SPECIAL 80TH BIRTHDAY THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR BISHOP MIKE OKONKWO @ THE REDEEMED EVANGELLICAL MISSION (TREM) HEADQUARTERS LAGOS NIGERIA
MINISTERING: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE (GENERAL OVERSEER, RCCG)
TOPIC: SEEST THOU A MAN DILIGENT
DATE: 7TH SEPTEMBER 2025
BIBLE TEXT: PROVERBS 22:29
SONG
We give You all the Glory
We give You Honour
We give You all the Glory
We give You Honour
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God, we just Worship You.
The Beginning as well as the Ending; we bow before You.
The Unchangeable Changer, the I Am that I Am, the One who never grows Old – Thank You.
Thank You for Your Son – Thank You for eighty (80) Years of Life and Thank You for many more Years yet to come.
Thank You for his family, Thank You for his Ministry.
Father, accept our Worship in Jesus Name.
Today, we just come to say Thank You.
And we are Praying that in Your Own Miraculous way, whatever You have done for Your Son, You will do it for all those who wish him well.
In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.
Let Someone shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
Shake hands with one (1) or two (2) People and tell him/her: “You too will be Celebrated”.
You may Please be seated.
I have said this several times and I will say it again – I have always said that I have many children, many Brothers and many Colleagues but I have very few friends.
I remembered that the last time that I was here, I told you that I have ten (10) friends. But the number has decreased now because many of my friends has grown old and had gone to be with the Lord.
Now, I have less than five (5) friends.
But one of the five (5) friends is Bishop Mike Okonkwo – We have been friends for more than forty (40) years now.
- The Man we have come to rejoice with Today has a name.
All over the world, there is only one Bishop Mike Okonkwo.
When you say Bishop Mike all over the world, they know who you are talkimg of – You don’t have to finish the Story.
Just say Bishop Mike and everybody knows!
- He even has a Nickname.
We all know him as “The Lion of Africa”.
So all this new “BMO” something (Bishop Mike Okonkwo) – That one is Ai (DMC NOTES: Artificial Intelligence).
His Original Nickname is “The Lion of Africa”.
I don’t know if you have Noticed – Nobody falls asleep when Bishop Mike is Preaching.
How can you fall asleep when the Lion is roaring?
- He has a Presence.
There is no way Bishop Mike will come to any Gathering that you don’t know that he has come.
He needs Nobody to introduce him – When he comes in, everyone will know that Someone has come in.
I don’t know if you heard the Story of a Bishop – I have looked around and he is not here; so I can talk.
He came to one Church and the Preacher was Preaching; so he sent to the Preacher that I am around stop your Sermon and announced that I have come. The Preacher ignored him.
So he sent Message the second time and the Preacher ignored him.
He said okay, I will show this Preacher that a Bishop has come – So he called two (2) of the Ushers (Gave them Money I think) and said: Carry me.
So they carried him shoulder high and carried him into the Church.
Of course, everybody saw that Somebody was being carried in and they Paid attention.
Bishop Mike doesn’t need anybody to carry him – When he comes into a Gathering, you will know that Someone has come in.
- Bishop Mike knows what he wants and how to get it.
In case you don’t believe that, then I will tell you how we became friends.
I was sitting down in my very little office then at the Redemption Camp and then this Young Man came in – I have heard of him but I don’t think that we have met as at then.
And he says that my Name is Mike Okonkwo – Yes sir, Welcome.
And at such and such a date, I will be Consecrated as a Bishop.
So, what is my concern about that?
Do you know the next thing that he said – “And you will be Preaching that Day”.
I was wondering: What kind of Man is this? He didn’t even say that I have come to invite you or I have come to check if you will be free.
He just said that: You will be Preaching that Day.
And while I was still thinking how to Politely answer him; he began to give me the Address.
After a while, he said that I know that you used to work at the University of Lagos in Akoka Yaba, Lagos State Nigeria.
And I knew immediately that I have met my Match.
Because in The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); I just say: Hey, you do this, and you do that.
And here is Somebody who has come to me – Somebody that I have never met before and he is beginning to tell me what I must do on such and such date,
That’s how we became friends – Birds of the same feather flocks together.
And then on the Day of Consecration I went following the Direction that he gave and I arrived at the Church.
I said: Is this the Church? The total crowd there is less than the Choir.
Ha, ha Bishop!
But today, see what God has done!
So there is only one Bible Passage befitting this occasion – Proverbs 22:29:
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before Kings; he shall not stand before Mean Men.
We have Kings and we have Mean Men”.
And you are looking for a Man who is Nothing – He has to be very bold to call himself Bishop over that Little Flock.
And today, even the President Pays attention when the Bishop is talking.
I think that we can learn Lessons from this Great Man!
The Bible made it clear from this Passage that there is what we can call a Set of Kings.
You know that in Mathematics, when you find certain numbers that obeys the same Rule, you call them a Set.
For Example, every number that can be divided by 2, we call it a Set of Even Numbers.
The number that cannot be divisible by 2, we call it the Set of Odd Numbers.
The Bible says that there is a Set of Kings.
Ecclesiastes 8:4 says: Where the word of a King is, there is Power.
Kings roar like Lions – Lion is the King of animals.
But then, there is also a Set of Ordinary Men – They are usually called in the Bible as Multitude.
Matthew 8: 1-3 – The Lord was coming down from a Mountain and the Multitude followed Him.
Mark 5: 25-34 – The Lord was going to the House of Jairus and a Multitude was following Him.
Life is like a Pyramid – Big at the bottom and very, very narrow at the Top!
In 2 Kings 2: 1-5 – If you read that Story very well; you will discovered that as Elijah and Elisha was crossing from one Place to the other; you will always find Multitude.
And then, you have what we called “The Sons of Prophet” – They are a bit higher than the Multitudes.
And on the Final Journey, when Elijah was to be taken away; you will find the Sons of Prophet, you will find the Prophet and then you will find one boy who was going to become the boy with the Double Portion.
Life is like a Pyramid:
☆ Where are you now?
☆ Are you at the bottom of the Pyramid?
☆ Are you one of the Multitude?
☆ Are you at the Top?
It doesn’t matter where you are now – If you Studied the Life of Bishop Mike; you can reach the Top because there is always room at the Top!
I will give you an illustration because I can’t Preach a Sermon at the Celebration of my friend and allow you to remain as you are – Your Life must Change.
Because I asked you to tell your Neighbour that you too will be Celebrated.
And I just want to show you through the Life of my friend.
You know that there was one occasion that they were going to Sworn-In a President in Nigeria and I was in Abuja.
And suddenly, one big Man of God came in – Daddy, daddy; I have been given an Invitation Card to come to the Swearing-In Ceremony – He said look at the Invitation Card?
He said that you know what? The beauty of it is that on the Invitation Card is written “Letter A” – There are other Invitation Cards with Letters B, C and D; but my Invitation Card is Letter A.
I said Congratulations! You must be very important.
Just as we are settling down over his Excitement, another Great Man of God came in – Daddy, daddy; I have been invited to the Celebrations and look at my Invitation Card. On it was written Letter AA.
Ha, Congratulations!
And the Man whose Invitation Card was written Letter A suddenly became quiet.
And just as the Excitement was disappearing, another Man of God came in – Daddy, daddy; I have been invited, look at my Invitation Card. On it was written Letter AAA.
So the first two Man of God became gentle.
And after some time, one of them said: Daddy, where is your Invitation Card? What is written on it?
I smiled – I said I have no Invitation Card.
Ha! You have no Invitation Card? Do you mean that you are not invited?
I said that I don’t need an Invitation Card – They will be happy if I showed up.
I want to decree to Somebody here or those reading now on the Label of DMC that just like my friend: From this moment onwards, when you arrive People will know – Amen!
But if you are going to reach the Top, you must be Diligent – Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before Kings; he shall not stand before Mean Men.
Just like the Story that I have just told you – When it is time for Entertainment, they will make Announcements:
Those of you with Letter A, you go to such and such Place.
Letter AA, you will be entertained at such and such Place.
Letter AAA, you will be entertained at such and such Place.
And so, what of Somebody like me without an Invitation Card as you are going, you begin to branch to your own Section?
By the Grace of God; I am walking in with the President.
If you are walking with the President, they don’t check your Invitation Card.
Let me decree one more Time: You will reach the Top – Amen!
But you have to be Diligent.
Hebrews 11:6 says: God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
And many of us Young ones, we think that Success will just come and drop on your Lap without any efforts.
It doesn’t work that way – You have to be Diligent.
Diligent in how many ways? In all ways.
- You must be Diligent in Hearing.
When you hear diligently, the Bible does not call it hearing but Hearkening.
Exodus 15:26 says that: If you will hearken diligently to the Voice of the Lord your God.
Then it tells you what will happen.
God says that it is Possible for you to live the rest of your Life without Sickness.
He said that I will be the Lord that will heal you.
You don’t have to be sick to leave the world – You can live the rest of your Life Completely Whole.
I am decreeing in the Name that is above every other name, even when you are over 80 years old; you will still be Healthy – Amen.
And when you read Deuteronomy 28: 1-13 – Because I hear a lot of us loving to quote:
☆ I shall be the Head and not the Tail.
☆ I shall be Above Only and will never be beneath.
Read Verse 1 – You must first of all hearken to the Voice of the Lord Your God.
Let me give you an illustration of what is called Hearkening.
Because many of us come to Church – As the Word is coming in by the Right, it is going out by the Left. We don’t live a Life that we are Hearkening.
When I was in Ilesha Grammar School in the 1950’s; we have a Geography Teacher – Wonderful Man.
He will teach us Geography and we take Notes. But the day before Examination, he will call all of us together for Revision.
And when we get there, he will say: Ask any Question.
And then we ask Question such as: What is the difference between Sahara Desert and Kalahari Desert (DMC NOTES: Kalahari Desert is located in Southern Africa covering much of Botswana, Namibia and Northern Cape Province of South Africa). And then he will explain in details.
Tomorrow, that will be Question Number 1.
Another Person will ask another Question: What is the difference between Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. And he will explain in details.
Tomorrow, that will be Number 2 Question.
So, when we come to his Class, we listen but the day before the Examination when he is asking us to ask Questions and he will answer; we Hearken.
Everything that he says a day before will come out.
Don’t just come to the Church and hear; come and Hearken diligently!
- You must serve God diligently.
For Example 2 Kings 3: 11-12 tells us about Elisha.
The Bible says that this boy pours water into the hands of Elijah.
He didn’t just Prepare the food, he didn’t just Set the table and then come to the Master and say that the table is Set sir.
No, He will say: Sir, will you Please wash your hands as I am pouring water.
How are you serving God?
Because if you want to become as Great as my friend here; you must serve God diligently.
If there is anything those of you who has been with him for some times will know – He has served God diligently.
And I know because we are friends.
I was the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) before him – He was Number 4 while I was No 2.
All the days that he was the President of PFN, I cannot remember any occasion that he took Money from the Pocket of PFN to do anything.
Nowadays, before you gets some People to sing in the Choir, you must Pay them.
You want an Instrumentalist to come here in your Church, you will sit down and discuss how much you want to Pay.
In our own days, it wasn’t like that – We consider it as a Joy to even be given an opportunity to serve.
In those days when we want to build, the Carpenters and Builders in the Church; they offer their Services for free.
Today, if you say that you need something and a Brother say that I will do the work cheaply.
Find out from Unbelievers – What he is saying that he is making Cheap is already Doubled.
You want to reach the Top? You must serve God diligently!
- You must learn to Pray diligently.
I was Watching when our Brethren was leading us to Pray in the Spirit – On this Particular occasion, I didn’t close my eyes because I normally do close my eyes when Praying.
So you say: Why didn’t you close your eyes when he was leading us to Pray in the Spirit?
Because I was Watching.
Halfway through his Prayer; some People are already looking at their Watches; Oga we want to cut the cake now, make this thing simple.
And the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – You are to Pray without ceasing.
The Bible says in John 16:24; you are to ask until your Joy be Full.
The Bible tells us that on more than one occasion that when the Apostles Prayed, the Place where they were Gathered together shook.
And some of you think that can only happen in the Olden Days – No!
I can give you at least two (2) instances when I was with some People and we Prayed and the Ground Shook.
When was the last time that you had such an Experience?
1979; myself, my father-in-the-Lord and four (4) others we went to America in Tulsa for a Kenneth Hagin Camp Meeting.
And on that occasion, my father-in-the-Lord broke the News that he will soon be going Home and that I will be Succeeding him.
Oh, it was really a Big News!
And so, all of us began to Pray – When I heard that and heard what he said; I mean this Man want to turn my world upside down. I fell at the door and all others were Praying in the Spirit.
Very soon we heard a knock on the door – And since I was the closest to the door: I got up, open the door and the Engineer who stood by the door said, what kind of Instrument are you Playing?
I said that we are not Playing any Instrument but Praying.
He said No, and he Practically pushed me out of the way, entered the room and begin to look for the Instrument making the Noise.
When he saw nothing and he got to the door on his way out; he said: What do you People said you are doing?
I said that we are Praying.
And then I asked him why? He said because the Hotel is shaking and we have traced the Source of the Vibration to this room.
They didn’t believed that six (6) People Prayed and shake an Hotel.
As soon as their last Guest left, they shut down the Hotel – They dug round the Hotel to check the Foundation and they found nothing wrong.
But the Hotel shook.
And so, they shut down the Hotel for years – The name of the Hotel is Mayo Hotel in Tulsa USA. You can check.
Several years later (Decades); I went to Tulsa with my children who were not born then and then I said that let me go and show you the Hotel thar we Prayed and the Ground shook.
And the Hotel was still there – Boarded Off.
I was moved by compassion – And so I went near the Hotel, touch the wall and I said: Lord, let them re-open this Place.
Thank God, six (6) Months later, they re-opened the Place.
I am not saying that to boast – I am saying that to tell you that after the Celebration of the Birthday of my friend; you too can Pray and Shake at least your Room.
- You must be Diligent in Worship.
David said in Psalm 34:1 – He said that I will bless the Lord at all times – His Praise shall continually be in my mouth,
As a result of that, the Lord Almighty turn to him and said: There will always be Someone from your Tribe on the Throne.
One of us here showed us about the Legacies of Bishop Mike.
Legacy is a Blessing that endures or a Blessing that will Outlived the Blessed,
My friend is not going anywhere yet:
When they said that he will be 90; I heard him say Amen and I said Amen with him.
When they said that he will live to be 100; I heard him say Amen and I said Amen with him.
And then Somebody said that if the Lord tarries, when you are 120 we will come back here and Celebrate – He looked at me and I looked at him.
And do you know the reason why we are looking at each other?
We are looking at each other because he had heard me say something about that before when I was 70.
And some People were Praying that you will live to be 80 – I said Amen; you will live to be 90 – I said Amen; you will live to be 100 – I didn’t answer them.
And then Somebody said that you will live to be 120 – “I said na lie”,
I said what will be my offence that God will ask me to stay in this wretched world for all of these extra Years?
120 years? When your Stomach will no longer be able to handle Pounded Yam?
Don’t worry – My friend will live long,
But even if the Lord was to Call him Home today; he already has a Legacy – There is no way that they can write the History of Christianity in Nigeria and not write Bishop Mike.
And the only way that you can have that kind of Legacy is to Worship God diligently.
Those of you who might not know the History of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) – The Number One thing that Caterpaulted TREM to Public Attention was their Choir.
Because there was a time that People came just to hear the Choir.
And when they come to hear the Choir and the Lion roars, they can’t go away anymore.
Make up your Mind that you will Worship God diligently!
Some of us we come to Church now and let the Choir do the Singing.
What about you and I?
I don’t have their kind of Beautiful Voices.
God is not asking you to be Melodious – He said: Clap your hands all ye People; Shout to the Lord with a loud Voice of Triumph (DMC NOTES: Psalm 47:1).
God is not interested in your Melody but interested in your Noise!
- You must be Diligent in Holiness.
It doesn’t matter what anybody may say: Our God is Holy.
The Angels were crying: Holy, Holy, Holy; Lord God Almighty (DMC NOTES: Revelation 4:8).
And the Bible says in Hebrews 1:9 – Because you love Righteousness and you hate Iniquities; therefore God, even thy God hath Anointed you with the Oil of Gladness above thy Fellow.
You want to reach the Top; stay away from sin – Sin is a Killer and sin will not allow you to reach the Top!
And you need to be Holy for God to answer your Prayers.
The Word of God made it abundantly clear – The hand of the Lord is not shortened that He cannot save, neither is His ears heavy that He cannot hear.
He said but your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear (DMC NOTES: Isaiah 59: 1-2).
If He can’t hear your Prayers, how will He answer?
Sin is an Insulator.
An Ordinary wire full of current – Live wire they call it; you touch it, you won’t be around to give the Testimony.
But you wrapped a Piece of rubber round it, a Child can Play with it.
Because no amount of current flowing in that wire; the Insulator won’t let the Power Pass through.
You have been crying to God – Praying, Fasting and doing everything; yet no result. Remove the Insulator.
I am Trusting God that before this time Next Year, everyone of us here or reading now on the Label of DMC will have a Testimony – Amen!
ALTAR CALL
Which is why I am begging – If there is anybody here and you know that you have not been washed in the Blood of the Lamp.
You know – Yes you come to Church, Yes you Clap, Yes you Shout; bit you are still living a Life of a Sinner.
Hey, cease this opportunity – Come and Surrender your Life to Jesus Christ. Let me join my Prayers with yours.
Make this Day that we are Celebrating the Bishop Mike’s 80th Birthday your own “Spiritual Birthday” – A Day that you will never forget in your Life.
I am going to count from one (1) to seven (7) – If you want to give your Life to Jesus Christ, come and Stand before the Altar here and let us Pray for your Salvation.
I am counting now!
Those of you on the way and those that are infront now, Pray: Lord, have Mercy on me. I don’t want to have anything to do with the devil anymore.
Save my Soul, make me one of Your Children and become my Lord and Saviour.
And the rest of us, let us Stretch our hands towards these our New Brothers/Sisters and intercede for them.
That the God who saved the Soul of Bishop Mike will save the Soul of these People.
Thank You Father.
In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.
PRAYER FOR SALVATION
My Father and my God, I want to Thank You for Your Words and I want to Thank You for these People who has Hearkened to Your Words and they have come forward to Surrender their lives to You.
Please receive them in Jesus Name, have on them, save their Souls, let Your Blood wash away their sins, and let them become Members of the Family of God.
And from today onwards, give them the Grace to do Your Will.
Don’t let them backslide and let them serve You Forever.
And from now on, anytime they call on You, answer them by Fire.
In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!
SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PRAYERS FOR BISHOP MIKE OKONKWO AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
If you don’t mind, Please come forward – Bishop Mike, his wife and Children.
There is something called “The Law of Harvest” – It says that whatever you sow; that is what you will reap.
I want everybody to Stand if you can and Stretch forth your hands to these family and wish them whatever you wish yourself.
Whatever you wish them now according to “The Law of Harvest” is what you are going to get.
☆ So, if you want it to be well with you; Pray that it will be well with them.
☆ If you want to be Healthy and Strong for the rest of your Life; Pray that they will be Healthy and Strong for the rest of their lives.
☆ if you want to know Joy continually for the rest of your Life; wish them Joy continually for the rest of their lives.
Go ahead and Pray for them from the bottom of your Heart.
Thank You Father.
In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PRAYERS
My Father and my God, I want to bless Your Holy Name.
I want to Thank You for what You have done for Your son.
I want to Thank You for what You have done for his family.
I want to Thank You for what You have done in the Ministry You Committed into his care.
Father, Please accept my Thanks in Jesus Name.
My Lord and my Saviour, I Pray that You will lay Your Mighty Hands on Your son; lay Your Mighty Hands on the wife and lay Your Mighty Hands on the Children.
And from this moment onwards, let it be well with them – Support them and Stand by them for the rest of their lives.
Don’t let then ever know Sorrow.
Take Sickness far away from them.
Take Demons far away from them.
Pour Fresh Oil on Your son.
Anoint him afresh for Your Service.
Make him Whole and make him Stronger than before.
Let his Evening be far, far more Glorious than his Morning.
Every desires of his Heart, grant unto him.
Uphold him till the very End.
Draw him Closer to Yourself.
Let this Day mark a Brand New Beginning for him:
A New Beginning of Joy, of Success, of Progress and of Divine Promotion.
Let it be well with him Lord.
Let it be well with his family.
And let them serve You till the very End.
And I Pray that in Your Kingdom, none of us will be found missing.
In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.
Many Happy Returns sir!!!
Now I am about to Pray for all of us.
After I have Prayed for you, then you have the opportunity to Pray for yourself.
CLOSING PRAYER
My Father and my God, I Thank You for this Day.
I know that You know all Things
I am rejoicing today because I have the opportunity for me to be around when my friend is 80 years Old.
I Pray Lord God Almighty with all those who are rejoicing with me and rejoicing with my friend – That they too will be Celebrated.
I Pray that they too will know Joy.
I Pray that they too will never know Sorrow again.
I Pray that each and everyone of us will be Greater than we have ever be.
I Pray that You will give us the Grace to be very, very diligent from now on.
I Pray that very soon my Father and my God, we will be in the Set of Kings.
And from now on, when they are talking about all others, we will not be in that Category.
And Please Lord, I am going to ask these Your Children to ask You for a Special Gift – Something to mark this Birthday Celebrations; and a Miracle so big that they won’t forget.
As they ask You, Father give it to them.
Let everybody leave here with a Major Testimony in Jesus Name.
Thank You my Father and my God.
For in Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.
SPECIAL PRAYER POINT
Now for just about 5 Minutes, go ahead and ask God for something Special, something Remarkable and something that will be a kind of Birthday Gift from God for you.
Go ahead and talk to the Lord!!!
Thank you so much for staying all through to read.
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