Bishop James Marques, who oversees the work of the Universal Church in the UK, led a powerful Night of Salvation service at the Cathedral of Miracles in London. The central theme of the service was learning how to sanctify the name of the Lord—what it means to hallow His name not just in words, but in daily life.
Many might ask: isn’t the name of the Lord already holy? The truth is, while His name is inherently holy, the way the world perceives and treats it often does not reflect that holiness. Bishop James referenced Isaiah 52:5:
“…And My name is blasphemed continually every day.”
He explained that while Satan cannot diminish the power of God’s name, his strategy is to make the world treat it as ordinary, even using it in blasphemy. Sadly, this lack of reverence sometimes extends into the church itself—not through words but through conduct. It is not just about how the world sees God’s name but how believers represent Him in their lives.
Bishop emphasised the importance of hallowing God’s name through the story of Moses. In Numbers 20, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water, but instead, he struck it. Because Moses did not sanctify God’s name in the eyes of the people, he was denied entry into the Promised Land. This teaches us that God expects His people to uphold His name with utmost reverence as written in 1 Peter 1:14-17:
“As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.”
He explained that holiness is not about being perfect but striving to align with God’s standards. Just as every profession has a benchmark—whether for doctors, lawyers, or engineers—God has set the standard for His people. Being holy means striving to reflect His character, not just in actions but also in our thoughts.
Bishop addressed the reality of human nature, where negative or impure thoughts can arise. The key is how one responds to those thoughts—whether to reject them or allow them to take root. True holiness is about resisting sin and seeking to do what is right in every situation.
Bishop Marques outlined three key principles of sanctifying God’s name:
Hallowing God’s name means representing Him at all times—at work, in our family, in relationships, and even in small reactions to daily challenges. When someone looks at you, they should see a person of God—not because of what you say, but because of how you live.
Bishop James concluded with an Altar call, inviting attendees to rededicate themselves to living a life that truly hallows God’s name.
The service also included the consecration of Pastor Gideon and Pastor Edward and their respective wives by Bishop Celso Junior. He explained that this moment marked God’s approval of their ministry, increasing their responsibility to serve His people with greater commitment.
The requirements for this consecration were drawn from 1 Timothy 3:1-7, which describes the standards expected of those who desire to do the work of God. Unlike other professions, the calling of a pastor is the greatest work, as it is through pastors that many come to salvation.
Junior reflected on his experience after the service:
“My expectation for tonight’s service was to experience revival, and that is exactly what happened. One key lesson I took away is that I don’t have to be perfect, but I must continually strive for holiness and live in reverence to God in all I do. Something I have already been practicing and this meeting reinforced is ensuring that my words and actions glorify God and benefit my salvation. If they don’t, I need to reevaluate and choose a different path.”
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To conclude the 30th anniversary celebration, we will have the VYG Night Vigil: Next Generation for young people aged between 14 and 25. Please see the schedule below.
