Apostle Okoriko declares personal relationship with God vital to access ‘Heavenly Places’
By: Theresa Donatus, Uyo.
Founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle Dr John Okoriko, has called on Nigerians to seek a personal relationship with God, rather than rely solely on religious rituals, in order to experience what he described as “heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Speaking on Sunday at the Beaula Tabernacle branch of the church in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Apostle Okoriko emphasized that God does not dwell in the skies but within human beings.
“The belief that God lives in the sky is outdated. God lives in us, not in some distant planet,” he said during the interactive service themed ‘Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus.’ “Christ in us is the hope of glory. That is the foundation of our faith.”
He urged Christians to build faith by aligning their thoughts and speech with biblical truths, saying, “Call things into existence by declaring what God says about you.
When you are weak, say, ‘I am strong.’ When you are poor, say, ‘I am rich.’ These words shape your faith and will eventually manifest in your life.”
Citing examples from scripture, including Abraham and Hagar, Okoriko argued that God’s interactions with people throughout history point to a universal relationship beyond religious structures.
“God never created religion, He created humanity,” the Apostle stated. “He is omnipresent, and you cannot confine Him to a location. That’s why Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer, to show us that God is within us and always with us.”
He warned against being overwhelmed by negative thoughts, describing the spiritual realm as a battleground for the human mind.
“We live in two worlds: the spiritual world which is our thoughts and the physical world of the senses. If we allow evil and confusion into our minds, we reproduce it in our lives. But if we dwell on what God says about us, we will begin to see those words take form in our lives.”
Apostle Okoriko concluded by stating that access to “heavenly places” is not tied to church buildings or religion, but to individual belief and awareness of God’s presence.
“The kingdom of God is in us,” he said. “Religion has nothing to do with God. What matters is walking before Him and being perfect. That’s the relationship He desires with every human being.”
The service drew hundreds of congregants from within and beyond the local government area, as the church continues to promote its message of personal transformation through spiritual consciousness.
