The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has urged members of the Bench and Bar to begin the new legal year with prayer, thanksgiving and reliance on divine guidance, saying professional knowledge and experience alone are not enough to navigate the responsibilities of the justice system.
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Adeboye gave the charge during the church’s monthly Thanksgiving Service and special prayer session for members of the judiciary and the legal profession at the RCCG national headquarters, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
The service, themed “Wonderful Counsellor,” was also followed simultaneously in Abuja, Enugu and Port Harcourt, with judges, lawyers and their families in attendance.
Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Adeboye told legal professionals that three simple biblical instructions — rejoicing, constant prayer and thanksgiving — could significantly shape their lives and work.
“Jesus is the Great Advocate and I want to give you one of His pieces of advice for free, found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,” he said.
“I discovered three verses of scripture that can change your life completely forever. Advice number one: rejoice evermore. When you wake up in the morning, just rejoice and shout Hallelujah.
“Advice number two: pray without ceasing. Commit your ways into God’s hands. He took care of you yesterday; He neither sleeps nor slumbers. Number three: in everything give thanks.”
Adeboye said he personally begins each day with praise and thanksgiving, adding that he considers this important to maintaining peace of mind.
“I wake up each morning praising and thanking God for His intervention. That is why my blood pressure remains normal. Why worry when you have someone who will take care of you?” he said.
The cleric also cautioned judges and lawyers against allowing professional attainment to create a sense of self-sufficiency, stressing that intellectual ability itself ultimately depends on factors beyond human control.
“You want to tell me, ‘I am a legal officer, I am a learned person.’ Congratulations, but who keeps your brain going?” he asked.
Adeboye recalled the experience of a friend who had served as a Chief Judge but later suffered memory loss, using the example to illustrate what he described as the limitations of human ability and the need for continued dependence on God.
He further described Jesus Christ as the ultimate advocate of believers, saying Christians could turn to Him in periods of accusation, uncertainty and difficulty.
“There is no advocate among men that is like the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.
Speaking after the service, Adeboye’s Special Adviser on Administration and Pastor-in-Charge of Region One, Pastor Dele Balogun, similarly urged members of the legal profession to submit themselves to divine authority in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“My advice to the great men of the Bench and Bar is that they should submit to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. In all professions, we need God. As they genuinely submit to God, He will uphold and help them to flourish in their work,” Balogun said.
He also urged members of the judiciary and legal profession to discharge their responsibilities with the fear of God as Nigeria approaches another general election.
The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, who is also an Assistant Pastor in RCCG, expressed appreciation to the church for organising the special prayer session at the beginning of the legal year.
“The RCCG new year starts in September and the legal new year also starts in September. I don’t think it’s a coincidence; we are blessed to share the same period,” she said.
Justice Dipeolu urged judges and lawyers to seek divine wisdom, guidance and courage, noting that the responsibilities of the Bench and Bar often carry consequences beyond the courtroom.
“Pray more, ask for divine wisdom and guidance as we discharge our duties, especially as we approach the election year. Lawyers and judges need prayers, the wisdom of God and courage,” she said.
She stressed that judicial decisions can have far-reaching implications for governance and society, and therefore urged judicial officers to remain courageous and faithful to their responsibilities.
Justice Dipeolu also advised younger lawyers to build their careers on hard work, dedication and professional commitment rather than making financial reward their primary objective.
Another participant, Mrs Titi Adegbile, described the service as timely, particularly as members of the legal profession commenced another legal year.
“I am so excited at today’s service. The theme is ‘Wonderful Counsellor.’ Everyone needs a counsellor, and the ultimate counsellor is the Lord Jesus Christ,” she said.
Adegbile noted that lawyers and judges frequently perform advisory and counselling roles in society and said the message from the service offered lessons that could guide them as they returned to their professional duties.
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