₦airaland Forum

In a storm, there is always so much turmoil, but right in the middle of it is the part called ‘the eye of the storm’, which is usually peaceful and calm. When you are connected to the Almighty God, no matter how much trouble surrounds you, you will always experience peace and calm.

In 1 Kings 17:1, rivers dried up, and people suffered. There was so much hunger in the land, yet God provided for Elijah at all times. At one point, God sent ravens to bring him bread and meat every morning and evening. When the brook dried up, God sent him to a widow to sustain him (1 Kings 17:9). When you are connected to the King of kings, your experience will always be different from that of others around you. For example, during an economic downturn, when people are anxious about their finances, a child of God will be calm, knowing that his or her economy is in Zion, where the streets are made of gold.

In Mark 4:35-41, when Jesus and His disciples were travelling on the sea, a storm arose, but Jesus slept peacefully through it because He is connected to the Father. While the disciples were scared of perishing, He slept like a baby with a pillow (Mark 4:38). Paul also faced a huge storm, and in the midst of it, while the other people on the ship spoke of dying, he spoke of life and deliverance because God sent His angel to assure him of safety (Acts 27:20-25). His connection with God gave him the assurance that nothing evil would befall him.

Beloved, if you are in a storm and you don’t want to be swept away, you must remain connected to God. What can destroy this connection is sin. Isaiah 59:1-2 says that there is always a gap between sinners and God, and even though His arms are everlasting (Deuteronomy 33:27), they cannot reach the sinners. When people allow sin into their lives, they leave the centre of God’s will where peace and joy reign.

When Jonah chose to go to Tarshish in disobedience to God, a storm arose, and he found himself in the belly of a big fish (Jonah 1:1-17). Sin will always bring a fellow into negative situations, and that is why you must not toy with it at all. Economies and nations will fail, but if you want to keep blossoming and flourishing amidst negative reports, you must shun sin and remain connected to God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

PRAYERS FOR YOUTHS

1. Father, I thank You for all the Christian youths across the world. Thank You for this new generation that You have chosen to show forth Your glory.

2. Father, please let all the youths in my community and around the world who are yet to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour be convicted by the Holy Spirit to surrender their lives to You.

3. Father, please guide the youths as they make decisions in their education, careers, relationships, and other areas of life. Help them to make the right decisions in line with Your will for their lives, in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, please keep the youths focused on You. Help them to grow deeper in love with You, in Jesus’ name.

5. Father, please help the youths break all negative generational patterns. May they not repeat the mistakes of past generations, in Jesus’ name.

6. Lord, I come against any agenda of the enemy concerning the youths around me. They will not die, but they will live to show forth the glory of God and become terrors to the kingdom of darkness, in Jesus’ name.

7. Lord, please help the youths overcome the devil’s plans to indoctrinate them with perverse morals and cultures. I decree that his evil doctrines will have no influence over them, in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, please set the youths on fire for You. Let them rise in every part of the world, speaking boldly about You and influencing their communities for Your Kingdom, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, please let Your excellent Spirit rest on every youth. Bless them with Your wisdom and creativity, and make them agents of positive change in their societies, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, please strengthen the youths to overcome temptations, depression, stress, and anxiety. Empower them with good health and a sound mind to deal with all of life’s challenges, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, help the youths develop the right sense of responsibility that will make them excellent leaders, in Jesus’ name.

12. Your personal prayer points for the youths around you.

Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God designed the marriage institution to be sacred (Genesis 2:24), but unfortunately, many people in the world today do not see it that way. Many married couples treat their businesses and careers better than their marriages, and expectedly, the divorce rate has become alarming across the world. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16); hence, His children should never toy with it. When a couple gets divorced, they go against God’s commandment not to separate what He has joined together.

I know some people seek divorce because they consider their marriages ‘hell on earth’. While I sympathise with them, the truth is that no amount of pain on earth can be compared to an eternity in hell. Divorce is not God’s will; it is the hardness of man’s heart that made Moses permit it among the Israelites (Matthew 19:3-9).

The pain of divorce is also often very deep. It negatively affects families and can be felt for several generations. It opens doors to many vices and a lot of the decadence we see in the world today. Yes, spouses should separate when lives are threatened and then trust God for a full restoration of the family.

Married couples must stay rooted in the basics of marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33) just as successful athletes who want to remain relevant must stick to the basics of their sports. Unconditional love and submission, sacrifice, reverence, and God’s word are the basics of marriage; if couples stick to them, they will experience bliss and peace in their marriages.

Married couples must pray together regularly. They must remain vigilant and never be ignorant of the devil’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). Sometimes, when the devil is after a married couple with children, his main target is not the couple themselves but their children since he knows that broken homes often, if not always, negatively affect children. Married couples should defend their homes and protect their children with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved, if you are married, consistently stand in the gap for your marriage with prayers. God has restored many ‘dead’ marriages because one or both parties prayed and acted according to His word concerning their marriage. If you are planning to get married, you must prayerfully seek God’s counsel before doing so. For Christian marriages to be successful, couples must ensure that their marriage is rooted in God’s word and also ensure that they work together to nurture it with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I’ll conclude my discussion on this topic by stating that God wants His children to enjoy their marriages, as we see in Mark 10:8. However, for this to happen, they must cleave to their spouses. When you want to glue two objects, they must be in close proximity. When couples live in different states or countries for a long period of time, their children are usually affected negatively and may end up being raised by only one parent or other people. God instructed parents to train their children (Proverbs 22:6), but this cannot be effectively done virtually or by proxy. Parents’ physical presence greatly impacts the quality of training and also strengthens the bond between them and their children. When both parents live in the same house with their children, it is easier for the couple to monitor and correct them as required.

Zeruiah’s story is one of the most pathetic accounts about families in the Bible. Zeruiah was David’s sister, and she had three sons – Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Throughout the Bible, I observed that there was no mention of their father (1 Chronicles 2:16), and I’m inclined to think that this was because he was not as involved in the family as a good father should be. Although the boys grew up to become mighty men, they exhibited weaknesses that became their undoing. Asahel was a swift runner, and at one time, he ran until he was killed (2 Samuel 2:12-32). Joab’s hot temper made him go against his boss and uncle, David, until David placed a curse on him (2 Samuel 3:26-29). Abishai was rash in his attempt to kill God’s anointed, Saul, and David had to caution him (1 Samuel 26:5-12). Another person in the Bible whose children didn’t turn out well was Eli. In my studies, I observed that there was no mention of his wife’s role in raising their children, so I was not surprised that they became sons of Belial (1 Samuel 2:12).

Living in different locations might be unavoidable for married couples sometimes, but this should only be for short periods of time. Single parenting is highly challenging, and I pray that God will give all single parents the strength and wisdom to raise their children according to His will. When both parents are alive and well, it is important that they work together to raise their children in the way of the Lord.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I will continue my discussion on why spouses should cleave together. When a married couple live far apart from each other for a long period of time, they will both begin to change according to their different environments without realising it. As people grow older and have new experiences, they change, and if a married couple are not going through these experiences together, they may become strangers to each other after a while. By the time such couples finally come together, they will likely be shocked by their differences.

It is difficult to cleave as one with someone you are not living with. What creates strong bonds between some siblings is not just the fact that they were born by the same parents but that they grew up together and went through certain experiences together. This is also why childhood friends have a strong bond. If you really want to cleave as one with your spouse, you need to live through experiences together. You may say, “We talk about our day on the phone every evening,” but that is not the same as physical interaction.

When you study the Bible, you will see that couples who relocated did so together. When Abraham relocated to Egypt, he went with Sarah (Genesis 13:1). When Elimelech went to Moab in search of greener pastures, he went with his wife, Naomi (Ruth 1:1). Although their story was tragic, the lesson is that relocation should be a joint venture. When the angel appeared to Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt because of Herod’s murderous intention, the family went together (Matthew 2:13-14). There may be some unavoidable situations that may require one partner to travel to another location first. However, in such situations, the family should not stay apart for more than six months before they come back together again.

It is not healthy for couples to cause a separation in their marriage just because they want to relocate to another location they consider to be ‘greener pastures’. Anything that will affect the unity of a marriage shouldn’t be considered or permitted. Couples should do everything possible to stay together because God commands it (Mark 10:9). When they are together, it is easier to pray and agree on certain matters. However, when they are in different countries with different time zones, it is more difficult. Cleaving to one’s spouse requires being intentional about bonding, being united, and living through experiences together.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We live in a fast-paced world where many people are chasing wealth and riches at all costs. As a result, many marriages are suffering. In some cases, a husband works in a different state or country while the rest of his family lives in another state or country. Long distance courtships have existed for a long time, but now, we have long-distance marriages. In truth, however, a long-distance marriage isn’t healthy for any family. A couple can have a short-term arrangement for them to be apart for unavoidable reasons, but this should not be for long.

Many cases of infidelity in marriage result from the absence of one spouse. Sometimes, even married couples that live together practice long-distance marriages. This might be because one spouse leaves for work very early in the morning and gets back very late at night. Such couples are living separate lives, and one or both of the spouses are likely to form connections with the people they spend most of their time with in their spouse’s absence. Such connections can turn into ungodly affairs.

As a married fellow, if you notice that you prefer talking to other people than talking to your spouse, there is fire on the mountain. When you prefer spending time outside your home rather than with your spouse, there is trouble. When you prefer discussing intimate issues with your ‘friends’ of the opposite sex instead of your spouse, you should retrace your steps and work on fixing whatever issues that exist in your marriage. Don’t deceive yourself by saying, “I’m not doing anything with that fellow; we are just friends.” Most extra-marital relationships start from casual friendships, and after a while, the devil introduces temptations that can lead to sinful acts. I pray that you will overcome any temptation that can destroy your marriage, in Jesus’ name.

If you’re married, spend more time with your spouse and make him or her your confidant. Go out to fun places and take frequent walks together. At least once a month, dress up and go on a date. Book a hotel room or a private lodge for a weekend at least once every year so you can spend quality time with your spouse, away from all distractions. After your relationship with God, your relationship with your spouse is the most important in your life because God has designed you both to become one, as Genesis 2:24 points out. Be intentional about cleaving to your spouse, and God will bless your marriage, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The first equation in what I call the ‘mathematics of marriage’ states that ‘Love is blind. Proverbs 10:12 says that love covers a multitude of sins; therefore, married people should not complain about all of their spouse’s faults. To deflect offences, they must learn to accommodate their shortcomings.

Some people are known to call their spouses ‘angels’ affectionately. Though I am not against this, another equation states that ‘Angels don’t eat jollof rice.’ This is a humorous way of stating that human beings are not angels and, hence, are prone to human mistakes. It is important that married people do not have unreasonable expectations of their spouses that will keep them in a state of being constantly offended. If you’re married or about to get married, you must understand that you and your spouse will offend each other many times in your marriage. However, knowing how to deflect those offences and turn them around will help you a lot.

Years ago, I was preparing for a trip, and my wife wanted to accompany me to the airport. I knew she was likely going to delay me, so I said, “A car will move faster if it is not pulling a trailer behind it.” She responded, “Who’s the trailer?” I could sense that she was offended by what I said, so I quickly said, “I’m the trailer; you’re the car. I don’t want to slow you down.” She laughed and said, “You’re not serious.” If I didn’t know how to turn the situation around, a fight could have started from there. It is important for married people to know when to stop talking or say things that will diffuse the tension when their partners are about to get offended.

James 1:19 is a perfect template for deflecting offences in marriage. When you are swift to hear, you will know how to patiently listen to your spouse without looking for ways to attack him or her or defend yourself unnecessarily. Being slow to speak is knowing that sometimes, it is unwise to say everything on your mind. Lastly, any fellow who is slow to anger will not easily get offended.

Beloved, if you want to have a marriage with fewer fights and offences, you must learn not to have unreasonable expectations of your spouse. You must also learn to accommodate your spouse’s weaknesses while you work patiently with him or her to get better through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Marriage is a school where you study a subject called ‘the spouse’. People need to study their spouses in order to discover what makes them happy and what offends them. Spouses also need to learn how to support each other to achieve their goals and succeed in all aspects of life.

If you are married, understanding your spouse will help you avoid offence, especially when you know his or her weaknesses. For example, a man who knows that his wife struggles with managing time should not be offended whenever she takes her time to get ready for outings. Instead, he should help her to manage her time however he can. Likewise, a woman who knows that her husband struggles to express his feelings should be more patient with him and encourage him to be more open with her. In marriage, you must seek to understand your spouse’s strengths and weaknesses so you can work together to make the best of your union.

When I got married to my wife, we made a vow never to be angry at the same time. We agreed that whenever one of us gets angry, the other partner should keep quiet. One day, we were travelling to Lagos from llesha, another town in Western Nigeria, when my wife got angry about something and expressed her feelings to me. I knew she was right, but l was also angry. As I was driving, she continued to express her anger, but I could not say anything to her because of our vow. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I parked the car and walked away, leaving her inside. After walking for a while, l stopped at a village and bought some fruits. I returned to the car and gave them to her. My wife was already worried because I had been gone for a while. She accepted my peace offering, and that was the end of the issue. I was able to appease her in this manner because we had taken some time to study each other, and we know what works for us.

Once some people go through courtship and then get married, they wrongly think they have learnt all they need to know about their partner. They do not realise that they have only just begun. If you are married, you will avoid many misunderstandings if you humble yourself to study your spouse with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 1979, I would wake up in the middle of the night and cry out to God, “Oh God, I have agreed to serve You as a minister, but I don’t want to be an ordinary minister of the gospel. I need power to do Your work; please give me power.” I would cry out to God in prayer from 10pm to 5am, but nothing happened for months. Then, one night, God spoke and said, “Will you keep quiet and listen? What have you done with the power you already have?” I thought to myself, “If I already had power, why would I be asking for it?” The Lord continued, “Son, what is written in Acts 1:8?” I knew it by heart, so I quoted it. He then asked if l had been baptised in the Holy Spirit, and I said, “Years ago.” He asked me, “Is my word true?” I replied, “Yes, it is.” He asked further, “If you have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, why then are you still asking for power? I said, “But Lord, I don’t feel powerful”. Then He said, “Did I say the just shall live by their feelings?” He told me that the just lives by faith, not feelings, as the Bible says in Romans 1:17. After this conversation, I told myself that I would lay hands on the next sick fellow I came across, and I went to sleep.

I woke up late the following morning to meet a church member with her child in my living room. This woman had a child who had been ill and the child had not slept for days. At the hospital, she was asked to take the child home because there was nothing more the doctors could do. Although I was scared, I laid my hands on the child and felt the child go limp. I thought the child was dead, but when I opened my eyes, the child was fast asleep; God had healed her. Since then, I have not stopped laying hands on people, and l have seen special miracles happen.

Beloved, if you are baptised in the Holy Ghost, you already have the power of God in you. You do not have to feel powerful; just believe in God’s word, and He will perform special miracles through you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many years ago, God spoke to me while I was preaching, and I shared it with the congregation. He said, “There is someone here; three breakthroughs are coming for you. When the first comes, 100% of the proceeds should be given to Me. When the second comes, you are to split it 50-50 between Me and you. The third one will be all yours.” Some days later, a widow brought some money to me and said that it was the proceed of the first breakthrough God had mentioned. Because I knew she was struggling financially, I refused to collect the money, insisting that God may not have been referring to her. She insisted that I collect it, and I eventually did. I kept the money somewhere, ready to return it to her whenever she realised that she was not the one the prophecy was about. After some time, she returned and said, “Daddy, this is 50% of the second breakthrough.” I collected it, prayed for her, and kept that also. A while later, she came back to me and said, “Daddy, the bank that said my husband owed them some money before he died called me recently to apologise. You know how I have been struggling to pay back the debt; however, they said that they just discovered that my husband was not owing them. They mentioned that they were the ones owing him a lot of money, and now, they have paid me everything.” She heard God’s message and knew without a doubt that He was talking about her. She obeyed His instruction, even though it was not convenient, and she experienced greater breakthroughs.

Some people want to be comfortable financially and have more time before they can serve God. They want to have a better job before they pay their tithes. The widow in Luke 21 : 1 - 4 proved her commitment to God by giving her all when it wasn’t convenient. People who always want to wait until they are comfortable before they serve God often don’t get to serve Him at all. Paul told Timothy to preach the gospel in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). ‘Out of season’ refers to inconvenient moments, and those moments test our commitment to God.

Beloved, you don’t prove your commitment to God when it is convenient for you to obey Him. Honour and obey God in season and out of season, and you will experience His overflowing blessings.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Proverbs 27:21

People should not chase after fame because of its potency to destroy. In 1 Samuel 9:1, Saul’s father, Kish, was described as a mighty man of power who was also wealthy. Yet, Saul was obviously very humble because when his father sent him to search for their lost donkeys, he went without complaining. Even during the search, he listened to his servant’s advice to seek a prophet’s counsel concerning the lost animals (1 Samuel 9:6-. When he became the king of Israel, he was humble in the first two years of his reign until he began to seek the approval of men. Saul forgot that it was God who appointed him king, and he began to chase after endorsements from men. The first time he did this was when the Philistines gathered against him, and Samuel delayed before joining him at Gilgal. When he saw the people scattering from him, he did what he wasn’t supposed to do by offering the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13:7-10). He did the wrong thing because he wanted to gain the people’s attention and approval. It was a costly mistake because it earned him God’s disapproval. When we allow the desire to gain people’s approval to move us into doing the wrong things, we have set ourselves against God.

In 1 Samuel 15, despite his earlier mistake, God gave Saul a chance to repent. He instructed him to destroy the Amalekites. God’s command was clear: utterly destroy them and spare no one (1 Samuel 15:3). However, Saul, in his blind lust to be ‘a man of the people,’ went against God’s instructions (1 Samuel 15:24). When we seek fame above serving God, we have fallen into the trap of the fear of man because the Bible says that the fear of man brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25).

People who desperately seek fame will compromise God’s standards to please people. At the end of the day, such people, like Saul, will lose out because God will not trust a man who desperately desires fame with the precious matters of His Kingdom.

Beloved, do not chase after the approval of men. Rather, let God’s approval be your primary motivation. When you fear the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly, He will position you to influence others for Him.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Praise is a weapon that turns situations men have already tagged ‘hopeless’ into joyful ones. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-28, three mighty nations came against Jehoshaphat and the children of Judah. It was a seemingly hopeless situation, but God instructed Jehoshaphat to leave every weapon behind and put the singers at the battlefront to give praises to Him. Interestingly, the enemies destroyed each other, and all the children of Judah needed to do was take away the treasures the three great armies brought along with them to the battle.

When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison unjustly, they engaged the weapon of praise. As they praised God, their chains fell off, and the prison doors opened (Acts 16:25-26). I pray in the name above every name, as you engage the weapon of praise, every situation tagged hopeless in your life will be turned around for your good. The Lord will turn your mourning into dancing and fill you with joy, in Jesus’ name.

In Joshua 6:2-5, the city of Jericho was shut in as a means of protection from the Israelites, and the only available option was to mount a siege that could last for months. God, however, gave Joshua a strategy that made the wall of Jericho fall down without any physical weapon within seven days. When the people shouted loudly after the priests blew the trumpet, the wall fell down flat (Joshua 6:20). If you are faced with a challenge of any kind and you are yet to get results even after fasting and praying, then you should praise God. When everything else fails, praise will not. Praise attracts God’s presence; He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). When we praise God, we transfer our battles to Him, and He arises on our behalf.

Praise creates a joyful atmosphere around us, and it is with joy that we draw solutions and answers out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). As long as the enemy can keep a fellow sorrowful, he can steal his or her miracles. As long as Hannah was in bitterness of soul, her womb remained closed. However, the moment she arose, wiped her tears, and became joyful, the Lord remembered her (1 Samuel 1:10-19).

Beloved, are you expecting anything from the Lord? Do you desire a change in your circumstances? Stop whining, complaining, and wearing a sorrowful countenance. Engage the weapon of praise, and my God will remember you and bless you, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A young fellow once gained admission into a university abroad and celebrated with his friends and family. However, during the celebration, one of his father’s enemies said to himself, “This boy is going abroad; if he succeeds over there, he will return and buy his father a car. I will give him something to carry along that will ensure that he fails,” so he diabolically inflicted the boy with a strange ailment. The boy got to his school and began to feel a terrible pain in his body. Doctors examined him thoroughly and could not diagnose what was wrong with him. After six years of living in pain, he returned to Nigeria and attended one of our programmes that was held at Ibadan Grammar School. While I was ministering, the power of God hit him, and the pain disappeared. He started shouting, “It is gone!” God gave him a new song after six years of torment, and He can do the same for everyone who cries out to Him in faith (Romans 10:11-13).

In 1994, the RCCG held a programme in Lagos tagged ‘The Battle of the gods’. A man who attended the programme was suffering from four killer diseases: hypertension, diabetes, meningitis, and a heart problem. His doctors had advised him to travel abroad, and while planning to do so, he decided to come for the programme. The power of the Almighty God touched him; he was healed of all four diseases and was given a new song.

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion… Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing…
Psalm 126:1-2

One of the proofs that God has turned around people’s captivity is that their tongues will be filled with songs of joy. New songs always accompany deliverance, salvation, and miracles. In Exodus 15:1-21, after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and watched their enemies drown, they sang a new song to God. Moses and Miriam composed new songs, and everyone sang along to praise God for His wonderful miracles. Deborah also sang a new song after God gave them victory over Sisera and Jabin, the king of the Canaanites (Judges 5:1-31). Hannah was another person who received a new song from the Lord after she birthed Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1-10). I pray that the Lord will fill your mouth with songs of joy and laughter and give every member of your family new songs before the end of this year, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many people are called by names they were not given at birth. They may not be called these names to their faces, but in their absence, people refer to them with those names. Sometimes, these names are not based on their good qualities but on qualities they are not proud of. For example, in Mark 10:46-52, the Bible tells us about a blind man called Bartimaeus whom Jesus restored his sight. To date, however, people still refer to him as ‘Blind Bartimaeus’. I don’t know if people are currently calling you negative names, but I know that my God can change your story for good such that you won’t have those negative qualities the world describes you by anymore, and they will have no other choice than to call you a new name.

Whenever God sees that a name is hindering His work in a fellow’s life, He can change the name as He did with Abraham. Abraham was first called Abram, and although this name had a good meaning – exalted father – it didn’t fully capture what God had in store for him. Therefore, God had a conversation with him one day and said, “I want to make you a father of many nations, but your name is hindering Me from doing so. Henceforth, you will no longer be called Abram but Abraham because I have made you a father of many nations.” God also changed the name of his wife from Sarai to Sarah, which was more suitable for the matriarch she was to become (Genesis 17:3-16).

When I was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, a typist, whom everyone jokingly called ‘Prof’, made a life changing decision. He said to himself, “I am a typist, but everyone calls me ‘prof’. I will indeed become a professor.” He started taking evening classes, and after a while, he wrote his exams and gained admission into the University of Lagos. Before I left the University of Lagos, the typist was already studying for his Ph.D. He made up his mind to truly change his name and not to remain a joke.

Beloved, you can also make up your mind to have a brand new beginning by surrendering all to God and asking Him to change any negative name that is hindering His glory from being manifested in your life. I pray that God will turn around any negative situation that men define you by and fill your life with joy and laughter, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When Elijah went to Elisha’s farm and threw his mantle on him, Elisha didn’t waste time before he surrendered all to answer God’s call. Elisha seemed to be a rich fellow because Elijah met him plowing with twelve yokes of oxen when he passed by him. However, Elisha didn’t count this as anything because he returned home, killed a yoke of oxen, gave it to his people, and followed Elijah to become his servant. Within a day, the manager of an apparently thriving agricultural business became a prophet’s servant.

Elisha ministered to Elijah and was known as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11). The blessings Elisha got for surrendering all in service to God are unquantifiable. He received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing (2 Kings 2:9-15), became a father to kings (2 Kings 6:21), and even after his death, his dry bones raised a dead man back to life (2 Kings 13:21). When a man surrenders all to the One who made him, he will live an impactful life.

From Elisha’s story, we see that lasting greatness begins with absolute surrender. Any seed that will count for anything, must first enter into the soil and die. It must surrender its beauty and strength so as to rot in the earth before new life can sprout from it. Jesus said:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 12:24-25

Beloved, surrender all to the One who made you, and He will guide you aright. When you surrender your life to God, you are asking Him to help you because you don’t know the best way to live your life. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” Paul also knew the secret to absolute surrender, and that is why he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Those who surrender all to Jesus will gain more in the end. However, those who keep a part of their lives, like Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-2 end up losing even more than the things they are trying to keep.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Mark 10:46-52, Bartimaeus cried continually until Jesus attended to him. If Bartimaeus had not been persistent, he may not have gotten his miracle. In Genesis 32:24-28, when the angel said to Jacob, “Let me go,” he replied, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

Beloved, hold on to God until you get your miracle. He said in Isaiah 62:6-7 that you should not let Him rest until He establishes you and makes you a praise in the earth. Many people don’t get their miracles because they give up too soon. However, people who know how to continually knock on heaven’s doors always receive answers. Jesus told the parable of the widow who didn’t stop demanding justice in Luke 18:2-5. She wouldn’t let the judge rest until he attended to her matter. Although he didn’t fear God or regard men, the widow’s persistence pushed him to help her. In Luke 11:5-10, Jesus told another parable of a fellow who went to his friend’s house at midnight to ask for bread to entertain a visitor. Jesus said that even though his friend might not want to respond to him because it was late, he would rise and give him as many loaves as he wanted because of his persistence.Heaven-inspired devotional

Every problem you might experience in your life has an expiry date if you don’t give up on God. If you continually knock, the door will eventually open. People who are fainthearted or give up easily cannot get anything significant from life. Such people let go, even when they are so close to their blessing. People who don’t let go are people of great determination. Some of them wrestle all night in prayer and continue knocking on heaven’s door until they receive answers. Be determined; don’t give up on your prayers until you receive answers like Daniel (Daniel 10:2-14), Jacob (Genesis 32:24-28), Elijah (1 Kings 18:42-45), and the widow in Jesus’ parable (Luke 18:2-5).

Beloved, you can grow your strength by consuming God’s word and waiting on Him in the place of prayer. Do not let the enemy cheat you by wearing you down at the edge of your breakthrough; hold on firmly to God’s promises. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, you will eventually receive your miracle if you persist in your prayers like the woman in Matthew 15:21-28.

Do you want a blessing like Jacob or justice like the widow in Luke 18:2-5? Don’t let go. Keep knocking and pushing until your answer comes.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Genesis 18:2-8, after Abraham set a meal before his divine visitors, he stood by them and watched them eat. Even though Abraham probably sensed that there was something divine and powerful about them, he did not begin to burden them with tales of his problems, such as his childlessness. Instead, he attended to their needs and waited on them in case they needed anything else. This is the kind of fellow that God goes all the way to provide for – someone who can truly wait on Him and is willing to attend to His needs first. God is looking for genuine worshippers who can patiently stay in His presence and fellowship with Him without being in a hurry to make demands (John 4:23-24). Are you that kind of worshipper?

In life, people wait for different things at different times, such as waiting in a doctor’s office for consultations and waiting in traffic for hours. However, despite the fact that many Christians do not mind waiting for hours for these things, they are quick to hurry out of God’s presence after spending just a few minutes.

In Psalm 100:4, the Bible says that you must come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praises. In other words, no matter how pressing your needs are, you must not come to God complaining about them; instead, you should give Him thanks and praise first. You must realise that the One in whose presence you are is the King of all kings; you are at His mercy and not the other way around. You must find out the things He wants and attend to them first. What does God want? He loves praises (Psalm 22:3) and thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). Also, He is looking for people who will intercede for others (Ezekiel 22:30), and He wants souls (John 15:16). When You give Him these things, He will bring laughter to your face.

Waiting on the Lord is the secret to getting instant answers and miracles. When you go to a restaurant, a good waiter doesn’t give you his favourite food; rather, he waits on you to know what you want, then, he delivers it courteously as fast as he can.

Beloved, have you tried to find out what God wants? When you go to Him in prayer, are you serving Him His delicacies or just dumping your requests on Him? God seeks waiters who will do what He wants, and when He finds them, He goes all the way to satisfy them.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN

1. Thank God for the lives of all the children around you. Thank Him for giving their parents the grace to take care of them.

2. Father, I commit all the children around me into Your care. Please surround them with Your angels and shield them from all dangers.

3. Father, please help all the children around me encounter You so they can have an intimate relationship with You as Samuel did.

4. Father, please bless all the children around me with the spirit of excellence as You did for Daniel, in Jesus’ name.

5. Father, please bless all the children around me with wisdom and the gift of discernment that is beyond their ages so they can make decisions that align with Your will.

6. Father, I commit the health of all the children around me into Your hands; please give them strength in their body, mind, and spirit. Please bless them with divine health, in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, please surround all the children around me with good friends who will influence them to do great things that will bring glory to Your holy name.

8. Father, please give all the children around me the courage and strength to overcome all the challenges that come their way, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, please help all the children around me to fulfil Your purpose for their lives, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, please let all the children around me carry Your presence and make them a blessing to everyone around them, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, please provide godly and healthy children to all the couples around me who are trusting You for the fruit of the womb. Let none be barren around me, in Jesus’ name.

12. Your personal prayer points for the children in your family, community, local assembly, and across the world.

Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When Pharaoh said, “I won’t let the Israelites go,” he wasn’t talking about limiting them to a geographical location; he was talking about a different kind of bondage (Exodus 5:2). People who are in the kind of bondage that Pharaoh was referring to have no control over anything, not even their children (Exodus 1:1-22).

If a country’s government says that parents cannot raise their children in the way of the Lord, they should know that there is an evil agenda behind it. That is bondage, and they must not allow themselves to remain under it. Parents shouldn’t depend on any government to teach their children. Rather, they should take charge and teach them God’s values from His word. If a government insists that parents cannot teach their children what is right, they should move out of that place and go where they will not be under bondage.

Parents should check what their children are being taught in school and ensure they are not influenced to adopt a mindset that is against God’s will. They should also check the games they play and the cartoons they watch because, through them, something evil can be positioned to influence their mindsets. If you take charge of the children and youths around you, it will be difficult for them to be influenced by an evil agenda. If you are a parent, you must intentionally create time to teach your children God’s ways so that they will know Him for themselves as they grow. Let them spend more time with fellow believers, doing things that will make them grow up into godly adults.

When I moved to Redemption City with my family, my children were schooling far away, and they had to leave the house before 6am on school days so they wouldn’t be late for school. In order to have a relationship with them, we often ate our dinner in the car together as we drove back home from their school. As they grew older, I began to take them on evangelistic outreaches. Even when they were in the university, whenever I visited them, I ensured we spent quality time together. We would take walks and discuss the Scriptures; then, I’d guide them with God’s principles.

Parents, take charge of your children; don’t let the enemy win them over. God will hold you accountable for the children He has given you as He did with Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-31). Rise up to the responsibility of nurturing and training them in His ways.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Diligence means doing the right things to achieve a goal in an excellent, timely, and consistent manner. In Mark 10:46-52, Bartimaeus didn’t only cry once; he kept crying until Jesus answered him. Likewise, the woman with the issue of blood kept pressing forward until she finally got to Jesus (Luke 8:43-48). If you want to succeed at anything in life, you must be diligent and keep persevering despite obstacles.

I once gave a project to someone at the beginning of a year, and l intended to give him another one as soon as he was done. He was meant to complete the first project within three months; however, by September, he was still struggling to complete it, and there was no way I would have given him another one. God had opened a door of financial blessings to him, but he refused to be diligent.

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the parable of three servants who received talents from their master. Two of the servants were diligent, and they doubled what they received. When the master returned, he commended the two diligent servants and rewarded them handsomely. He said to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

In the same parable, you also see the direct consequences of laziness. The servant with one talent hid it and refused to trade with it. The consequence of not being diligent was not only the loss of his talent but also sorrow for the rest of his life. While the diligent servant who started with five ended up with eleven, the lazy servant ended up with sorrow. Jesus said, “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath” (Matthew 13:12). Anyone who has the virtue of diligence will have more, but those who lack this virtue will lose even what they have.

Beloved, diligence is powerful; it will position you for greatness and more abundance. Whatever you do according to God’s will, do it diligently with all your strength. Don’t delay, and don’t quit because of limitations or obstacles. I pray that God will reward your diligence with His abundance, in Jesus' name.

Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I don’t believe in impossibilities. This is why, when I ask someone to do something, and that fellow says it is impossible, l move on immediately and get someone else to do it.

When we were building Redemption City, some people said it was impossible to build a house within seven days, but we did it. They also said the house would collapse soon, but it has been standing for over 40 years. Then, they said, “It’s a bungalow. A storey building will take months to build.” However, we built a storey building in 18 days. They moved on to say that it would soon collapse, but it is still standing over 30 years later. In those cases, what we simply did was find a way to double time. Workers were working on the construction site day and night. That way, what should have taken two days to accomplish only took one. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we were successful – that is what I call divine engineering. No matter how impossible something looks, if you have the Holy Spirit and are determined to get that thing done, there will always be a way.

Several years ago, I was in a faraway country to minister during a Holy Ghost Service. The venue that was used for the service was a rented property, so for me to have a place to stay and pray before the service, they had to bring a motorhome. As I stepped out of the motorhome to go for my ministration, and while the protocol officers were still trying to clear the way for me, a woman who had been barren for many years ran into the motorhome and sat on the seat I had just gotten up from. The protocol officers ran after her and took her out of the motorhome immediately, but the woman was not bothered because she believed she had gotten her miracle. She had faith that God would give her a miracle child if she could just sit in the motorhome, and she became pregnant that month!

The woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8:43-48 was determined enough to disregard all the obstacles that could have prevented her from touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Sometimes, you will face obstacles in life; however, you must know that with God, nothing is impossible. Trust Him, and don’t give up; He will make a way where there seems to be no way, and you will testify.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The author I referred to in yesterday’s teaching also said, “Life is an opportunity; seize it.” I agree with this saying. Indeed, life is an opportunity, and you must grab it with both hands.

I learnt a poem way back in 1957 which says,
“There is a tide in the affairs of men Which,
taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries.”

The above poem means that when people take an opportunity and make good use of it, they will attain higher heights; however, if they let it go, it might never be regained. Believe me, God is fair to all. He will, at one time or the other, present you with the opportunities you need to fulfil your destiny. The rest of your life will then depend on how you use the opportunities He has given you. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says that time and chance happen to ALL. Everyone will have their time and chance, but some will not seize it.

When some people are struggling, especially the elderly, it is likely that they misused their time and chance when they were younger. Many people don’t even recognise an opportunity when it comes. This is why you must always be spiritually alert. Imagine what would have become of me if l did not use the opportunity of being in The Redeemed Christian Church of God correctly, or if I had left the church at the slightest provocation. At that time, I wouldn’t have known it, but l would have walked away from my destiny.

People who are easily offended often miss their opportunities because opportunities sometimes come in unattractive packages. For Samuel, his opportunity came in the house of Eli and his wayward sons. If Samuel had gotten offended as a child and told his mother that he wanted to return home, he might have missed the opportunity to become the great prophet whose word never fell to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19). For David, his opportunity came when he obeyed his father’s instruction to take food to the battlefield for his brothers (1 Samuel 17:14-20). I pray that you will discern your opportunities and use them well, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

An author once said, “Life is a challenge; meet it.” I would even go further to say, “Rise above it.” Nowadays, however, many young people are seeking a ‘soft life’; there is nothing like a soft life. When I was in secondary school, my teacher taught me that every human being brought a pillow into this world, which must be used before we leave. If some people choose not to use the pillow when they are young, they will definitely use it when they are old. According to my teacher, that pillow represents hardship.

If young people choose to put aside pleasures and go through the hardship of discipline to study, work hard, and nurture the right relationships in their youth, they will enjoy their old age. However, if they choose to party and play around in their youth, when they are old, they will either be lonely or have no choice but to work hard to make ends meet. What my teacher called a pillow is what the Bible calls ‘the yoke’ in Lamentations 3:27:

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Note that the Scripture above does not say ‘a yoke’, but ‘the yoke’. In other words, every individual has a yoke, and it is good for that person to bear it in his or her youth. People who don’t want to bear the yoke in their youth are lazy people.

Some people are born into royal families, but they may never have the opportunity to rule if they are lazy. Who, then, is qualified to rule? Anyone who wants to rule must be ready for hard work. Those who want to rule must be ready to bear the yoke in their youth. If you want to live a soft life in your youth, then you are not ready to rule. Ruling is hard work, and it is only the diligent that will bear rule, as Proverbs 12:24 tells us. There is no easy road to success; the fact that a fellow was born by a successful person does not mean that the person will succeed in life.

If you are a youth and you want to reign in life, shun laziness. You must also remember your creator in the days of your youth before the difficult days come (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You don’t own your life; take up your cross and follow Jesus so that it can be well with you all the days of your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is nothing like being a testifier and experiencing testimonies personally. When you read of mighty miracles in the Bible or hear testimonies of the great things God has done for His people, you might not fully understand His ‘Almightiness’. However, this will not be the case if you personally experience His supernatural intervention.

Before the spies came to Jericho in Joshua 2:1-23, Rahab had heard of the many mighty miracles of God. She hadn’t seen any of those miracles, but she believed them, and her faith eventually made her experience some of God’s miracles. When you hear a testimony or read about something that God did in the Scriptures, let it build faith in you. The faith built from the testimonies you hear can help you to also experience miracles, like the woman in Mark 5:25-34 who was reported to have heard about Jesus (Mark 5:27).

I struggled to believe in divine healing and health when I first became born again. In those days, I was always down with malaria, and I kept taking medications. One day, I saw an elderly man, whom I had always known to have a bent back, walking perfectly upright in church. I was eager to know what had happened to him, and while sharing his testimony he said that he had gone to evangelise as usual when someone started insulting him in the neighbourhood. The fellow told him that if his God is so powerful, He would have healed him from his condition. On hearing this, the man said that he got angry and stood straight. He said that even though his back was burning with pain, he stood straight because he couldn’t stand hearing someone talk about his God in that manner. On getting to his house, the pain disappeared completely. When I heard that testimony, my faith was stirred, and I knew that divine health was possible. I allowed Jesus to become my doctor, and by His grace, I have not had to take malaria medications ever since. l experienced a miracle because my faith increased when I heard someone else’ testimony.

Beloved, if you have heard a testimony from someone about a kind of miracle that you are believing God for, let it build faith in you. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); if He has given someone a miracle, He is willing and able to do the same for you. I pray that you will experience a mighty miracle from God today, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A lady, who had consistently failed her driving test for 17 years, attended one of our Holy Ghost Services. During the service, the word of God came, “There is somebody here; you will never fail another exam.” The next time she took the driving test, she passed.

When God’s word comes, negative cycles of frustration and pain come to an end. After Joshua and the Israelites crossed Jordan, they were met by another obstacle: Jericho. The city had formidable walls, and the gates were shut.

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
Joshua 6:1

When the word of God came, the walls fell down like a pack of cards before the Israelites. I decree today that the word you need to overcome great and ancient obstacles will come to you, in Jesus’ name.

The sick man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-9 had endured a terrible cycle of frustration, pain, and disappointment for 38 years. However, when the word of God (Jesus) came to him, he got his healing and was delivered from the long cycle of negative circumstances surrounding him. When the word of God came to him, everything turned around for good. In the name that is above every other name, the word that will turn your good dreams into realities and change whatever negative circumstances that exist in your life permanently will come to you. If you have been experiencing any form of bondage, God will destroy everything that has kept you in chains, in Jesus’ name.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the story of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets changed for good. When her husband died, he left his family in so much debt that his sons were going to become slaves. Thankfully, she didn’t keep her problems to herself; she cried out to God’s representative, Elisha, and her cry activated a word from heaven that changed her life. She got a miracle that not only brought her out of debt but also gave her and her children enough to live on for the rest of her life.

Beloved, you can get God to send His word to heal you and break you out of any bondage you might be experiencing if you cry to Him for help. If you stay quiet, nothing will change about the situation. However, if you cry to Him, He will send His word and deliver you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prophecies can be conditional. For instance, Isaiah 1:12 says that you will eat the good of the land if you are willing and obedient. Also, Isaiah 3:10 says, “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him…” However, when it comes to decrees, God does not attach conditions. In Genesis 1:3, He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

There had been many prophecies concerning Abraham, including prophecies that he would be the father of many nations and that his children would be as many as the stars in the sky. However, in Genesis 18:14, God simply said, “In nine months’ time, Sarah will give birth to a son.” That is a clear example of turning a prophecy into a decree.

As a child of God, there is always something you need to do to turn prophecies into decrees. When you provoke a blessing from God, He is likely to turn the prophecies He has given you into decrees. To provoke God into doing this, you need to honour Him. Honouring God does not always have to do with material things. Abraham didn’t give his visitors any gifts; he simply honoured them by hosting them in his home. You can honour God by simply obeying His commands, such as His command to win souls (Matthew 28:19-20). You can also honour Him by serving in your local assembly and honouring him with your firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9).

Another way to honour God is by having faith in His word. In Luke 7:1-10, when the centurion sent the elder of the Jews to plead with Jesus to come and heal his sick servant, Jesus was ready to do so until the man sent his friends to say, “Lord, you don’t have to come to my house because I believe Your word is just as powerful as You are. Just speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:6-. Jesus was amazed at the man’s faith, and his servant was healed immediately. Giving God thanks is yet another way to honour Him. In Luke 17:12-19, ten lepers cried out to Jesus for mercy, and He asked them to show themselves to the priests. They received their healing on the way, but only one of them returned to glorify God. Jesus then decreed his wholeness because he returned to give thanks.

Beloved, as you follow these principles, I pray that every good prophecy you have received will become a decree, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Ezra 5-7, a Shunammite woman compelled Elisha to stop by her house for a meal as he passed through her city. She kept on entertaining the prophet at her home every time he passed by, and eventually, she and her husband built him a little room in their house so he could stay and rest during his travels. After a while, Elisha, moved by her generosity, summoned her and told her that she would soon be carrying a baby. She conceived and gave birth to a son according to the prophet’s decree, all because of her hospitality.

Sometimes, when the appointed time for your miracle comes, you will suddenly have a very strong urge to be really generous and hospitable. You will desire to be a blessing to people even more than before. Hebrews 13:2 says that you should be mindful to entertain strangers as you may be entertaining angels without knowing it. The reason for this is that God can send an angel to deliver your miracle, and that angel can come in the form of a human being. If you are hospitable to the angel, you will get the miracle.

In Genesis 18:1-14, Abraham saw three men passing in front of his tent, and he invited them to eat, wash their feet, and rest a little. After they had eaten, one of the men asked him about Sarah and told him that she would give birth to a son. Their barrenness of many years ended that day because Abraham suddenly felt the urge to be generous to complete strangers.

When you start feeling an urge to be more generous than you’ve ever been, please don’t resist it. God might be trying to push you to do something that will launch you into your miracle. It must have been difficult for the widow of Zarephath to give Elijah the last meal meant for her and her son. Ordinarily, a generous mother will say something like, “I can do without eating, but I cannot give you my son’s meal.” However, she felt the urge to be unusually generous, and she didn’t resist it. In return, she had enough food for herself and her son throughout the famine.

Beloved, when you feel a strong urge to give, do not resist it; you might just be launching yourself into your next level. May God reward your kindness and hospitality towards others with abundant testimonies far beyond the imaginations of your heart and all that you are asking Him for, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If a boy who was sent on an urgent and important errand by his parents stops to play football on the way, how do you think his parents will feel when they discover his foolishness? This is similar to what many people do concerning God’s assignment for their lives. God has sent everyone on earth to fulfil a purpose. However, many people put God’s purpose aside and start doing whatever they like.

Before your birth, God prepared an assignment for you to fulfil on the earth. Everyone created by God has a purpose (Ephesians 2:10), and God has a general plan into which His specific purpose for your life fits.

In Galatians 1:13-16, Paul said that God separated him unto Himself from his mother’s womb. By the end of his life, He said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7). John the Baptist knew that God sent him ahead of Jesus to prepare a way for Him and announce His arrival to the Israelites (John 1:29-36). When Jesus came to him, he declared, “…Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Because he did his assignment very well, Jesus gave this testimonial about him: “…Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:..” (Matthew 11:11). What will God’s testimonial about you be? You have a particular assignment on earth, and you must not let anything prevent you from fulfilling it. Determine not to allow anything stop you from becoming who God has ordained you to be.

While it is commendable for someone to know God’s purpose, it is also necessary for that fellow to fulfil God’s purpose God’s way. For example, Moses was destined to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but he first attempted to do it his own way, and it almost cost him his life. God had to put him through a refining process that eventually set him on the right path (Exodus 2:11-15).

Beloved, God has a special purpose for your life, and He also has the blueprint you must follow to fulfil it. This is why you cannot afford not to have an intimate relationship with Him. Your relationship with Him will determine whether you will keep in step with Him to fulfil His purpose for your life or not. I pray that nothing will distract you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Phrases like ‘God remembered’, as seen in 1 Samuel 1:9-20, might look strange because God knows the end from the beginning and cannot forget anything. However, when the Bible uses that phrase, it doesn’t mean that God forgot anything, but at that moment, He decided to pay attention to something in particular. If God has made promises to you in the past, rest assured that He has not forgotten about them. They will surely come to pass at the appointed time.

In 1979, my Father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, and a few of us attended a Kenneth Hagin campmeeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. The meeting ended on a Saturday, so we worshipped at a nearby church on Sunday. As it was our first visit, we were made to sit in the front row. During the sermon, the preacher suddenly got down from the altar, stood before Pa Akindayomi, and said, “Thus saith the Lord, ‘That which I promised you is about to come to pass.'” Pa Akindayomi didn’t understand English, so he asked me, “What did he say?” Because I didn’t want to miss the rest of the sermon, I said, “I’ll tell you when we get to the hotel, sir.” When we got to the hotel, he asked again. After I told him, he started crying. God had told him in 1952, “I am starting a church through you, and it will be known around the whole world.” At that time, the church was still only in South-West Nigeria. The old man was already preparing to go to heaven, so he thought that God had forgotten His promise. Today, God has taken RCCG to 197 nations in the world and still counting.

Has God promised you anything? Rest assured that He will fulfil it. However, His promises will only be fulfilled in His time. After many years of serving God faithfully, Zachariah and Elisabeth remained barren and must have thought that God had forgotten them. The God who does not forget visited them at His appointed time and gave them a son (Luke 1:5-25). God’s plan was to give them a great prophet who would be the forerunner of Jesus. When people thought it was too late for them to have a child, God said, “Now, it is time to attend to this matter.”

Beloved, men can forget their promises, but God can never forget His promises to you. Keep trusting Him, and He will fulfil His promises in your life at His appointed time.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 1963, when the late Namdi Azikiwe (popularly called Zik) was Governor General of Nigeria, he visited Ondo town. At that time, I was a teacher at Ondo Boys’ High School. Because the governor was going to be passing by, the whole town lined the route. I was standing behind an elderly man who was also a teacher at the school. As Zik was driving by in an open car, somehow, he spotted this elderly teacher in the crowd. Immediately, he stopped the motorcade, came down from the car, and stood before the old man. I don’t know exactly what they said to each other, but the old man began to cry. Eventually, we discovered that the old man was a teacher at the secondary school Zik attended and was responsible for his expulsion from the school.

God can turn things around for you such that when your enemies come, you will say to them, “See what the Lord has done.” When the Lord turned the story of the Israelites around after they cried to Him, the Egyptians, who hated them, gave them everything they asked for.

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. – Exodus 12:36

I can imagine some of the Israelites going to knock on the doors of the slave masters who had been beating them, demanding their favourite clothes and shoes. The slave masters didn’t have any choice but to grant their requests because God had stepped into the picture to turn things around for His people.

Bartimaeus was born blind, and for years, he had been sitting on a highway begging for alms. However, one day, as he sat as usual, Jesus came along. Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was the key to his turnaround, so he began to cry for help. As he shouted, people shouted at him to keep quiet. Thankfully, Bartimaeus didn’t obey them. Instead, he cried louder until Jesus attended to him. When Jesus called for him, those who told him to keep quiet were the same ones who said, “…Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee” (Mark 10:46-52).

Beloved, how hungry are you for a divine turnaround? If you really want one, you will yearn to get Jesus’ attention, just as Bartimaeus did. Don’t stop crying out to Him in faith; He is faithful and loving, and He will surely turn things around for your good.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As I conclude my discussion about divine visitation today, let me mention that another divine visitor you can receive is a minister of God. In 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Hannah was in Shiloh praying passionately, and God sent His prophet to her. The prophet simply issued a decree, and her womb was opened. In 1 Samuel 16:11-13, God sent another prophet to visit David and anoint him as king. Also, in 1 Kings 19:15-21, when the time came for Elisha to begin to fulfil his purpose, God sent a prophet, Elijah, to throw his mantle on him.

Whenever God sends one of His ministers to you, believe what God has sent him or her to say to you. When Elisha decreed God’s word during the severe famine in Samaria that food would become very surplus and cheap overnight, a top government official doubted it. He couldn’t believe how such a terrible famine, during which women ate their children to survive, would disappear overnight. However, Elisha wasn’t speaking his own words; He was speaking God’s word, and it came to pass (2 Kings 7:1-16).

When God sends His word through His ministers, anything is possible. The unbelief of the officer described in the paragraph above prevented him from partaking in the overnight miracle. He saw the miracle, but he didn’t partake of it because he spoke against God’s word (2 Kings 7:17). I pray that you will receive every word that God sends to you through His ministers in faith, in Jesus’ name.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, we see how three countries joined themselves together against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. The situation was terrible, but instead of giving in to fear, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and asked his people to join him. As they prayed and sought God’s face together, His word came through Jahaziel, one of the Levites. God told them to relax because they wouldn’t need to fight the battle. He asked them to stand still and see His salvation (2 Chronicles 20:14-17). Humanly speaking, it was foolish to stand still when enemies were closing in on all sides. However, Jehoshaphat and the people believed God’s word and the prophets He spoke through.

Beloved, God’s word will sometimes defy human explanation and challenge human reasoning. However, God will always be God. If a genuine minister of God gives you a message from God, believe him or her and act accordingly. Believe God’s prophets, and you will surely prosper and be established (2 Chronicles 20:20).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I started discussing about divine visitation yesterday, and I said that people can have a divine encounter with God through His word. Today, in continuing my discussion, I will point out another way by which believers can receive divine visitation.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 1:13-14 that angels are ministering spirits that are sent by God to minister to people. Sometimes, when God wants to visit His children, He sends His angels as divine visitors. For example, in Judges 13:1-25, when God wanted to tell Manoah that he and his wife would give birth to Samson, He sent an angel. Likewise, in Luke 1:8-20, when God wanted to tell Zechariah that he would have a child, He also sent an angel as His messenger. You may ask, “How will I even recognise an angel if one comes to me?”

Occasionally, the angel that God will send to you could be a human being. For example, in 2 Kings 5:1-14, the angel that God sent to Naaman when it was time for his divine visitation was a maid. It was the girl who said to his wife, “I know where my master can get his healing.” There are many stories of human beings that God used to bring certain people to the fullness of their purpose. May God send such destiny helpers to you speedily, in Jesus’ name.

Beloved, you must be hospitable to everyone you meet. This is because you do not know if the angel that God is sending to you will come in human form. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Imagine if Naaman’s wife had maltreated their maid, he would have probably died a leper. Some people have sent their angels away with their terrible behaviours; do not be like them. Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:10:

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Beloved, you must do good to everybody, regardless of their tribe, religion, social or financial status, or age, because you never can tell if they are angels that God is sending to you. Your kindness can open doors of abundant blessings to you. I pray that you will show kindness to the angels God sends your way so that you do not miss your divine visitation, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.