Anthony Iwuoma
A Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based cleric, Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries, has cautioned Christians to be wary of magicians, masquerading as prophets behind the pulpits.
He frowned at such ministries that ask members to bring items like coconuts to pray with, saying it is not biblical.
“If I see where they asked anyone to bring a coconut in the Bible, I will drop my Bible,” Pastor Ibiyeomie, who was delivering a sermon in his church, said.
“Prophets are not elected by men. You know, you do elections for politicians.
“Prophets are separated by God from their mother’s womb. It says, “Before you were born, I ordained you as a prophet unto the nations.
“If it is a human election, many people will not think of me. They will say, ‘Forget that guy. How can that one too be a prophet?”
Speaking further, the clergyman said it was not in the place of prophets to tell the worshipper his problem.
“You don’t select them, they come by the election of God. Prophets are not handpicked. It is not like in a ministry where you will just say, ‘I am a prophet.’
“Not all these ones that will just stand up and claim to be prophets. “Somebody telling you about your problems is not a prophet.
“Listen. I don’t understand how you will understand today. Somebody telling you your problem is not a prophet.
“A prophet is when you tell him your problem, he speaks God’s counsels and it is turned. Not somebody that will say go and bring a candle, bring incense, bring water, bring coconut, bring an egg.
“That is a magician. You don’t need coconut in the New Testament. If you see coconut in the Bible, I will drop my Bible. If you see coconuts in this Bible, I will not preach again till tomorrow.
“Those are not prophets. Please don’t be deceived by this nonsense. Did you see the broom here? That is not a prophet.
“You mistake magicians for prophets. A prophet is the mouthpiece of God who speaks God’s counsels. They speak God’s counsel to cancel evil,” he said.
