₦airaland Forum

When God called me to become a pastor, I did not want to answer the call, but He insisted. So, I told Him, “I don’t want to be an ordinary Christian or an ordinary pastor. If You want me to be who You say You want me to be, I want to at least do the works that Jesus did, and even greater.” The Lord said, “No problem. It’s just that you will have to start from where Jesus started. He fasted for 40 days and nights before He performed His first miracle.” At that time, the only times I ever fasted was on Good Fridays, and those fasts only lasted from morning until 12 noon. I told God, “40 days and nights?” He responded, “Well, you are the one who said you want to do what Jesus did, and even greater, so you have to start from where He started.” I almost said, “Lord, don’t worry,” but I thought to myself, “If there is anything you learnt in Mathematics, it is that you start from the known to the unknown, from simple equations to simultaneous, quadratic, exponential, and so on.” So, I started with three days and nights; I’m telling you, it felt like three months. After some time, fasting for three days and nights every month was no longer difficult for me, so I moved on to five days and then seven until I got to fasting for 40 days and nights more than once a year.

Beloved, you can attain any height if you are steadily growing in the right direction. Don’t think that those who are at the top got there in one day. Line must be upon line, and precept must be upon precept, a little here and a little there (Isaiah 28:10), after which you will find yourself in the place where you desire to be.

I believe that all the teachings of Jesus can be simply summarised as ‘nothing goes for nothing’. There is a price to pay if you want to be great. You may not be able to pay all the price now, but if you take it one step at a time, you will soon get to the desired height. You can start from where you are because if you keep waiting to start big, you might never start. God commits more into the hands of those who are faithful in little (Luke 16:10).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

No matter how high you have gone in God, you can go even higher. However, only those who are hungry for more will go higher. People who settle easily cannot move higher because they either think they have enough or lack the capacity or ability to achieve more.

I once travelled to Rivers, a state in Southern Nigeria, and ministered in several locations within the state. In one of the locations, while I was ministering, I laid my hands on some sick people. When I finished, I wanted to wash my hands, so two ladies brought water and soap for me – one was carrying a bowl of soapy water, and the other was carrying a bowl with clean water. As I was washing my hands inside the bowl of soapy water, I sensed in my spirit that the lady carrying the bowl was hungry for the anointing. Suddenly, I felt the anointing of God flowing from me into the water, then through the bowl and into her hands. Suddenly, she began to vibrate violently, and someone had to quickly take the bowl from her hands. The people around quickly got her a chair to sit on, but she continued shaking under the influence of the anointing. The interesting thing was that the anointing was still in the water and in the bowl, but the person who took the bowl from her did not feel anything. He didn’t feel anything because he was not hungry for more. Hunger attracts greater levels of the anointing and draws people into higher realms in God. Those who are hungry for more of God are always willing to pay the price. They don’t complain when it is time to fast or grumble when it is time to pray. Because they are hungry, they are willing and ready to do all it takes to go higher.

Are you hungry for more of God? Do you wish to go higher in God? Indeed, in John 7:37, it is those who thirst that Jesus invited to drink from Him. However, He also said you must come to Him before you can drink from Him. A lot of people talk about how they long to go higher; however, when the time comes to do what it takes to come to Him, they are the first to say that they can’t fast, pray, or study their Bibles for long.

Beloved, thirst to go higher in God, but also be prepared to give what it takes.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every day, people see problems that they wish they could do something about. What if God could use you to bring a solution to every problem you encounter or make you the solution to that lingering issue in your family? If something terrible happens in your neighbourhood, can you say a simple prayer that will effect a change such that the people who were in sorrow will start rejoicing?

When the widow of one of the sons of the prophets came to Elisha because of her debt problem, she didn’t return home the same. Elisha opened her eyes to see that the solution she desperately needed was in her house. He showed her the secret to getting out of debt and living a financially independent life (2 Kings 4:1-7). Sometimes, becoming the solution to another person’s problem is not by giving them money but by opening their eyes to see what they have never paid attention to, empowering them with the correct knowledge and information to live a bondage-free life. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6). Hence, the ultimate way to help people with problems is to introduce Him to them.

In 1 Kings 17:17-24, when the son of the widow died, she didn’t turn to the king for help. Instead, she turned to Elijah, and God used him to raise her dead son. If such a thing happened around you, do you have the capacity for God to provide such a solution through you? You may say, “Oh, I am not a prophet like Elijah.” However, there is no record in the Scriptures that only ordained ministers of God can perform miracles. Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Jesus is the ultimate solution to every problem, and He has given those who believe in Him the authority to perform signs and wonders in His name. To do this, however, you must exercise your spirit more than your flesh.

Beloved, be the kind of believer who studies the Bible and prays regularly. When you are such, then God will make you a solution to the problems of many people around you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is commonly said that statues are never built in honour of critics. While it is not bad to criticise people who are not doing what they ought to be doing, you must not just stop there.

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
1 Kings 17:1

In the Scripture above, we see that Elijah started out as a critic. The king wasn’t behaving in the right manner, and just like any critic, Elijah walked into the palace and confronted him. However, he didn’t stop there; he moved on to become a vessel that God used to provide for the needs of a poor widow and her son (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Would you rather become a mere critic or an activist whom God will use to put solutions forward? Would you be content with only carrying placards and protesting or also becoming so wealthy that you can feed the hungry? Carrying placards and protesting will attract the attention of the people you are criticising. However, beyond that, you must grow to a point where you can recommend and even provide some of the solutions you are demanding. Don’t just become a critic that challenges those in authority; grow to the point where your impact cannot be ignored.

This message is particularly for youths. They should learn from Moses who thought he could fulfil his destiny his own way, and as a result, he had to stay in the wilderness for another 40 years until he was ready. The positive change you want can happen, but you must be wise enough to let it happen in God’s way. Matthew 10:16 says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Christians need to be as strategic as serpents. The most dangerous thing about a serpent is its silence when it wants to attack its prey. When it attacks, the prey only realises it when it is already too late.

Beloved, be wise. God has a great destiny for you, but you must not let overzealousness prevent you from fulfilling your destiny. Rather than just being a mere noisemaker, increase your capacity so that you can indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Your zeal should be matched with the right knowledge and actions (Romans 10:1-2).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When I was leaving for my postgraduate studies, I handed my mother over to my wife, knowing that she would take good care of her. My wife is a helpmeet indeed, and a true helpmeet is a great blessing, not just to her husband but her in-laws as well. She won’t seek to compete with them or disrespect them; rather, she will help her husband by honouring his people. Nowadays, some women say that they are only married to their husbands and do not care about their in-laws. This is not right because their husbands came from a home, and as helpmeets, they have a responsibility to love their husbands’ people too.

Ruth was a wise woman. When she married Naomi’s son, she took Naomi as her mother. Her love for Naomi was so great that when her husband died, she abandoned her hometown to follow her mother-in-law to a place she had never been. She was ready to risk everything to care for her aged mother-in-law. In return, God rewarded her selflessness by giving her another home. Ruth’s service to her mother-in-law opened the door of fruitfulness to her (Ruth 1-4), and in the account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-16, you will find her name in verse 5.

Loving in-laws is, however, not peculiar to wives alone. Husbands must also love and honour their in-laws. The fact that they have fulfilled all the necessary traditional marriage rites does not mean their wives’ parents and family members are unimportant. For example, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law when he visited Peter’s house in Matthew 8:14-15. Immediately Jesus healed her, she arose and ministered to them. If she hadn’t been treated well before that time, and if she wasn’t made to feel welcomed in the house, she wouldn’t have thought of serving everyone present, including her son-in-law.

If you’re married, God put you in your spouse’s family because He wants you to extend His love to them. Whether they reciprocate or not, your responsibility is to love them. No man snuffs out the little light he has because every other person is living in darkness. Instead, he makes his light shine brighter for all to see. If your in-laws don’t believe in Jesus yet, your marriage has given you the opportunity to show them the light. Ask God for the wisdom to relate with them, and in everything you do, let the love of Christ rule your heart, actions, and decisions.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is very important that parents speak the right words into their children’s lives. Speaking the right words plays a huge role in laying a solid foundation for children. Unfortunately, some parents are careless with their words. They are not diligent in processing what is in their hearts before they speak; therefore, what comes out of their mouths towards their children is not wholesome. Parents should bless their children, not curse them or make negative pronouncements on them. When Rachel gave birth to her second son, she pronounced a curse on him because of the pain she went through in childbearing. If Jacob had not changed that name to Benjamin, that child would probably have lived a sorrowful life (Genesis 35:18).

Many people live in sorrow because of the evil pronouncements their parents made over them. Parents should not do that to their children; instead, they should use their mouths to bless them every day. They should also learn to keep some things that God reveals to them about their children to themselves so that they don’t expose them to human and demonic attacks. Mary kept the things she had received concerning Jesus in her heart (Luke 2:19). It isn’t everything God shows parents about their children that they should share. Some things are for an appointed time; they should wait for that time.

Parents should also not share everything about what is going on in their children’s lives on social media. Social media is a marketplace with different kinds of people. If Mary or Joseph had been careless about the whereabouts of Jesus when God told them to leave for Egypt, Herod could have found a means to kill him in Egypt. Parents should be wise about sharing their children’s information online. Some children have gotten into the wrong hands because their parents were careless.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says that parents must teach their children God’s ways. They must tell them about His laws in the morning, noon, and night, and use every opportunity to drill God’s word into their minds. If you’re a parent, use your mouth to raise your children, not tear them down. My mother would always bless me by saying that when I call one person, hundreds will come running, and today, those blessings have truly manifested in my life. Let your words be seasoned with grace always (Colossians 4:6). Let your lips be a wellspring of life to your children. Let them always know they will meet words of life, not death, on your lips.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Joel 2:28, God promised that He would pour out His Spirit in the last days, and old men will dream dreams while the young men will see visions. Whether you are old or young, God wants you to do exploits with His Spirit that lives in you.

When God gives you a vision, He expects you to run with it. You may encounter obstacles, but you must see beyond them. For example, in Numbers 13 and 14, Moses sent 12 spies to search the Promised Land and bring him a report. The 12 spies returned with giant grapes to show that the land was indeed flowing with milk and honey; however, ten of them complained that there were giants in the land. Caleb and Joshua, who had a clear vision of God’s promise, said, “We saw what you saw with our physical eyes, but if this land eats up its inhabitants, then there would be no people there. God gave us the vision, and He will help us take the land. Let’s go ahead and possess the land.” The Bible says in Numbers 32:11-12 that while all the children of Israel in that generation perished, only Joshua and Caleb made it to the Promised Land.

Beloved, the vision God has given to you will sustain you and prolong your days. No matter your age, if you can still see what God wants you to see clearly and are ready to pursue it, He will ensure that He keeps you alive and in good shape. Abraham was 75 years old when God called him to go to a land, He would show him (Genesis 12:1-4). Because he was willing to run with this vision, God kept him alive until he was 175 years old (Genesis 25:7-.

If God has given you a vision, run with it; do not give in to any obstacle. Also, do not run ahead of God, as this will only lead you into trouble. Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” This means that you need patience to run with the vision God has given you (Hebrews 12:1). This way, you will not make hasty and rash decisions as you pursue the vision. I pray that you will fulfil every vision that God has given to you, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I will conclude my discussion on spiritual eyes as part of the series I started three days ago.

In 2 Kings 6:15-23, an army came to arrest Elisha, and his servant became afraid. Elisha, however, was not bothered; he told his servant that those who were with them were more than those who were against them. He then prayed that God should open his servant’s eyes. Even though the boy wasn’t physically blind and could see the Syrian army, his spiritual eyes needed to be opened so he could see God’s mighty army surrounding them.

…And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:17

After God opened the spiritual eyes of Elisha’s servant, his fear of the Syrian army must have disappeared immediately. Elisha then asked God to smite the Syrian soldiers with blindness, and he led them to the king’s palace. He wasn’t holding any weapon, neither did he bind the soldiers; he just told them to follow him, and because they had become blind, they followed him into their enemy’s territory. They would have lost their lives that day if Elisha had not stopped the king from killing them. He was able to arrest the soldiers who came to arrest him because he could see beyond the physical.

In 1 Samuel 17, Israel was being tormented by Goliath. The torment went on for 40 days and nights because there was no one on the battlefield whose spiritual eyes were opened. They all saw a formidable giant, but David came to the battlefield and saw Goliath as a dead man. David said to him, “I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today, I will cut off your head and feed the Philistine army to the birds so that the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45-46).

Beloved, what you see with your spiritual eyes will go a long way in determining if you will live as a victim or a victorious believer. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, spend quality time in constant fellowship with Him. As you do this, I pray that the Lord will open your spiritual eyes. If, however, the Lord has already opened your spiritual eyes, I pray for greater revelations for you, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Over the past two days, I have discussed two of the three kinds of eyes that humans have: physical eyes and mental eyes. Today, I will be discussing the third kind of eyes: spiritual eyes. Your spiritual eyes give you the ability to see the invisible.

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
2 Kings 2:9-10

In the Scripture above, Elisha requested for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elijah replied, “Your request will be granted if you can see me when I am being taken away from you.” What he actually meant was, “If your spiritual eyes can be opened to see the invisible, you will get what you have asked for.” When the chariots of fire descended from heaven, Elisha saw them and cried, “My Father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof” (2 Kings 2:12). God must have said, “His spiritual eyes are opened; he can have what he wants.” When your spiritual eyes become open, your destiny also opens up.

In 2 Kings 6:15-23, the Syrian army surrounded Elisha’s house; his servant saw them and was terrified. He ran to tell Elisha about the situation, and Elisha prayed that God would open his spiritual eyes. After he prayed, God opened his servant’s eyes, and the fellow who was scared became courageous because he could now see the invisible.

…And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:17

When God opens your spiritual eyes, you’ll be able to see beyond the physical realm, and you’ll have a better understanding of the divine power that backs you up as a Christian. If God has been using you before, this will further strengthen your faith and empower you to do more exploits for His kingdom. For this to happen, you must be born again, and your spirit must be better fed than your body. This can be done by praying, studying God’s word, fasting, worshipping intensely, and fellowshipping with other believers consistently.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Besides physical eyes, I believe that every human has mental eyes, which the Bible refers to as the eyes of understanding. In Ephesians 1:18, Paul said, “I pray that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened.” In other words, he was saying, “I pray that your eyes of understanding be opened.”

The eyes of your understanding are very important. According to Deuteronomy 1:13, understanding is one of the major requirements for becoming a leader. Hence, to be an effective leader, you must have understanding and the eyes of your understanding must be fully opened. This was why Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to lead His people (1 Kings 3:9). The state of the mental eyes is what makes the difference between people who are highly educated, moderately educated, or illiterate.

I worked as a tutor at Ondo Boys High School in South-Western Nigeria before enrolling for my undergraduate studies. In those days, there were 40 class periods per week, and I was made to teach 36 of them. I worked alongside a university graduate who had to teach for only 23 class periods every week, yet he always complained that the school was overstretching him. My salary was about 15 pounds a month, while his salary was 60 pounds a month. I was surprised about his complaints because he was earning about four times more than I was earning, even though he was teaching fewer class periods than I was. One day, I asked him, “Why are you complaining? You have fewer periods to teach compared to me.” He replied, “I am not being paid for what I do now. I am being paid for the work I had done on my brain in the past.” My understanding could not be compared to his because I only had a secondary school certificate while he had a university degree, so we were paid differently, based on our levels of understanding.

If you want to be successful, your mental eyes need to be opened. You need to study hard and try new things to get better outcomes. A wealthy man once said that the more you learn, the more you earn. Someone else said that readers are leaders. Those who will be great in life value learning more than entertainment; therefore, they keep on learning. The day you decide that there is nothing more to learn, your mental eyes will begin to go dim. Beloved, the more you learn, the more the eyes of your understanding receive light. Therefore, make up your mind never to stop learning.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I believe that humans have three kinds of eyes: physical eyes, mental eyes, and spiritual eyes. Over the next few days, I will discuss these kinds of eyes.

Your physical eyes are the two eyes that you use to see physical objects and the world around you. According to Matthew 6:22-23, they are the light of the body and are so important that Jesus restored the sight of every blind person that came to Him asking for sight during His earthly ministry. In Bartimaeus’ case, He spoke His word, and that word supplied two brand-new eyes (Mark 10:46-52). In the case of the man in John 9:1-7, He released His anointing into ordinary mud, and from that mud, He created two brand-new eyes. In Mark 8:22-26, He touched a man who was blind twice. The first time He touched him, the man said that he could see men looking like trees. This wasn’t good enough for Jesus, so He touched him again. When you go through the Scriptures, you will discover that instance was the only time Jesus touched anybody for their healing twice. I am sure Jesus did this to show the importance of the physical eyes. If anyone reading this devotional has problems with their physical eyes, I decree that God will touch such a person today, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Since your physical eyes are the light of your body, what you see with them will determine the state of your body. If you want your body to be full of light, you will not look at things that come from the kingdom of darkness. You won’t watch certain movies or view certain pictures as they can quench the light in you and make you live in darkness. The devil is after your eyes because he knows that if he can darken them, he has succeeded in darkening your body, which is the temple of the Lord. Don’t let him succeed; look away from things that can bring darkness. Flee from every appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Samson was greatly helped by God, and God used him to achieve mighty things. However, the moment he began to fix his gaze on the wrong things, he opened himself to the enemy’s attack. The enemy removed his eyes, and he was plunged into darkness because he became careless with his eyes (Judges 14-16). Beloved, be careful of what you fix your gaze on, and don’t give the enemy a chance to plunge you into darkness.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Proverbs 29:18 says that where there is no vision, the people perish. The rich fool in Luke 12:15-21 died because he told his soul to rest and pursue nothing. A lack of vision kills; when you’re pursuing a goal, your youth is renewed with each passing day. Sometime ago, I told some of my older friends that we are not old men because Joel 2:28 says that the old men shall dream dreams while the young ones will see visions. Since my older friends and I still have visions that we are pursuing, we are young.

Beloved, it is not enough to have a vision; you must also pursue it. Some people can talk so passionately about their vision today, but when you see them again three years from now, you will discover that they are still talking about the vision but have not taken any step to fulfil it. If you ask them why, they will give all sorts of excuses.

People who have a vision they truly believe in don’t let anything stand in their way. Obstacles tremble when a man of vision approaches them. When God gave us the vision of the RCCG campground, we did not have the money, but that did not stop us from taking steps towards getting the land. We overcame that obstacle, and not long after that, another obstacle arose: there was no water in the camp that could support thousands of people. That also did not deter us, and we kept forging ahead. Before long, we had more than enough water. The reason many people haven’t seen their visions come to pass is that they are not doing anything to fulfil them. To fulfil a vision, you have to make moves first, and when you do, God will carry you towards the vision. Only a fellow who pursues his or her vision will hear it speak. When God spoke to Habakkuk in 'Habakkuk 2:1-3', He instructed him to write the vision so that at the appointed time, it would speak. When you start taking steps in the direction of the vision God has given you, your vision will speak, and many will hear it.

Has God shown you something? Get to work; don’t give room for excuses. God wants to give your vision a voice that can speak life to nations, but until you do something about what you have seen, your vision will remain silent.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Several years ago, we held a Holy Ghost Service at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. During the service, the Lord said that there was somebody in the congregation who had only one kidney because the other one had been removed through surgery. The Lord further said that the remaining kidney was not in good condition, so He would give the person two brand-new kidneys. If I had not recognized the voice of God, I wouldn’t have dared to tell the congregation what I heard. A man in the congregation knew that the Lord was talking about him because one of his kidneys had been surgically removed, and the other one was not functioning properly. On Saturday morning, as soon as the programme was over, he went straight to the hospital where the surgery to remove his kidney was done and asked the surgeon to examine him. The surgeon said, “I remember your case; the day we were removing your kidney, everything went wrong. The surgery that was supposed to take less than an hour lasted eight hours.” When the surgeons examined him, they found two brand-new kidneys. When God, who is the God of hope (Romans 15:13), steps into a case, that case changes its status from ‘hopeless’ to ‘testimony’.

God gives victory over hopelessness. For example, in Genesis 18:9-14, when He told Abraham that Sarah would have a son in nine months, Sarah laughed because she thought the situation was hopeless. However, the Almighty God, who could have said, “Because you laughed, I cancel what I have said,” did not change his mind. Instead, He said, “You can laugh as much as you like, but Isaac will be born.” Beloved, if you have considered your situation as hopeless before now, I have good news for you today. In the name that is above every other name, your Isaac will be born.

There is no hopeless case with God. Jeremiah 32:27 says, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” In Ezekiel 37:1-10 the Bible tells us that the Almighty God caused dry bones to live again. They were not just dead bodies; they were very dry bones. Yet, the Lord God caused His servant to prophesy, and the dry bones came back to life.

Beloved, the God who made dry bones to live again can take care of your situation. Men may have written you off, but with God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When God created the world in Genesis 1:1-31, the first thing He made was light. This is because when light is present, it becomes easy to put every other thing in place.

In Mark 10:46-52, a blind beggar called Bartimaeus was crying desperately for the attention of Jesus Christ. He was living in the bondage of poverty and was likely a lonely man who had nobody to help him. His case seemed to be a hopeless one simply because he could not see. When Jesus asked him what he wanted, he asked for the ability to see. He could have asked for money and clothes, but all he asked for was the ability to see light. Your ability to see, including physically and spiritually, is far more beneficial than money and clothes.

When God’s light comes, every form of darkness and sorrow disappears. The question now is, how can you let the light of God into your life? Jesus said in John 8:12 that He is the Light of the world. If you let Jesus into your life, His light will shine in you and chase out every form of darkness. He will shine so much in you that you will begin to shine on others. This is why He said in Matthew 5:14 that you are the light of the world. Through you, darkness will leave your family, and everyone who comes in contact with you will benefit from the light you carry. Before I became born again, there were curses and sorrows in the Adeboye family. However, after the Light – Jesus Christ – came into my life, every generational curse was broken. Poverty and sorrows were also banished forever.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Beloved, no matter how potent the generational curses or forces of darkness that might be holding you back are, once you surrender your life to Jesus Christ, all things will become new and His light will drive darkness away from you. If you are, however, not yet born again, please say the following prayer:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have been living in darkness. Now, I am ready for Your light. Please, come into my life and make me a new creature in You. I denounce every sin I used to commit (mention all), and I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

PRAYERS FOR LEADERS

1. Thank you, Lord, for all the leaders you have given us in our nation, state, church, workplace, and across all other spheres of life. Thank You for keeping and preserving them.

2. Father, please give our leaders divine wisdom and guidance to make the best decisions that align with Your will at all times.

3. Father, please give our leaders the heart to serve. Let them lead with humility and compassion.

4. Father, please help our leaders lead with integrity and good character. Help them to shun corrupt practices, in Jesus’ name.

5. Father, please give our leaders the mental strength to navigate the challenges and pressures that come with leadership, in Jesus’ name.

6. Father, please take care of the families and personal needs of our leaders. Don’t let the devil distract them from providing good leadership because of personal problems, in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, please protect our leaders from evil forces. Don’t let the devil’s plans come to pass concerning them, in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, You are the only true source of help; please send help speedily to our leaders so they can fulfil Your purpose for their lives.

9. Father, please surround our leaders with good advisers and resourceful people. Let selfish and manipulative people remain far away from them, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, I pray for wisdom for our leaders. Help them create policies that align with Your will, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, please let Your Spirit of excellence rest upon our leaders. Help them to find creative ways to solve our common challenges and make things better for everyone.

12. Your personal prayer points for your leaders.

Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“O God, thou art my God; early will i seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
Psalm 63:1.

The Scripture above was written by David in the wilderness of Judah. A wilderness is often characterised by a lack of food and water, and even though David might have been hungry and thirsty, he expressed a much greater desire for something more than food and water – God’s presence. No wonder God called David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).

In Acts 8:27-39, we read about the Ethiopian eunuch who had travelled many miles to Jerusalem to worship God. However, he had many questions as he was returning to his home country. As he travelled on the dusty roads of Gaza, an angel spoke to Phillip and told him to position himself on the road the eunuch was travelling on. As Phillip stood by the road, the Holy Spirit gave him an additional instruction to move closer to the man’s chariot. God was so interested in the eunuch that He moved everything – an angel, a man, and His Spirit - to give him the answers he desired (Acts 8:26-40). This is what happens when God sees genuine hunger for Him in the life of a fellow. He will never let the hungry go away without being filled, and He will always fill them with good things (Luke 1:53).

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6

God feeds you in proportion to your hunger for Him. Psalm 42:7 says, “…deep calleth unto deep…” When you really want to go deep in God, your hunger will attract the resources you need to go deep. A hungry and thirsty fellow is one who is desperate for food and water. In the same vein, God expects us to hunger and thirst for His power and glory. He expects us to desperately pursue Him and seek intimacy with Him. Jesus gave a parable in Matthew 13:44-46 that the Kingdom of God is like a man who found treasure in a field and sold all that he had so he could buy that field and own the treasure. Just like that man in the parable, God wants you to be hungry for Him so you can be filled and reflect more of His glory on the earth.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6); He does not reward the lazy. If you want to be successful, then you must be diligent.

I and one of my friends got born again at a time when making positive confessions was becoming popular among Christians. At that time, the popular teaching was, ‘All you need to do is to say what you want repeatedly, and it will be yours.’ This friend of mine was very diligent with making these positive confessions. He would wake up in the morning and say, “I have a brand new car, in the mighty name of Jesus.” Five years later, he was yet to own a car. One day, he asked me, “What’s your secret? I’ve been making positive confessions without tangible results.” I replied, “You wake up at 10 am in the morning, and at that time, I would have already put in five hours of work. Also, instead of working, you start making confessions. I’m sorry, but you will keep walking everywhere you go for a long time to come if you don’t change.”

Some people have become so attached to motivational speaking. They are usually the first to register for conferences; however, when it is time to put in the work, they are often nowhere to be found. No amount of confessions or unapplied knowledge can turn a lazy fellow into a high flyer. A fellow who doesn’t wake up every day to make positive confessions or listen to smooth-talking motivational speakers will still succeed if he or she knows how to work hard.

Although I’m in my 80s, I still go about doing God’s work diligently. When many other people are sleeping, I am walking about at night, praying. I don’t preach shallow sermons; if you listen to my sermons, you will notice that I make reference to many Bible passages. These things don’t come by just loafing around. Success in life is not automatic; being born a prince or princess does not mean that a fellow will succeed in life. No matter how much wealth a fellow inherits, if he or she is lazy and refuses to put in the work to multiply the wealth, that fellow will eventually squander everything and begin to suffer. Proverbs 18:9 says that a lazy person is a brother to him who is a great waster.

Beloved, laziness will make you waste privileges. It will also make you unprepared to maximise opportunities. Do not give laziness a chance; banish it from every area of your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Years ago, some Christian students in a particular university came to me and said, “We don’t know what is going on. Those of us who are in the fellowship are always the ones failing.” I replied them, “This might be because, at the time you are supposed to be studying, you are in the fellowship.” They said, “Is it not written that the Holy Spirit will help us?” I responded, “Thank God for the Holy Spirit, but the Bible says that the Holy Spirit will remind you of the things you have learnt. However, if you do not learn anything and end up failing, after He chastises you, He will comfort you.”

Beloved, to walk in God’s blessings, faith must go hand-in-hand with works. For example, in Luke 5:1-9, Jesus came to Peter, who had a boat and asked him to lend Him the boat for a while. After preaching from the boat, Jesus told Peter to cast his net into the sea for a catch. If Peter had not cast his net, he would not have seen the glory of God. If he had just said, “I believe you, Jesus. I know You can do all things,” and had refused to obey the simple instruction, he would have returned home empty-handed that night. Instead, he said, “At thy word – because You have spoken to me – I will do what You say.” He took a step of faith and did the work of throwing his net into the sea. Then, he caught so many fishes that his net broke. People who add works to their faith experience ‘net-breaking’ miracles. Another example of someone in the Bible who added works to their faith is the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8:43-48. She did not just stop at knowing that Jesus carried the healing anointing, she forced her way through a large crowd just to touch the hem of His garment. The result was that she was instantly healed of a sickness she had suffered from for 12 years.

If you are not doing anything in line with the faith you claim to have, that faith is dead. You cannot sit in your house and pray for a job when you are not applying for any. Likewise, you cannot be trusting God for a visa to another country when you do not even have an international passport. Bring your faith to life by adding works to it; faith without works is dead.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

People keep asking why The Redeemed Christian Church of God is so successful all over the world. As a matter of fact, we are in some nations where Christianity is not allowed. In some of these nations, we baptise people secretly, and whenever we want to talk about the blood of Jesus, we say BOJ. We have had considerable impact in some of these nations because we did not allow anything deter us from spreading the gospel. We hold Bible Study meetings in open fields and miracles happen. Sometimes, the political leaders in such places come quietly at night, acknowledging that our God is the Almighty.

There was once a lady evangelist and missionary who was working in a village in Africa. In that village, she got everybody to become born again. The people realised what God had done for them, and they were on fire for Him. The lady then decided to convert those in the neighbouring village too. She informed the people around her about her plans, but they were not in favour of it. “You can go to another village, ma’am, not there,” they advised. She asked, “Why not?” They replied, “Because there are lions on the way. We have been hearing them roaring, and when they roar like that, it means they are hungry. Please, don’t go near that village.” “But I must go,” she insisted. So, a very elderly and feeble man said to her, “Okay, if you must go, I will go with you.” The evangelist looked at him and said, “If a lion attacks, even I can defend myself better than you can.” The man said, “You don’t understand; lions don’t attack when they are full. They only kill when they are hungry. So, the idea is this: I will walk ahead of you, the lions will kill and eat me, and then your way will be clear.” Those villagers were ready to lay down their lives for the gospel to reach the unreached.

Beloved, God will not be asking you for too much by telling you to preach to your boss, for instance. However, if you are afraid you might lose your job and refuse to do it, you will be hindering an unsaved soul from hearing the gospel and becoming saved. Do not let any barrier keep you from preaching the gospel; God is counting on you to prevent many people from heading towards eternal damnation.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 2 Samuel 6:14, the Bible says that David danced with all his might. God loved David so much and was always with him because he was always praising Him. Whenever demons tormented Saul and David played the harp, God’s presence would fill the room, and the demons would run away (1 Samuel 16:23). Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of Israel. When you praise God regularly, demons cannot stay around you because once light comes in, darkness must flee (John 1:5).

Beloved, you must learn to praise God daily. In the Scriptures, you’ll find many reasons to praise Him. In Genesis 17:1, God calls Himself Jehovah Elshaddai, the God who is more than enough. In Genesis 18:9-14 and Jeremiah 32:21, He is revealed as the God of all flesh, with whom nothing is impossible. In Exodus 15:26, He introduced Himself as “…the Lord that healeth thee” because He is the Great Physician. In Psalm 24:7-10, He introduced Himself by two titles: The King of glory and the Lord of hosts. In Psalm 23:1, He presents Himself as Jehovah Rohi, the Good Shepherd who provides everything you need. In Genesis 16:13, He is El-Roi, the All-seeing, All-knowing, ever attentive God. He cares intimately about you and knows you by name (Exodus 33:17). In Jeremiah 32:17-19, He is El Gibhor, the mighty God who rescues. In Exodus 17:15, He is called Jehovah Nissi, your mighty banner of deliverance. In Isaiah 1:24, He is Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts; He fights visible and invisible battles on your behalf and gives you victory over the enemy.

According to Ezekiel 48:35, He is Jehovah Shammah, the ever-present One. He is always there when you need Him, and He never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He is the Alpha and Omega of your life (Revelation 21:6); He always has the first and final say (Isaiah 44:6). He alone is God (Psalm 86:10); He is always good (Psalm 73:1), ever faithful (Lamentations 3:23), all-sufficient (Genesis 17:1), and never changing (Malachi 3:6). God is your comforter (John 14:16), deliverer (2 Samuel 22:2), helper (Psalm 54:4), teacher (John 14:26, strength, and song (Exodus 15:2). He is your very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19) and does exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He saved you and will keep you until the end (Jude 1:24).

Beloved, you have breath in you; therefore, you have every reason to praise God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Paul persecuted Christians and threw some of them in prison (Acts 8:3). He considered himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15); however, God transformed him and began to use him to perform special miracles (Acts 19:11-12). If God could use Paul, He can use you too. Acts 5:14-16 tells us that people laid the sick on the streets of Jerusalem so that whenever Peter was passing by, his shadow would fall on them, and they would be healed. This was the same Peter who denied Jesus three times, but God restored him and began to use him mightily. If God could use Peter, He can use you too.

We were having a Holy Ghost Service at Redemption City when a woman got a phone call that her daughter had given birth to a set of twins, and she and the twins had died. The woman responded, “Don’t move them yet: please wait for me.” She ran to the hospital and asked to see the twins – she was shown their dead bodies. She took a bottle of oil and a handkerchief we had prayed over during the service, dropped some of the oil in the mouth of one of the dead twins, and said, “Come back here; who told you that you could die?” Within a few minutes, the baby coughed and came back to life. She did the same with the second baby, and the same thing happened. After this, the entire hospital was in pandemonium. Around that time, her daughter’s body was being wheeled to the mortuary. She told those wheeling the body to stop, dropped some oil in her dead daughter’s mouth, put the handkerchief on her, and said, “Who do you think is going to take care of your children? Don’t waste my time; come back!” Immediately, her daughter came back to life and sat up. God used her to bring three people back to life in one day. Beloved, God can use you to perform miracles too.

Mark 16:17-18 says that these signs shall follow them that believe: they shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick, and bring healing to them by using the name of Jesus. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are the perfect candidate for God to use to perform signs and wonders. Be confident of His ability in you, and He will do great and marvellous things through you in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Some years ago, a woman, who was married to a very wealthy man, was barren. She and her husband sought a solution from everywhere and spent lots of money, but nothing changed. One day, one of her husband’s relatives told her to stop wasting her time because some witches had taken her womb, and she could never bear a child. She came to a Holy Ghost Service, and God spoke, “There is someone here; you have just been told that you have no womb. Don’t worry because I will give you a set of twins.” Not long after that, she became pregnant. At the hospital, a doctor examined her and said, “It looks like there is a child here.” She replied, “No, it’s not one child; God promised to give me a set of twins.” The doctor said, “You should be thanking God that there is even one.” She went back for another test about three months later, and the doctor said, “There are two babies here.” When the time came for her to deliver, she was flown to one of the best hospitals abroad, and she requested a Caesarean Section. After bringing the babies out, the surgeon searched and could not find a womb inside the woman. When she came around after the anaesthetics she was given wore off, the surgeon came to her and said, “I have performed more than 3,000 operations. This is the first time l am bringing a set of twins out of a woman who has no womb.”

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mark 10:27

Beloved, no matter what anybody has said about the negative situations that might exist in your life, your case is not hopeless. When men say that a case is hopeless, it is because they have not met the God who turns hopeless cases around. Elisabeth’s barrenness seemed to be a hopeless case until God sent His angel to speak with her husband, Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25). If the world has called you barren and labelled your situation hopeless, in the name that is above every other name, the Lord will visit you and change your story. If you have been weeping in sorrow, you will now weep for joy, in Jesus’ name. Don’t give up; put your trust firmly in God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are certain conditions that people call long-standing problems. These are problems that have lingered for so long that it seems there is no solution to them. Well, I want to introduce you to the One who is older than the oldest. He is the Everlasting Solution to every long-standing problem because He has been in existence long before any problem existed.

Acts 3:1-11 tells us of a man who was born lame. When you hear that a grown-up man was born lame, you know that it is a long-standing problem that no one has been able to solve. As Peter and John were about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter said, “Silver and gold, I have not, but I will give you what I have.” Then, he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Suddenly, the man who had never walked all his life began to walk and jump and praise God. The Bible says that when he entered the temple, everybody looked at him in amazement because they all knew he had been lame since birth, and none of them had imagined that there was a solution to his problem.

In Mark 5:2-19, we read of a madman who was living in a graveyard. He had been mad for a while, and everybody knew him; he seemed to be a hopeless case. Then, he encountered Jesus Christ, and with just one word, he was set free. When the people in the region came and saw the man who used to be mad, sitting, well-dressed, and in his right mind, they were afraid. The Everlasting Solution came on the scene and solved the man’s long-standing madness instantly. Likewise, in John 5:1-9, there was a man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. This man had a permanent spot by the Pool of Bethesda, and every time the angel came to stir the water, he missed his opportunity to be healed. However, when his long-standing problem encountered the Everlasting Solution, it disappeared immediately.

Beloved, if you have been encountering problems that have lingered for a long time, Jesus is all you need. He is the Everlasting Solution to every ancient problem, and He is willing and able to put an end to all the problems you might be facing once you have genuinely submitted your life to Him.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); whatever He has done for somebody else before, He can do for you also. For example, in 1 Kings 17:8-16, there was a widow who had only one meal left. God paid her a visit, and that final meal lasted another three years. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, there was another widow who had only one pot of oil. The Lord moved in her situation, and the oil kept multiplying until there was enough to sell to pay all her debts and live on for her lifetime. If you’ve seen God do something you desire for somebody, take that as an assurance that He can do the same for you. When you come across an account of a kind of miracle that you desire in the Scriptures, rejoice because your own miracle is on its way. As long as they’re His children, God isn’t partial to anyone or any type of people; all that matters to Him is that you believe, because all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23). God is a God of principles, and anyone who follows His principles and has faith in Him will experience His goodness and power.

Jesus couldn’t do many mighty works in His hometown because of the people’s unbelief (Matthew 13:58). Even though they were His townspeople, as long as they didn’t have faith, they couldn’t receive miracles. Unbelief closed the doors of miracles to them, and Jesus, who had the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34), could only heal a few sick people (Mark 6:5). No matter how close you think you are to God, if you harbour unbelief, you may limit what He can do in your life and through you.

When someone has faith, regardless of the fellow’s nationality, ability, or status, he or she will experience great miracles. When Jesus was on earth, while some Jews were dying in their sicknesses because of their unbelief, some Gentiles were receiving jaw-dropping miracles. The Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 is an example of a Gentile whose faith attracted miracles. He understood that distance isn’t a barrier when faith is present, and Jesus was amazed at his great faith.

Beloved, if you have faith in God concerning a miracle you’ve seen or read about, God is able to replicate the same in your life. It doesn’t matter how terrible your situation is or the obstacles that surround you; if you believe, you will see God’s glory at work (John 11:40).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Daniel 6:27, the king said, "there is no God like the God of Daniel who rescued him from the den of lions. He does wonders.” Moses and the Israelites sang the words in Exodus 15:11 to testify of God’s wonders after He delivered them from the Egyptians. They had been camped before the Red Sea, and the mighty Egyptian army came in pursuit of them to take them back into slavery. They had nowhere to go, but God instructed Moses to lift his rod over the sea, and suddenly, it parted for them to walk through to the other side on dry ground. They got to the other side and looked behind them to see the Egyptian army, who had pursued them into the midst of the sea, drowning in the same waters that parted for them. If you were there on that day, you would not need to be told that God is indeed a God of wonders.

God does things that make people marvel. I once travelled abroad, and when I landed at the airport, I didn’t see a particular son of mine whom l was so sure would be among those who came to welcome me. I asked about him and was told that he was dying at a hospital. I said, “Let’s stop by the hospital.” When we got there, we were led into a room where terminally ill patients – those whom the doctors had labelled as ‘sure to die’ – were kept. Patients who go into that room usually don’t come out alive. My son had a PSA (something in the body that doctors use to diagnose as cancer) over 4,000! The normal PSA in a man’s body is supposed to be less than 10. When it approaches 100, the doctors suspect cancer, and when it gets to 300, the cancer is diagnosed as terminal. In that country, you are not allowed to pray for anybody who doesn’t request your prayers, so even though there were many people in that room with my son, I prayed for only him and left. It was on a Saturday, and by Wednesday, he had been discharged from the hospital. However, the greater wonder was that everybody in that room when I went in there was also discharged on the same day.

Beloved, if you’re reading this and the world has concluded that there is no hope for you concerning some situations in your life, the God of wonders will surprise them, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Wonderful means ‘full of wonders’. God is such a wonder that the Bible calls Him Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6).

Years ago, I was travelling from Ibadan to Ilorin within Western Nigeria, and there was this narrow bridge along the way that couldn’t contain two vehicles driving side by side at the same time. There was a sign which read, ‘Narrow Bridge Ahead,’ so that when drivers approached the bridge and saw another vehicle on the bridge coming in the opposite direction, they could wait for the vehicle to pass through. On this day, my driver and I were already on the bridge, and a trailer was coming from the other side at great speed. The driver was supposed to stop for us to pass to the other side, but for unknown reasons, he didn’t. We were headed for a collision, and there was no time to pray; we could only shout, “Jesus!” We met in the middle of the bridge, and somehow, the vehicles passed by each other. When we got to the other side, my driver was shaking like a jellyfish as he parked the car. If he had looked behind him, he would have noticed I was shaking even more than he was. When he regained his composure, I had also regained mine a bit. He turned to me and asked, “Daddy, what happened?” I replied, “God enlarged the bridge.” Throughout the rest of our journey, he kept saying, “Wonderful!” and I told him, “That’s His name.”

Everything about God is wonderful. His works are wonderful ( Psalm 107:8 ) – He created the heavens and the earth in just six days! Psalm 40:5 also tells us that many are His wonderful works, and they cannot be numbered. His testimonies are also wonderful (Psalm 119:129) – He parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22) and caused the formidable walls of Jericho to crumble on their own (Joshua 6:20). His knowledge is wonderful (Psalm 139:6). His counsel is also wonderful (Isaiah 28:29) – you can never find a greater or better adviser than the Almighty God. Even when His counsel appears foolish to the human mind, it is infinitely wiser than the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1:25).

My wonderful God does great wonders. I pray for you today; you will experience His wonders before this year ends. When Lazarus came back to life after four days in the grave, it was a wonder. My wonderful God will visit every dead matter in your life and cause you to experience great wonders, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned in this devotional that if it is possible to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it is also possible to be empty. The Lord, however, does not want His children to be empty. In 1 Samuel 16:1, God told Samuel, “Arise, fill thy horn with oil,” meaning that the horn was empty and needed to be filled.

In 1 Samuel 16:14, after David had been anointed as king, the Spirit of God departed from Saul, and because nature abhors a vacuum, an evil spirit took over. Being empty of the Holy Spirit is a dangerous state; therefore, you must avoid anything that can lead to that. I pray that you will never be empty of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.


Years ago, something happened at ljebu-Ode, a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. There was a little misunderstanding between our parish members over there and some occultic people, and the latter decided to put shigidi (a crude figurine used by the occult to invoke an evil spirit to cause havoc on their targets) in front of the parish. When it was discovered, one of my spiritual sons destroyed it with a cutlass. If he had been empty spiritually, he might have died immediately. The occultic people then decided to come to the church for a physical confrontation. When one of them entered the church, he took a step forward and staggered. On taking another step, he fell.

Beloved, the devil is roaming about, looking for whom to devour (1 Peter 5:. So as not to be his victim, you must always be full of the Holy Spirit. No matter how hard he tries, you will always win against him if you’re always filled with the Holy Spirit.

The seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:12--16 were empty fellows. They wanted to cast out a demon and thought they would succeed just by commanding it to leave in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preached. They went before the demon possessed man empty and were disgraced. People who think they can replicate good results without paying the necessary price always get themselves into trouble. Being empty of God’s power and presence is a dangerous state to be in because evil spirits are always looking for empty places to dwell (Matthew 12:43-45).

Don’t give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27); don’t allow evil spirits to take over your vessel. Ensure you always remain filled with the Holy Spirit so you can always walk in victory.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Isaiah 66:1, God said, “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool…” Also, Deuteronomy 33:27 says that He has everlasting arms. Our God is a very big God, yet He can make Himself so small that He can dwell in your heart. (1 John 4:4) says that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. God is so big that He can solve any problem just by speaking a word. When He speaks a word to you, your life will never be the same again. No person, problem, or situation is as big as the Most High God.

In 1987, one of our pastors had an extraordinary experience. He was a soap maker, and one Saturday, because he wasn’t going to be working on Sunday, he decided to make preparations towards work on Monday while everyone else at his workplace had gone home. As he was mixing some chemicals, he fell, and a bowl of acid fell on his face. He cried out in great pain as the acid burned his face and eyes, but nobody was around to help him. Finally, somebody who was passing by the factory saw the door open, went in, and saw him on the ground, groaning in pain. He was rushed to the hospital, and after the doctors attended to him and treated his face, they told him that he had lost his eyes and would never see again. He said, “Oh, that’s the doctors’ report. Take me to the Redemption Camp. Let me go and hear Jesus’ report.” When they brought him to me, my faith was honestly shaken just by looking at him. However, we serve a very big God who is not moved by the things that move men; with Him, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). I began to pray, “Father, there is nothing You cannot do. Heal the eyes of your child. Give him brand new eyes.” Today, the man the doctors said would never see again not only sees but also reads the Bible without eyeglasses!

Beloved, no matter how terrible some of the circumstances in your life might be, don’t despair. Present them to our very big God because He is more than able to handle them. I pray that God will show Himself big in your life and turn any negative situation that may exist in your life around for good, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many things in life have two sides or distinct opposites, just like the sides of a coin. For example, there is the sun and the moon, male and female, etc. God Himself has two sides. 1 John 4:8 says that He is Love; however, Hebrews 12:29 also says that He is a Consuming Fire.

God is a wonder; many things about Him attest to this. He is a lamb, and He is a lion. When you talk of a lamb, you immediately think of a tiny little sheep that is so beautiful that you want to hug it, but when you talk of a lion, that is an animal that people do not usually mess around with. The Bible also calls God a sun and a shield (Psalm 84:11). While the sun can be so hot that people run away from it, a shield protects people and makes them safe. We also know God as the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:. He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13). While He is starting some things, He is putting an end to some others. He is the One who blesses a family with a newborn baby and stands faithfully by the side of a believer who is taking his or her last breath. The same God who is merciful (Psalm 103: is also terrible (Deuteronomy 7:21). Our God is unfathomable.

In your relationship with God, there are also two sides: God’s side and your side. As you work out your salvation with fear and trembling, He works in you to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). If you say that because He is working in you, then you can continue to sin, expecting grace to abound, He will forbid that (Romans 6:1-2). Yes, He wants you to be with Him in a mansion in heaven (John 14:2-3), but if you don’t play your part to get to that mansion, you will end up in hell. I agree that Jesus Christ brought grace (John 1:17), but that same verse says that He brought truth along with it. If you reject His truth, which sanctifies you and keeps you holy (John 17:17), then you will not enjoy His grace.

Beloved, the side of God you see, and experience will depend on your actions and inactions. Walk in His truth and obey His commandments, and you will experience His favour and mercy abundantly in your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Thank God we can reach countless people around the world with the gospel through various technological devices and the internet. However, just as we are reaching many people with the gospel using technology, the devil is also using the same technology to reach people, including children. Many children now have access to pornographic sites through phones and tablets, and paedophiles manipulate children into immoral affairs through the internet. This is why, as good as technology is, parents cannot depend on it solely when it comes to raising their children.

When I was younger and there were no computers nor access to calculators, people had to do arithmetic by themselves. Nowadays, a lot of the younger generation cannot even calculate how much they are going to pay at a counter unless they use a calculator. If you are a parent, train your children not to overly rely on technology. Train them to do some things by themselves, and this will further enhance their natural abilities. These days, some children find it very difficult to relate properly with people they meet physically because they have become addicted to relating with people online. Also, some young children do not greet other people because they are always wearing headphones and engaging with their electronic devices. You must not allow technology to make your children socially deficient or emotionally handicapped. You must ensure that you encourage them to develop their natural gifts and talents while also teaching them to interact properly with the world around them.

It is really sad that some children are bullied online and are plunged into depression because of what someone online said to them. Parents must be vigilant. They shouldn’t depend on technology to keep their children occupied when they don’t want to be bothered; they just might be handing them over to the devil. Don’t delegate your children’s training and upbringing to technology. If you don’t know what your children are doing on their electronic devices at every instance, then you are depending on technology to train them for you, and trust me, technology was not developed to be a godly parent. Proverbs 22:6 says that you should train a child in the way he or she should go. Do the apps your children engage with daily know the way they should go?

Parents, spend time with your children and train them yourself. I pray that God will protect all our children from the devil’s agenda to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I will conclude this series by discussing pressure. The pressure in tyres varies with the weights they are designed to support. For example, the pressure in the tyre of a bicycle differs from that of a car. Both tyres are filled with air, but more air is pumped into a car tyre than into a bicycle’s tyre. This is because the weight that the tyre of a car supports is more than what the tyre of a bicycle supports. The tyres of an Aeroplane are just about the same size as those of a large truck; however, the pressure inside them is different. This is because an Aeroplane is much heavier, and when it lands, its tyres must be able to withstand its weight. If the air pressure in an Aeroplane’s tyre is lowered to that of a truck, the plane will crash as it lands.

How much you want to accomplish for God will determine how much of His anointing you will seek to be filled with. This is not about titles now, but about the real impact you want to have for God in the earth. The things a believer will accomplish for God are not dependent on church titles. Some bishops cannot deliver a small town from the devil’s hands, whereas some believers without any title can turn an entire country upside down for God. When it comes to accomplishing great and mighty things in God’s kingdom, what really matters is how much of the anointing a believer carries. God cannot perform mighty miracles or deliver communities and countries from powerful dark forces through believers who only carry low levels of the anointing.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
John 14:12

If you want to perform greater works as Jesus said, then you must be filled with the anointing to a very great degree. How much you want to accomplish in God’s kingdom should determine how much of the anointing you seek to be filled with.

Beloved, seek to be full of the anointing so that you can cause mighty revivals in your fields of operation, community, nation, and all around the world, just like Jesus, who went about doing good with the anointing.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
Acts 10:38

I pray that God will fill you with more of His anointing so you can influence the world with the gospel and take many territories for His kingdom, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I will continue my discussion about being filled with the anointing in various levels and degrees. The fact that a believer’s spiritual battery is very full today does not mean that it cannot still be fuller. There is actually no limit to how full your spiritual battery can be. 1 Corinthians 12:31 says that you should covet earnestly the best gifts. You must be very covetous when it comes to being filled with the anointing.

When you read 2 Kings 1:9-12, where Elijah called down fire to burn two sets of soldiers when they came to arrest him, you will know that he was full of the anointing. However, by the time you get to 2 Kings 2:9-15, Elisha told Elijah, “l want more than you have, sir.” Elijah was so full of the anointing that he could call down fire from heaven any time he wanted and shut the heavens so it would not rain for more than three years, yet Elisha wanted a double portion of that same spirit - and he got it! You also can receive more of the anointing than your spiritual leaders.

Beloved, you can be filled with the anointing to higher and higher degrees. Colossians 2:9 tells us that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus. Jesus was really full of the Holy Spirit, yet He constantly separated Himself to get more of the anointing (Matthew 14:23). Anytime He performed a special miracle, He would quickly separate Himself to get more. The One who carried the fullness of the Godhead bodily constantly went apart to get more and more. One of the major reasons many ministers of God rise and fall is that as soon as they get to a certain height, they stop getting filled. They stop studying their Bibles like before and reduce their prayer times because they now have busy schedules. Every athlete knows that he or she must work hard to become a champion. However, to remain a champion, he or she must work even harder. This is the secret to continuous growth in God.

As long as you remain thirsty for more, God will pour more into you. When Elisha told the woman in 2 Kings 4:1-6 to borrow vessels, the oil kept pouring as long as there were empty vessels remaining. The more you yield to God, the more He will pour His anointing into you and make you a wonder to the world.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.