Fight for What God Has Given You – Pastor Mensa Otabil Urges Believers

Accra, Ghana – Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has challenged believers to fight for what God has given them, emphasizing that open doors often come with battles.

Speaking at ICGC Pneuma Temple in Accra on the , he illustrated this truth with a striking example of the struggles the church faced in securing and building Christ Temple.

“Life comes with battles. Open doors come with battles, especially if you live in Accra and Tema and you want to build,” Pastor Otabil stated. He noted that in Ghana, acquiring land is not enough, as challenges often arise even after purchase. “God will bless you with the land. You will pay for it. But Demetrius will rise up with his craftsmen to fight you, and sometimes the battle can be very fearful.”

Pastor Otabil recounted how ICGC purchased the land for Christ Temple in 2000 but did not begin construction until 2019. For 19 years, the church had legal possession of the land without interference. However, once construction commenced, opposition arose.

“One day, I got a call that all kinds of people were on-site with guns, knives, and cutlasses. There were 60 people with pickups, chanting, and the contractor had run away from the site,” he recalled.

At that moment, he was advised not to fight, as it could tarnish his reputation. “People said, ‘You don’t have to fight. It will be in the newspapers. They will say Otabil is fighting land guys. You have a good name, don’t spoil it. Leave the land.’”

However, he refused to surrender what God had given the church. “A land that I have bought for 19 years, and there are adversaries, and I’m supposed to leave it for the one who just came?” he questioned. Citing the Apostle Paul, he declared, “Paul says God has opened the door. There are many adversaries, but I will remain in Ephesus.”

Encouraging believers to stand firm in their faith and fight for their blessings, Pastor Otabil urged, “Somebody must remain in Ephesus. Somebody must stay and fight. Somebody must say, ‘This is God’s blessing, and I will not give up.’ God gave it to me, and Satan cannot steal it from me. It is my blessing, and nothing can take it away from me.”

His message resonated strongly, reinforcing the biblical principle that God’s blessings often come with challenges—but victory belongs to those who stand firm in faith.