Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, Pastor Poju Oyemade, says the closure of churches does not affect the true worship of God.
Speaking on Instagram, the popular preacher said biblical figures did not need to gather in a building before miracles were worked.
Since the government shut down churches as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease in Nigeria, several pastors have spoken against the move.
More recent critics of the closure include Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy and Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith International.
Oyemade, however, said, “Closing the doors of a physical building does not in any way mean the closure of the anointing of the Spirit from working. The sick we see healed in the Book of Acts were healed on the streets, in people’s homes, in public places and not within the four walls of a church. Church buildings may be shut down, but true faith and the anointing of the Spirit has not stopped working.
“There is a difference between expression of emotions and the manifestation of the anointing to heal the sick. There is nowhere in Jesus’ ministry where the healing of the sick was preceded by a congregational service.
“In the Book of Acts, the sick were healed predominantly on the streets with no fanciful service going on. Closure of a church building does not stop the rivers of living water from flowing out of your belly.
“Charles Finney began a massive revival by people praying in their homes all keeping watches at the same time. They all chose the exact time to pray and they did in their homes until the Spirit broke out on the streets.
“They did not criticise any other church or ministry of weakness. Criticising others doesn’t attest to the fact that you have strength. They only stayed with God until something broke out on the streets.”
