Pastor W.F Kumuyi Speaks on what he expects the Church to be doing when God calls him home

Pastor W.F Kumuyi Speaks on what he expects the Church to be doing when God calls him home

Pastor W.F Kumuyi is a well known preacher in and outside the shores of Nigeria. Within the circle of believers in Christ and outside the Christian fold,people know him to be a preacher and teacher of the Biblical doctrine of holiness.

He is advancing in age and working harder than he used to do.He seemed to be racing against time, doing all he could to get as many people saved,made holy,ready and prepared to meet the Lord.

People have accused him as being “exclusive”,but in his reply,he denies that but that his busy schedule does not allow him to be diverted from his assignment.

He added that :

“Instead of saying ” exclusive”,l say I’m committed to what God wants me to do and don’t have much time left again.What is peculiar to us is that we are very strong on what the Bible teaches.Holiness for one”.

His preaching and teaching on holiness dates way back to several years.

This is what he said:

” I have been labeled ‘holiness preacher’.l do not know whether this is deliberate or accidental,but l remember that in 1972,l was invited to give a message on holiness.Since then,churches and fellowship groups have been inviting me to give messages,many times,on holiness.”

He is a preacher who has an uncontrollable thirst for the God kind of holiness and over the years,he had set that goal for himself to attain it and had pursued it with all the zeal he can muster.

Amongst the good things people parade in ministry and are joyful about–fame,success,effectiveness,miracles,signs and wonders,spiritual gift and talents and money, there is no greater blessing he cherishes above all things than holiness of heart and life.

On why he doesn’t emphasize on wealth in his preaching,he once said:

“Though God blesses His people and makes them rich,it does not necessarily mean that material wealth is an indication of spiritual well being.King Solomon was highly enriched by God but his later life was displeasing to Him.”

Overemphasizing only on pursuit and acquisition of riches and wealth in our preaching without emphasises on righteousness and Holiness along with it can lead to some negative effect.

According to Kumuyi:

“Some of the negative effects of wealth are self satisfaction,false sense of security, self indulgence,prayerlessness, spiritual lethargy,lack of contentment,pride,self exaltation,over confidence,crave for recognition,boasting and placing material possession above spiritual values”.

He expresses his thoughts,on the subject of holiness,in the following words:

“I thank God for all the outstanding miracles and healing that have taken place in my ministry,but all who know me,know that holiness is one thing l extol above all things.And right now,the greatest and most important thing to me is to have a life that is free from sin.l have decided to live a life that is so spotlessly clean that if you take a knife and cut me open,you will not see any dirt or secret thing”.

Before he actually began to preach,he had experienced the new birth on the 6th of April,1964 and had had his heart sanctified or made holy on the 17th day of November in 1965.

He speaks of how he was sanctified or how his heart was made holy in these words:

“I remember when l was sanctified on November 17,1965 at about 6.30 p.m.l was alone in my room reading my Bible.And then l locked the door and began to pray.l told God that if there was anybody in the world that wanted to be sanctified even if nobody else wanted the experience,it was me.Normally at that time l should have been in the university cafetaria taking my supper.But with tears streaming down my cheeks as l knelt down by my bedside,l forgot all about food…And as l started praying,l was thorougly sanctified”.

This experience actually gave a bite to his christian life.

Kumuyi identifies about 4 reasons why he strives to live holily and unblameably;and also emphasises and makes it the core of his messages.

(1)Holiness of heart and life is what keeps one’s relationship with the Lord,in tact.

While broaching this subject, using his own experiences,he has this to say:

“As a preacher of the gospel,l always examine my relationship with the Lord in order to ascertain whether my life is always acceptable before Him.It is unwise to wait for the time of rapture in order to check up if your christian life meets God’s standard of holiness and righteousness…That is why l do not live or preach like other preachers.”

He added by saying:

“Personally l love preaching…But l reject preaching…..when l see planners of such programmes merely wanted to whip up pride from me and lead me back into a life that is effective but unsanctified.l am always watching my life because it is very easy to be effective to be able to lead people to the Lord and yet be out of tune with God.l want to find out what my relationship with the Lord is at every time.l want to find out my relationship with my wife and children.l want to know what is my attitude towards the Lord.”

(2)Holiness of heart and life is what qualifies one for a God approved ministry:

Kumuyi speaks thus:

“A pure life has great power and influence to make others want to hear the gospel and get saved”.

He added:

“And if there is any minister,evangelist,pastor or teacher that feels that his calling is not to call people unto holiness,challenge them to lead the life above reproach,a life so clean and righteous,pure and holy,such has no right preaching”.

(3)It is because of the glory,honour and respect it attracts from God.

Hear him:

“Holiness is of greater value to God and to the family than the beauty of face and figure…The most glorious life anyone can live on earth is the sanctified life”.

(4)Holiness of heart and life is the only requirement for seeing the Lord on the final day.

Kumuyi says:

“…The people who get to heaven are not those who preach,but those that are holy”

He emphasised this point this way:

“…Know that profession alone cannot take you to heaven.lt is decidedly written in the word of God that without holiness no man shall see the Lord”.

It is this understanding he has about holiness that makes him act or behave and preaches the way he does.

He speaks thus:

“Since l got born again in 1964,there is one thing l have given priority to,it is to make heaven.l have left many things behind;l have made a lot of sacrifices and have laboured for the Lord.l don’t want to miss heaven.l do not want to be cast away after spending years loving and serving the Lord.l have come a long way and if there is anybody who wants to make heaven by all means,l am the person.”

He also added thus:

“Everywhere l go,people ask are you Brother Kumuyi?But suppose they know my name all over the place and then when they get to heaven they discover that that l am nowhere to be found.That is why l do not live or preach like other preachers.People may say that l am too strait laced and other preachers may wonder why l bother myself with preaching holiness;all that will not move me to change”.

Certainly,one day this man of God will leave the earth when he is done to go and receive his reward from the Lord.He will be 80 years of age very soon.

When asked by a journalist some years back, what he expects the Deeper Life Church to be doing when he is called home before the rapture.

Kumuyi reply thus:

“I expect the organization to continue evangelising and emphasising holiness.These two things will be my desire for the church to continue emphasising.”

Note:

*Evangelism is God given and God ordained ministry for every believer.Jesus commands and God requires every believer to be a compassionate and fruitful soul winner, sharing the good news of salvation,bringing others to Christ.”

(Check Matthew 28:19,Mark 16:15.)

*Sanctification or holiness of heart and life is a definite act of God’s grace, subsequent to the New Birth,by which the heart is purified and made holy.

It cannot be attained progressively by works,struggle or suppression,but it is obtained by faith in sanctifying blood of Jesus Christ.

Holiness of life and purity of heart are central to Christian living.”

(Check Luke 1:74-75,John17:15-17,1st Thessalonians 4:3,7,8;1st Thessalonians 5:22:24;Ephesians5:25-27;Hebrews2:11;Hebrews10:10,14;Hebrews13:11,12;Titus2:11-14;1stJohn1:7;Hebrews12:14;1st Peter1:14-16).

Thanks for reading this piece.