Chief Surrenders to Christ After Pastor Adeboye’s Bold Challenge to Demonic Powers

A high-stakes encounter in spiritual warfare unfolded more than 40 years ago when Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), ministered at an event hosted by a Christian traditional ruler.

The dramatic story, recounted in Pastor Adeboye’s sermon titled Praise as a Weapon of Warfare, began when a group of high-ranking chiefs, adorned in their ceremonial attire and known for their ties to occult practices, attended the program. Their presence caused unease among the ushers.

“The ushers ran to me and asked, ‘Are we going to allow these people into the house of God?’” Pastor Adeboye shared. “I told them, ‘Of course! Bring them in and put them on the front row.’”

Though initially planning to preach on praising God, Pastor Adeboye felt compelled to change his sermon on the spot, delivering instead a message based on the contest at Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

With boldness, Pastor Adeboye issued a direct challenge to the chiefs. “I told them, ‘I came here with my wife, my son, in my car. The number of the car is so-and-so. I challenge you to use all your powers to make just one of my car’s tires go flat. If you succeed, I will surrender to your gods. But if you fail, you must surrender to mine.’”

After concluding his sermon, Pastor Adeboye made an altar call. To everyone’s astonishment, the traditional ruler’s second-in-command was the first to respond, coming forward to surrender his life to Christ. Inspired by their leader’s decision, the other chiefs followed.

To confirm the conversion, the traditional ruler later accompanied Pastor Adeboye to the home of the second-in-command. “The ruler asked him, ‘Chief, why did you go forward when they made the altar call for surrendering to Jesus?’” Pastor Adeboye narrated.

The chief’s response was both humble and revealing. “He said, ‘You see this small boy challenging all of us? Who does not know there is someone behind him? It is the One behind him that I surrendered to.’”

Pastor Adeboye concluded the story by emphasizing the power of praising God: “When you praise God the way you should praise Him, He will arise. When He arises, all your enemies will scatter because they know it’s not you they are fighting—it is the Lord of Hosts Himself.”

This powerful testimony serves as a reminder that God’s presence and authority can transform even the most unlikely situations, turning adversaries into believers.