“No advertisement in the dark world,” RCCG pastor Odutola says‎‎

‎• RCCG regional pastor Bola Odutola says the spiritual world works like the wild, where souls are grabbed in split seconds.
‎
‎• He told worshippers that an “evil time” can fall suddenly on anyone, and that soberness is a key spiritual parameter.
‎
‎• His advice: pray for yourself, because no one else’s prayers can replace your own.
‎
‎There is “no advertisement in the dark world,” according to Pastor Bola Odutola, Regional Pastor of Region 68 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), who warned believers that spiritual attacks come without notice and move in split seconds. Odutola delivered the message on Sunday at Solidrock Parish, Ojodu, Lagos State, according to sermon notes obtained by Confiance News.
‎
‎Forces of darkness give no warning
‎
‎Anchoring his message on 1 Peter 5:8, the pastor described soberness as a key spiritual parameter for every believer. He then compared the spiritual realm to the wild, where, in his words, the only job is to grab souls.
‎
‎Confiance News learned that he stressed one point repeatedly: nothing in that realm is announced, and everything happens in split seconds. To support this, he turned to Ecclesiastes 9:12, which speaks of an “evil time” that falls suddenly on people.
‎
‎He then offered an illustration that, by the notes sighted by Confiance News, captured the room’s attention. According to the pastor, a crocodile can snatch a cat from the water in about one over 120 of a second. However, he explained, the crocodile succeeds because water is its natural habitat. By the same logic, he suggested, believers who wander unprepared into the enemy’s territory become easy prey.
‎
‎The word of God outruns light
‎
‎Odutola also posed a question to worshippers: what is the fastest thing in life? Light, he answered. Yet he added that the word of God is faster still.
‎
‎Furthermore, he said the mere mention of the name of Jesus Christ does wonders, but only when it comes “from an appropriate heart.” Confiance News gathered that he leaned on Psalm 66:18 to underline that qualifier, which he described as key.
‎
‎In addition, he cited 1 Samuel 1:19 (MSG) and recalled how Hannah’s cry for a child triggered what God had already begun to do.
‎
‎zWickedness in high places*
‎
‎Moving to Ephesians 6:10-12, the pastor urged believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. He then declared that spiritual wickedness sits in high places, not low ones.
‎
‎To show how high, Odutola referred to Daniel 10:12 (MSG). He noted that the forces involved managed to delay and waylay an angel for three weeks. Consequently, he asked, if an angel can be waylaid, how much more an ordinary believer?
‎
‎He closed this section with a call not to be conformed to this world.
‎
‎Why personal prayer matters
‎
‎Perhaps the most striking part of the message, as confirmed by Confiance News, was his insistence on personal prayer. Odutola told worshippers that they must pray for themselves, because the prayers of others on their behalf are inferior to the ones they pray personally.
‎
‎He then led the congregation through prayer points drawn from Ephesians 6:14-16 and Psalm 71:1-4, with particular attention to verse 2, which asks God to cause the believer to escape.
‎
‎Invoking the name Jesus Christ, the pastor guided worshippers in prayer. Among the prayer points sighted by Confiance News were:
‎
‎- Oh Lord, cause me to escape. May I always escape from evil.
‎
‎- El-Roi, I must not be a victim in the journey of life.
‎
‎- My journey must not be extinguished.
‎
‎- Lord, do not allow satanic forces to take me out before my time.
‎
‎- I will not die before my time. My harvest will not be taken away from me.
‎
‎- Let notable miracles be in my custody.
‎
‎- The shoes of sorrow will not be lowered in front of our house.
‎
‎- My certificate of occupancy will not be revoked.
‎
‎- Let Satan help me without knowing it. I will escape every pit, plot and ambush.
‎
‎What it means for worshippers
‎
‎In summary, Odutola’s message to the congregation was clear. Stay sober, stay watchful and pray personally, because the “evil time” does not send notice before it arrives.
‎