Prominent preacher Apostle Michael Orokpo has encouraged Christians to actively demonstrate their faith instead of relying solely on words. In a recent sermon, he challenged believers to engage in spiritual exercises to strengthen their faith.
“The reason many Christians are so lukewarm is because they’ve not proven the world to themselves. It’s a test and see, that the Lord is good,” Apostle Orokpo declared. He emphasized that faith must be built through consistent practice rather than expecting divine intervention only in times of trouble.
Criticizing the habit of making bold declarations without a strong faith foundation, he remarked, “Somebody comes to you saying, ‘I’m dying,’ and you close your eyes like a religious man and declare, ‘Death, go back.’ Even you know that what you are doing is drama.” He stressed the importance of experiential faith.
Drawing an analogy between Christian spiritual development and athletic training, he noted that preparation is key. “When they want to run in the Olympics, they begin from little exercises, they start training and build up to that place. But it’s only a Christian that shows up and says, ‘God, you will not deny yourself, you will not put us to shame.’ He doesn’t need to prove Himself to anybody. He is God whether you believe or not. You are the one to prove your faith.”
Apostle Orokpo also cautioned against what he termed as spiritual blackmail, where believers demand that God proves Himself. “God, where are you? Prove yourself, prove yourself! He is God all by Himself. Nothing you do can put Him under pressure,” he stated, urging Christians to follow divine instructions and strengthen their faith through obedience.
Referencing the biblical story of David and Goliath, he explained that faith must be nurtured through smaller victories before tackling larger challenges. “David didn’t just come and say, ‘I will kill Goliath.’ There was a track record. I was in the wilderness. A bear came, took one of the sheep, I tore it down. A lion came, I tore it down. In the same manner, this uncircumcised Philistine will go down. You don’t begin with Goliath; you begin with the bear.”
Concluding his message, he called for action, urging Christians to become “proof producers” rather than mere talkers. “The people Jesus left were not talkers. That’s why they didn’t call it the preachings of the apostles. They called it the Acts of the Apostles. They were proof producers. Our Christianity is under attack, and witnesses must rise.”
