According to Punch, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), issued a stern warning to ministers about the dangers of sexual immorality, emphasizing that no level of anointing can safeguard against such temptation. His cautionary remarks were delivered during the Ministers & Workers Conference of RCCG Americas 1, which encompasses North, Central, and the Caribbean regions, under the theme “The Glory Ahead.”
Addressing the congregation, Adeboye stressed the importance of vigilance, regardless of one's spiritual standing or age. “Somebody says, at your age, why are you still running? I run faster than before because the closer you get to the finishing point, the more careful you must be,” he said, highlighting his own cautious approach to avoid sexual temptation.
Adeboye used the biblical example of Samson, a judge of Israel, who despite his great strength and anointing, succumbed to sexual immorality. “Does anointing turn your body to stone? Samson was anointed. Single-handedly, he killed a thousand soldiers. You can say, ‘Is anybody still interested in an 82-year-old man?’ She is not interested in you but interested in putting an end to all the great works God has done through you," Adeboye noted, warning that spiritual strength alone is not enough to combat such challenges.
The cleric shared practical advice for both men and women, urging them to flee from situations that could lead to sin. “You see that woman smiling at you everywhere you go, she is there smiling, and she is not your wife, run,” he advised men. Similarly, he cautioned young women against being swayed by flattering words, saying, “By the time he finishes with you, you won’t even know the difference between sunshine and sunset.”
Adeboye also addressed the misconceptions surrounding grace and its role in resisting temptation. He emphasized that the Bible calls for active avoidance of youthful lust, not reliance on grace alone. “The Bible says, flee youthful lust. It did not ask you to say grace would be sufficient. There is no grace for what God says you should run from. Maybe grace to run,” he explained.