We often hear people disclosing what God told them to do or explaining that they took certain decisions under specific instructions from God. Specifically, it has become customary in Nigeria to hear pastors, prophets and prophetesses reveal what God told them about certain events and their outcomes.
Obviously, getting instructions from God about the future, the courses to read at the university, businesses to go into, our financial challenges, health problems and on how to handle the many decisions we face daily in life will make our lives a lot easier.
This is why many people flock to churches where they believe the men and women of God hear directly from God. It is also the reason many ministers of the Gospel are going to any length, including diabolism to be able to tell people the will of “God” for their lives and what the future holds for them. In fact, a lot of people will give up many things in exchange to hear from God.
However, the fundamental questions are: is it possible to hear from God; can everyone hear from God or is hearing from God a special privilege granted to some few individuals; are there states and special preparations one must undergo to be able to hear from God and above all, what exactly does it mean to hear from God?
Due to the sheer number of people passionately interested in answers to these questions and the usual controversies these answers normally generate, Angel Network News have decided to meet and interview some well-known personalities who are renowned for their abilities to hear from God. Persons like Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Fr. Ebube Monso, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, Pastor Adeboye and many others have been approached to share their perspectives with our audience on this very important issue. We shall be presenting the outcome of these interviews in seasons. In this first publication, the views of Prof. Paul Ogugua, one of the most renowned churchmen and spiritualists at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra state is presented.
Prof. Paul Ogugua on How to Hear from God
The first question Angel Network News addressed to Prof. Ogugua is on whether it is possible to hear from God: does God speak to people or the claim to hearing from God is just the figment of people’s imagination? Responding to this question, Prof., observes that the clearest and most fundamental thing about God is that He is a God that speaks.
God Speaking in this context as Ogugua explains is synonymous to a God’s existence. He says “you can’t believe that God exists and doubt that He speaks because speaking is an act of existence: to exist is to speak or to communicate.”
Continuing, the erudite scholar drew a line of interconnection between love and communication. According to him, since God is love and we are created in the image of God, ipso facto, God is constantly reaching out and trying to communicate to us the subjects of His love. It is on this premise that relationship with God can be established. Prof. Ogugua claims that any child of God who doesn’t hear from God cannot live a happy and fulfilled life because our happiness and fulfillment comes from doing the will of God which we cannot know unless we are able to hear from God.
The Academic Don in this context took a swipe on those he accused of being opposed to private revelation. The claim he was attacking is this: that God doesn’t speak to individuals. He speaks to the Church through the major media of revelations. The responsibility of the Church is to interpret these public revelations in such a way that individuals can apply them to their lives. Contrary to this erroneous assumption, Ogugua while not discounting the importance of public revelation, maintained that God is a personal God who relates to His children on an individual and personal basis.
Summarizing his position on this first question, Prof. Ogugua was adamant that the distinguishing mark that one is a child of God is the ability to hear from God personally. He underlined that any child of God should hear clearly and distinctly from God. The person should be able to take direct instructions from God on issues about the person’s education, job, marital life, family, health etc. God should be consulted on these issues and specific instructions taking from Him.
In fact it is Prof’s claim that a child of God who could not hear from God has a serious problem and should not hesitate to look for help.
…TO BE CONTINUED.
JOIN US TOMORROW FOR THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW WITH PROF. OGUGUA.
