‘Why Christians Cannot Do Without the Holy Spirit’ — Pastor Taiwo Odukoya

The Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, TFOLC, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, has reiterated the role of the Holy Spirit in the believers’ lives, describing Him as a regenerating force.

He said this during the Thursday Showers of June 2, 2022, at the church’s headquarters in Ilupeju, Lagos State.

Pastor Taiwo, who took his scripture reading from John 7:37–39, noted that the Holy Spirit comes in two ways in the life of a born-again Christian. First, he explained that the Holy Spirit is in-filling, adding that if one does not have the Holy Spirit, it will be difficult for such a person to lead others to Christ.

“What you do not have, you cannot give. So, if you are not born again, it will be difficult for you to get somebody else born again,” Pastor Taiwo told the worshippers.

While citing the overflowing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts Chapter Two, the Senior Pastor explained that for someone to win a soul to Christ, he must be working through the overflow of the Holy Spirit within him.

This is as the preacher reminded the congregation that the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a believer is an assurance that Jesus Christ is glorified and reigns forever.

“That is why you can be filled with the Spirit, and that is why you can speak in tongues, which is why you can move in the Spirit, assuring yourself that Jesus reigns supreme,” Pastor Taiwo noted.

The Senior Pastor then stated that after Christ was glorified, those dead in sin were made alive with Him, raised with Him, and seated in the heavens with Him (see Ephesians 2).

He said: “If Christ is not seated, you can never be seated”, just as he, however, warned that the devil is desperate to scuttle the journey of a believer who is walking on the path of fulfilling their God-ordained ministry.

“When you go in that direction, the devil will try to kill you,” he warned.

The clergyman said that the devil would do this because such a person will not only be his master but will also cause many others to be his master.

Also referring to John 7:37, he reminded Christians of Jesus’ call to those who thirst. This thirst, he said, could be to various degrees, but first on the list is the thirst for salvation. Others may include a thirst for marriage, finance, and health.

He posited that the solution to their thirst is to drink from Jesus Himself, for He (Jesus) declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37b).

According to Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, “No matter how intense your thirst is, He (Jesus) is the only one that can satisfy your thirst”.

Earlier in the service, members of the congregation shared testimonies of breakthroughs and God’s deliverance. One such was Brother Wale, who thanked God for journey mercies on his trip to and from Ile-Ife. He said that though there was a near miss, God, in His infinite mercy, averted what would have been an accident.

On her part, Sister Bisi testified to God’s faithfulness in fast-tracking a project she thought was being delayed. The service also featured high praise and worship.