"Praise is Your Power": Pastor Adeboye Reveals Past Persecution as 15 RCCG Churches Were Demolished in Abuja

In a powerful sermon that blended personal testimony with a revelation of past struggles, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), disclosed that a former political leader once orchestrated the demolition of 15 RCCG churches in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, within a single fortnight. He presented this historical challenge as a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and the unstoppable power of praise.

Speaking at a recent Holy Ghost meeting in Abuja, Adeboye recounted how, "some years ago," a former minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ordered the destruction of the church buildings. The cleric noted that due to the RCCG's vast network of parishes across the city, the widespread demolitions went largely unnoticed by the public at the time.

"Despite the attempt to hinder God's work, look at where we are today," Adeboye declared, pointing to the massive crowd gathered for the service. He framed the past persecution as a contrast to the church's current thriving presence in the nation's capital, using it as a foundation for his core message: praise is a spiritual weapon that guarantees divine intervention and breakthrough.

The Sermon's Core: From Historical Hardship to Present Praise

Adeboye's recounting of the church demolitions was not the sermon's endpoint but its launching pad. He pivoted sharply from this tale of external opposition to a call for internal spiritual engagement. The pastor emphasized that traditional methods like altar calls are insufficient without the foundational act of genuine worship.

"Only real worship can bring about God's intervention in a believer's life," he stated, urging the congregation to move beyond passive observance. He instructed the thousands in attendance to begin singing songs of praise individually and spontaneously, without waiting for a choir or leader. The result, he said, would be a unified "joyful noise" capable of defeating spiritual enemies and ending periods of stagnation.

A Personal Testimony and a Universal Promise

To illustrate his point, Pastor Adeboye shared a personal anecdote from his own ministry. He described a period when he felt limited to "addition" in his work and sought God for "multiplication."

"The Lord told me, 'Spend the next three days praising Me. Don't ask for anything; just thank Me for all I have done,'" Adeboye recalled. He testified that following this instruction led to a transformative shift in the scope and impact of his ministry, framing praise as the direct catalyst for exponential growth. He affire.ed that, for believers facing any form of opposition or delay, fervent praise is the key to unlocking divine intervention and ushering in a new season of progress.