By Afolabi Olajuwon
The calendar ushered in April 2025 with high hopes and spiritual anticipation for the faithful gathered at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse, Abuja. On Sunday, April 6, the congregation, drawn by the compelling invitation of the church’s Month of April theme, came prepared to encounter the divine through the inspired sermon of Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu.
His powerful exposition, “The Foolishness of the Gospel, Showing Forth the Power of God’s Faith,” illuminated the transformation from condemnation to conquest anchored at the cross.
SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION:
Rev. Babatunde Idowu’s sermon beautifully interwove three significant biblical passages: Colossians 2:13-15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-28, and Isaiah 53:1-6, each revealing layers of Christ’s redemptive work. At its core, the message challenged believers to view the cross not as a symbol of defeat, but as a transformative force demonstrating God’s unparalleled wisdom and grace.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, we read: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Through this, Rev. Babatunde Idowu articulated the dichotomy between worldly perception and divine reality. While the world may see the cross as folly, believers perceive it as the wellspring of divine power and the essence of salvation.
A VICTORIOUS EXCHANGE:
The narrative from Colossians 2:13-15 was brought to life as Rev. Babatunde Idowu described how God’s power cancelled the legal charges against humanity due to sin. “When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ,” echoes the assurance of liberation from spiritual bondage. The act of nailing these charges to the cross symbolizes a public victory over the forces of darkness, a vivid demonstration of Jesus’ triumph.
Further grounding the sermon, Isaiah 53:1-6 vividly portrayed the suffering servant Christ, whose wounds bring us healing. The prophetic nature of this passage reminded the congregation that the cross, once a tool of disgrace, is now the channel through which humanity finds healing and peace.
WHY THE CROSS?:
The cross stands at the heart of God’s plan for redemption. Rev. Babatunde Idowu referenced Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes,” thereby affirming the transforming potential of the Gospel to break the chains of sin and restore life.
By contrasting human and divine wisdom, Rev. Babatunde Idowu emphasized the supremacy of God’s plan, citing 1 Corinthians 1:19: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Such insights challenge believers to transcend reliance on human wisdom, embracing the profound insight revealed through Christ’s sacrifice.
EMBRACE OF FAITH:
Faith emerged as a crucial theme, the cornerstone upon which the Christian journey is built. Rev. Babatunde Idowu, expressing concern over the fleeting nature of modern faith, urged his listeners to grasp firmly onto trust in God. Hebrews 4:2 served as a poignant reminder of the necessity of combining faith with the hearing of God’s word: “but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.”
SHARING THE GOSPEL:
Rev. Babatunde Idowu’s exhortation for believers to become preachers echoed with passion and urgency. Ephesians 2:8-9 succinctly underscores the grace-driven nature of salvation, a gift meant to be shared rather than hoarded: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Encouraging his congregation to proclaim the Gospel, Rev. Babatunde Idowu stressed the importance of extending God’s grace to others, creating ripples of transformation in a desperate world.
A CALL TO TRUST:
Concluding with a call to trust in divine wisdom over fleeting human knowledge, Rev. Babatunde Idowu referenced 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, challenging believers to see beyond worldly wisdom: “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” This reflective moment invited the congregation to lean into the miraculous simplicity of faith and salvation through the cross.
As the uplifted voices sang “The Old Rugged Cross,” the power of Rev. Babatunde Idowu’s message resonated deeply, emphasizing the enduring impact of the cross, a place of seeming defeat turned into everlasting victory.
Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu’s sermon not only stirred hearts but also equipped believers with a renewed conviction to declare the Good News. Through the apparent foolishness of the cross, the power of God’s faith is revealed, a divine promise urging every believer to preach the Gospel, changing condemnation into conquest.
The event not only reinforced the congregation’s understanding of their faith but ignited a renewed fervour to live out and share the transformative message of the Gospel. As attendees departed, they carried with them a sense of purpose and empowerment, ready to proclaim the power of God’s faith.
*Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, Fellow of the Chronicle Business School, Abuja, a Researcher and resource person at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.
