The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has identified pride and self-sufficiency as one of the greatest challenges confronting ministers of God.
Adeboye made the remark during a recent sermon in which he urged ministers to remain humble and totally dependent on God, warning that education, experience, or spiritual gifts must never replace reliance on divine guidance.
Praying openly, the revered cleric said, “Father, don’t grant me independence because I want to remain 100 percent connected to You,” stressing that true effectiveness in ministry flows from constant dependence on God.
According to him, many ministers fall into error when they begin to believe they already know everything. He noted that academic achievements, including advanced degrees in theology, only mark the beginning of learning, not its conclusion.
Adeboye explained that after acquiring all possible book knowledge, a minister should then develop a deeper hunger to learn directly from God.He further taught that spiritual gifts operate in degrees and require humility to function effectively. Using prophecy and the word of knowledge as examples, he cautioned against shallow displays that lack spiritual depth, noting that genuine manifestations of God’s power go beyond obvious or common experiences.
To illustrate his point, Adeboye remarked that simply calling out common conditions such as headaches does not necessarily constitute a miracle, emphasising that ministers must be sensitive to God’s leading rather than rely on predictable actions.
The RCCG leader reminded ministers that knowledge alone does not equate to spiritual authority or effectiveness. He stressed that humility, a teachable spirit, and continual learning are essential for sustained impact in ministry.
He concluded by warning that assuming one has already arrived spiritually limits the work of the Holy Spirit and hinders growth, urging ministers to continually submit themselves to God for instruction and direction.
