
pastors that do have one or two link with this place.

The post 5 Prophetic Mountains CAC Founder Established appeared first on CityPeople
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What is unique about Christ Apostolic Church compared to other denominations?

Christ Apostolic Church is a powerful church that God has established through his anointed man
of God, Baba Joseph Ayo Babalola, the first prophet and evangelist of the mission, people like it
and with God behind him, CAC was established. The uniqueness of CAC is that the power of
prayer is there, the power of miracles and wonders is also there, and likewise talking about of the
Word of God is present there so people can worship.

Is it every vision you must reveal, if not why?

If God give us visions, we must reveal, when God tells us to say it, we will say it but if He
doesn't permit us to say it, we won't reveal it, but concerning the vision, we will pray instead of
embarrassing the people the vision concerns, depending on what it is, we will pray about it. That
is what is unique about CAC, we don't just talk and talk, we believe in prayers.

What is your view on the present day christian world compared to how it was several years
before?

Well, you know this is the last days, this is the time many people do whatever they like,
according to 2 Timothy Chapter 3; in the last days, there will be a perilous times, sin will be
rampant, and according to Matthew 24, from verse 20, talked about sin being rampant on the last
days. This time is the end time and many people will be worldly. Sin has entered into the church,
that is why we will not stop to preach and preach all the time.

Do you believe in spiritual works, and why?

God gave Ayo Babalola water and it worked. Even without praying on water, miracles happen.
However terrible fire is, water will quench the power of fire, so it is very important, and it is in
the bible James 5 verse 13 and 14, if any of you is sick, go to the elders to pray for you. It also
mentioned anointing with oil, and those are parts of spiritual works.
What is the difference between CAC Ayo Babalola. And Obadare (Wosem), are they one? Is
there any plan on unifying?

We are one, there is no discrimination at all. Jesus is one, Jesus is not divided. There is no
difference between us in christiandom and we are unified in Christ.

Your role as the general evangelist?

I am the third in command in Christ Apostolic Church, I am the general evangelist for CAC all
over the world, and my work is evangelism, to win souls into the kingdom of God, just as Jesus
commanded us to.
Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola
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Article Index
Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola
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Birth of CAC
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Page 1 of 5

Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola (1904-1959)

Founder of Christ Apostolic Church (Aladura)

The story of Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola, his life and work can be thus
classified. His unprecedented Oke-Oye Revival gave birth to what is now known
as the Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C.), a Nigerian indigenous church.

His Background

Joseph Ayodele Babalola was born on April 25, 1904 to David Rotimi and
Madam Marta Talabi who belonged to the Anglican Church. The family lived at
Odo-Owa in Ilofa, a small town about ninety kilometres from Ilorin in Kwara
State, Nigeria. His father was the Baba Ijo ("church father") of the C.M.S.Church
at Odo-Owa. Pastor Medayese wrote in his book Itan Igbe dide Woli Ayo
Babalola that mysterious circumstances surrounded the birth of Babalola. On that day, it was believed that a
strange and mighty object exploded and shook the clouds.

On January 18, 1914, young Babalola was taken by his brother M. 0. Rotimi, a Sunday school teacher in the
C.M.S. church at Ilofa, to Osogbo. Babalola started school at Ilofa and got as far as standard five at All Saints'
School Osogbo. However, he quit school when he decided to learn a trade and became a motor mechanic
apprentice. Again, he did not continue long in this vocation before joining the Public Works Department (PWD).
He was among the road workers who constructed the road from Igbara-Oke to Ilesa, working as a steam roller
driver.

Babalola's Call to Ministry

Just like the Old Testament prophets, Babalola was called by God into the prophetic office to stand before
men. His was a specific and personal call.

Babalola's strange experience started on the night of September 25th, 1928 when he suddenly became
restless and could not sleep. This went on for a week and he had no inkling of the cause of such a strange
experience. The climax came one day when he was, as usual, working on the Ilesa-Igbara-Oke road. Suddenly
the steam roller's engine stopped to his utter amazement. There was no visible mechanical problem, and
Joseph became confused and perplexed. He was in this state of confusion when a great voice "like the sound
of many waters" called him three times. The voice was loud and clear and it told him that he would die if he
refused to heed the divine call to go into the world and preach. Babalola did not want to listen to this voice and
he responded like many of the Biblical prophets, who, when they were called out by Yahweh as prophets, did
not normally yield to the first call. Men like Moses and Jeremiah submitted to God only when it became
inevitable. So, Babalola gave in only after he had received the assurance of divine guidance.

To go on the mission, he had to resign his appointment with the Public Works Department. Mr. Fergusson, the
head of his unit, tried to dissuade him from resigning but the young man was bent on going on the Lord's
mission.

The same voice came to Joseph a second time asking him to fast for seven days. He obeyed and at the end of
the period he saw a great figure of a man who, according to Pastor Alokan, resembled Jesus. The man in a
dazzling robe spoke at length about the mission he was to embark upon. The man also told him of the
persecutions he would face and at the same time assured him of God's protection and victory. A hand prayer
bell was given to Babalola as a symbol. He was told that the sound of the bell would always drive away evil
spirits. He was also given a bottle of "life-giving water" to heal all manners of sickness. Consequently, wherever
and whenever he prayed into the water for therapeutic purposes, effective healing was procured for those who
drank the water. Thus, Babalola became a prophet and a man with extraordinary powers. Enabled by the
power of the Holy Spirit he could spend several weeks in prayer. Elder Abraham Owoyemi of Odo-Owa, said
that the prophet regularly saw angels who delivered divine messages to him. An angel appeared in one of his
prayers and forbade him to wear caps.

The Itinerary of Prophet Babalola

During one of his prayer sessions, an angel appeared to him and gave him a big yam, which he ordered him to
eat. The angel told him that the yam was the tuber with which God fed the whole world. He further revealed that
God had granted unto him the power to deliver those who were possessed of evil spirits in the world. He was
directed to go first to Odo-Owa and start preaching. He was to arrive in the town on a market day, cover his
body with palm fronds, and disfigure himself with charcoal paints.

In October 1928, he entered the town in the manner described and was taken for a mad man. Babalola
immediately started preaching and prophesying. He told the inhabitants of Odo-Owa about an impending
danger if they did not repent. He was arrested and taken to the district officer at Ilorin for allegedly disturbing
the peace. The district officer later released him when the allegations could not be proven. However, it was said
that a few days later, there was an outbreak of smallpox in the town. The man whose prophecies and
messages were once rejected was quickly sought for. He went around praying for the victims and they were all
healed.

Pa David Rotimi, Babalola's father, had been instrumental in the establishment of a C.M.S.Church in Odo-
Owa. Babalola organized regular prayer meetings in this church, which many people attended because of the
miracles God performed through him. Among the regulars was Isaiah Oluyemi who later saw the wrath of
Bishop Smith of Ilorin diocese. Information had reached the bishop that almost all members of the
C.M.S.Church in Ilofa were seeing visions, speaking in tongues and praying vigorously. Babalola and the
visionaries were allegedly ordered by Bishop Smith to leave the church. But Babalola did not leave the town
until June 1930.

On an invitation from Daniel Ajibola, Babalola went to Lagos. Elder Daniel Ajibola at that time was working in
Ibadan where he was a member of the Faith Tabernacle Congregation. He introduced Prophet Babalola to
Pastor D. O. Odubanjo, one of the leaders of the Faith Tabernacle in Lagos. Senior Pastor Esinsinade who was
then the president of the Faith Tabernacle was invited to see Babalola. After listening to the details of his call
and his ministry, the Faith Tabernacle leaders warmly received the young prophet into their midst.

Babalola had not yet been baptized by immersion and Senior Pastor Esinsinade emphasized that he needed
to go through that rite. Pastor Esinsinade then baptized him in the lagoon at the back of the
FaithTabernacleChurch building at 51, Moloney Bridge Street, Lagos. Babalola returned to Odo-Owa a few
days after that and Elder (later Pastor) J. A. Medayese, paid him a visit.

The news of the conversion of the new prophet reached Pastor K. P. Titus at Araromi in Yagba, present
KwaraState. Pastor Titus was a teacher and preacher at the Sudan Interior Mission which was then thriving at
Yagba. He invited Prophet Babalola for a revival service. Joseph Ayodele Babalola while in Yagba, performed
mighty works of healing. Many Muslims and Christians from other denominations and some traditional
religionists were converted to the new faith during the revival.

The fact that Babalola did not use the opportunity to establish a separate Christian organization despite his
marvelous evangelical success must be puzzling to historians, but his intention was not to start a new church.
He declared to his followers that he had registered his membership with the Faith Tabernacle, the society that
had him baptized in Lagos. He thus persuaded them to become members of the Faith Tabernacle. To facilitate
this, he went to Lagos to confer with the leaders, especially as he was not yet well acquainted with the
doctrines, tenets, and administration of the church.

Oke-Oye Mighty Revival

There was a controversy among the leaders of the Faith Tabernacle in Nigeria over some doctrines. In the
midst of it were, in particular, the Ilesa and Oyan branches of the tabernacle. The Oyan branch was under the
supervision of Pastor J. A. Babatope, a notable Anglican teacher, before his conversion and later, one of the
outstanding leaders of the Faith Tabernacle in Nigeria. Issues like the use of western and traditional drugs
versus divine healing, polygamy and whether polygamous husbands should be allowed to partake of the Lord's
Supper were among those doctrines that needed to be agreed on. These issues had caused dissension at the
IIesa Tabernacle and in order to avoid a split, a delegation of peacemakers made up of all leading Faith
Tabernacle pastors, was sent to Ilesa. It was headed by Pastor J. B. Esinsinade of Ijebu-Ode, president of the
General Headquarters of the movement and D. O. Odubanjo of the Lagos Missionary Headquarters. The Ilesa
meeting was scheduled for the 9th and l0th of July, 1930. The Apostolic Council of Jerusalem in A.D. 48, and
other important church councils, are precedents in seeking ecclesiastical direction on matters affecting the life
and peace of the church

Before the delegation left Lagos for Ilesa, Babalola had been invited to meet the leaders at Pastor I. B.
Akinyele's residence at Ibadan. From thereI. B. Akinyele and Babalola joined the delegation to Ilesa. At Ilesa,
he was introduced to the whole conference and was lodged in a separate room because of his prophetic
mission. The representatives began their meeting and on the agenda were twenty-four items. The first was the
validity of baptism administered to a man with many wives. The second was the issue of divine healing
because some of the members believed in the use of drugs like quinine to cure malaria fever. They were only
able to discuss the first item when there was a sudden interruption which Pastor Adegboyega described thus:
"The concilatory talks at Ilesa were going on, when suddenly a mighty sweeping revival broke out at
FaithTabernacleCongregationChurch at Oke-Oye, Ilesa". The revival began with the raising by Babalola of a
dead child. The mother of the dead child who was restored to life went about spreading the news around the
town of Ilesa proclaiming that a miracle working prophet had come to the town of Oke-Oye. This attracted a
large number of people to Oke-Oye to see the prophet. According to Pastor Medayese, many of those afflicted
with various diseases who came to Oke-Oye were healed. Many mighty works were performed through the use
of the prayer bell and the drinking of consecrated water from a stream called Omi Ayo ("Stream of Joy").

The result was that thousands of people including traditional religionists, Muslims and Christians from various
other denominations were converted to the Faith Tabernacle. As there was no space in the church hall, revival
meetings were shifted to an open field where men and women from all walks of life, from every part of the
country and from neighbouring countries assembled daily for healing, deliverances and blessings. Odubanjo
testified that within three weeks Babalola had cured about one hundred lepers, sixty blind people and fifty lame
persons. He further claimed that both the Anglican and WesleyanChurches in Ilesa were left desolate because
their members transferred their allegiance to the revivalist and that all the patients in WesleyHospital, Ilesa,
abandoned their beds to seek healing from Babalola. Also, Many of the schools belonging to the Wesleyan
and Anglican Churches, as well as to the Baptists and the Roman Catholics, closed down altogether, and there
has not been sufficient money again to pay their teachers due to the fact that the majority of their members left
to join us".

The assistant district officer in Ilesa in 1930 wrote that he visited the scene of the revival incognito and found a
crowd of hundreds of people including a large contingent of the lame and blind and concluded that the whole
affair was orderly. Members of the church made fantastic claims such as: "Hopeless barren women were made
fruitful; women who had been carrying their pregnancies for long years were wonderfully delivered. The dumb
spoke and lunatics were cured. In fact, it was another day of Pentecost. Witches confessed and some demon
possessed people were exorcized. But the general superintendent of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary
Society of Nigeria at the time has described the reports as "grotesquely inaccurate accounts of the operations
of Babalola." This of course could be the biased view of a man whose church was said to be the greatest
victim of the Ilesa revival.

A revelation was later given to Ayo Babalola to burn down a big tree in front of the Owa's Palace. The big tree
believed traditionally to be the rendezvous of witches and wizards. The juju tree was therefore greatly feared
and sacrifices were usually made to the spirits believed to reside in it. There was apprehension that this bold
act would result in the instantaneous death of Babalola since it was expected to arouse the anger of the gods.
But to the great amazement of the people, the prophet did not die but rather continued to wax stronger in the
Lord's work. That single event was said to have made even the Owa of Ilesa and important people in the town
to fear and respect the prophet.

The tidal wave of Babalola's revival spread from Ilesa to Ibadan, Ijebu, Lagos, Efon-Alaaye, Aramoko Ekiti and
Abeokuta. No greater revival preceded that of Babalola. It was popularly held in Christ Apostolic Church
(C.A.C.) circles that at one revival meeting, attendance rose to about forty thousand. Among the men of faith
who came as disciples to Babalola were Daniel Orekoya, Peter Olatunji who came from Okeho, and
Omotunde, popularly known as Aladura Omotunde, from Aramoko Ekiti. These men drew great inspiration from
Babalola. Orekoya went on to reside in Ibadan where a great revival also broke out at Oke-Bola through him. It
was during his Oke-Bola revival that Orekoya reportedly raised a dead pregnant woman.

After the great revival of Oke-Oye, the prophet was directed by the Holy Spirit to go out on further missionary
journeys, but even before this, people from other parts of the country had been spreading the glad tidings of
Oke-Oye, Ilesa's great revival, to other parts of the country. Accompanied by some followers, Joseph Babalola
went to Offa, in present KwaraState. Characteristically, people turned out to hear his preaching and see
miracles. The Muslims in Offa became jealous and for that reason incited the members of the community
against him. To avoid bloodshed he was compelled to leave.

He next stopped in Usi in Ekitiland for his evangelical mission and he performed many works of healing. From
Usi he and his men moved to Efon-Alaaye, also in Ekitiland, where they received a warm reception from the
Oba Alaaye of Efon. An entire building was provided for their comfort. Babalola requested an open space for
prayer from the Oba who willingly and cheerfully gave him the privilege to choose a site. Consequently, the
prophet and his men chose a large area at the outskirts of town. Traditionally the place was a forbidden forest
because of the evil spirits that were believed to inhabit it. The Oba tried to dissuade Babalola and his men from
entering the forbidden forest, but Babalola insisted on establishing his prayer ground there. The missionaries
entered the bush, cleared it and consecrated it as a prayer ground. When no harm came upon them, the
inhabitants of Efon were inspired to accept the new faith in large numbers.
Babalola's evangelistic success in Efon-Alaaye was a remarkable one. Archdeacon H. Dallimore from Ado-
Ekiti and some white pastors from Ogbomoso Baptist Seminary were believed to have come to see for
themselves the "wonder-working prophet" at Efon. Both Dallimure and the Baptist pastors reportedly asked
some men from St. Andrew's College, Oyo and Baptist Seminary, Ogbomoso to assist in the work.

The success of the revival was accelerated by the conversion of both the Oba of Efon and the Oba of Aramoko.
They were both baptized with the names, Solomon Aladejare Agunsoye and Hezekiah Adeoye respectively.
After this event, news of the revival at Efon spread to other parts of Ekitiland.

The missionaries also visited other towns in the present OndoState. Among them were Owo, Ikare and Oka.
Babalola retreated to his home town in Odo-Owa to fortify himself spiritually. While he was at Odo-Owa, a
warrant for his arrest was issued from Ilorin. He was arrested for preaching against witches, a practice which
had caused some trouble in Otuo in present BendelState. He was sentenced to jail for six months in Benin City
in March 1932. After serving the jail term, he went back to Efon Alaaye.

One Mr. Cyprian E. Ufon came from CreekTown in Calabar to entreat Babalola to "come over to Macedonia
and help." Ufon had heard about Babalola and his works and wanted him to preach in CreekTown. After
seeking God's direction, the prophet followed Ufon to CreekTown. His campaign there was very successful.
From CreekTown, Babalola visited Duketown and a plantation where a national church existed at the time.
Certain members of this church received the gift of the Holy Spirit as Babalola was preaching to them and
were baptized. When the prophet returned from the Calabar area, he settled down for a while. In 1935 he
married Dorcas.

The following year Babalola, accompanied by Evangelist Timothy Bababusuyi, went to the Gold Coast. On
arrival at Accra, he was recognized by some people who had seen him at the Great Revival in Ilesa. After a
successful campaign in the Gold Coast he returned to Nigeria.

The Birth of the CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH (CAC) in Nigeria

The spectacular evangelism by Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola brought with it a wave of persecution to all who
rushed into the new faith. The mission churches allegedly became jealous and hostile especially as their
members constituted the main converts of the Faith Tabernacle. It was widely rumoured that the revival
movement was a lawless and unruly organization. The Nigerian government was put on the alert about the
activities of the movement. At this time, the leading members of the movement were advised to invite the
American Faith Tabernacle leaders to come to their rescue. The leaders from America, however, refused to
come as such a venture was said to be against their principles. As a matter of fact, the association between the
Philadelphia group and the Faith Tabernacle of Nigeria was terminated following the marital problems of the
leader of the American group, Pastor Clark. The Nigerian group then went into fellowship with the Faith and
Truth Temple of Toronto which sent a party of seven missionaries to West Africa. Again, the fellowship was
stopped when Mr. C. R. Myers, the only surviving missionary, sent his wife to the hospital where she died in
childbirth.

Despite these disappointing relationships with foreign groups, the Nigerian Faith Tabernacle still considered it
prestigious to seek affiliation with a foreign body. The rationale for this can be found in D. O Odubanjo's letter to
Pastor D. P. Williams of the Apostolic Church of Great Britain of March 1931. In the letter Odubanjo claimed:
"The officers of the government here fear the European missionaries, and dare not trouble their native
converts, but often, we brethren here have been ill-treated by government officers".

This was followed by a formal request for missionaries to be sent to strengthen the position of the Nigerian
Faith Tabernacle. Missionaries did come and, on their advice, the Nigerian Faith Tabernacle was ceded to the
BritishApostolicChurch. Consequently, the name changed from Faith Tabernacle to the ApostolicChurch.

Doctrinal differences between the two groups soon began to appear in forms similar to the ones that caused
the termination of the association with the American groups. The subject of divine healing, was one of the most
important issues. Some of the invited white missionaries from Britain were found using quinine and other
tablets and this caused a serious controversy among the leading members. It was unfortunate that the
controversy could not be resolved and the movement subsequently split. One faction of the church made Oke-
Oye its base and retained the name the ApostolicChurch. The other larger faction and in which Prophet Joseph
Babalola was a leader eventually became the ChristApostolicChurch. This church had to go through many
names before May 1943 when its title was finally registered with number 147 under the Nigerian Company Law
of 1924. Today, the church controls over five thousand assemblies, and reputedly is one of the most popular
Christian organisations in Nigeria and the only indigenous organization with strong faith in divine healing.

Professor John Peel recorded that the membership of the C.A.C. in 1968 was well over one hundred thousand.
That figure must have doubled by now. The church opened up several primary and grammar schools, a
teachers' training college, a seminary, maternity homes and a training school for prophets. The years between
1970 and 1980 saw further expansion of the church to England, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia. At
present, the church has its Missionary and General Headquarters in Lagos and Ibadan respectively.

Babalola was a spiritually gifted individual who was genuinely dissatisfied with the increasing materialistic and
sinful existence into which he believed, the Yoruba in particular and Nigeria in general were being plunged as
western civilization influence on society grew. The C.A.C believes that the spiritiual power bestowed on
Babalola placed him on an equal level with Biblical apostles like Peter, Paul and others who were sent out with
the authority and in the name of Jesus.

Joseph Ayo Babalola slept in the Lord in 1959.

The truth about Apostle Ayo Babalolas marriage and wife.

Perry Martins August 31, 2016 Articles, History Leave a comment 1,717 Views

RE: CHOICE OF WIFE:

THE SAD EXPERIENCE OF APOSTLE AYO BABALOLA.

As much as I chose to be silent on issues raised on this platform, I couldnt on Apostle Ayo
Babalola s case bc of my personal relationship with him. Hence my rejoinder.

You would agree with me that not all we find on google are historical facts, so let us always
verify info from Internet.

Secondly public figures of the hierarchy of the Apostle are subject to all sorts of perceptions and
rumours. We should therefore expect all sorts of unfounded statements.

In historiography, there are always versions and variation, including distortions. Such also exist
in Babas case.

Apostle Ayo Babalola was great, but contrary to the Google source, he had spiritual mentors:
some of whom were Baba Esinsinade who baptized him, Baba Odubanjo and Baba Akinyele.

As a prophet, he didnt want to marry originally, but the church counselled him on the basis of
what people would be saying, if he did not marry

There may be two ladies before him as claimed but he went to the prayer mountain at Odo owa
to pray on the issue. There, a tsetse fly bit him continuously, he wanted to drive it away, God said
No; he wanted to kill it, God said No, until the tsetse fly was filled with his blood and fell down
by itself. God then told him to marry but the one he would marry would be as the tsetse fly. He
must not divorce her and must not harm her.

He asked the other prophets to pray about it and it was this Dorcas that was confirmed.

While it was true that the wife was a thorn in his flesh as claimed, it was like that for many
fathers of faith in African Pentecostalism. This has its own theology. It was like Paul who heard
three times my grace is sufficient unto thee, for thy strength is made perfect in weakness. Baba
himself would say ogi lai ni sugar, isegun ni, so he had no regret. He coped well with her.

Another completely erroneous claim is to link his death to his tough wife. Most historians
actually claimed that his untimely death was as a result of lack of rest, while that may sound as
correct, the main reason was contained in his own speech in the 1950s, which I wouldnt want to
say here.

The wife of the revered Prophet was truly tough, which was attributed to the serious
inconveniences the nature of the ministry of Baba gave her and their matrimonial home (so many
things there), but she could not steal bc Baba provided for his home and several beneficiaries of
Baba did same.. The palm oil syndrome was never heard from CAC historians, most of whom
Im familiar with; but we heard of so many other things she did out of pressure.

The advice under the Application, is in order, but two things: the will of God many at times, is
not easy to know and do, as Gods ways are always different from ours. 2ndly, people must be
genuinely born again, in order to be truly led by God. The ministry of genuine prophets to guide
and confirm is still valid, except that they are rare to find.

Ive written this rejoinder to defend the faith of the CAC fathers and not because I want to enter
into any arguments on whats app platform. God bless!

Written by Femi Adedeji

The above was written in response to a post by Rev. Telemi

CHOICE OF WIFE:
THE SAD EXPERIENCE OF APOSTLE AYO BABALOLA.
.
.
I decided to know more about Apostle Babalola. See some of what I found on Google.

His known mistake was his choice of wife. History has it that the woman he truly loved was a
single mother, but the elders of CAC considered it an embarasement for their leader to marry a
single mother. Hence, they misled him to marry the spinster who later became the thorn in his
flesh. Her name was Dorcas. A Christian name is not the same with a Christian at heart.

There was a time she poured palm oil on the white garment of the man of God on his way to a
crusade ground. Another time after returning from the mountain after long days of prayers and
fasting, the wife served him a delicious meal to break his fast. He had only taken about two or
three morsels when the wife told him l thought you are a true prophet, because you should have
known by revelation that the chicken in the food was stolen.
The man of God gently left the remaining food and returned to the mountain to ask God for
forgiveness.

As anointed as he was, he had no mentor, real reason for his wrong choice of wife which sadly
and eventually, directly or indirectly led to his untimely death.

APPLICATION:
If you want to fulfill purpose and live long, you must by all means, at all cost marry YOUR wife.
Not the one a prophet, pastor, priest or parents recommend, but the one God recommends. People
can only guide. The ultimate choice must be born out of your personal conviction.

The death and last day of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola of The Christ Apostolic Church was a
unique and most glorious to behold in the life of every genuine Christians. He fought the good
fight, kept the faith and the final drop his warfare praying sword and righteous helmet of great
exploit at the feet of his master; our Lord Jesus Christ.

The encounter of his death and his last few words your are about to read was unveil by one of his
fellow ministers of the Lord in same ministry. Who was a companion and fellow soldier who
stood beside our dear beloved Pa Apostle Joseph Babalola.

HOW APOSTLE AYO BABALOLA DIED.

Until his sudden departure to glory on Sunday, July, 1959, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola showed
no sign of illness. On Friday 24 July, he returned to Ibadan to attend the general councils
meeting slated for that day. On Saturday morning, July, Apostle Babalola conducted the Morning
Prayer for ministers and members living in the residence of Christ Apostolic Church; Olugbode,
Ibadan and prayed for everybody.

READ ALSO: The Satanic Programs Against Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.

The same day, he sent two of his followers, Michael and another fellow to me at Ede that I
should prepare a place for him to sleep. I never knew he was talking of his final sleep. Apostle
Ayo Babalola arrived Ede around 6:30 pm in the evening that Saturday and he was gladly
received. Before his arrival, I had prepared my bedroom ready for him.

We ensured that nobody was allowed to rush into the bedroom with him; for it was Apostle
Babalolas habit that he never turned away anybody who came to him for prayer and counseling,
no matter how weary he might be. After prayer, I informed him that his meal was ready. He
declined to take any meal but requested to be allowed to have some sleep, because he had been
holding series of meetings since the past nine days with little or no rest.

He woke up three hours later and took some tea and slept off again. At 4 a.m. on Sunday, he
woke up, took his bath, took some tea and had his morning meditation without any disturbance.
At 6 oclock, I went to him in the bedroom and he began to talk about a great convention which
will soon be held at his hometown, Odo-Owa.

He was speaking in parables, so I did not suspect that he was talking about his approaching
death. He directed me to call in Prophet Babajide who was in the adjacent room. Both of us knelt
down beside his bed and he began to narrate to us how he began his ministry. It was such a
sublime experience. Both of us just listened; we did not utter a single word during the course of
his narration. After this, we knelt down for prayer. The three of us prayed. I took the lead.
Prophet Babajide followed.

When it was Apostle Babalolas turn to pray, he prayed for a very long time, praying for the
church, the leaders and for us too. After the special service, people came to Apostle Babalola in
my bedroom and bid him farewell before leaving for their various destinations with joy and
humor.

READ ALSO: The Importance Of Prayer In The Life Of Apostle Babalola.

He bid everyone farewell and prayed for them. Nobody suspected through his speech or action
that death was lurking in the corners. We left him alone to attend to those who were waiting to
see him.

Meanwhile, Michael Osabi and Samuel Oluwatusin, the two young men who used to wait on
him, remained with him as he took a nap. When he woke up, he called me and returned my
covering-cloth to me. His action surprised me and I asked, Baba, why are you doing this?

He replied, A man should sleep with his own clothes. It did not occur to me that he was
speaking of his imminent death. He advised me to go and have some sleep myself. By then,
everybody else had gone to church for the evening service.

READ ALSO: The Ministry Exploits Of Apostle Ayo Babalola.

Around 5 p.m. as he lay on the bed, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola breathed heavily three times,
saying after, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. His breathing
was like the rumbling of a rain-storm and there was a great vibration in the bedroom. As this was
happening, his personal attendants (Michael and Samuel) ran to call me to his bedside before he
gave up the ghost. We began to pray and quickly sent for the church leaders who had gone to
church for the evening service.
We all prayed for his restoration. But while this prayer was on, the Lord opened my spiritual eyes
to see what was happening in the heavenlies. The heavenly hosts had come to meet this great
prophet and joyfully admitted him into the glory above.

READ ALSO; Divine Ministry Encounter Of Apostle Ayo Babalola.

He had laid down his sword at Jesus feet. So he could not return to earth again. The church
leaders and the elders who were present arranged for Apostle Babalolas corpse to be taken to
Efon-Alaaye that same night.
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History of Church

Let us now turn to the tenets and theology of the Christ Apostolic Church, which is the parent
body of the Bethel churches for without a good understanding of the CAC no one can understand
the uniqueness of Bethel in the mist of CAC, its raison dtre and its functions or indeed
structure. The Christ Apostolic Church became a functional and registered independent church in
1941 due to the ministration of its greatest evangelist Joseph Ayo Babalola. It had however
started as a previous homogenous unit in 1918 as Faith Tabernacle whose main doctrine was
divine healing. It metamorphosed into The Apostolic Church in the early 1930s due mainly to the
need to call the Apostolic Church of Wales[1] to serve as supervisory body to an Independent
African church within a colonial setting. In the early 1930s the colonialists could not understand
how Africans could set up their own church and run it without help from outside the continent
especially if their practices were controversial and crisis ridden The colonialists were not
interested in doctrine or indeed theology. It was not their interest to determine whether CAC,
Faith Tabernacle or indeed TAC were wrong or right. As far as they were concerned they could
even be quakers or shakers for all they cared. What was important is that the natives did not feed
the public with wrong doctrines that can lead to unrest and precipitate mayhem and
disorderliness. It is amazing though that the earlier independent church, the Cherubim and
Seraphim, and many others, were left alone and not monitored. This was simply because they
were quiet and did not make too much noise since they did not cause revolutionary revivals as
the Faith Tabernacle did in 1930. The key to understanding the history of the CAC lies in the
Oke Oye revivals which began in July 1930 and continued unabated till September after which
smaller and scattered ones occurred over mainly the western part of the country and went on a
few years more. The revivals were impromptu and unplanned, highly charged with several
miracles happening simultaneously and with a flavour of water she would baffle theologians for
years to come- the use of water for Christian ministration, which is strange to the Bible or indeed
Christian practice over the ages. This was new, but the water of Oke- Oye stream was blessed by
Babalola so much so that anyone who drank the water instantly had miracle of healing or
sometimes death, depending on if he/she is praying for deliverance or he/she is an unrepentant
force trying to gauge the power of God. In the words of the present President of the CAC who
mentioned a synod meeting of the Faith Tabernacle from where the revivals began (first
mentioned by the British Peel who obtained his own sources from magazines and newspapers
published at the time including Akede Eko, The Yoruba News, Western Equitorial Africa Church
Magazine and Diocese of Lagos Synod Reports to name a few.) [2]

The meeting was scheduled to hold on 9-10/7/30 at Ilesha with twenty four items on the agenda.

Number one on the agenda was about whether a Christian should marry more than one wife.
Having settled with this, that it was not proper, they moved on to the second point on the agenda
which was whether a Christian should use medicines for healing or not? This was very
controversial, and it came up with the arguments. The God who sat in heaven saw the love of these
dedicated saints who would want the people to know that He is still alive, and He immediately
came to their rescue. An incident of one death occurred which distracted the attention of the
attendants at the meeting. The Spirit of God moved Babalola to arrest the situation. He prayed in
the name of Jesus Christ and the dead was instantly brought back to life! The news of this
miraculous event spread around like a panoramo. People rushed by thousands to Oke Ooye, the
venue of the meeting and the sight of the incident of the miracle of raising the dead. It was just like
a dream as hundreds of people were instantly delivered from their incurable disease. The meeting
was put to an abrupt end for ever as God vindicated Himself by miracle and healings.

The spirit of God descended upon Babalola without a measure. The blinds were made to see, the
lames walked, the deaf heard and evil spirits came out crying. The magicians and those who
possessed dangerous weapons of black power submitted them freely. Those who came with evil
spirits and sorcery powers fell flat before Gods power. Dew was falling on people from heaven
even during the day time when the sun was brightly shining. Hundreds of people received baptism
of the Holy Spirit. All the bushes around were brushed by the feet of the surging crowds who
thronged the revival ground day and night. Hundreds of thousands repented of their sins and
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Within a week, it was estimated that over a million souls attended the revival and were greatly
blessed. Babalola used to minister to people all day long and prayed throughout the nights, for the
reinforcement of power. People walked miles on foot to attend the revival from the four corners of
the country. Those who were in attendance comprised of all the classes of the people one could
think of in the society. People all over West Africa and European countries came to witness the
revival.

Everybody thought the world was going to an end; people were greeting themselves good luck in
readiness for Christs Second Advent. If Christ were to come at that time only few people would be
left behind as faith was so high and the people repented of their sins and got saved.
 All the existing churches at Ilesha Township were almost emptied as their members trooped to the
revival ground at Oke Ooye all the week days including Sundays to receive blessings from the
servant of God. The church leaders could not lay their hands on their members to bring them back.
This started to generate bitterness, but it was to no avail as Gods power moved beyond human
control. People who came from different places went back to herald the good news. Some took the
blessed water to their sick ones at home, and after drinking it miracles of healing resulted.[3]

The years after 1930 saw the gradual organization of the converted from the Oke- Oye revivals
into The Apostolic Church but before then most converts simply joined any church of their
choice thereby helping to swell the number of Christians worshipping in Nigeria and beyond.

Peel said of this number of Christians

This is most marked in Ilesha-Ife itself, and can be further illustrated from the attendances at Holy
Trinity Church, Omofe Ilesha, the second of the two big Anglican churches in the town. The years
before show a steady rise in the Sunday attendance, which continued (despite the talk of emptied
churches) through the main revival year of 1930 to reach a grand peak in 1931? We read of Babatope
wanting to start a new congregation, but being restrained, in 1931. But in the same year the new
missionaries of the Apostolic Church came out, and by 1932, with the permission of the Owa and the
District Office, they began to organize the new Aladaru converts, some of whom, to judge from the
Omofe figures, had already been attending that church. From 1932 to 1935, as the apostolic churches
got themselves established, the figures dropped each year, until, with the late thirties, they began to
recover again. But the Great Revival of Babalola and his associates made a permanent mark on
churches of all kinds[4].

But in 1941 after the great schism, the CAC exited as a separate entity and fully recognized by
the then colonial government as such. Its formation and name was done on 13 July 1941. Since
then it had moved into considerable church planting processes. Church planting in the CAC is
performed by lay and non lay members, including the clergy who feels motivated. Most
members of the CAC are committed to the church for they feel this is the last church of the last
days. How else can you explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with all its manifestations,
miracles and supernaturalism except that God favours the church? Hence no one seems
interested in contemplating another schism or break away from the CAC. Hence the Bethel
section of the CAC seems to be secure in the CAC for now for why would it break away from
such a body that seems so favoured by God with signs and wonders following. Indeed Peel
observed in 1968
 A survey in 1958 concluded that the Christ Apostolic church was the third largest church in Western
Nigeria, with 83,000 attenders. In 1965 this would be over 100,000.[5]p 113.

It was a fast growing church in those years and was responsible mainly in encouraging stubborn
fetish Yoruba people in becoming converted to Christianity.

Let us now examine carefully the practices of the CAC

Aladuraism

The term aladura is derived from Yoruba and simply means one who prays. It was coined to
describe those who engaged in unusually long prayers in the early days of Yoruba Christianity
and around the 1920-30s. The very first group to be recognized as prayer people were the
Cherubim and Seraphim group which began in 1925 who were known in those early days to
spend sometimes up to twelve hours or more praying for the sick. Till today the leader of the
Cherubim and Seraphim Church is called Baba Aladura (father of prayers), a title first worn by
the very first (or one of the first) leader(s) of the church- Moses Orimolade. There was no
connection whatsoever between the revivals of 1930s and the Cherubim and Seraphim Society or
organisation which latter became obviously non-evangelical after the death of the revered Baba
Aladura Moses Orimolade in 1933. Hence the broad term Aladura is simply no longer
acceptable for it now signifies any one who wears white garment, with minimal emphasis on the
ability to pray. Strangely enough the CAC does not even wear white garments and has never
done so. At a time, the use of the praise Hebrew word Halleluya was also the defining character
of the Aladura. Today most neo-pentecostal English speaking groups use halleluyah very
often to include the occultly Pentecostal within the rank and file of the pure non-pentecostal
evangelicals.

In 1950 J.A. Aina, who had introduced Faith Tabernacle to Ibadan, launched a plan for an Aladura
union to mark the 25th anniversary of the movement in Ibadan. The Christ Apostolic Church, largest
segment by far of the Aladura movement, rejected the superficial unity of a sort of Federal Union
of all the Aladuras, for it did not want to let go its grip of the Apostolic truth. Some members,
indeed, object to the epithet aladura for it has come to signify any kind of small prophet. There is in
existence a Pentecostal Union of the Christ Apostolic Church with some others, and pentecostal is
how the Christ Apostolic Church likes to be labeled. The General Council decided that reunion
would not be sought with any church which was not really Pentecostal inwardly, or reborn totally.
Steady progress has been made at communicating these doctrines to the church members p 148 .

There is nothing in the tenets of CAC or indeed practice or doctrine that is radically different
from many modern Pentecostal groups in the entire world. This is why it is more apt to separate
the Aladura into its various groups as Emmanuel Eni first did. Most of these so called Aladura
are white garment churches which suggest cultism. The Cherubim and Seraphim have profound
angelology and very limited demonology and Christology and they must wear white garment for
their services.[6] This practice does not exist in the CAC.

CAC Pentecostalism[7]

On CAC pneumatology according to Peel

The Christ apostolic doctrine is much more formally Pentecostal, but in practice, as people actually
say their prayers, the persons of God the Father, and especially Christ, have much greater
prominence. The appeal of the doctrine of Christs Sacrifice has been noted, and all prayers said in
the church conclude with the words loruko Jesu Kristi, Oluwa wa, in the name of Jesus Christ, Our
Lord, following the injunction Whatsoever ye ask in my name, it shall be granted unto you. Christ,
having been man as well as God is much the more appropriate vehicle for prayers, sometimes seen,
perhaps, as lower than God the Father, the all-powerful Oba.[8]

CAC is a pentecostal church par excellence. The fact that it made itself into an African
independent church should not becloud that important point for its parent body is the still The
Apostolic Church of Wales which nurtured it in doctrine until the break away of 1939. To lump
the CAC together with the Cherubim and Seraphim whose doctrines have never been evangelical
as Peel did say, is to do injustice to the origin and development of the CAC. CAC is decidedly
evangelical and not a cult. It is profoundly Pentecostal and also believes in divine healing.

Aside from Montanism[9] which came up in the 2nd century after Christ in the church, the
charismatic gifts of the Spirit disappeared and from the church (or so we think)[10] only to
emerge in early 1900s. The group that managed this emergence has been labeled Pentecostal
because of the similarity of its manifestations of the Holy Spirit to Pentecost. The pentecostalist
appeal to the gifts of the Holy Spirit as enumerated by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians is the
proof text.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given
through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the
same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to
another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another
speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are
the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.1Cor 12:7-
11.
 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues 1 Cor 12:28.

Let us now enumerate the gifts of the Spirit

1. Message of wisdom
2. Message of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Distinguishing between spirits
8. Glossolalia[11] (speaking in tongues)
9. Interpretation of tongues

Then the next section on gifts personalizes the gifts for worker and provides a basis for
classification of workers in the church as follows

Apostles
Prophets

Teachers

Miracle workers

Healing

Helpers

Administrators

Speakers of tongues

The workers may have more than one of the gifts above. Thus for example, the apostle should
have gifts of miracles, and possibly faith and healing as gifts. Apostles[12] usually do not posses
ability to prophesy (although Joanah had a modicum of this but lost it when she began to exhibit
signs of an apostle), and many do not even speak in tongues. It is rare to have an Apostle who is
also a prophet.
 The nine gifts of the spirit in Church doctrine is just as important as the fruits of the Spirit as
enumerated by Paul in Gal 5:22-23.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self control. Against such things there is no law.

Notice that the church (CAC) teaches nine gifts versus nine fruits of the Spirit. It is a
fundamental teaching in both TAC and CAC. It is also clear that the function of the gifts differ
from those of fruits. While the gifts are given to you without you deserving it (you can ask of
course) you normally bear the fruits if you have the Spirit. The fruits are the symptoms of finding
yourself Spirit filled. The mechanism of one is different from another. For example the gifts
come after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and can occur in an unrepentant sinner, but certainly
not in an unbeliever. But the fruits come only after repentance which is represented by water
baptism (see below) and a conscious turning away from sin. It is the effect of the first infilling of
the Holy Spirit through water baptism that is referred to as being born of water (Jn 3:5). An
unrepentant sinner, no matter how much gifts he can manifest, cannot manifest a single fruit of
the Sprit. This is simply a derivation from the definitions of the words gift and fruit. The
qualification for gifts can therefore be garnered to be Baptism by fire (Spirit) but fruit comes
from baptism of water (repentance). This distinction has been a problem in the CAC for years for
some believes that once you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with outward
manifestation of its gifts, you have to manifest the fruits. Today the phenomenonology of slaying
in the Spirit first popularized in popular ministry by Kathrine Kulman and other American
preachers in the early 20th century is now well known in television ministry in which the preacher
simply touches or blows air and the individual falls down. No one in his right senses can say that
such means baptism of Holy Spirit or indeed repentance.[13] Such is what happens a lot of times
when a tarry prayer meeting for receiving Holy Spirit or laying on of hands for baptism of the
Holy Spirit occurs. It has no significance unless the individual follows up with consistently
seeking the face of God or indeed the Holy Spirit with genuine repentance.

CAC Doctrines

The following is placed on baptismal card for adult baptism. In the CAC there is no room for
paedobaptism. This is 13 point tenets of the CAC which every CAC member is expected to
believe, summarized.

1. The Trinity
2. Repentance and being born again is a must for all humans without which they will end in
eternal damnation of hell.
 3. Virgin birth, sinlessness, death of atonement, resurrection, victory, ascension and
intercession of Jesus Christ for the believer. His second coming to earth to institute the
millennium.
4. Justification and sanctification of the believer for the finished work of Christ.
5. Baptism of the Holy Spirit for the believer and signs that follow.
6. Nine gifts of the Spirit for comfort, teaching and growth of the Church which is the body
of Christ.
7. Baptism by immersion and the Lords supper.
8. The Bible was written by inspiration from God.
9. Church government involves apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers and
deacons.
10. Any one can fall from grace and be lost eternally.
11. Tithing is a must for all Christians.
12. Absolute belief in divine healing through the agency of the power of the Holy spirit for
the sick during periods of illness, disease, epidemics, sores, dangers and sudden harm
without the use of medicine or having faith in the physician but faith in God alone for
healing (Is 53:5, Mk 16:18, Jas 5:14-15).
13. Belief in God Jehovah Jireh to provide for his people in times of need without borrowing
and also for believers to give alms and loans without interest (Phil 4:19, Rom 13:8, 1 Tim
6:6-10, Ps 15:5).

Ordo salutis

Wayne Grudem the famous systematic theologian from Trinity College, enumerates his ordo
salutis in his book

The order of salvation

1. Election (Gods choice of people to be saved)

2. Gospel call (proclaiming the message of the gospel
3. Regeneration (being born again)
4. Conversion (faith and repentance)
5. Justification (right legal standing)
 6. Adoption (membership in Gods family
7. Sanctification (right conduct of Life)
8. Perseverance (remaining a Christian)
9. Death (going to be with the Lord)
10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body[14]

There is no doubt that the order of salvation in the CAC doctrine is same as most other
evangelical groups. It was taken almost verbatim from the Apostolic Church whose church
doctrine influenced the theoretical formulation of the tenets of the CAC but differ only in
practices. Thus it is expected in the CAC that a person is required to be born again in order to
become a converted Christian and expect to go to heaven in a conscientia salutis of a definite
assurance of salvation. This is expected to occur before Baptism of the Holy Spirit for which the
church is very well known. The CAC even acknowledges the existence of a need for
sanctification theoretically but hardly preaches it as a definite post-conversion experience as
some Pentecostal groups do, such as the Apostolic faith, but does not expect it to be a definite
spiritual experience by the faithful. Sanctification is expected to occur before Baptism of the
Holy Spirit and conversion and repentance are synomymous with being born again. But in
practice, just as was mentioned for Joanah, the usual method of preaching is to request
individuals to receive the Holy Spirit in tarry meetings. The import of the initial conversion
seems to be lost in modern CACism. What went wrong? Nothing went wrong except that the
system has become hardened as a result of secondary influences which was the same situation in
the late 1st century Christianity that prompted only John the Apostle to remember that Jesus had
mentioned to the established religious groups of his age that they must be born again in order to
enter the kingdom of God (Jon 3:1-4).[15]

Despite the importance attached to being born again in modern evangelical Christianity,
its import seems to be lost in established church systems. Any discussion on Jn 3:3 I tell you the
truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again is simply lost in the routine of
church liturgy and homilies. Its okay when the system starts but when converts give birth to their
children, at what point do these children become consciously born again? Once an established
church gives birth to second generation members, the import of born again becomes muffled or
in most cases non existent. Hence the lack of emphasis on it today in the CAC cannot be due to
doctrinal poverty but to lack of consciousness on the clergy who should be seen to emphasize it
very commonly during services, homilies, prayer meetings and even tarry meeting to receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit, but this is not peculiar to the CAC. It is common in most other
churches. It is good to mention though that this is not a serious problem in most other established
pentecostal churches such as The Apostolic Faith, Four Square etc. For as we mentioned earlier
in the last chapter, it is very much possible for an unrepentant sinner to receive the Baptism of
Holy Spirit despite ordo salutis, but then the onus is on the person to get himself properly born
again by repenting of his sins. We shall discuss this in four main divisions- born again theology,
history of born again doctrine in the church, the position of born again in ordo salutis. In chapter
6 we shall talk about its providence and predestination.
Born again theology
What does it mean to be born again? Jesus said

I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my
saying, You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you
cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. Jn 3:5-
8

These words are profound and deep. What does it mean to be born of water? Some have given
this various interpretations. This first theory is of course baptism; to be born of water is to be
baptized. But does baptism alone give you the ability to make heaven. Baptism on its on without
its raison dtre is meaningless. It could be the word etc. What does baptism signify in ordo
salutis; that is to say what is the soteriology of baptism? Baptism refers to and signifies
REPENTANCE. The Baptism of John was the baptism of repentance

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sinsHe (John) went into all the country preaching a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins. Before the coming of Jesus Christ, John preached repentance and baptism to all
the people of IsraelPaul said, Johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to
believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. Mk 1:4, Lk 3:3, Ac 13:24, 19:4)

Baptism is an act which suggests and follows repentance. Water is used as a symbol to refer to
baptism, while both signify repentance. But baptism also has its ritual significance and so it is
wrong doctrine that says baptism is irrelevant or that baptism is not significant on its own. The
CAC doctrine attaches importance to adult baptism vis--vis repentance. It is only a repentant
person that can be baptized and hence baptism is best performed on an adult, for a child or baby
cannot repent. Hence when water is used as a symbol of repentance it is correct.

But being born again does not end with repentance. There is a need for the second
component of born again- that is being born of the Spirit. This pneumatological addition is not
without its share of controversy. Is the birth with the Spirit whose symbol also includes fire (Mt
3:11, Lk 3:16) the same as baptism of the Holy Spirit? There is no doubt that those who coined
the terminology baptism with Holy Spirit actually meant it to be part of being born again and to
represent the Spirit rebirth component of the general born again process or a substantial part of
ordo salutis. But is this true for it is true, those who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit are not
therefore born again and as Jesus mentioned, they are heading for hell. Most people, even
amongst the pentecostalists who believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit do not believe you
must have the baptism in order to go to heaven. They seem to stop at baptism with water which
signifies repentance alone without the second Spirit component- or so it seems. But then what is
the truth?

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the
upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him,
We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that
they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with
tongues, and prophesied.

The above proof text presents the biblical ordo salutis which we must follow. Firstly, it is
essential for salvation that you believe on[16] the Lord Jesus Christ in order to go to heaven for
the Bible says clearly first you must be baptized unto Christ. That is, it must be with the name of
Jesus Christ, but there is of course no harm in presenting the Trinity.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In may name they will drive out demons; they
will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly
poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
Mk 16:15-18.

To be saved all you need is to believe and be baptized. The rest is addition that supports you in
your journey in life as a believer. The text above says the qualifications of those who will be
saved. They must believe and be baptized and the signs must follow them. These signs do not
have to be in all individuals, at least some of them will show evidence that you believe. Without
these symptoms you cannot say you have believed or you are correctly baptized. It was for this
same reason that the adherents of the CAC after the revivals of 1930 and beyond felt proud that
they were true believers and have their conscientia salutis. But the next question would then be,
do you need to obtain the Holy Spirit baptism in order to receive the signs which suggest you
believe. Yes, definitely yes. For it was only at the point of Holy Spirit baptism that those who
received it showed the signs of being saved which includes speaking in tongues and prophesying.
The next question would then be how do you receive the Holy Ghost baptism? First you can
obtain baptism by laying on of hands just as in the example of the Ephesians above. You can also
receive it by faith and prayer. But it sometimes essential that a person with apostolic gift prays
along with, you to receive it.

History of born again doctrine.

The import of Jn 3:3 was lost on the church long after John the Apostle had called attention to it
amongst the second generation Christian of the 1st century AD for the Gospel according to John
was the last of all gospels to be written, while Mark was the very first to be written. John Wesley
(1703-91) preaching, in 18th century England discovered the import of the born again activity
when he traveled with Moravian Christians to the new world. He later had an experience of
conversion which he felt was being born again and began to preach born againism until his
death. This came against established norms which taught that infant baptism signifies rebirth but
the latter, as Jesus mentioned in Jn 3:3, is just not enough to earn salvation. John Wesley argued
that you needed to turn away from sin consciously and ask for forgiveness with the salvation by
faith alone being the essence of the whole act of being born again. For the rest of the life of John
Wesley he taught this strange new doctrine but kept paedobaptism. Christian theology changed
after Wesley. It was never the same again! Wesley died after establishing methodism which is
another term for the process of being born again even after paedobaptism. Today the methodism
of the Methodists seems to be lost in the Methodist churches founded by the apostle of
Methodism himself, John Wesley. He was the first to preach that baptism alone cannot lead you
to heaven and that you needed justification through faith alone and spawned by repentance and
conscious turning away from sin. This methodism was to influence not only rural England - its
country side, and changed a whole nation of badly behaved people into a nation of gentlemen
who were born again and therefore well behaved. Rural England was one of the most riotous in
Europe of the time. You had villains, drunks etc. The revivals of Methodism changed England
completely, brought out the best in England and made the country a country of abolition of slave
trade, missionaries to Africa and the rest of the world. All can be traced to those revivals of the
18th century, but it was to permanently influence Christendom and affect evangelicalism till
today. Most evangelicals believe today that there is a need for a conscious turning away from sin
in the process well recognized as being born again- completely separate physically from baptism,
but locked with in an eternal union of significance, just like Wesley. Before Wesley, theologians
who emphasized justification by faith alone such as Martin Luther (1703-1791), John Calvin
(1509-1564) and the rest did mention regeneration which is another name for being born again
but they all interpreted it to mean regeneration at baptism, which invariably meant paedobaptism
and therefore cannot be inclusive of repentance and conscious turning away from sin. In fact the
fundamentalist definition of evangelicalism was those who believe you must be born again.
Today a broader approach has been forced on this definition to include all the fundamentalists
who believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God - all of it and not a part.
The position of born again in ordo salutis: At what point in the order of salvation does an
individual become born again? Do you receive the Holy Ghost baptism before you are born
again? There is no order. You receive the Holy Spirit when God says you receive it. The proof
text had been quoted earlier- when Cornelius and his group received the Holy Spirit during a
preaching engagement before they even had the time to repent and confess their sins.
Nevertheless this is the exception rather than the rule. It is best though, to ask a potential convert
to first repent of his sins, accept Jesus Christ as His personal Saviour before you begin to talk
about Holy Spirit baptism unless of course, as may often happen, the Holy Spirit overrules you
and gives the gift before any other order as was the case with Cornelius and his household. This
practice of putting the Holy Spirit baptism before repentance is quite common in the CAC
although it is not available in the official document on tenets of the church. The church clergy
should at all cost avoid this situation for it makes it easy to loose converts and unrepentant
converts to change into cultists, which often happens, to the bane of the church and to the
destruction of the individuals. For the unrepentant person sees no further reason to confess his
sins since the Spirit of God is telling him clearly that he can still be used even with his sins even
if they are unconfessed. Then the next question the individual will ask himself would be- why
repent if you are useful as a sinner?

Part of the problem in the CAC also includes the undue emphasis in some instances on signs
and wonders and those who possess them while righteousness is pushed to the background.
Those who lead are those who have received spectacular gifts, most especially the gifts of
prophesy. Any prophet can start a church etc. Gifts of prophesy is to edify the church, the
individual still needs to edify himself. If this situation is reversed so that those who are used to
lead are the righteous ones- either to preach, minister or counsel, this unhealthy emphasis on
gifts and those who possess them will disappear. This is clearly exemplified in the famous
Pauline text

I1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I
am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not
behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not
in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether
there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

But examine this Pauline text which seems like contradiction

 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man
understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh
unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue
edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues,
but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues,
except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Paul seems to be saying here, if you wish to edify yourself speak in tongues at home, if you wish
to edify the church, prophesy in the church. It is therefore not wrong to desire spiritual gifts.
Anyone who claims spiritual gifts are useless in this modern age is mistaken. With the rise in
Satanism, occultism and all other magical satanic practices, there is no solution except in
spiritual gifts for the Christian by which he meets force with force. You cannot be neutral in this
game for according to Ron Kenoly the singer, there is no demilitarized zone.

CAC should, in seeking gifts eschew the position in which those who have the desirable
gifts become the leader of the church or workers. No, those who should be workers are those
with love and righteousness so that the church may be edified further.

CAC is a cult?

Some evangelical scholars have argued that the CAC is a cult because it uses prayer water. That
is the typical nonsense we hear daily from scholars who have not done their homework well
enough. Water was used as a medium of contact of faith just as the apostles used handkerchief
and other materials in the past in the NT (Ac 19:12). For water to qualify as cult activity it must
be absolute, which is, it must be total part of liturgy and any convert must take it in order to be a
convert or to go to heaven. No, in the CAC you are free to take the water or not. In most cases
water is used as a form of faith medium in revivals not in church service. Close to the end of the
revival service, the leading preacher or evangelists then invites those who have brought their
water to the church to raise them up for prayer. He then prays on the water to the hearing of
everyone. Or the individual can bring his/her water from home to see the man of God personally
who then prays on the water in his/her presence. This method is a little different from that
adopted by Babalola at the starting revivals of Oke Oye in Ilesha. What Babalola did was to pray
on a stream of water at Oke Oye and during the revivals, adherents would simply go to the
stream to collect water, similar to what obtained at the pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:3-15) for the
benefit of the Jews before the Messiah came. That is hardly a cult practice.[17]

The CAC does not use candles to pray or any other unbiblical items.[18] Despite the fact
that the CAC is decidedly not cultic in doctrine or practice, it does not mean that individual
prophets or members cannot be deceived to set up cult groups inadvertently or deliberately. But
the synod group represented by the Supreme or Executive Council always calls attention to these
falsehoods from time to time.
CAC Christology

This is not different from the main line Christology of the divinity and manhood of Christ. Jesus
Christ is believed to be the second person in the Trinity. He is our Saviour for he died on the
cross to carry away our sins. In the end times he will come to rule the world for 1000 years after
the rapture of the saints. He will rule from Jerusalem after which there would be second
resurrection and judgment.

CAC Pneumatology

CAC believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit which may be performed at any time but with
emphasis on repentance. According to Peel

The Holy Spirit is preached most earnestly and the great majority of pastors and prophet have
received it; they say it was the most memorable thing in their lives. Thus the young pastor of Odo
Ona, near Ibadan a cousin of Babalolas: he was fifteen years old and staying with a catechist
relative in Ekiti; they sang hymns, prayed, and asked for the Holy Spirit, then there was something
like a storm and I see that my tongue is changed; since then, ah! (he laughed) there is a happiness in
my life! Most Christ Apostolic churches have tarrying meeting for the Holy Spirit; only a minority
of members have received it, at least as a distinct experience.[19]

Also

Many of Babajides numerous pamphlets on the Holy Spirit emphasizes its Fruits (Gal 5:23), all
moral qualities, and such as existed before Baptism of the Holy Spirit was practiced; and he
sometimes emphasizes that the gifts may be misused by false prophets. There is thus a distinction
between the clearly recognized phenomenon of pentecostal baptism, and the moral changes not
always and not necessarily associated with it, which are the work of a more diffuse indwelling of the
Holy Spirit. But the axis round which all other instruments of salvation revolve, as Babajide calls
Pentecostal baptism, is the focus of Christ Apostolic Church teaching.[20]

Pneumatology in the CAC is very profound and thorough but very biblical. It does not mean you
do not have mistakes or cult groups who have been misled. This is the bane of Pentecostalism
generally for it is very easy to change a purely Christian divine healing practice into a demonic
one even sometimes overnight. In some cases it may occur as a result of the person with the
spiritual gift fallen into sin, but sometimes it could be deliberate for want of more spiritual
power, and adherent may then consult demons or indeed medicine (juju) men for more power.
This is why it is not held in the CAC that a Christian cannot be possessed by demons. Of course
a Christian who deliberately deviates from the normal Christian practice in a quest to gain
spiritual power will immediately be demon possessed. Also any one touches in the course of his
activities unclean things deliberately may be possessed.[21]. Once I was asked to go to a shrine
of one prominent African god which was kept as a tourist attraction. I asked whether the shrine
was still actively used for worship of the particular god/goddess and the answer was affirmative.
I immediately declined for I can be possessed by simply going for this tourist attraction and I
would then have no one to blame except myself. Rebecca Brown makes it very clear

This brings us to the hotly debated question, Can a Christian have a demon dwelling inside of him:
I believe scripture clearly shows us that he can. Demons cannot just hop into people whenever they
want. We are hedged about so that they cannot get in unless we break a hole in the hedge of
protection. How do we break a hole in this protective hedge? BY SIN. I call such sins that permit the
entrance of demons temple defiling sins. Why? Because the bottom line in this issue of demons in
Christians is this: Can the temple of God, us, be defiled, and if so, how does Scripture define the
term defilement?[22]

And

Joyce said I am horrified now as I look back at the number of Christians I put demons into through
that practice! They were so eager and willing to go unconscious that they accepted anything I chose
to put into them. I frequently put demons of false tongues into them. Then they would wake up
speaking in tongues and think they had been baptized by the Holy Spirit.[23]

CAC Angelology

This is not different from the normal angelology taught in most evangelical churches. No one
prays to angels or strange names or even known names or persons except to Jesus and the Trinity.
Angels are known to be agents of God and when they are seen in vision, are not worshiped but
simply revered.

One prophet, whose church and divine healing home is loosely affiliated to the Christ apostolic
Church does refer to the help given by powerful angels; but some of his methods are considered
rather dubious by the central authorities[24] p 148.
CAC Healing doctrines

CAC believes in divine healing aided by faith but not faith healing.

INDEED THE Christ Apostolic Church, following the English apostolics, draws a distinction
between divine healing and faith healing, intended to separate Apostolic methods from those of
miscellaneous faith-healers whose work is purely psychological.[25]

On healing Odubanjo[26] said

What heals when one uses point of contact? Is it the hem of the garment? Laying on of hands?
Anointing of oil? Clay used to rub eyes of blind? Is it water prayed on in bottle? It is only the faith
released that bring healingDrinking water for healing is not the best theologyif people are
healed in this way it is nothing but an exhibition of His tender mercy. [27]

Babalola saw a vision in 1928 before the great revivals of 1930. This must have prepared his
mind for the doctrine of divine healing without medicine which was to follow for many years
and which was coined in Yoruba as iwosan lai logun.

In his (Babalola) vision an angel brought him a piece of dry fish in a calabash which gave him an
electric shock when he touched it. The angel explained that it represented the leaves and herbs used
or medicine but there was no power in it at all, but God was going to render them useless and
powerless. Medicine was to be given up and God alone trusted for healing.[28]

The doctrine of healing is quite profound in the CAC. In the early days it led to the schism
between the CAC and TAC in 1939. It theoretically forbids all manner of medicine, whether
western or juju. In this particular instance, it was not appeal to Bible or any proof text in the
Bible that led to this practice. It was fueled by the Ilesha revivals as mentioned in the early parts
of this chapter.

CAC Demonology
The theology of demons in the CAC is quite profound. It recognizes, just like most Pentecostal
groups and evangelical systems, the fallen angels who fell with Satan in the first disobedience (Is
14:12) and the group that fraternized with men in the latter disobedience (2 Pe 2:4; Jude 10) as
mentioned in Genesis 6:1-3 with the formation of the Nephilim.

When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the
sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them
they chose. Then the Lord said My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is
mortal, his days will be hundred and twenty years. The Nephilim were on the earth in those
days-and also afterward-when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had
children by them. They are heroes of old, men of renown. The Lord saw how great mans
wickedness on the earth had become and that every conciliation of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil all the time.

Nephilim[29] may in actual fact be the Neanderthal man which scientists have recognized as
giants that lived on earth as man before modern man.

Scientific evaluation. Is it really possible for men to have intercourse with spirit beings?
Scientifically, we cannot even prove the existence of spirit beings. Several exegetes have said it
is impossible (appealing to the passage which talked that angels in heaven never marry[30] but
these exegetes are doing great disservice to the text, for that is clearly what the text was meant to
convey; angels slept with females. Early church fathers had used 2 Peter[31] as interpretative
framework. The interpretation of angels having intercourse with men was the norm until it was
changed by Calvin in the 16th century. Calvin maintains that the sons of God where descendants
of Seth while the daughters of men were from the line of Cain. How can the same species lead to
development of sinful giants? Hence from canonical and extracanonical considerations, it is
impossible to say this was not what the text meant. Indeed modern writer and well known anti-
Satanist Rebecca Brown said

Sex with demons-This is an area that very few people are willing to write about because they are
afraid of the ridicule it will bring. Most Christians laugh at the very thought and say it is impossible.
But the occultist know the reality of it, and so does the world.[32]

But what concerns us here would be the production of the men of renown, the Nephilim
(interpreted as giants)[33] for the fossils records of the oldest giants were the Homo sapiens
neanderthalis.[34] This species is dated 100, 000 years ago and existed for some time
contemporaneously with Cro magnon man whose fossils appear in strata about 35, 000 years
ago. If these Nephilim were giants, and existed at the time of Noahs Flood, one would assume
that a number of them would attempt to escape the flood by entering into caves and blocking its
entrance only to perish in the caves due to the length of period of the said Flood. They will be
then today identified as cave-dwellers. Since Neanderthal had heavy bony features, it is easy to
see his correspondence with the Nephilim. Hence it is possible, while in the caves, they could
only use stone tools and this may have been erroneously interpreted stone culture.[35] Indeed
most fossils of Neanderthal man is found in caves with heavy bones and heavy and thick skulls.

But this is not what concerns us now in demonology but what happened to the Nephilim
who were supposed to have been wiped out by Noahs flood for it was mainly because of them
that God decided to wipe out the earth. The Jewish literature continues that it was this Nephilim
whose species inhabited the mountains, rivers and other corners of the universe, to plague man as
another form of species for ever. Some have even suggested they may be responsible for UFO
etc. What ever be the case, the CAC demonology takes care of these populating spirits of the
earth, some whom have been called Ogbanje (Ibo), Mammy water spirit, Emere, Abiku (Yoruba)
etc. Many have met such in deliverance ministries and have attempted to cast out the spirits in
them. Lois Fuller, the first Caucasian missionary working in Africa to believe this myth of spirit
beings entering and cohabiting with human life, explains this clearly that the spirit beings have
the uncanny ability to enter into a pregnant woman, drive away the spirit of the embryo (or
imprison it in its own body) and occupy the body of the individual till death, which is usually
quite early, after which the spirit goes back to its abode, which may be the sea (marinites), land
(emere, ogbanje), land waters, mountains etc. This demonology has become easily accepted in
modern Pentecostalism and indeed ecclesiology at least in Africa; the problem has always been
how to apply the Bible to its understanding, for the Bible clearly states it is appointed unto man
once to die and after this judgment. Heb 9:27.Although even Jewish literature is full of this
theme in demonology, a proof text if any, would be Ps 58.

Psalms 58:1-11 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons

of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. The
wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their
poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; Which will
not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. Break their teeth, O God, in their
mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. Let them melt away as waters which
run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. As a snail
which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may
not see the sun. Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind,
both living, and in his wrath. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash
his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous:
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

The evangelical Emmanuel Eni of the Scripture Union (Nigeria) explains this in his discourse.
[36] It is amazing that CAC had had this as part of its theology long before other pentecostal
groups practicing in Africa appealing to the nephilim theology of Gen 6:1-3. It is doubtful
whether this would ever be a problem for biblical hermeneuticians in the western world, but it is
a profound problem in Africa; a problem which had been hitherto attempted to be solved only by
the medicine men.

Case report: The story is told of how Joanah Ogunranti performed deliverance of a female who
claimed she was a queen of one sort of a cohort in the sea. They met in their meetings in the sea
in their spirit rather than physical body. This lady hails from Calabar but lives in Port Harcourt;
extremely pretty young lady. She had had this, according to her since she was born and she rose
to be the queen of the sea group of the said cohort through the ranks. She narrated the story of
how one day she was in the church and could feel the power of the Holy Ghost coming from
Joanah towards her. The heat was unbearable. This was the time Joanah was preaching and as
usual was going through her normal marathon homily. After the service, she went to Joanah to
tell her about her problem. In her characteristic way Joanah rang the prayer bell three times and
commanded the marine spirit in her to get out. It did, according to her, and she was delivered
since then without much problems. She later claimed that the members of her group could not
accept her exit. So they beat her with sticks spiritually and the marks appeared physically on her
body. But the lady said she was stubborn and resolute that she would never go back to the
demonic group again. After a period of time, which could have been up to a year, the members of
this demonic group ceased for ever to flog her or persecute or disturb her in any way. She had a
lasting freedom which she enjoys till today.

Several of such stories abound in the days of Babalola, especially the days of the revivals.
The story was even told that his own wife (Babalola) was plagued with this problem. Like it is
being suggested, this is an African problem. Foreign missions could never understand it and they
did not pretend to do so. They simply waived it away as non existent. That is certainly not the
way to solve a problem of sane people. The fact that you do not see something does not mean it
does not exit, as Louis Pasteur in the 18th century proved conclusively using the microscope on
microorganisms, which cause disease in man.

Other areas of demon attacks are quite common in African theological practice, except
that the above is most common. Hence casting out of demons as was practiced in New Testament
times is quite common in the CAC.

Witchcraft[37]: This problem, which is quite common in Africa, is part of the CAC demonology.
Babalola had to deal with it using omi iye in the early days. It is not quite clear after Babalola
whether any witch actually was delivered in the CAC. The fiery preacher interested in witches
ministry in the CAC is the blind preacher called Obadare. He also has very little testimony of
converted witches, but these witches are said to do a lot of evil against members of the church
for which most of them (he members) seek refuge. The strange part of the witchcraft
demonology is that virtually everything claimed to be done by witches is said to be performed
non-empirically and hence cannot be determined physically. But there is another variety of
witchcraft which is not present in Africa but is common in Europe and America. Rebecca Brown
calls attention to this type which plagues the white man and is physical rather than spiritual, in
contradistinction to the African type, making the white appear more primitive than blacks. In
North America, these witches/wizards are called Satanists because they worship Satan directly.
They are also in involved in human sacrifice, child sexual abuse (paedophilia) and molestation to
include child slavery, all physically. Almost all cases of child abuse comes from Satanist who set
up churches which they call Church of Satan to worship Satan. Satanists are essentially witches
and wizards (warlocks) but they have no patience to perform their acts spiritually and so they do
them physically, most commonly at the new moon and other demonic festivities.

Basically, Satanist dont have the patience and discipline to spend so much time and effort
performing meticulous rituals. It is much quicker and easier for them to do sacrifice (human). They
gain the cooperation of more powerful demons that way. The others deal with the less powerful
demons, but they are demons just the same no matter what you choose to call them. You learn very
quickly in witchcraft that there are NO such things as impersonal energies. They are all VERY
personal. You are either dealing with demons or the power of God. So anyone that is controlling an
energy or power of any kind is dealing with demons. It is just that simple. It is so very different
to serve a master who will forgive you instead of taking great delight in punishing you for any little
thing. Jesus gives life. The demons always bring death.[38]

CAC Liturgy of worship

General

The church service in CAC is not too different from what you have in most Pentecostal churches.
They begin their day with praise worship of songs and hymns. This is then followed by the actual
beginning of service after which there are no more choruses except hymns in books of hymns,
prayer, and homily. Shout of halleluyah is common anytime during the service.

The CAC hymn book is one of the largest in evangelicalism; it is flowerily evangelical
and liturgically pentecostal having over 800 hymns compiled from various sources, beginning
from Charles Wesley to Sankey etc and including the hymns of revivals in the 19th and 20th
centuries and also indigenous ones. It is so rich it has virtually all known revival hymns. Do not
forget the CAC had shared similar tradition with The Apostolic Church of Wales before the
schism. But what is most remarkable is the CAC choir itself, provided its own translation of
these great songs.
Dancing and clapping of hands

The CAC clap hands and it was the distinguishing marks of the Aladuraism many years ago.
Now all pentecostals clap hands, dance, perform praise worship in a liberated manner. There are
of course proof texts in the Bible, mostly from Psalms advising this kind of practice but I believe
what ever is culturally acceptable should be used to worship and praise God. That is the essence
of praise-worship. David danced many time before God. Many years ago though, the CAC only
allowed dancing and clapping of hands or even shouting halleluyah during revivals. All through
normal Sunday service these activities were banned. But it is not so today!

Laying of hands

This liturgical activity is common in almost all Pentecostal /evangelical churches. Its problem is
that it can easily be used as a medium for transferring demons into genuine Christians. Laying of
hands is performed in the CAC but not as common as many other Pentecostal churches. Also
only certified prophets and preachers/pastors do so, not laity, which his highly commendable. At
least abuse is minimal in the CAC, while it is quite high in most other aladura units. The truth is
that we are commanded not to lay hands hastily. Do not be hasty in laying on of hands, and do
not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure (1 Tim 5:22). Also only elders are allowed to
lay hands on anyone as in James 5. Do not let just anyone lay hands on any body.

Yes, I will never understand why so many Christians think they are automatically protected from
Satan and his demons EVEN if they actively sin against God! They completely overlook the
scripture in Galatians 6:7-8 which says we WILL reap what we sow. There is another practice in the
churches that is so common yet is against scripture. I consider it to be very dangerous. It is the
practice whereby anyone from the congregation can come up and lay hands on, and pray with, those
at the altar. It doesnt matter if you are a first time visitor in some churches, they will still let you do
whatever you want. It provides a free-for-all for the infiltrating Satanists.

Shout Halleluyah[39]

Shouting Halleluyah is new in history church liturgy, especially during service but certainly it
did not start with the CAC. Check Ps 106:1; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1; 117:1; 135:1; 146:1, 10-147:1;
148:1; Rev 19:1. It is a Hebrew word and its meaning is simply praise the Lord! At a point in
Nigeria, it was the way of recognizing the aladura but now every one uses it for praise worship it
has now become a symbol of the Christian so much so that in 2001 it was used as identifying
mark. During one of the crisis between muslims and Christians in Jos, it was used to distinguish
Christians from muslims who when asked to respond to Praise the Lord, would not know
Halleluyah was the answer!

Use of hand bells for prayer

The use of bell before or during prayer was instruction given to Babalola, according to him, by
God and this procedure has also become rampant in the CAC. While it is harmless for the bell is
just a call to prayer, it can be clearly misunderstood as cultic and should therefore be used with
caution in modern CAC.

CAC Theology of Prayer

As we mentioned under the section of Aladuraism, what is the most profound feature of the
aladura was and is still prayer- long sessions, at bar beach, hills, mountains etc. Most of the
original group of the aladura still now perform these although those who pray along the beach
have been disbanded by governmental long time ago, while they have have regrouped and are
found in various high and low mountains all over the landscape of the country Nigeria. Some of
these, but not most are from CAC. While some members of the CAC go to mountains (not beach
or other places), it is not part of the liturgy neither is it compulsory or part of the written tenets.
Some members just simply follow an old practice of Babalola who preferred to pray in the
mountains in his ministry days. Some will say mountains are high places which can be closer to
God or heaven than ordinary land as a reason for selecting mountains for prayer but that is just
ignorance from the laity. The proof text for liturgy of mountain prayer is found in Jesus praying
at the desert, but not mountain.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an
high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before

them. Mark 9:2

This text does not say the Jesus prayed in this mountain. There is no evidence that God expects
us to pray in the mountains in the Bible. Joanah never entered or prayed in any mountain but she
knows and is aware that many pray in the mountains in the CAC. Is it valid for prayer efficacy or
is it a figment of imagination? I think it is the latter. There is no where in the Bible that says that
prayer on the mountains is more efficacious than prayer anywhere else. The principle is solitary
prayer where you can concentrate and listen to your God in His still small voice.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray stand in the synagogues and
on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Mt 6:5-6.

This is the main procedure for prayer enumerated in a few sentences by Jesus himself

You need a solitary place. Probably your own inner closet, not necessarily a mountain. But if you
cannot get privacy in your home-e.g. because of wife or children, then select a solitary place. In a
place like Nigeria, the best would be the mountains if not populated. Unfortunately the modern
mountains where most pray especially in Western Nigeria, is now so populated it cannot ever be
said to be solitary. The solitary theme is exemplified by Jesus himself who spent so much time
praying in the desert (wilderness), the only solitary place he could find in his mission in Judea.
Do not forget that he shares his place of abode with all his twelve disciples and hence a closet
that is solitary is unlikely to be found easily.
 Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit
into the wilderness,

Prayer is unusually loud in the CAC since everyone opens his mouth to say exactly what he/she
wishes God to hear audibly. This is in contradistinction to what obtains in most non-pentecostal
churches where even the lips do not move during praying (as it did with Hannah 1 Sam 1:13)
and is very serene. In fact in such places, prayers are said in atmosphere of quietness, appealing
to the text Be still, and know that I am God.Ps 46:10.

The verse has nothing to do with quietness during multiple prayer. The CAC also appeals
to their own proof text Clap your hand, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Ps 47:1
said at the very next psalm.

Vain babbling and period of prayer: The length of prayer can be unusually long with the
Aladura. In the early days of the movement, the Cherubim and Seraphim aladura, before the
death of Orimolade, were known to pray for over 12 hours for a sick person. Is this biblical? If
so, where are the proof texts.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagan, for they think they will be heard because of
their many word. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. Mt
6:7-8.

It is clear in this text that Jesus does not want his disciples or followers to spend too much time
on vain repetitions like pagans, while praying. This is making reference to satanic ritualistic
words and incantations which need to be repeated sometimes more than thousands of times, to
invoke demons. It is still a practice rampant in the use of magical books etc and is used as cover
sometimes to simulate prayer.[40] It has nothing to do with the length of time to pray. As we all
know Jesus himself prayed for long each time he went into solitary confinement to seek the face
of His God.

Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a
solitary place, where he prayed. Mk 1:35
Jesus had this habit of waking up early to pray in a solitary place so that when his disciples wake
up they would have to go and look for him in the mountains. He spent several hours at
Gethsemane praying (Mk 14:32-42). He even spent 40 days and nights alone in the wilderness
praying about his mission (at once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert
forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mk
1:12. It is therefore unlikely that he would not have been repeating what he wanted to say. As a
matter of fact, he repeated himself in Gethsemane

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. Mk 14:39.

Jesus was therefore not talking about repeating yourself in prayer in the text Mt 6:7-8 the way we
understand it. He was talking about vain babbling of incantations for the devil for he mentioned
pagan which suggests idol or devil worship. You can repeat yourself a million times just like
the persistent widow who repeated herself demanding justice saying the same thing but not vain
demonic babbling. In the words of Jesus himself

In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a
widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, Grant me justice against my adversary.

For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I dont fear God or care about
men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she wont
eventually wear me out with her coming. Lk 18:4-5.

The points we can garner from this parable of the persistent widow is as follows

She persistently demanded for justice from the unjust king

She kept on coming back to talk to the king

She did not give up

She was almost wearing out the king

Jesus then added

 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he
keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see hat they get justice, and quickly. Lk 18:7-8.

This answers it all. First Jesus talks of his chosen ones who cry to him day and night. You have
to be a righteous man and therefore chosen by God before you can be heard by him. You must
also cry day and night; which means repeating yourself. It is also said the

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Jas 5:16.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5:17

How do we do exegesis to the system above? We can conclude with the data available to us as
follows

Pray always (1 Thess 5:17- Pray without ceasing; Men should always pray and not give
up (Lk 18:1)
Pray more for your wants than your needs. My God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus- Phil 4:19- sees also other texts[41]) Ask
for what your want (Ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full-)
Reiterate your request as many times as you wish but do not repeat as if you are making
magic formula and incantation by repeating single word or phrase many times over. In
my opinion the many times over should be way outside the range of 100 to qualify as
pagan practice or ritual.
Stay for as long as you feel you need your request and that is limitless. You can stay for 7
days or more.
Fast if possible. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children

of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come,
when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast Mt 9:15).

The above technique works. The aladura will tell you that much. What else can we say? Some
reject this method as a way of forcing Gods hand. So be it. That is what God asked us to do in
the parable of the persistent widow. He said Men should always pray and not give up (Lk 18:1).
Joanah used it and many other Gods generals used it. Martin Luther learnt the technique of
endless prayer in the monastery. He was always praying either on his knees or pray-walking,
sometimes a whole night without sleeping. He was the first reformer ever to have survived the
onslaught of the papacy for he died of natural illness and not by the gallows. This is the
technique of the aladura par excellence; it was the method of Babalola and Moses Orimolade. It
is the method of all successful Elijahs in Gods vineyard. It is the secret behind the success of the
CAC today.

Technique of prayer

And this, then is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it
is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil one. Mt 6:9-13.

The Lords prayer teaches us how to pray.[42] It details the themes that must be present in any
prayer piece as follows

Call upon the name of God who will answer your prayer. If not, it might be hijacked by
the devil -Our Father in heaven)
Worship and adore Him -hallowed be your name, your kingdom come

Ask for His will -your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Ask for your need gently -Give us today our daily bread

Ask for forgiveness of sin -Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

Ask for power to resist temptation And lead us not into temptation,

Ask for power to resist devil and be saved from his machinations- but deliver us from
evil one

THIS IS BECAUSE COMMITTING SIN AND PRAYER ARE TWO INCOMPATIBLES

'...Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid' Rom 6:1-2.
THAT IS ALL!

Now is the time you then detail all your wants without leaving one out. Wants- galore!
Post-prayer caption -Through Jesus Christ our Lord (until now you have not asked for
anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete( Jn 16:24f)
Effective Elijah prayer

Elijah is considered a model of man of effective prayer. That was why James said to him

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the
land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its
crops. James 5:17

Although God answered Elijahs prayer he did not send leanness to his soul as those who argue
using Ps 106:15 which says so he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease
upon them (leanness to their soul- AV). Hence it does not make sense to say that any one whose
prayer is answered is forcing Gods hand and would therefore be punished in the soul. If you
prayed hard to receive US $10 million and you received it, it is your duty to keep your previous
touch with your God, which is often times, difficult but not impossible. If leanness then comes
upon your soul, it is not because God has sent the leanness. It is because you have not heeded the
caution you need to exercise since love of money is the root of all evil (1 Ti 6:10).

Christ summed up the power of the prayerful man which was the power of Elijah.

I tell you the truth whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you
by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
Mt 18:18

Sin factor in prayers

You will see that all prayers must be followed with holiness. If you commit sin while you ask for
your want just forget it! If you commit sin after getting your want, the want will disappear!
STAY AWAY FROM SIN, ESPECIALLY THE SEXUAL SINS WHICH ARE MOST
COMMON AMONGST MOST PEOPLE AND IN THE YOUNG, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN
PRAYING FOR WANTS!

CAC Theology of Fasting

Babalola taught the CAC how to fast. He did 40 days and nights fast like Jesus before he began
his ministry. He taught the CAC that without fasting there can be no spiritual power. Some
people who fast for long in the CAC are looking for spiritual power and gifts to perform miracles
because they think it is a formula for obtaining power. Of course it is not! God gives gifts as
freely as he is able to do and does not give gifts for greedy purposes but to advance his own
kingdom. Only a few have learned to perform their fast for their earthly wants and not needs.
Joanah was the best example of this and this will be discussed in the subsequent chapters.

There are so many proof texts which suggest that a Christian ought to fast regularly.[43]
Again fasting is not about being holy. It is about your wants, not your needs.[44] It is not for
pleasing God for no fast pleases God since he is not going to derive any pleasure from starving
you or eat your abandoned food. Fast for what you want, no matter how big you think that thing
is. God will decide himself what size to give you if it is too big.

Fasting technique

The Bible again provides the technique of fasting. You should stay away from food, but may not
necessarily stay without water. Almost all fasts in the Bible is done with abstinence from food
but not water including the 40 days fast of Jesus (Mk 1:12). Only the fast of Esther banned both
food and water for all Jews living in Persia. Select the method you wish to pursue. Methods of
fasting include

One day fast which breaks at 6.00pm. It could be for a day or more e.g. 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 40
days. The fast is broken every day at 6.00pm.
It may be a day fast routinely e.g. twice a week, every Friday or Sunday etc.

It may be more than one day e.g. one day one night which breaks at 6.00a.m., or 2 days
2 nights or 3, 7, 14, 21, or 40 days and nights fast. Usually if you must go without water,
try not to do it with anything beyond 7 days and nights unless there is a definite
instruction from above to the contrary.
In the next 10 days you loose the fat in the body in long fast. After then the muscles of
your body begin to break down to provide energy. A long fast is dangerous, unless God
himself ordains it!

The normal Jewish technique of a days fast is to keep the head down from 6.00am to 6.00pm
while praying in a prostate position and sometimes in the open. Talk of repetition! Today we do
not do this but a person fasting should try to find the time to pray. Fasting can be combined with
manual or office work. It is best however if you have the time to be in seclusion or retreat during
your fast.
 If a fast is more than one day, it has to be broken gradually. Do not go and take solid food
at the end of the fat. Take water first, then fruit or fruit juice, (not milk!) and then about an hour
later follow with pap or cereal without milk and then later solid food depending on the length of
the marathon or long fast. If it is longer than 3 days (and nights) you may need to begin solid
food the next day or later in the evening.

For medical reasons do not engage in fast in order to get power for your greed will let the
process kill you.[45] It is not medically advisable to starve your self voluntarily and it must
therefore be for a good reason, which the Holy Spirit will attest to. For example a person who is
doing long fasting because he/she has been put in prison on false charges is quite justified or a
woman fasting for her child who is to be hanged or ill or is dying. Generally speaking, long
fasting is used to break the yoke of curses as a result of satanic or black magic attacks and
sometimes may be the only hope. As a matter of fact, there is a long text in the Bible which
proves this in the Book of Judges

Judges 20:14-36 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto
Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. And the children of Benjamin were
numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the
inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men. Among all this people
there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth,
and not miss. And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men
that drew sword: all these were men of war. And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the
house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against
the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. And the children of Israel
rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to battle
against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. And
the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the
Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. And the people the men of Israel encouraged
themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first
day. (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of
the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And
the LORD said, Go up against him.) And the children of Israel came near against the children of
Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and
destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew
the sword. Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of
God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD,
(for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son
of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children
of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver
them into thine hand. And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. And the children of Israel went
up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as
at other times. And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from
the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which
one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children
of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways. And all the men of Israel
 rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel
came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah. And there came against Gibeah
ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was
near them. And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the
Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. So the
children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites,
because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

This is a strange story. How can the Benjamites defeat the whole of Israel when God had told
them they would defeat Benjamin? What has made Benjamin so strong. If you read what created
this problem in Judges 19 you will see that Benjamites had gone apostate; they had followed
after the devil and become degenerate. There is only one explanation for this; they have gone to
idols or black magic which was helping them to defeat Israel. Only a good fast could have
conquered them!

But Jesus had made it clear when he explained to his disciples that some demons cannot be
cast out without fasting.

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Mt 17:21

This sentence has been removed from the NIV because, according to textual critics, it was not
founding the earliest version of the Gospel according to St Matthew. But textual critics are not
always right and even while they make their scientific rules some of such rules may be
exceptions, which is what many would consider the problem with Mt 17:21 which has
disappeared in modern texts (e.g.Wescott-Hort critical text). Those who have the experience will
tell you that without fasting, do not bother to take on powers of darkness as in black magic or
Satanists. Many with such experience in Africa will say so and in Nigeria specifically, the CAC
seems to have the best and longest experience in this regard. The story of Judges above is the
best proof text since textual critics do not have any problem with that text. What Jesus is saying
in that text is simple, if you have not fasted, some demons will not take your command which
you make in the name of Jesus. Some have had this experience many times when they are unable
to cast out demons and they then invited senior members who did then did it with ease.[46] If
you must cast out demons, it is best to do so while fasting!

Long fast (to include day and night) is a strong feature of CAC practices most of who
learnt it from Babalola who engaged in long periods of fasting and praying. As a matter of fact
most other evangelical and pentecostal groups rarely engage in fasting. It is therefore almost a
peculiarity of CAC in Nigeria at least!
White fast

This supposed to be fasting in which you take anything white -usually carbohydrate, but avoid
the oily or soupy foods which you normally use to take the white; e.g. sauce to take bread etc.
White fast is quite common in some of the non CAC aladura churches. It is NOT a normal CAC
fast and it is only mentioned here as comparison. Some have interpreted and given alternate
name such as Daniels fast to simulate Daniels denial where he modified his diet in order not to
defile himself with royal food and wine.

Please test your servants for ten days; Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then
compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal foodAt the end of the ten
days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
Dan 1:12,15.

This is best called Daniels denial and not fast and may be useful for concentration on ones
work, meditation or in removing any association with unclean things in offered food or wine, but
not fast. It may be this last theme that was in the mind of Daniel; but it is certainly not fast.

Dan 10:3 says

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my

mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole

weeks were fulfilled

The theme in the last text is the closest to the fasting we are referring to above in the Bible and
could be called Daniels fast and also white or denial fast. It may be useful for spiritual insight
and not warfare as Daniel himself found, for after this fast he saw a vision of the future (Dan
10:4-21).

Long fasting donts

Long fast refers to those that include nights in addition to days.

 Do not engage in long fast to gain the loving attention of someone you wish to marry
who does not want you. It is absolutely useless. This practice is commoner with females
than males.
Do not engage in long fast to gain spiritual power. It may be dangerous and you may die
in your greed.[47]
Do not engage in long fasting to get closer to God. You do not need fast to grow in the
fruits of the spirit. The fruits come naturally unless you have not repented of your sins or
you have not confessed them or some of them.
Do not fast for other people you do not know or who have not requested for your aid
unless the Spirit of God leads you. Generally intercessory prayer, if fervent need not be
accompanied by fasting unless the Spirit says so and this is only for those in deliverance
ministry.
Do not fast to praise God. There are many days of feast in the Bible for the Jews, but only
one day of atonement which is a compulsory fast (Lev 16:30).[48] God does not force
you to fast. When you praise God, eat and be merry! Do not fast for sin. Confess your
sins and repent- that is all. Repentance means conscious turning away from sin.
Do not engage in long fast for your needs. If you do not get your need quite automatically
then you are living in sin. Confess your sins and repent and you will see your God
provide for your daily needs. But you can fast for your wants! Fasting is Gods
providence for his childrens wants.

Fasting in the early church

It is clear from the New Testament that almost all New Testament apostles fasted. The Didache,
which represented the practices of the earliest church recorded in the 1st-2nd century most
especially at the Churches of Asia recorded by John the Apostle in Revelation (Rev 1:4) just at
the end of the apostolic era, shows clearly that members of the church fasted two days a week
routinely and even picked days they were to fast and the days they were not to fast.[49]

Deliverance in CAC and exorcism

This is not as common as it is in some of the new Pentecostal churches but only the CAC was the
first to pray for deliverance from such conditions as Ogbanje, emere, Abiku etc or marine spirits.
For many years the conditions were not understood by the foreign missions who denied their
existence. Most who had the problem then had no choice but to go to the native doctors or juju
men.
 Again this was learnt from Babalola who had considerable experience in dealing with
these problems. Many witches were said to have repented in his time and those who didnt and
took the prayer water and were said to have died.

Other practices

No earrings- Traditional CAC worship does not allow women to wear any form of gold or
indeed earrings, in keeping with the admonition to women by Peter in1 Pt 3:3. This is strictly
forbidden in service or indeed the church in main line CAC.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold
jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of gentle
and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight. For this is the way the holy women of the
past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.

The point being made here is quite clear. Women know when they dress to please themselves and
look decent and when they dress to attract men. It has very little to do with what you make up. In
any case, the issue of fine clothes in the text functions as the hermeneutic key. The opposite of
fine clothes is ugly clothes. Should a Christian female wear ugly or poor clothes simply
because fine clothes are condemned by Peter? I personally do not think that it is necessary not
make such laws but sometimes they are useful, because without regulations, people run haywire
and the body of Christ can be misunderstood. Many other evangelical and pentecostal churches
have similar rules.

Soteriological apologetics

I believe that the practices of the CAC towards salvation of the individual are adequate. There is
room of course for improvement especially in the field of ordo salutis. Also certain practices
need to be protected from abuse so that it would not be easy to allow people form cults from
genuine biblical practices such as laying of hands, hydrotherapy, glossolalia and baptism of the
Holy Spirit. Some other practices which are not necessarily important and which may be
misunderstood, such as hand bells for worship etc may be eliminated with continued education
and synod. Let us now examine the Bible to see if it is true that God still speaks to his people
today.
END NOTES FOR MONTANISM

[1] Here we prefer the definition of I. H. Marshall of Apostles in which four categories are defined, the
widest being all who had seen the risen Lord and received his command to be missionaries. See p. 40.

2 A designation first used widely in the 16th century to refer to the earliest Christian writers not included
in the NT canon but closest to them in time, ranging in date from 95 to about 150. D. Hagner, p. 40.

3 Saint John one of the twelve Apostles, traditional author of the fourth gospel, three epistles, and the
Revelation. He and St James the Greater were sons of Zebedee; Jesus called them Boanerges, or Sons of
Thunder. With Peter, they were closest to Jesus, witnessed the Transfiguration, and were at Gethsemane.
Jesus, dying, committed the Virgin Mary to Johns care (Died. A.D.c.100). He is variously known as
St. John the Evangelist, St John the Divine, and the Beloved Disciple. The Concise Columbia
Encyclopedia, Electronic.

4 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and
some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:11-13.

5 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given
through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same
Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another
miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another the
interpretation of tongues. I Cor 12:7-10.

6 Phrygia- ancient region, central Asia Minor (now central Turkey). The Phrygians, apparently Indo-
Europeans, entered (c. 1200B.C.) the area from the Balkans. The kingdom of Phrygia (fl. 8 th-6th century,
B.C.) is associated in Greek legend with Midas and Gordius. Phrygia was later dominated in turn by
Lydia, the Gauls, Pergamun, and Rome. The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 1999, Electronic.

7 A culture-bound medical condition associated with some psychic or psychiatric manifestations, in which
the individual speaks in languages foreign to him/her or in language not understood at all. This
phenomenon is common in very many pagan rituals and worship. See Yap, 1951.

8 It is difficult determine this historiographically. Since Montanus did not add new doctrine which could
not easily be disproved by appeal to the canon, he may have been misunderstood on this. See David Aune,
1987, pp. 77-115 on historiography of NT.

10It is very possible that the Bishops had already taken the power of forgiveness in the Roman Catholic
church by ignoring such passages as Mt 9:6, so that Montanus was only exercising authority in his own
church and showing that prophetic gifts qualify to apostolic or pastoral duties in the church, including
absolution.
[1]1 This continues to be a problem in modern day charismatic circles. Those with apparent spiritual
gifts hold positions of authority and are very influential in ordering church activities.

[1]2 Modern charismatics have made similar errors like Montanus made. As a matter of fact, a big
denomination was founded on an eschatological error. The Seventh Day Adventist movement which
began officially in 1863 (see A. Hoekema, p. 637) was founded only after its prophet William Miller
(1782-1849) predicted that Jesus was to come to earth on 22 October 1844 and failed. Ellen White (1827-
1915) was considered by the newly formed church to be a prophetess of some sort. She said in 1888, But
the appointed time had passed, and the Lord had not appeared. The believers knew that Gods Word could
not fail; their interpretation of the prophecy must be at fault, p. 347.

[1]3 Tertullian has been characterized both as the last of the Greek fathers and as the first of the Latin
fathers. Both descriptions are appropriate, since he preserves in his work a compendium of mainstream
Christianity, while significantly foreshadowing the Latin Churchs preoccupation with power and
stressing such legal themes as confession, penance, renunciation and merit R. Kearsley, pp. 675-676.

[1]4 John Wesley himself reported in 1739 no sooner had he (George Whitfield) begun (in the
application of his sermon) to invite all sinners to believe in Christ, than four persons sank down close to
him, almost in the same moment. One of them lay without either sense or motion. A second trembled
exceedingly. The third had strong convulsions all over his body, but made no noise unless by groans. The
fourth, equally convulsed, called upon God with strong cries and tears. From this time, I trust, we shall all
suffer God to carry on His own work in the way that pleaseth Him, p. 76.

[1]5 Charismatics- neo-Pentecostal Christians whose worship emphasizes the gifts of the Spirit
(charismata) listed by St. Paul in Corinthians, especially healing and speaking in tongues (glossolalia).
Contemporary charismatics are distinguished from other Pentecostals by their origins in neo-Pentecostal
(especially mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic) churches during the charismatic renewal
movements of the 1960s. The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, Electronic, 1999.

[1]6 J.W. Ward, pp. 502-505.

[1]7 In Nigeria we have the older Aladura churches which were established along prophetic lines in the
early parts of the last century with the Cherubim and Seraphim Society taking the lead in 1925, followed
by the Apostolic Church in1930. The Braide movement of 1916 appeared quite prophetic but lacked the
charismatic leanings of the Aladura pentecostal movements of the 1930s. But the neo-pentecostals and
the Aladura do not claim there are only three canonical prophets. While many desire to stick to the Bible
in matters of doctrine, others may deviate from it only because of ignorance, or indeed illiteracy. Those
who deviate from Biblical teachings deliberately cannot be classified as Christian at all. And there are
many.

[1]8 Merkabah mystics trace there origins to the chariot seen by Ezekiel (Ez 1) after his ascent to heaven.
Merkabah mysticism in the talmudic period contained the following three elements: (1) an idea of
mystical ascent to heaven; (2) Merkabah hymns; and (3) speculation of the Siur Qomah type.The
technique of ascent had two aspects. First, preparation: For some days prior to the ascent the adept made
himself ready by fasting , eating special food, or bathing .Secondly, there was the ascent itself. This
was effected by the recitation of (1) Merkabah hymns or prayers (2) magic formulae; or (3) invocations of
God or of the archangels by magical formulae, and invocations have one thing in common: they all
involve the rhythmic repetition of certain words, or sounds, or ideas. Given the rigorous preparations for
the ascent, the sense of anticipation and the aura of mystery and awe with which the act was surrounded,
this repetition would have been potent enough to have sent the adepts into trance. Its efficacy would have
been magnified if, as Hai Gaon asserts, the mystics recited the hymns with their heads between their
knees, in the manner of Elijah on Mount Carmel (cf I Kgs 18:42), thus constricting their
breathing.According to Hekalot Rabbati the adept was expected to speak during the trance and scribes
were placed to write down what he said, for his utterances were taken to be revelations of what was
happening in the heavenly world. It is not clear whether any of these utterances have been incorporated
directly into the Merkabah texts; it is possible that some of the angelic names and magical formulae are
glossolalia. P Alexander, 1982, pp.231-234. Other forms of spirit mysticism are found in Jewish and
Christian circles - Bogomil heresy (M. Knibb), Caballa magic (The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia),
Calendologia (E Isaacs) and Hirsidism (The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia) but are not as serious as the
above.

[1]9 Paul had mentioned that they would cease but the context of his talk makes it likely he is referring to
the era of eschatology; ie at the end times. See I Cor 13:8-11.

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The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia. BookMan II Model, KJB-1440. Burlington: Franklin Co,
1999.

Ryken Leland, Wilhoit James C Longman III Trempe. Dictorinary of Biblical Imagery. An
encyclopedic exploration of the images, symbols, motifs, metaphors, figures of speech and
literary patterns of the Bible. Leicester: IVP.

Williams Peter L. Warwick Roger Dyson Mary and Bannister Lawrence H. Grays

Anatomy. 37th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1989.

Wesley, John. The Journal of John Wesley.. Chicago: Moody Press, n.d.

Ward, J.W. Pentecostalist Theology. In New Dictionary of Theology. Sinclair B. Ferguson and
David F. Wright eds. Leicester: IVP, 1988 p. 502-506.

White, Ellen G. The Great Controversy. 1888. Reprinted 1967. Phoenix: Inspiration Books.

Yap, P.M. Mental diseases peculiar to certain cultures: a survey of comparative psychiatry.
Journal of Mental Science 97:313-327, 1951.
[1]The Apostolic Church is a pentecostalist group which grew out of the great Welsh revivals of
the first decade of the twentieth century, at which preachers stormed the towns and valleys and
thousands of people declared for Christ, and, in the Churchs language, were filled with the Holy
Ghost. It has a few hundred branches in the British Isles, mostly in large towns, and concentrated
in Scotland, Wales, and northern England. Its headquarters is at Penygroes in Glamorgan, and it
has a missionary headquarters at Bradford. It believes in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, which is
outpoured in the last days, and differs from similar churches in its government, which is based on
the orders of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors of the New Testament; emphasis is laid
on the visionary guidance of the prophetic ministry, and divine healing is preached and
practices, It is, of course, strongly fundamentalist Peel J.D.Y 1968 Aladura: A religious
movement among the Yoruba. Oxford University Press: International African Institute pg 105.

[2]Peel said of the revivals-In July 1930 a meeting took place at Ilesha of Faith Tabernacle
delegates to discuss certain matters over which there had been disagreement between Babatope
and some others.- particularly the insistence on monogamy and the complete opposition to all
medicine. The meeting was attended by Sadare, Akinyele and Odubanjo, as well as other
delegates. Joseph Babalola came too. The details of what occurred after he had once more told
the story of his call- the healing which burgeoned into the largest mass movement of Yorubaland
has seen are not entirely clear, But by the week-end there were hundreds of people at the hill,
Oke Oye, just within the walls of Ilesha town, separated from the rest of the town by a stream,
and in those days quite open ground. The revival attracted huge numbers of people from as far
away as Ilorin, Ijebu or even across the Niger, and caused serious disruption of transport and
food supplies, which brought it to the notice of the authorities.

Before this vast concourse, several times a day, Joseph Babalola, clad in white shorts and shirt,
with the Bible and hand bell, preached to the people to renounce evil practices and witchcraft,
and bring out for burning all their idols and juju , for God was powerful enough to answer all
their needs, and to cure them. Further more, what became a standard practice, he sanctified the
near-by stream by prayer, as omi iye, the water of life, as had been revealed to him. A District
Officer who attended a meeting noted its purely religious and inoffensive character; it was not
dramatic or exciting, and was most impressive when the people raised the water-vessels on their
heads for Babalola to bless them. He took no money and the crowds were orderly; the worst
confusion was on the roads leading to Ilesha from Ife and Ijebu. Ibid, p. 91

[3] E.H.L. Olusheye, 1983, Saint Joseph Ayo Babalola 1904-1959, The African Foremost Religious Revolutionary
leader ever lived. Akure: Christian Overcomers Publishers, pp 33-35.

[4]Peel J.D.Y 1968 Aladura: A religious movement among the Yoruba. Oxford University Press:
International African Institute p 102-3.

[5] Ibid, p. 113

[6] Emmanuel Eni was one of the first Christian in Nigeria to expose the importance of white
garments in worship and therefore opening up new systematics in Aladuraism in Nigeria and
indeed Pentecostalism when he made the following confessions of his own practice when he was
in the occult

OPENING OF WHITE GARMENT CHURCHES

When a man comes to us for an assistance to build a prayer house and help him perform
healings etc he would be given some conditions.

(a) He will agree to DONATE TO US ONE OR TWO SOULS EVERY YEAR

(a) At a certain level of office in the church the person would be INITIATED TO OUR
SOCIETY and

(c) NO member would be allowed to come into the prayer house with SHOES ON

When he accepts these conditions he would be given something like a WHITE GRAVEL,
HUMAN BONES, BLOOD and CHARMS, ALL IN A NATIVE POT. He would be instructed to
BURY THIS POT WITH ALL THE CONTENTS IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH AND BURY
THE CROSS ON ITS TOP. AFTER THE BURIAL, ONLY THE CROSS SHOULD BE SEEN.
He would be advised to BUILD A POOL OR KEEP A BASIN WHERE SPIRITS WOULD
CONTINUE TO SUPPLY SPECIAL WATER. THIS WATER IS WHAT YOU HEAR THEM
CALL HOLY WATER.

Many people when disturbed by evil spirits go to these prophets to cast them out. The truth is
THEY ONLY ADD MORE DEMONS TO THEM. A DEVIL CANNOT CAST OUT DEVIL.
What the prophet would do is, he will pray for the member and then give him/her a red cloth to
put in his/her house, and then would advise him/her to always pray with candles and incenses.
By this act the person invites us into his/her house. Sometimes the member would be advised to
bring goat etc for sacrifice. These sacrifices are for us to continue and help cure the man. The
prophet has no power to cure or heal. Emmanuel Eni, Delivered from the Powers of Darkness.
Ibadan: Scripture Union, p 25. It is cery surprising that this kind of information can be published
by a pure evangelical group like the Scripture Union. If the Scripture Union can publish this then
it is very likely to be true. Please note the difference between the holy water here and the type
used in CAC which is not called holy water but living water and is provided by the individual
himself and prayed upon by the clergy or prophet.

[7]J.W. Ward explains Pentecostalist theology as follows- Pentecostalism is one stream within
Arminian evangelicalism with distinctive emphases upon a further experience after conversion,
namely, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and an enduement of power signified but speaking in
tongues (glossolalia); upon the gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Cor 12:8-10.

Pentecostal theology has its roots in various aspects of 19th century fundamentalism in American
holiness groups which taught that one could receive after conversion an experience of entire
sanctification, sometimes called the baptism of the Spirit, and an enduement of power by some
key leaders such as Charles Finney, Asa Mahan (1800-89) and Phoebe W. Palmer (1807-87); the
teaching of R.A. Torrey (1856-1928) and others who claimed that the baptism of he Spirit was a
post-conversion enduement of power primarily for witness and service, not sanctification; the
teaching of A.B. Simpson (1843-1919) and A.J. Gordon (1836-95) and others that divine healing
was to be received by faith; and the premillenialism and the need to live in expectation of the
imminent return of Christ taught by J.N. Darby, C.I. Scofield (1843-1921) and many others.
These streams all contributed to the four-square emphases of Pentecostal preaching: Christ the
Saviour, Christ the baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Christ the healer and Christ the coming King.

Origins and spread

The origins of Pentecostalism may be dated to 1 January 1901, when Miss Agnes Ozman, a
student at Bethel Bible College, Topeka, Kansas, spoke in tongues after the principal, Charles
Fox Parham (1873-1929), laid hands on her and prayed for her to receive the power of the Spirit.
Henceforth, for Pentecostals, the supreme sign of being baptized in the Spirit would be speaking
in tongues. This is considered to be the gateway to vivid experience of God, lively worship, the
gifts of the Spirit, especially divine healing, and power for Christian witness and service.

Within a few years, Pentecostalism had spread widely in the USA, especially through the
influence of the Azusa Street Apostolic Faith Mission in Los Angeles. It soon reached Europe,
where there was a ready response to its message among some affected by recent spiritual
awakenings in Wales and elsewhere. Pentecostalism gained a strong foothold in Scandinavia and
subsequently spread world-wide Pentecostalist Theology. New Dictionary of Theology, eds S.B.
Ferguson and D.F. Wright, Leiceser: IVP, pp 502-3.

[8] Peel, p 147

[9] MONTANISM

This discourse seeks to identify historical factor which may be important in modern understanding of Church history
for which lessons can be learnt. In this case, we speak of the Spirit movements of the 20th century which have their
epistemology or basis grounded in the experience of Pentecost in which tongues of fireseparated and came to rest
on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them. Acts 2:3-4.

2. MOVEMENT

Montanism was a movement which began in the 2nd Century AD (156) in the Christian Church that had just been
deprived of the presence of the Apostles1 and even the Apostolic fathers,2 and it lasted for 400 years till 550 AD.
The Apostles had all died; the last being John the Gospel writer who may have died about 100 AD3. Montanus was
a convert into the Christian church and in AD 156 he began the movement which now bears his name. He claimed
he was a prophet imbued with gifts of the Holy Spirit as clearly enunciated earlier by Paul in his letter to the
Ephesians4 who also inhabited the same Asia Minor of Montanus (i.e. present day Central Anatolian Turkey) and
also in the first letter recorded to the Corinthians (I Cor 12)5. Montanus was a former pagan priest of the city of
Phrygia6 which was very well known for all sorts of pagan spiritist phenomenology, including prophesying, ecstasy
etc. A pagan priest from Phrygia was known to be able to fast, see visions, dance, suffer a lot of torture and even
prophesy. After the conversion of Montanus, he claimed he was now given the prophetic ability just like the
Apostles of old. He was later joined by two women who abandoned their husbands to take part in the new prophetic
movement. They were Maximilla and Priscilla. Later the trio formed a new church which spread rapidly all over
Asia Minor, Europe and North Africa. What was said to be normative in the practice of the new church was
prophesying in a state of convulsive frenzy. It is not known whether this was accompanied by speaking in tongues
(glossolalia)7 or not.

3. THEOLOGY

Montanus and his two disciples taught that the world had already come to an end. The age was done and the New
Jerusalem clearly predicted to come forth into the earth in Rev 21;2 will soon descend and enter the city of Pepuza.
Hence, faithfuls were advised to proceed to Pepuza in order to await the coming of Jesus Christ. The movement did
not disagree with the essential doctrines of the church (eg Christological or soteriological) but held that they could
provide new revelation through the three founding prophets (Montanus himself and his two female aids)8. But the
movement also emphasised the need for spiritual gifts in the church and a constant need to fast, keep a disciplined
life, and single marriage (no remarriage). It encouraged faithfuls to desire martyrdom for to do otherwise was
sinful. Finally, the group developed a hamartiology of forgiveness of sin- the three founding members could forgive
sins and also other members who had developed high spirituality and women could hold office in church.[9] The
eschatology of this group was highly profound.

4. EFFECT ON CHURCH

Wile the laity took seriously most of the teachings of Montanus and his groups and this could have led to the rapid
spread of the organisation, the church hierarchy frowned at it. For one, it was usurpation of authority. If the highly
spiritual people could forgive sins, what becomes of the bishops who did not manifest any apparent spiritual gifts?
10 And of course, when the New Jerusalem did not descend into Pepuza, it was very easy to brand the group as
false and demon inspired! In order to safeguard the church against such occurrences in the future, the Church leaders
declared a closure of the New Testament canon although there were still controversies as to the genuineness of some
of the books of the potential canon. The church ruled quickly that it was no longer possible after the age of the
Apostles for anyone to receive a new canonical revelation from the Holy Spirit. But Montanus argues eloquently
from John 16:12f to defend himself

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he
will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his on; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come. 12-13.

Montanus was saying he was given the power of interpretation and eschatological predictions. The Scriptures says
the Spirit will guide to all truth and reveal what is to come (i.e. eschatology). Montanism brought sharply to focus
the churchs need to control what the scriptures says and how to interpret and guard against future abuse of scripture
or indeed revelation. It led to the closure of the canon and the disbandment of prophecy from the church.

5. EVALUATION OF MONTANISM
But was Montanism actually evil? Church leaders believed Montanus to be demon-possessed but can we really
verify this? If we appeal to scripture, is it possible to actually come to a conclusion that Montanus was not correctly
following the path of the Master albeit with some errors which have been repeated by others in modern times?11 If
Montanus was a false prophet could his organization have been so prolonged long after his death? If he was still a
priest of the pagan worship of Phrygia, it is very doubtful if he would insist that his members present themselves for
Christian martyrdom. Indeed, if the members found nothing good in him, they will not follow a group that will lead
them to their death. There is no doubt that his prophecy of the imminence of the New Jerusalem came out to be
false, but does that make him a fake person or indeed a pagan in Christian clothing? If so, then many
dispensationalists today will be also false. At least one very good thing came out of the Montanist movement.
Tertullian12 (fl c. 196-212 A.D.), one of the greatest of the Church fathers, was converted through the ministration
of the group. He later formed his own group and had considerable influence on the development of early church
history.

6. SPIRITUALISM AFTER MONTANUS

Spiritualism and prophetism did not completely die out in the church after Montanus. Sporadic cases were reported
in the medieval ages and later in the revivals of John Wesley13 of the 18th century and those of the 19th century
awakening in Europe and the Americas. But the main spiritual reawakening came in the form of pentecostalism14 at
the turn of the 20th century. This particular movement was not ascribed to anyone. It just happened spontaneously
and its history is as follows.

The origins of pentecostalism may be dated to 1 January 1901, when Miss Agnes Ozman, a student at
Bethel Bible College, Topeka, Kansas, spoke in tongues after the principal, Charles Fox Parham (1873-
1929), laid hands on her and prayed for her to receive the power of the Spirit. Henceforth, for Pentecostals,
the supreme sign of being baptized in the Spirit would be speaking in tongues. This is considered to be the
gateway to vivid experience of God, lively worship, the gifts of the Spirit, especially divine healing, and
power for Christian witness and service.15

This modern wonder, can it have any bearing with Montanist movement of the early church? What is its significance
today if it is real as it claims?

7. MODERN SPIRITUALISM AND MONTANISM COMPARED

It appears the modern spiritualism enterprises and the older montanism seem to have many things in
correspondence. One is the gift of prophecy. So many people claim to be prophets today and trace their ability to the
gift of the Holy Spirit.16 More importantly, all seem to emphasize the power of prayer to change life situations; a
theme which in most cases is absent in orthodoxy and which leads them invariably into deep Arminianism. They are
all apocalyptic, messianic, chialistic, and having the flavour of Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah who calls on
his people to repent or be doomed and that of John the Baptist (including his charisma) pleading with the people to
repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Such have a large propensity to become corrupted just like the root spirit
movement in Judaism called Merkabah mysticism17 dating back to several decades before Christ.

8. CONCLUSION.

While the new spiritual churches are very similar in theology to those of the Montanist, they still have not lasted that
long. We can therefore not say what could become of them. But one thing is sure. We should always be careful not
to condemn what we cannot understand. When God spoke to Samuel, He had been silent for about a period of
possibly 400 years. This was why even Eli himself was not too sure who was calling Samuel. The Bible says

In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. I Sam 3:1.

We cannot determine for God when He wishes to pour out His gifts to the church; also we cannot determine when
they are to cease.18 But we can determine violation of the Scriptures for the Scripture alone can provide any
meaningful revelation of the mind of God for this age and indeed all ages.

See End notes on Montanism

[10] There isconsiderable evidence to suggest that these gifts did not disappear from the church
but were found in different ages within different groups rather than the main line. Even some of
these gifts were reported in Wesleys Methodism in his (Wesleys) days.

[11] Glossolalia is actually a medical condition which is considered by most psychiatrist to be amongst the so called
culture bound syndrome to which most Pentecostal will refer to as demon possession. An example of culture-bound
syndrome (Yap, P.M. Mental diseases peculiar to certain cultures: a survey of comparative psychiatry. Journal of
Mental Science 97:313-327, 1951) in Nigeria is Ogbanje, Abiku or Emere (see below). Hence it is clear that it is not
all speaking in tongues that is from God. Some are clearly satanic. To the psychiatrist though, all speaking in
tongues represent some psychiatric ailment which may be treated as psychoses or mental derangement. Despite its
very great systematics and classification, psychiatry still remains a world of mystery which is hardly scientific, its
system of treatment non-empirical or not always efficacious by any standard. Biological psychiatry is beginning to
change this posture.

[12] There is
nothing wrong in providing office of apostleship to worthy candidates when they
demonstrate unusual skills, talents and gifts in the modern church. This was done in the 1st
century church after the exit of the original apostles who saw Jesus. At the Didache says this
much.

Slaying in spirit as this practice is called has now become the easiest to mimic in satanic
[13]
worship. See note no 20

[14]Only one thing is wrong with this ordo salutis, -there should be a place for baptism of the
Holy Spirit in it. Grudem believes what is being referred to in Mk 1:8 (I baptize you with water,
but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit) on the Baptism of Holy Spirit by Jesus before John
the Baptist is sanctification. But several scholars differ in this regard. Conversion in some
pentecostal churches is said to be first blessing while baptism of Holy Spirit is referred to as
second blessing. But the Apostolic faith insists there are three blessings as follows- 1st
conversion, 2nd sanctification, 3rd- baptism of Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, all of which
are definite experiences.

[15] The Gospel of John was the last to be written.

[16] The word on here has a definite significance which only an appeal to Geek religious system
can capture its true meaning. It is not just enough to believe Jesus is the son of God - that is what
the Greek word, pisteuo translated as believe in English, means. You must also make him your
personal deity and hence the modern version of conversion which talks of accepting Jesus as
personal saviour. This is of course not in the Bible but captures the essence of believing on
Jesus closely. Grant says of the old Greek deities But these deities could be savagely dangerous
if men and women did not acknowledge them (that is what the Greek term nomizein means not
believe in) and if they were not placated; this was an anxiety-appeasing religion of formal
reciprocity, do ut des, I give you so that you shall give me p 17. M Grant -The Rise of the
Greeks: Phoenix, p 17.

[17] On water or hydrotherapy one can not but explain that nothing can be smarter than the use of water in the
years when the revivals started in Western Nigeria. Firstly it was freely available, cheap, and a medium which make
contact with any item. Thus you can sprinkle water on any item, including clothing, use it to cook food, drink it etc.
It was a smart article of faith no matter what any one says. In that regard, its function is higher than oil which cannot
be used for all items for sanctification, purification anointing etc. But in this age, when everyone questions
everything, I prefer to use oil which is well established in the New Testament in order to avoid being misunderstood.
(Heb 1:9).

Peel says

Turning to sources other than Protestant Bible interpretation is a consequence of asking what is source of the
spiritual power they have witnessed. Most people, of course, do not bother to ask this question; of those who do, the
more self-conscious Christ Apostolic pastors explain omi iye, for example, as merely an aid to the pure operation of
faith in God, while some of the Cherubim and Seraphim, not so affected by European Protestant mental habits,
explain it by a more traditional symbolism, or may make scientific comparisons, such as hydropathyp 142.
[18] See 1 above

[19] Peel, p 146.

[20] Peel, p 147

[21]Some handle the vexed question in evangelical Christianity whether a real Christian can be
demon possessed or not by saying Christians cannot be demon possessed in the spirit but the
body can become demon infested in certain sicknesses which are of demonic origin or in wearing
accursed things or in touching something unclean. The Bible clearly states, and the Christians
miss the import of this great text-

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in
common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What does a believer have in
common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For
we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among
them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and
be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to
you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:14-18.

But Paul continues Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from
everything that contaminate body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Cor
7:1. This text in fact answers those Christians who say you cannot be possessed in the spirit if
you are a Christian. It says purify yourself from any contamination of body and spirit. Materials,
and people (including sex) which/who are demon infested can pass the demons to non infested
people and these could be Christians. The difference is that the Christian has authority and can
ask the demons to live but they may not go if materials that attracted them are still around you.
But the sinful Christian can of course have demons in both body and spirit.

[22]R Brown (1990). Becoming A vessel of Honor In The Masters Service, p 231.Springdale:
Whitaker House, pp 147-9.Also Rebecca Brown narrates a story of how Christians can become
deceived while seeking deliverance and then be demonized. Mary understood that when people
knelt before us, or even bowed their heads before us, they were actively submitting themselves to
us and accepting whatever we wanted to give them. Of course they thought we were praying for
them, but their submission to us gave us the legal right to put demons into them. They also
directly opened the door for it by allowing their minds to go blank without testing the spirit
knocking them out. Mary showed me the proper incantations to do and how to have the people
hold their hands up like this.

Then she would tap them first on one hand then on the other, then on their forehead, making the
sign of an upside down cross.

Out they would go, every time. She then did it to me and I fell over unconscious. I guess I was
out for five minutes or so. When I awoke, I found that I had acquired a new demon. Mary told
me this special demon would put demons into the people I prayed for. And so he did. Im sure
that isnt the only way people put demons into people by having them hold their hands like that,
but that is how we did it, Ibid, pp 45-6.

[23] Ibid, pp 46-7.

[24] Peel, p 148.

[25] Peel, p 143.

[26]Odubanjo was the first General Secretary of the CAC, a post he had held in the old days of
Faith Tabernacle. He therefore remains one of the theoretical pillars of CACism today. He died
in1959.

[27] Peel, p 138.

[28] Peel, p 131

[29]Nephilim called and translated Nephilim in NIV, NAS, RSV, ASV, but giants in KJV and
NKJ. In view of the ideas derived from Judaic literature, giant seems to capture the translation
well.

[30] The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered
worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be
given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are Gods
children, since they are children of the resurrection. Lk 24:34-36. This text more than explains
itself. First it provides answer as to who are referred to as sons of God in the Gen 6 account.
They are angels, and not men as claimed by many. Secondly it talks about the normal, not the
abnormal. Angels do not marry, does not mean angels cannot marry. Angels do not disobey God
does not mean angels cannot disobey God and many did in the past and will suffer the
consequences in the future when according to Peter and Jude And the angels who did not keep
their positions of authority but abandoned their own home-these he had kept in darkness, bound
with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. Jude 10 For if God did not spare the
angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for
judgment. II Pe 2:4. In any case, this then is function in the Jewish literature which believes
that angels came to sleep with daughters of men who gave birth to the Nephilim. The giant
Nephilim were wiped out at the time of Noahs flood. They could not have persisted to any
modern age, since only Noah and his descendants survived the flood. The Jewish tradition holds
that their spirits were liberated as demons after their death since they were supposed to be
partially immortal and are the small or large demons that now populate the sea, dry land, air etc
which plague man. In Islamic tradition and literature they are the jinns (Surah 46:29-30).

Also the correct translation son of God in the OT is angel. So when it said sons of God went
into daughter of men, it simply means angels went into humans. See the following texts.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and
Satan came also among them. Job 1:6.
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and
Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD, Job 2:1

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7

[31]For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them
into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment. 2 Pe 2:4, interpreted by Jude 6 And the angels
who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home-these he had kept in
darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. Jude 10.

R Brown (1990). Becoming A vessel of Honor In The Masters Service, p 231.Springdale:

[32]
Whitaker House, p 231.

[33] This interpretation (or indeed translation) is rooted in Jewish apocalyptic literature for the
ordinary meaning of Nephilim is fallen ones. Therefore there is nothing in the text to suggest
they were giants and if so, what proportions they were. With all the Jewish traditions known, it is
clear that Nephilim were regarded as giants of some sort and were even compared with the sons
of Anak in Num13:32-33. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim
there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our
own eyes, and we looked the same to them.

In describing biblical giants, the authors of Dictionary of Biblical Imagery said The
sway that giants have held over the human imagination is in excess of the number of their
appearances in the Bible, where a great deal of mystery surrounds the references. We might note
at the outset, then that one of their associations is that of mystery-something beyond our ability
to fully comprehend. Four Hebrew words are translated as giant in various English
translations. Nephilim are mysterious preflood beings (Gen 6:4), rendered unforgettable in the
evocative statement that there were giants in the land (KJV). Anakim were tall pre-Israelite
inhabitants of Canaan (Deut 2:10-11, 21;9:2), who in the report of the spies are said to be
descendants of the Nephilim (Num 13:33). Rephaim were likewise pre-Israelite inhabitants of
Canaan (Deut 2:11; 3:11-13), not necessarily of gigantic proportions. And finally, gibbor is a
term used to designate a military hero or strong man, though it is uncertain whether they were
gigantic in height and weight. With the possible exception of the Nephilim, who remain shrouded
in mystery, all of the biblical giants are oversized humans whose superior size made them feared
on the battlefield. The military province of the biblical giant is attested by the way references to
them cluster in battle contexts (2 Sam 21:16-22; 1 Chron 20:4-8). Ryken, Wilhoit and Longman
III, 1998, 328.

[34]Sir Arthur Keith says of Neanderthal man In size of brain Neanderthal was not a low form.
His skill as artisan shows that his abilities were not those of a low order. He had fire at his
command. He buried his dead. He had a distinct and highly evolved form of culture. Neanderthal
was certainly not a dawn form of humanity. Byron C. Nelson, After Its Kind (Mineapolis,
Augsburg Publishing House, 1927), 153. At the upper pleistocene H. sapiens neanderthalis
apeared from H erectus and is generally recognized as ancient version of modern man. In fact
modern man did evolve from neanderthal man, developing modern features from the ancient
ones of the upper pleistocene man. Classical Neanderthal features include a large brain size of
about 1,600 cc larger than that of modern men; dolichocephalic skulls with projecting occipitals.
They also had large brow ridges, their hands were powerful. Neanderthal man was as erect as
any modern man today. He was mainly a hunter-gather and he utilized primitive stone tools like
the mousterian culture. It is believed that modern man evolved from the central Eurasian mass
and moved to the periphery. He presents today as mainly brachycephalic, erect, rounded occipital
and frontal bones, small dentition, small jaws, parabolic dental arcade; straight and fully
extensive knees and lips, carrying angle for the femur, large anterior condyle of the femur, deep
notch between the condyles of the femur, absence of sagittal crest or prognathism, scanty hair on
the body, forward looking foramen magnum, highly opposable thumb with adaptations for
precision and writing grips. Some of the features listed above are present on fetal apes. J.O.
Ogunranti, Degree Anatomy, (Port Harcourt University Press, 1985), 234-236. Hence the features
of Neanderthal man is similar to those of modern apes, rough and heavy; a feature that easily
captures the picture of a caveman. But the features of modern man resemble closely those of
fetal or new born ape.

[35] The Neanderthals were responsible for the so-called Mousterian chipped stone culture - a
culture that was shared by some Cro -Magnoids, who were indisputably human. Wayne Frair
and Percival Davis. A Case for Creation. (Chicago, Mood Press, 1967), 125. Neanderthal Man
is everybodys idea of our caveman ancestors dresses in animal skin, he was nasty, brutish and
short. Anatomically he is well known for the many existing skeleton. There is little doubt in most
scientists minds that Neanderthal man is a race of Homo sapiens specifically adapted to the
ecological conditions of his environment during the period of the last glaciation. Some of these
adaptations include such features as a squat body and knobbly joints which facilitated blood flow
for the extremities. Classic Neanderthalim were a form of European Eskimo, and they, the last of
the line, disappeared about 30,000 years ago. Their fate is uncertain though the general
consensus is that they were genetically absorbed into the population of Cro-Magnon people, true
Homo sapiens, much as the genes of the Sabines were absorbed in the genetic pool of their
Roman conquerors. J.R. Napier and P.H. Napier. The Natural History of the Primates.
Cambridge University Press: British Museum of Natural History, 1985),185. Although a number
of scientist believe Neanderthal man was short, there are no scientific evidences to prove this for
most of his skeleton have been obtained from his skull and the long bones have not been well
studied.

[36] One evening I decided to have a walk. Along Ebute Metta Bus stop, I saw a young beautiful
lady standing. I never spoke a word to her. The next day while passing also I saw her still at the
same spot. The third day I saw her still at the same spot and while passing she called me. I
stopped and introduced myself to her as Emmanuel Amos but she refused introducing herself. I
asked her name and address but she only laughed. She asked me mine and I told her the street
ONLY. When I was about leaving, she said she would visit me one day. In my mind I said that
was impossible, I did not tell her my house number how then could she come. But true to her
words, I heard a knock on my door after a week of that meeting at the bus stop. There she was,
the mysterious lady! I welcomed her (in my mind. I wondered who this beautiful lady was, and
did she know she was threading on dangerous grounds?) I entertained her and she left. After this
first visit, her visits became regular without any relationships. I noticed that in her visits she kept
to a particular time, and would not come a minute earlier or later! In some of her visits I would
take her to the Lagos Barbeach, or to Paramount Hotel or Ambassador Hotel etc. All these while
she still did not tell me her name. I decided not to worry since I knew the relationship would not
develop more than that. I had already been instructed never to touch a woman.

Suddenly she changed the day visits to nights. During one of the visits she told me now it is
time for you to visit me. We stayed together that night and at 8.00a.m. The following day we
took off. We joined a bus and she told the driver to stop us at the beach. As we stopped, I asked
her where are we going? She said, dont worry you are going to know my house. She took
me to a corner of the bar beach, used something like a belt and tied around us and immediately a
force came from behind and pushed us into the sea. We started flying on the surface of the water
and straight to the ocean. Dear reader, these happened in my physical form! At a point we sank
into the seabed and to my surprise I saw us walking along an express way. We moved into a city
with a lot of people all very busy.

I saw laboratories like science lab, designing lab, and a theatre. At the back of the city, I saw
young beautiful girls and handsome young men. No old people. She introduced me to them and I
was welcomed. She took me to a place called darkroom and a drying room, and a packing
room She then took me to a main factory and warehouse and then came back to her own private
mansion. There she sat me down and told me:

I am the QUEEN OF THE COAST and would like very much to work with you, I promise to
give you wealth and all that go with it, protection and all that go with it, life and an angel to
guide you. She pressed a button and a tray came out with human flesh (in pieces) in it and we
ate it together. She commanded a boa to appear and asked me to swallow it. I could not. She
insisted but I could not, how could I swallow a life boa. She then used her powers and I
swallowed it. These three covenants: The HUMAN FLESH, and BLOOD, the BOA and the
DEMONIC ANGEL were always there to make sure no secret was revealed. But the angel was
given power to discipline me if I went astray and also to bring me food from the sea anytime I
was here on earth. I promised to obey her always. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness,
Ibadan: Scripture Union Press, pp 16-17.

[37] For those who refuse to believe in witchcraft, its theme is very profound in the Bible. In fact
in the days of Moses, it was said Do not allow a sorceress to live Ex 22:18. There are several
witchcraft practices recorded in the Bible and to summarize they are as follows -Astrology (Is
47:13, Jer 10:2, Rhabdomancy (Ez 21:21, Hos 4:2), Hepatoscopy (Ez 21:21), Necromancy (Lev
19:31, Deu 18:11, Is 8:19, 19:3), Teraphim (Ez 21:21, Zech 10:12), Familiar spirit (speaking with
dead- 1 Sam 28:7-11)

[38] Rebecca Brown, p 39.

[39]This is a transliteration of the Heb. Liturgical call hall lu-yah=praise ye Yah, the shortened
form of Yahwehwhich occurs 24 times in the Psalter. Though it is merely one variant of
several calls to praise, the fact that with one exception (Ps. 135:3) it is always found at the
beginning or end of psalms, and these are all anonymous and so presumably among the later
ones, suggests that it had become a standardized call to praise in the post-exilic Temple
worshipFrom the NT (Alleluia, Rev 19:1, 3-4,6) the call has been taken over into Christian
worship. H.L. Ellison, New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed. Leicester: IVP,1996 p 441.
Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the LORD (Halleluyah). O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 111:1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with
my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. Psalms 112:1 Praise ye
the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD that delighteth greatly in his
commandments. Psalms 113:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise
the name of the LORD. Psalms 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye
people. Psalms 135:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye
servants of the LORD. Psalms 146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. Psalms
146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the
LORD. Psalms 147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is
pleasant; and praise is comely. Psalms 148:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the
heavens: praise him in the heights. Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of
much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the
Lord our God.

[40] If an elder or superior man is angry with you and wants to do you evil, go to the farm or
wayside where you can secludedly pray at 5.30 oclock a.m. before sunrise. Read Psalm 38
seven times with Psalm 39. Pronounce the following Holy names as you are reading it,____ for
38 and _________for 39. Fast through the day, and you will know that there is God. Peel, p
121.The method which is decidedly magical is performed amazingly with fasting, and even in
solitary places just as you do with real prayers. So beware of imitation.

[41] There isa clear distinction in the New Testament about what you need which God says he
will supply you even without you asking, and those things you want, which you must use your
mouth to ask for. The proof texts are as follows

NEED- Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about
your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more
important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is
here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of
little faith? So do not worry, saying what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or What shall
we wear? For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need
them. But seek first the kingdom of God and is righteousness, and all these things will be given
to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.Mt 6:25-34.

This is the Pauline rendering of the above doctrine from Jesus My God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus- Phil 4:19

WANT

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy
may be full.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments,
and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

The rules of engagement have been spelt out. You ask for what you want, be holy and believe
you will receive and you will receive them. Do not be greedy about what you ask and be patient.
What the Bible is silent about is the length of time for asking but it deals with this and the
number of times to ask in the parable of the persistent widow.

IS IT EVIL TO ASK FOR WANTS? NO!

Some insist it is wrong to ask for your wants but you rather ask for Gods will using, the
following text as their proof text And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their
soul Ps 106;15.(AV) Now compare with the rendering in NIV So he gave them what they asked
for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. This anti-want argument is based on the soul factor. It
goes like this- if you force Gods hand, then your soul will be lean, which means you will be
unable to come as close as possible to God. But the text is not talking about soul but the body
and therefore cannot have a cause and effect relationship. That is to say, there can be no
relationship between praying to get what you want from God and punishment. nephesh is
translated in AV versions as soul, whereas in the present context it should not be translated into a
physical thing like body or flesh but soul and hence the rendering of NIV is closer to the
meaning of the text than that of AV. But it is not wrong to ask for your wants.

SIN FACTOR IN WANTS

It is a complete WRONG to sin when you ask for your wants. If you sin after you have
received your wants it will surely disappear. 1 John 3:22 says 'And whatsoever we ask, we
receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his
sight.' STAY AWAY FROM SIN IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR WANTS.

The major reason for his is as follows- sin brings automatically punishment. We all have to
answer for our sins because whatever a man sows, he will reap. So if you sleep with someone
else's wife, someone else will also sleep with yours or you will get a punishment commensurate
with your sin. All sins are of equal soteriological weight before God but not all sins are of equal
weight in the level of severity. Thus murder cannot be equated with a simple lie. In the
forgiveness of sin for eternal life a sin is a sin , but in the law of karma which is whatever a man
sows he shall reap (GAL 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows), they are
not the same. Thus the punishment for killing somebody is not the same with the punishment for
a simple lie which does not hurt anyone. EVEN WHEN SINS ARE FORGIVEN
SOTERIOLOGICALLY, THEY ARE STILL PUNISHED CRIMINOLOGICALLY!! Hence even
if you are forgiven so that you can be washed thoroughly clean with the blood of the Lamb, you
will still receive the punishment of your sin here on earth commensurate with its criminological
weight! The best example of this is in the Bible is the case of David and his punishment after
committing adultery with Uriah's wife (2 Sam 12:15-18).

[42] The Didache tells us that the earliest of Christians after the apostolic era were told to recite
the Lords prayer three times a day.

[43] These texts are derived from the Old and New Testaments on fasting

2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and
lay all night upon the earth.

2 Samuel 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou
didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise
and eat bread.

2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall
go to him, but he shall not return to me.

1 Kings 21:9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among
the people:

1 Kings 21:12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a
fast throughout all Judah.

Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves
before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our
substance.
Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and
neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so
will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Isaiah 58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted
our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and
exact all your labours.

Isaiah 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye
shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Isaiah 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow
down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a
fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the
heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Jeremiah 14:12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and
an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and
by the pestilence.

Jeremiah 36:9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah,
in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem,
and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.

Joel 1:14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of
the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth,
from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Zechariah 7:5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted
and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me,
even to me?

Zechariah 8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the
fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and
gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward.

Matthew 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and
thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast
oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Matthew 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, as long as
the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from
them, and then shall they fast.

Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say
unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
Mark 2:19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the
bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

Mark 2:20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and
then shall they fast in those days.

Luke 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers,
and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

Luke 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the
bridegroom is with them?

Luke 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and
then shall they fast in those days.

Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

[44]

[45] What normally kills in a fast medically is the loss of vital and important nutrients which we
use daily to give ourselves energy for even the simplest process of the body such as respiration.
Energy is stored in complex molecules like starch and glycogen but broken down to simple
molecules, such as glucose to provide strength. Such simple molecules are needed in starvation
or else, the body will need more energy to break down complex molecules like protein, starch,
fat. Hence these latter nutrients are best avoided when breaking a long fast for the energy
required to digest the food can kill the individual. Note however that fasting is a natural process
of getting rid of accumulated poisons which we invariably take up while we eat which the liver
cleanses. But too much food over labours the liver. Abstinence from food gives it a respite very
much needed. To therefore say that fasting causes madness or sickness is not true. But everything
must be done in moderation. Dont forget the original manner of eating was hunter-gathering. A
hunter may go without food for days, just like most carnivorous animals before they see their
prey.
[46] The story istold of Joanah casting out a demon in less than two seconds of command You
demon get out of this child while two exorcists had engaged this demon for well over 5 hours
without success.

[47] Whilelong night-day fast may be dangerous, unless you have a specific disease day-only fast
can never kill anyone although it may make you loose weight. To avoid losing weight you can
take two meals a day during the long day fast one at 6.00pm and the other before midnight.
That way no one will know you have been on fast for long. But again you must consider the
Holy Spirit leading (Lk 2:37).

[48] The isof course no more need to fast for atonement or sin since Jesus has finished that work
on the cross.

[49] The Didache was discovered in 1875 at a library in Constantinople but probably dates from
the first or second century A.D. Christians are told to let alms sweat in their hands until they
know to whom they are giving (1.6); food offered to idols is forbidden (6.3); people are required
to fast before baptism, and baptism must be done in running water (7.1-4); fasting is required on
Wednesdays and Fridays but prohibited on Mondays and Thursdays (8.1); Christians are required
to pray the Lords prayer three times a day (8.3); unbaptized persons are excluded from the
Lords Supper, and prayers unknown in the New Testament are given as a pattern for celebrating
the Lord supper (9.1-5); apostles are prohibited from staying in a city more than two days
(11.5 prophets who speak in the Spirit cannot be tested or examined (11.7)salvation requires
perfection at the last time (16.2) p 67. Grudem W. Systemic Theology. An introduction to
Biblical Doctrine. Leicester: IVP, p 67.

THE seventh edition of the Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola Power Explosion holds at the Ori Oke
Aanu Praying Ground, Osun State, between June 22 and 26, 2009 with the theme A new
Heaven and a new Earth. Since the inception the revival has witnessed a lot of miracles and
wonders with profuse testimonies. Prophet Hezekiah Oladeji, chief host of the revival, said he is
only trying to follow the footsteps Apostle Babalola, adding one day, Apostle Babalola visited
Erio to inform the people that God had instructed him to find a praying ground on a hill. To
comply with this instruction, Apostle Babalola had to visit Olosunta Hill at Ikere-Ekiti, but the
place was not suitable. But after long discussion with the people of Erio, Pa Simon who had been
visiting Oke-Aanu took it upon himself to lead the apostle and his entourage to Oke Aanu. On
getting to the mountain, the apostle was pleased to see the environment. When they came down
from the hill, he decided to seek approval to use the hill as a praying ground which was granted
by the chiefs. Prophet Hezekiah said his first visit to this mountain was in 1998 when he was
looking unto the Lord for a child after six years of marriage. He was in a trance one day when
God spoke to me that I should climb three mountains in a day of which mountain of mercy Erio-
Ekiti was included. Continuing, he said: I had already climbed two mountains out of the
three mountains that God directed me to climb. The last one was mountain of mercy, Erio. As I
started climbing the mountain, I heard a voice saying; I had finally answered your
prayer. The following year, his wife gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. He said it is the
same mountain that God directed him to for his annual 21-day fasting and prayer in the month of
January. On the 7th day of the first fasting season, he said God spoke to him, that he should make
Him known to the whole world through the call of Apostle Babalola on the mountain (Oke-
Aanu); that he should organise a crusade at the mountain in commemoration and continuation of
the missionary evangelism work of Apostle Babalola. In the vision, Hezekiah
explained it was revealed further that the revival should be an annual event and it should
be tagged Joseph Ayo Babalola Power Explosion. Immediately, I woke up I ordered
my prayer warriors to organise a committee in collaboration with the authority of CAC Erio
District to commence the crusade in obedience to Gods message and it was granted. Hence, the
first edition of the revival on June 27, 2003 with Power as of old as its theme.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/06/babalola-power-explosion-holds-june-22/

JOSEPH AYO BABALOLA MIRACLE CENTRE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Name

of Author: Abiodun Olowe
Name of Reviewer: Pastor Joe Jacobs (Youth Officer, CAC Worldwide) Memory is one of
the innumerable endowments and priceless gifts of God to mankind meant to facilitate
recollection and transmission of knowledge.
Human memory however, has been found to be fallible due to the state of depravity of man
right from the Garden of Eden, and is moreover, unreliable in the instance of mans
morality. Facts therefore committed to merely human memory, over time, is subject to
distortions and factual inaccuracy. Through this highly informed, informative and
historical missive, Joseph Ayo Babalola Miracle Centre: Historical Perspective, Dr. Abi
Olowe becomes another icon in the history of Christ Apostolic Church, who has helped to
trap down factual history of the background of this our great and formidable mission,
whose tap-root is in the heavenlies, for first-hand accessibility to our posterity, in a manner
to finally defeat distortions of undocumented, oral transmission. Summarily, the subject
matter of this first-hand research and study effort majority revolves round three (3) land-
marks, epoch-making destinies, viz: 1. The life and call of the very revered Apostolic
Missioner and outstanding setman, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, through whose specific
call, at a specific place, and at a specific time in history, the fast growing and now
worldwide mission Christ Apostolic Church, was birthed. This concise history is
compressed in the introductory part of this Christian literary work. 2. From chapter one,
we begin to read about the very visionary and focused structural, land-marker, Pastor
Isaiah Olufayobi Ogunbomehin, who became the divine tool, and divinely appointed to
secure, develop and commemorate Apostle Ayo Babalolas place of call, and 3. We will also
read much about the very consecrated Sinai of the Missionarys (Apostle Ayo Babalola)
place of call, Ikeji-Arakeji (which now converges the products of the call and mission of the
Apostle), its history and development. The very spot where an individual encounters God in
an unusual way ceases to be ordinary, but consecrated, especially, when it is proved that the
spot is noted for miraculous events that are life-turning in the lives of different people at
different times. The Ikeji-Arakeji Joseph Ayo Babalola Miracle Centre attained this status
from the very moment this great Apostle heard the call of God on it, and the Ariran stream
at the blessing of the man of God, received miraculous unction for the healing and
deliverance of many by the power of God. A chronicle of healing and deliverance
testimonies wrought by God through this consecrated stream, as researched and written by
Dr. Abi Olowe in this book, is found in the fourth chapter. The development and
commemoration of Ikeji-Arakeji therefore, were not initiated through an individuals
unguided zeal. It arose from several prophecies and reveloations given through different
great men of God, (right from our great Christ Apostolic patriarch, Ayo Babalola himself),
of divine intention to have the holy ground commemorated to converge the people of God
for holy assemblies. Pastor Isaiah Ogunbomehin, who caught the vision and rose to spear-
head the development and commemoration, was thus a divine tool in the hand of God to
fulfill his destiny and mission thus. Pastor Ogunbomehins humble background, miraculous
deliverance and conversion, as well as his destined call as a Christ Crusader and
Evangelist, affirm him as a man of destiny, whose life, like Moses burning bush, cannot
be consumed by the several fiery storms of life that have come his way. This message is
clearly depicted over the pages of this revealing book. This book gives great tributes also to
the late Pastor J. B. Orogun for he laid the foundation stone of the Power House when he
was the General Superintendent, and opened it in 1984 when he was the President of CAC.
The leading role played by Pastor E. H. L. Olusheye, our current President of CAC in
developing this Camp and n establishing the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) is also
specially recognized. The philanthropic role of the Akeji of Ikeji-Arakeji, and the very
generous gesture of the Ikeji-Arakeji Community, and the keen interest shown by other
people in developing the spot of the call of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola were not left out.
This 114-paged research effort, distributed over 7 chapters, is laced with pictorial,
graphical and numerical statistics which evidence the factuality of the recordings in the
book. First-hand information contained over the pages ascertain verifiability of the history
related, as first-hand information has been handed over from the very witnesses who were
present during the life-time of the major godly characters and events talked about in the
book, many of whom are still present and alive at the time of the Authors research. The
book is volume-effective, not too brief as to offer insufficient information that leaves a lot of
questions in the mind of the reader, and not too voluminous as to bore the reader into
abandoning it without reading through. The language as well is quite accessible to all levels
of literate readership, for the Author, though an erudite Doctor of Philosophy, has adopted
simple, easy to understand diction. In all, Joseph Ayo Babalola Miracle Centre: Historical
Perspective is a must-read and a must-have for all Christians, especially Christ
Apostolics who will be well informed about the background of this our great Mission, and
who will preserve the knowledge for our posterity.
Thank you very much and may the God of Joseph Ayo Babalola bless you really good
in Jesus name (Amen).