FOUNDER of Peace House, Gboko, Benue State, Bro Gbile Akanni, has cautioned believers against following seemingly popular preachers who only preach what people want to hear and not the truth of the Bible.
The popular preacher gave this warning in a message posted on the YouTube Channel of Ben Gyuka, entitled “Personal Commitment to the Faithful Word of God.
Akanni, who has been in ministry for over 40 years expressed concern over the growing trend of ministers who abandoned the core teachings of Christ in pursuit of quick success, while also rebuking pastors who prioritise prosperity teachings over preaching genuine salvation.
Reflecting on his early ministry days, Akanni noted how some pastors who once joined him in evangelism drifted away, in search of immediate success.
“There are people who used to go with me to villages to preach, but because they wanted to make it quick when the winds came, they were blown away,” he lamented.
Responding to criticism that his approach is outdated, Pastor Akanni said, “There is no old way, it is the way. The way is never old nor outdated or edited or improved”.
He emphasised that Jesus did not offer multiple paths to God, saying, “Jesus said I am the way, not away. There is no other way by which you will serve God acceptably except through the way of Jesus.”
Akanni also warned the congregation against being swayed by prominent but misguided teachings, stressing the importance of adhering strictly to God’s truth. “I have refused to have respect for anyone, no matter how high they are, if they contradict the truth,” he declared.
He criticised pastors who focus solely on prosperity without addressing sin, labeling them as “soothsayers” who tell people what they want to hear, rather than leading them to repentance. “The quarrel between God and man is not prosperity, it is sin,” he stated, underscoring that preaching prosperity is pointless if sin is not confronted.
He then urged the church to be vigilant against false prophets, often popular but misleading. He reminded the congregation that popularity does not guarantee a pastor’s place in heaven. Akanni pleaded with his listeners to remain committed to the true word of God and not be deceived by teachings that stray from the path of salvation.
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