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Today, I will continue the discussion I started yesterday on the factors that can hinder a person’s progress. Sometimes, the wall hindering your progress could be someone you have a relationship with. Many people don’t know it, but sometimes, even the people you love may be a hindrance to your progress. In Genesis 12:1-5, Abraham took Lot with him when God called him to leave his family behind and go to a place that He would show him. However, it wasn’t until Lot separated from him in Genesis 13:14-17 that God spoke and showed him the land He had promised. The spiritual authority a person submits to can also hinder the fellow’s progress (1 Kings 13:1-24). This is why you must carefully choose your spiritual father or mentor with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. John 15:20 says that the servant cannot be greater than the master. Whomever you choose to be your master will determine how far you can go. Prayerfully choose someone who is constantly growing so that there won’t be a limit to your progress. Another kind of person that can be a wall of Jericho that is hindering your progress is your friend. To a great extent, those you call your friends will determine how far you will go in life. This was why Solomon warned his son in Proverbs 1:10-15 not to keep company with certain kinds of friends. When I became born again, one of the first things I did was to change my friends. It was painful, but if I had remained in their company, I would never have come this far in life. Amnon would have lived a long and good life as a son of David, but he ended up badly because he had the wrong friend. In 2 Samuel 13:3, the Bible says, “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab…” There are some people who pose as friends but are actually like the wall of Jericho. If you have such friends, stay away from them because they are enemies of progress. If you have a friend who you only gossip with, but you never pray or discuss the Bible, that friend will become a hindrance to your progress. If you have friends whose pieces of advice are always contrary to what the Bible says and are always encouraging you to reduce your dedication to God, such friends are a wall of Jericho between you and God’s perfect plan for your life. Beloved, please run away from such friends. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
In Joshua 6:1-20, the children of Israel were close to the promised land, but a mighty wall stood in their way. Joshua knew that their progress would be affected by the wall, and God gave him the strategy to bring the wall down and lead His people into what He had prepared for them. When it feels like something is obstructing your access to God’s promises, you first need to identify exactly what it is so you can ask God for the strategy to overcome what is hindering your progress. If you have not identified what is stopping your progress, you may be fighting the wrong battles while the actual enemy remains unchallenged. In many cases, the forces of darkness are the wall of Jericho that hinders the progress of people since the devil’s only job is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). If you notice that something bigger than you is blocking your way when you are about to succeed in an endeavour, you need to pray against that force. The good news is, Isaiah 54:17 says: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Beloved, if you are a child of God and you’re serving Him diligently, you have the legal right to condemn whatever forces that may arise against you. Some of these evil forces are stubborn and will not stop if you tell them to go just once. Hence, you need to pray and fast persistently before they go. Jesus said in Mark 9:29 that some demons cannot be overcome except by prayer and fasting. If you have done all these and you still cannot see any change, you probably need to find someone who can join you in prayers so you can engage the prayer of agreement. Deuteronomy 32:30 says: “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” You can also ask a minister of God with higher authority to pray for you. After taking these steps, there is no force that can stand in your way. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Yesterday, I explained how dangerous a curse from God can be and how you must avoid it. Just as a curse from God is powerful, a blessing from God is also extremely powerful. The best thing that can happen to anyone is for God to bless him or her. When God blesses you, every force in heaven, on earth, and underneath the earth will work to favour you. Also, there will be no sorrow added to the blessing (Proverbs 10:22). There are several passages in the Scriptures that talk about the blessings of God and how you can attract them. Unfortunately, many Christians just read about the blessings and claim them without paying attention to what to do to attract them. Owing to my training in mathematics, whenever I see a blessing in the Bible, I always want to know what the condition of getting that blessing is. I know that if the conditions are not right, no matter how hard I try, I will not get the desired result. Therefore, I always pay more attention to the conditions needed for God’s blessings than the blessings themselves. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 is filled with many blessings that God has promised us. However, when you study that Bible passage closely, you will see that the condition to getting the blessings is that you hearken diligently to the word of God. If God looks at you and sees no sin, you are already blessed. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:8 To attract God’s blessings, you must live a holy life. You cannot continue going against God’s word and expect Him to keep blessing you. When you start living a holy life, you will discover the real meaning of God’s blessings. I thought I was successful before I met Christ; I was a young lecturer at the university, growing steadily in my career. However, no matter how much my salary was, by the middle of the next month, I would be borrowing money from my driver to fuel my car. Then, I met Christ and started living a holy life. He blessed me, and all of a sudden, the same salary that wasn’t usually sufficient became enough to cater for my needs. Beloved, start living a holy life from today, and you will see the real meaning of being blessed. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
When you check through the Scriptures, and you see the impact of God’s curse on any person or group of people, if you are wise, you will do everything possible to ensure that God doesn’t get angry with you at all. The power of a blessing or a curse is dependent on the spiritual authority of the fellow who is placing the blessing or curse. Since God is higher than the highest, a curse from Him is so potent that nothing can break the curse except God Himself. Since there is no remedy to a curse from God, any wise fellow will avoid anything that will make God curse him or her. Since God placed a curse on the ground after the fall of Adam (Genesis 3:17), man has had to toil and sweat on it with limited returns. I pray that you will make it to the millennial reign of Christ because by then, we will be having robust harvests monthly and not the little yearly harvests we are having now (Revelation 22:2-3). If you read the story of Cain in Genesis 4:9-15, you will notice that the moment God cursed him, everyone he encountered wanted to harm him, even without provocation. When you read the Scriptures and come across something that God forbids or that would attract a curse from Him, you should stay away from such a thing. For example, He said in Malachi 3:8-10 that those who don’t pay their tithes are robbing God, and they will attract a curse on themselves. Even without the promise of overflowing blessings for paying your tithe, the curse alone should make you pay your tithes faithfully. Also, in Deuteronomy 28:15-20, God said that if the children of Israel did not hearken to His voice and obey His commandments, certain curses shall come upon them and overtake them. This is why you must ensure that you live a life that is in total obedience to God’s commandments and principles. Lastly, when you meet a true Christian, a descendant of Abraham by faith, don’t try to place a curse on such a fellow because the result will be that you will attract God’s curse on yourself (Genesis 12:3). Beloved, God’s curses are very terrible, and they are irreversible except if He has mercy on you. Do all you can to avoid God’s curses. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
A curse is a summon to spiritual forces to work against someone or a group of people, while a divine curse is a summon to all forces in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth to do the same. No matter how strong you are, I’m sure you don’t want any spiritual force to work against you; hence, you must avoid curses. In Judges 9:5-57, we see an example of a curse impacting an entire city. Jotham had escaped being killed by his brother, Abimelech, who had killed seventy of his brothers, and he responded by placing a curse on Abimelech and the men of Shechem who helped him. Three years later, God allowed an evil spirit to execute the curse, leading to chaos and destruction in the land and, ultimately, Abimelech’s death. I heard a story when I was young that helped shape my actions as I grew older. It was reported that a young man who was travelling on a journey passed by an old man and laughed mockingly at him for no reason. The old man responded by saying, “I may be too weak to do anything, but the basket is never satisfied with water.” After saying this, he continued on his way. Suddenly, the young man felt an intense thirst, so he rushed to the nearest hut to drink some water before continuing his journey. Shortly after, he became thirsty again, and he stopped at another hut to drink more water. After many more similar stops, some people sensed that something was amiss. They questioned him, and he told them the old man’s statement. They shouted, “Ah! That is a curse.” They found the old man and begged him to forgive the young man. He agreed, released him from the curse, and immediately, the intense thirst stopped. Beloved, avoid actions that can attract curses to you. Honour elders, and do not cheat or hurt other people. If you have done nothing wrong and someone curses you, it will not come to pass because a causeless curse will never come into effect (Proverbs 26:2). When you study your Bible, you will see that certain actions can attract curses from God; avoid them like a plague. If a man’s curse can be as powerful as the one in the story I shared above, how much more curses from God? I will discuss more about avoiding God’s curses tomorrow. If there‘s any curse currently operating in your life, I decree that it will be broken today, in Jesus’ name. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
During natural childbirth, a woman is required to push the baby out. No matter how many times she pushes, until the baby comes out, she must keep pushing. The moment she gives the final push that brings the baby out, she becomes a new person – a mother. As a Christian, you will never be done pushing until you have put on a new body in Christ. No matter how much you have achieved in the past, you must keep pushing until you see the Lord in glory (Philippians 3:13-14). Many people started out right; they achieved many great things for God, but as time went on, they stopped pushing. They stopped fasting and praying as they used to, and they missed the glory that would have been theirs. At a time when there was serious persecution against Christians in Russia, five Christian boys were captured by Russian soldiers and thrown into a freezing pond in the middle of winter. The soldiers started a fire and said that those who would deny Jesus could come out of the pond and warm themselves by the fire. Slowly, the boys started freezing, and at a point, one of them called out to the soldiers and said that he was ready to deny Jesus. As one of the soldiers went to get him out, the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw five angels holding crowns, one for each of the boys. However, the angel holding the crown of the boy who had denied Jesus was turning back to return with the crown. That boy had suffered for long for Christ, but at the tail end, he gave up and missed his crown. Beloved, it doesn’t matter how much you have done for God; if you give up now, you will miss your crown. Don’t let the pleasures of this life distract you; don’t let the lure of sin take you out of the way of righteousness. Keep pushing by praying, studying your Bible, fasting, attending fellowships, and living holy. Do not be weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). In Philippians 3:13, Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” Forget the things you have achieved in the past; they are not as important as the things you must do for God in the future. I pray that you will keep soaring until the end, in Jesus’ name. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
The longer you have spent on earth, the wiser you are expected to be. This is why people never ask how young you are, rather, they ask how old you are. In reality, they are asking, how much wisdom have you garnered? This is in line with Job 12:12, which says, “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.” In Yorubaland, when people do not act their age, they are called Agba iya, meaning ‘old for nothing’. When people are unserious with their lives, even though they are advancing in age, they are called agba iya. May you not be old for nothing, in Jesus’ name. Proverbs 22:15 says that there is foolishness locked in the heart of a child. Therefore, everybody starts out being foolish. This is an interesting fact about life; the child of a servant and that of a president will both start the journey of life alike as newborns. However, their choices in life will determine how they will end. For the first 18 years of my life, I walked around barefooted. Today, by God’s grace, I can wear a different pair of shoes every day for a whole year if I choose to. This is because I have walked with the ancient of days, and His Holy Spirit has continually given me wisdom that I have applied to make my life better. Regardless of your age, you can walk in wisdom if you yield yourself to the instructions of the Holy Spirit; He is the source of all knowledge and wisdom (Colossians 2:1-3). When I was younger, I had an older brother who was tall and strong. One day, he erred, and my father beat him such that he cried like a baby. When I saw my ‘strong’ brother crying, I determined never to do anything that would make my father beat me. If you are wise, you will not make some mistakes in life; you will recognise danger and avoid it as much as possible. If you know the consequences of an action and still take that action, you are an agba iya. Committing sin and refusing to repent leads to eternal separation from God. If you are wise, you will choose to be holy because that is the only way to see God (Hebrews 12:14). Beloved, if you haven’t been wise with your decisions so far in life, it is time to yield to the Holy Spirit and surrender to His leading. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
When I see Christians celebrating because they have been promoted to higher positions of influence in God’s kingdom, I wonder if they really know what serving God is about. When someone is promoted from leading 10 people to leading 100 people in God’s kingdom, such a fellow should be sober. This is because the demons that will be posted to bring him or her down will not only increase in number but also in rank. Also, he or she will become accountable to God for more people. It is tough enough to be accountable for one person, let alone multiple people. When Joshua was promoted to become the national leader of Israel, God had to tell him multiple times to be courageous. Why then do people celebrate when they are given greater assignments in the kingdom? Could it be because their focus is not on the work but on the prestige and benefits that come with the new office? If God puts you in charge of the souls of men, you must recognise that at the end of your life here on earth, you will give account to God for every soul that He put in your care. In John 17:12, Jesus said: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” If Jesus could give an account of the people in His care while He was on the earth, how much more His disciples? This is why James 3:1 says that the judgement for those who are leaders in His kingdom will be greater than that of others. Therefore, the more people you are teaching the word of God and discipling, the more people you will have to account for. This invariably means that when God promotes you, you have to work, fast, and pray more. When I was pastoring just a few people within one state in Nigeria, I used to sleep all night. During this period, one day, I saw my Father-in-the-Lord praying all night, and I was worried. In the morning, I asked him if all was well. He laughed and told me that I would understand later. Now, I understand because all-night prayers have also become my lifestyle. When you serve God, He will promote you, however, you must take the promotion as an opportunity to work harder. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Nowadays, many see God’s call as a call to a higher social status. Even though God rewards those who work hard to please Him with influence and wealth, His call to service is a call to put Him first in everything. In Matthew 19:16-24, a rich man, who had been careful to obey God’s commandments, approached Jesus and said, “Lord, I have obeyed all your commands, and I have kept all the law, but somehow, I feel that something is missing. What do I lack?” Jesus replied: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” On hearing this, he became sorrowful because he had many possessions and obviously valued them more than following Jesus. Beloved, when God calls you, following Him must be your only focus, and you should be ready to surrender anything He asks of you, including your life (Luke 14:26). Those who will heed God’s call must see Him as their only source. This is why in Numbers 18:20, God told Aaron that he would have no inheritance among the Israelites because He would be his inheritance. In Ezekiel 44:28, God said that He would be the inheritance of His priests. God is not against you taking up secular jobs (except He has specifically told you not to); however, He wants you to see Him as your only source. If God calls you, no matter how wealthy or influential you are, He will first take you through a wilderness to be sure that you are serious about serving Him and that you are not just serving Him for material gains. If you lose patience in the wilderness season and start going after material things, you are not fit for the call. This is why we have many half-baked ministers of God today; when God was building them in their wilderness season, they rebelled against Him and found alternatives. Those who will be used mightily by God must be willing to trust Him wholeheartedly. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is built when you let go of everything you can rely on and focus on God alone. The good news is, after He has truly seen that your faith is solely in Him, He will begin to raise you up, and when God raises you, there is no limit to how far He can take you. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
There are people who claim to have been called by God, but when you look closely, you will realise that they are only going into ministry because they failed at everything else. Today, I will be discussing some of the things God looks for in the people He calls into service. Anyone who will receive the call of God cannot be lazy. God does not call lazy people. If someone is lazy, that fellow is useless to himself or herself. When you look at everyone whom God called in the Bible, you will discover that they were all busy people. Jesus called Peter after he had fished all night – lazy people don’t work all night. When Elisha received the call of God through Elijah, he was on the farm plowing with twelve yokes of oxen before him (1 Kings 19:19). God works with the principle He stated in Luke 16:10: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” If you are not faithful in the earthly work that you are doing now, God will not commit souls into your hands. Jesus asked in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” In other words, He was saying that just one human soul is more valuable than the entire world. Therefore, souls are too precious for Him to commit into the hands of a lazy person. God is not lazy. Jesus Christ said in John 5:17 that His Father works, and He works too. Since Amos 3:3 says that two cannot walk together except they agree, then you cannot work with God if you are lazy. People who are lazy and want to serve God in ministry are people who want to eat without working; this is totally against the will of God. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says that those who do not work should not eat. After God created man, the first thing He gave him was work. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15 The Scripture above shows how important work is to God. Beloved, the next time you see lazy people claiming that God has called them into ministry, stay away from them because God does not call lazy people. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Today, I’ll be concluding my discussion on letting go of all the old things that can limit God from doing new things in your life. I pray that nothing will hinder the new things God has planned for you this year, in Jesus’ name. For 430 years, the children of Israel were in captivity in Egypt (Exodus 12:40). They were in bondage under Pharaoh and the Egyptians until one night when God decided to bring them out. God did a new thing, and a nation was born in one day. God is not bound by time or any other limitations around us. He said in Jeremiah 32:27 that nothing is too hard for Him to do. God can do new things in strange ways that will cause men to marvel at His great wonders. It is in the realm of men that we say that there is nothing new; after all, Ecclesiastes 1:9 says that there is nothing new under the sun. However, God dwells above the sun; He dwells in the heavens and does as He pleases (Psalm 115:3). Now, when God says that He will make all things new, there are certain things He expects from a fellow who is about to enter into His newness. As I mentioned yesterday, God will not put old wine in new wineskins (Luke 5:37-39). Thus, if you are going to enter into the new things that God has in store for you this year, you must be prepared to reposition yourself. The question, however, is, how can you position yourself for the new things that God wants to do in your life? You can reposition yourself through persistent prayers. Jesus once told the story of a widow who wanted a total turnaround in her life. For a long time, she had been tormented by her adversary, and she kept going to the judge for help. Her persistent visits eventually made the judge to arise and help her. Jesus told this story to emphasise the importance of persistent prayers in changing things (Luke 18:1-5). Prayer births new things or levels; it is like a pot in which new things are cooked before they are served. Beloved, don’t let the adversary keep you trapped in your old level. Cry unto God like the Israelites, and He will surely do a new thing in your life (Exodus 3:7- . Engage the power of prayer to enter into the new things that God has prepared for you and your family in this new year. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Jesus is a specialist at making all things new. For example, when the wine finished at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, He didn’t only change water to wine; the new wine was better than what they had before. When Jesus stepped onto the scene, He gave them an entirely new experience, and the governor of the ceremony confirmed it (John 2:1-10). Jesus will do the same for you in this new year, in Jesus’ name. Jesus can give you a brand-new beginning. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, and all things have become new. All that God requires for everything in your life to become new is for you to surrender to Him. This is because, for the new to come, you must do away with the old. When Jacob was faced with the fear of meeting his twin brother, Esau, after so many years, he had a divine encounter that changed his old name into a new one – Israel. That change of name ushered in the miracle of reconciliation that he wanted because as long as he still bore his old name, he couldn’t experience fresh miracles. God also had to change the names of Abraham and Sarah so that His promises concerning their lives would come to pass (Genesis 17:5-15). God doesn’t put His new wine into old wineskins of sin (Luke 5:37-38). For Him to make all things new in your life, you must be ready to let go of the old man. You must surrender your old ways of thinking to be able to receive and follow His directions for your life. You must surrender your old traditions for His new culture to take over. When it was time for God to draw the Gentiles unto Him, God gave Simon Peter a trance to shift his old way of thinking. He showed him a sheet filled with the birds and animals he termed unclean and asked him to kill and eat. God wanted to change his old mindset so that he could accept the Gentiles into the church (Acts 10:9-16). God is limitless. He can make all things new, but sometimes, our old wineskins stop Him from pouring out His newness into our lives. Beloved, as we still bask in the newness of this year, ask the Lord to reveal every old and faulty mindset that can hinder His new plans from manifesting in your life. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
PRAYERS FOR 2025 1. Thank you, Lord for the blessings, lessons, and experiences of 2024. Thank You for being faithful to me throughout last year. 2. Father, in this new year, I need your guidance and wisdom like never before. Please help me make the right decisions all through this year. 3. Father, I want to be closer to You this year. Please birth a hunger and thirst for You in my heart like never before, in Jesus’ name. 4. Father, please make me a vessel unto honour, and help me to work for You this year more than ever before to win souls into Your kingdom. 5. Father, I don’t want to engage in fruitless efforts this year. Please bless the works of my hands, in Jesus’ name. 6. Father, please help me to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and in all areas of my life in this new year, in Jesus’ name. 7. Father, please protect me, my family, and my loved ones throughout this year. Don’t let any harm come to us, in Jesus’ name. 8. Father, please nullify every plan of the enemy against me and my family this year. Every weapon that is fashioned against us shall not prosper, in Jesus’ name. 9. Father, please rebuke the devourer for my sake this year. Don’t let the devil steal from me and my loved ones, in Jesus’ name. 10. Father, please help me and my neighbours to live in peace and prosperity throughout this year, in Jesus’ name. 11. Father, please let this year be a year of answered prayers for me. Let all my requests become testimonies, in Jesus’ name. 12. Your personal prayer points for 2025. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
It is a new year, and you have every reason to thank God. You may think that last year did not go as you planned, but believe me, if not for God’s mercy, you wouldn’t have survived the year (Lamentations 3:22). This is why you shouldn’t make the mistake of complaining to God and grumbling about things that didn’t go as you wanted. Rather, you should thank Him for bringing you this far. If you go into the year with thanksgiving, you are assured of access to the One who can make you have a great year (Psalm 100:4). However, if you go into the year with complaints, especially complaints against the only One who can help you, you are treading dangerously. Numbers 11:1 says: “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” In 1 Samuel 7:12, Prophet Samuel said, “Hitherto you have helped us.” In other words, this means, “In the journeys thus far, we have received help from you.” This is a statement of survivors – those who say, “Thank God I have made it thus far.” Psalm 124:1-8 says that if the Lord had not been on our side, we would not be where we are now. You can never tell how many battles God has fought for you. You may not even know how many victories He has given you. As for me, thus far in my journey of life, God has helped me. Despite everything the devil has tried, l am still here. If you are a survivor, you should really spend some time thanking God for all He has done for you. If you passed through tough situations last year and you are alive now and reading this, then you have indeed been helped by God. If last year went smoothly for you, despite all the troubles in the world, then you have also been helped by God, for without Him, you could not have achieved anything (John 15:5). Whichever your case was, you should be very grateful to Him for all the help He rendered to you (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Beloved, go ahead now and sing praises to the Lord. Spend the day thinking about His goodness to you, and ensure you enter into this new year with thanksgiving. It is the foundation for receiving more from Him. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
PRAYERS FOR 2025 1. Father, thank You for keeping me throughout 2024. It is by Your mercy that I was not consumed. I am truly grateful Lord. 2. Father, please help me to move forward in fulfilling Your purpose for my life in the coming year. Please make 2025 far better than 2024, in Jesus’ name. 3. Father, please go ahead of me into 2025 and make all crooked paths straight. Please give me victory throughout the year, in Jesus’ name. 4. Father, please help me to draw closer to You than ever before in 2025. Give me the grace to study my Bible and pray more than ever, in Jesus’ name. 5. Father, please help me to walk in Your perfect will for me in 2025. Help me not to walk outside Your plan for my life in the new year, in Jesus’ name. 6. Father, please bless the works of my hands more than ever before in the new year, in Jesus’ name. 7. Father, please do not let me and my family experience any sorrow in 2025. We will rejoice from the beginning of the year until the end of the year and beyond, in Jesus’ name. 8. Father, please help me to walk in Your wisdom throughout 2025. I will not walk in confusion or make costly mistakes in the new year, in Jesus’ name. 9. Father, I ask for a special miracle for every month of the new year. Please do something great and special for me every month, so that everyone can testify of Your goodness in my life. 10. Father, please help me to walk in a higher level of Your anointing in 2025. Use me to perform miracles and win many souls to Your Kingdom, in Jesus’ name. 11. Father, please, let your peace reign in my life, family, church, nation, and all that concerns me in the coming year. Please let me experience all round peace in 2025, in Jesus’ name. 12. Your personal prayer points for 2025. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
We have come to the end of another year, and I believe that many people are thinking about how the year turned out. Many may even begin to feel that there are certain things that they should have done better. It is normal to have such feelings, as they can help a person to make better decisions in the future. However, it is unfruitful to dwell on the past. There is nothing to gain from living in regret about the past. Beloved, it is time to put the past behind you and begin to look forward to the glorious year that is ahead of you. First of all, no matter what you have or do not have yet, you must always give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Yes, the year has come to an end and you wish you had done better, but if you look closely, you will discover that you have many reasons to thank God. If you had died in the course of the year, you would not even be here to reflect on the past. There are so many things to thank God for. Show God that you are grateful because when God sees a grateful heart, He always visits that fellow with a blessing (1 Kings 3:3-15). Secondly, note that God can make all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). God can turn whatever you count as a loss into profit for you. When Joseph was thrown into prison in Genesis 39:20, it seemed like a bad experience for him; little did he know that the prison was his stepping stone to becoming the Prime Minister of the greatest nation in the world at that time. Don’t ever write yourself off; always put God in the equation of your life. When you do this, you will experience a complete turnaround and His tremendous blessings will follow. If, however, you have been living in sin, do not expect God to help you turn things around. He said in Isaiah 3:11, “Say unto the wicked that it shall be ill with him.” This means that it shall not be well with anyone that is living in sin. On the other hand, the Bible says in Isaiah 3:10, “Say unto the righteous, it shall be well with him.” Beloved, if you want to experience God’s blessings in the year ahead of you, make up your mind to live according to His will daily. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
A lot of people think that being a leader means that whatever they say or do is final and should not be questioned. If you are making any progress in life, criticisms will definitely come. When The Redeemed Christian Church of God was just a small church with headquarters in a small corner of Ebute-metta, no one criticised us. Now that we have branches all around the world, criticisms come in from everywhere. This is a sign of growth, and rather than being sad about it, I am happy that we have grown. Some people will criticize you out of love because your success means a lot to them. Some will criticize you out of spite because they are envious of you and want you to fail. Either way, your attitude to criticism is what will determine if you will succeed or fail. Proverbs 1:5-7 says: “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Beloved, be open to suggestions from your subordinates or people who you consider younger or less experienced than you. When they tell you that you are not doing something right, listen to them without getting defensive or aggressive. If you grumble and sulk for days because you were criticized, you need to speak to yourself so that you can last. No matter what people say about you, you must never give the impression that you are above correction. Moses was the anointed one who was called by God. He spoke to God mouth to mouth (Numbers 12: , yet the solution to the challenge he had in ministry was with his father-in-law who did not have the same intimacy with God as he did. You may be the head of your home, Chief Executive Officer or pastor, but that does not mean you know it all.Believe me, every criticism is an opportunity for you to become a better person. If you take it well, you will become better. The choice is yours. Some of the decisions we made that helped us become better were responses to criticism. I know some of the critics meant harm, but God used them to show us how to do things better, and we are growing stronger for it. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
In Isaiah 6:1-5, Isaiah beheld God’s glory and holiness, and he cried, “Woe is me!” Before then, he had been prophesying, and everyone saw him as holy. However, he looked at himself in the light of God’s glory and holiness, and saw the real state he was in. Beloved, it is important to have a self-reflection every now and then. Don’t rely solely on what people say about you because they might not know you as well as you know yourself. They might not know the thoughts of your heart or what you do behind closed doors. Therefore, you need to look closely at yourself and perform an honest evaluation of the real state of your heart. Don’t judge yourself by your own standards; rather, judge yourself by God’s standard. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:18 that it is not the fellow who commends himself that is righteous, but the one that the Lord commends. Isaiah might have been judging himself by his own standards, but when he encountered God’s glory, he saw that he was not in the state he was supposed to be. Judge yourself in the light of the truth in God’s word; this will tell you whether you are on the right track or not. Do not judge yourself based on your feelings, what the society is saying, or on your achievements. Use God’s word as a mirror, and let it show you the real you. After weighing yourself according to God’s word, surrender completely to Him and ask Him to help you to live right. After Isaiah’s experience in Isaiah 6:1-5, he knew that the only way he could truly be holy was by God’s help. You cannot be righteous by your own power; you need God to help you. Psalm 20:1-2 says that you should pray that the Lord sends help to you from the sanctuary. Until you know that you need help, help won’t come from the sanctuary. You must remain in front of the mirror of God’s word until you receive help to become righteous. Do not be like the man that was described in James 1:22-24; continue steadfastly in God’s word. 1 Corinthians 11:31 says that if you judge yourself properly, you will not be judged. This means that after examining yourself, identifying your faults, and making the right adjustments, you will not be condemned when the time of judgment comes. Beloved, I pray that as you make a habit of examining yourself using the standard of God, you will receive a commendation from the Master on the last day, in Jesus’ name. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Every human being needs redemption. This is because the natural state of fallen man is that of bondage to sin. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. Thank God that the redemption we got through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has freed us from the bondage of sin. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: The forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), release from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), freedom from the bonds of sin (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18), righteousness (Romans 5:17), reconciliation with God (Colossians 1:18-20), adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5), the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and eternal life (John 3:16), are some of the advantages of redemption. While many unbelievers see the Christian lifestyle as slavery because of its restrictions, the truth is that Christians are the ones who are free. A married woman has to submit to her husband, and that comes with restrictions, but if you ask her counterparts who are single, they will tell you that they prefer to be married. A jobless drunkard may laugh at someone who is rushing to work on a Monday morning and say that the fellow is not enjoying life. However, who is really suffering? The drunkard is the one under the bondage of alcohol. Unbelievers are locked in a prison, but they do not know it. Your prayer should be that the Almighty God should open their eyes as He opened yours and that they should come out of their prison and step into the freedom that Jesus has made available for them. Beloved, do not ever be ashamed to talk about the restrictions that come with being redeemed. Yes, you are carrying the yoke of Christ, but His yoke is far lighter than that of the devil, and His burden is way easier (Matthew 11:28-30). When a person becomes born again, the first thing he or she experiences is peace. A great burden is lifted off the fellow’s shoulders – a burden he or she did not realise was there before. If you have not yet given your life to Christ, you are in prison. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ today so that He can set you free. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Today, I will be concluding the study on the reason for the birth of Jesus Christ by looking at the impact of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. As I mentioned yesterday, Jesus paved the way for the Holy Spirit to live in believers, and the implication of this is found in John 7:38: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” In other words, the Scripture above is saying that everyone who is a believer has the Holy Spirit flowing in them, giving them the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and perform all manners of miracles. This means that, if you are a believer, the signs and wonders that Jesus Christ performed will also follow you (Mark 16:17), and you will even do greater works (John 14:12). When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the veil of the inner chamber in the temple was torn into two (Matthew 27:51). This means that the manifest presence of God was no longer the exclusive reserve of the high priest. Every child of God has access to the throne of grace and can do the same things that only the high priest could do in the Old Testament. Don’t see ministers of God as the only people who can work miracles; you also can work miracles if the Holy Spirit is abiding within you. John 3:34 tells us that Jesus Christ was given the Holy Spirit without measure as He represents God and speaks His word as He was sent. This implies that the expression of the measure of the Holy Spirit within believers will vary with how well they fulfil the will of God for their lives. If you live holy and make a habit of spending quality time in the presence of God daily, He will keep increasing the measure of the Holy Spirit’s expression in your life with evidence of signs and wonders. Beloved, circumstances around you should not dictate how you should live your life. You carry the Holy Spirit within you, therefore, you should command situations and circumstances to favour you. The devil is afraid of believers using the power they have in Christ. He can only oppress those who are not exercising the power they have in Christ. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you have a unique advantage because of the power of the Holy Spirit that you carry inside you. Start exercising that power today, and you will see the devil tremble in fear. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Over the last two days, I have been discussing the reason for the birth of Jesus Christ, and I will go a little further today. Before He was born, the Holy Spirit could only come upon certain individuals. However, after Jesus Christ came to the earth and ascended back into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside every believer (John 14:16-17). This is why He said in Matthew 11:11 that the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist who was the greatest of all the prophets before Him. Do you understand what that really means? It means that you are greater than Elijah, a man who called down fire from heaven at will. The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ paved the way for God to put His very own Spirit in you. Now, you can be like Him in word and in deed. Isn’t this awesome? As a child of God, you carry God inside you, and this means that you are no longer an ordinary human being. You are now the temple of God. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 As the temple of God, it means that whatever cannot be found in God should not be found in you. Elisha may have died of sickness in his old age (2 Kings 13:14), but because you are carrying God inside you, sickness has no place in your body. Moses may have had anger issues, which eventually prevented him from entering the promised land, but you cannot be limited by such because God Himself is living inside you. You bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and no bad habit or weakness can find its place inside you. The Bible says in 1 John 4:4: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” You are an overcomer because the Sovereign God loves you and has made His abode inside you. Romans 8:37 also says: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” No matter what the devil throws at you, as long as the Holy Spirit is still residing in you, you will always be triumphant. Never give in to fear; remember that the Almighty God Himself is dwelling inside of you, and since He can never lose a war, you will experience victory in all areas of your life at all times. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Today, I will continue the teaching I started yesterday on the reason for the birth of Jesus Christ. The Bible makes us understand that God came down in human flesh to live amongst men (John 1:14), and the beauty of this is that He felt the same pains that we feel. There is a proverb that says, “It is he who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches.” Jesus Christ wore our shoes and so, He knows exactly how we feel at every point in time. Hebrews 4:15 says: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” The best leader you can have is one who leads by example. Such leaders do not just give instructions, they also get down to do the work alongside their followers. Jesus Christ came into this world in the flesh to feel exactly what we feel. He went through the same temptations that we are going through now and showed us by example that we can live without sin. Having passed through the same things that we are passing through, He is a worthy advocate for us with the Father, such that if we fall into sin, He is there to plead with the Father on our behalf and help us get back on our feet (1 John 2:1). What great height of love this portrays! This is why in Revelation 5:1-10, He was the only one that was found worthy to open the scroll because of the sacrifices He has made to ensure that your name is written in the book of life. Beloved, don’t walk the journey of your Christian faith alone. Lean on God at all times. When you are feeling tempted, remember that He has also gone through the same temptation. Approach the throne of grace boldly and tell Him that you need His help (Hebrews 4:16); He is not the kind of leader that will turn His back on you. He said that you should live holy because He has also been tempted before, and He overcame, therefore, He can also help you to overcome temptations. It is easier for a sailor to sail a ship through a storm if he or she is taking directions from another sailor that has sailed through such storms before. Let Jesus teach you how to live above sin, and as He teaches you, make sure that you listen to Him and obey Him. You will surely be victorious. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
The birth of Jesus Christ was an important moment in the history of mankind. It was a pure demonstration of the love of God for the world (John 3:16), and His ability to bring His promises to pass, even when the devil tries to fight against them. In Matthew 2:16, he influenced Herod to go to great lengths to get Jesus killed. As a result, all the children aged two years and below in Jerusalem during that period were killed. However, the devil did not succeed because God had said that Jesus Christ will bruise his head. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15 In John 14:30, Jesus Christ said: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. By living a life that was void of sin, He successfully conquered the world (John 16:33). Through His righteousness, we can now live righteously and above the world. The Bible says in 1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? As Christians, all we have to do is to truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and we will receive the power to live above sin. Philippians 2:13 says that He will work in us to do His perfect will, thereby putting an end to the sinful nature in us. When we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we are celebrating our redemption from sin. We are celebrating not just His birth, but the event that made it possible for us to become born again such that we can now call ourselves children of God. The question now is, are you really born of God? The way to know if you are truly born of God is if you are living above sin. The Bible says in 1 John 3:9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Beloved, don’t just wine and dine in this season; understand that the birth of Jesus Christ has given you the ability to live above sin and to be victorious in the world. Walk in faith every day and live in this reality. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
When God says you should be holy as He is, it is not for His good. God is Almighty and All Sufficient, so your holiness will not add or remove anything from Him. Whether you decide to live holy or not, God will remain God. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin brings troubles, sorrow, chaos, and a low quality of life to sinners. It is a burden on the heart of a sinner. This is why lie detectors are able to detect lies because a person’s heart goes through stress whenever he or she tells a lie. Many people do not live long because their heart is always stressed due to the atrocities they commit. It is wise to live holy; living holy brings peace of mind, wealth, favour with God, and long life. Most sinners think that they are very smart, however, living in sin is dangerous and can destroy them. I will rather be a fool for God so that I can live a peaceful life and enjoy all of His blessings. Some people say that living holy is hard because they are trying to live holy by their own efforts. When the Bible says that you should be holy as your Father in heaven is holy, it is only saying, “Be like God.” The elders in Yorubaland where I come from usually say that when a leaf stays attached to a soap, it becomes a soap itself. When you draw close to God, you will automatically become like Him. The way to live holy is to draw close to God. The more you behold His glory, the more you’re transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). If you have not yet given your life to Christ, you should do that immediately; this is the first step in living a holy life. If you are a Christian, you should study your Bible daily. David said in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” When you fill your heart with God’s word, there will be no space for sin to dwell in. You also need to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). When you pray, you empower your spirit above your flesh, and the temptations to sin become less effective on you (Matthew 26:41). Beloved, spend quality time with God by studying His word and praying daily. This will influence you to live in a way that is pleasing and acceptable to Him. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
“The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.” Psalm 121:5 Shade, in the Scripture above, is referring to a cover over you. The Lord being a shade on your right hand means that His shadow will always be over you, hence, you can never be alone. There is no way you can separate a man from his shadow. It doesn’t matter where you go, your shadow will always be by your side. Therefore, whenever you feel alone, remember that God is right there by your side; one of His titles is ‘The Lord Who Covers You’ (Psalm 121:5). I pray that the covering of the Lord will remain over you and all that concerns you at all times, in Jesus’ name. You may sometimes get into situations where you will look around you, and there seems to be no one to help you out. At such times, remember that God is by your side, and He is as close to you as your shadow. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Our God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). If He said that He will never leave you nor forsake you, it means that He is always by your side. He is there to protect you whenever you need protection. This is why the Bible says in Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” The Shadow is there to advise you when you are confused about which decisions to make. This is why He said that you will always hear a voice behind you, telling you which way to go (Isaiah 30:21). He is there to encourage you when you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of life. That is why He said in Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Beloved, do not be afraid; the Lord of all lords is with you at all times. He is as close to you as your shadow. Trust Him with your life completely. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
God has a provision for all your needs even before you ask Him. For example, God went ahead of Abraham to provide a ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. This was the point where Abraham identified God as the Lord who provides (Genesis 22:14). I pray that the Lord will meet you at every point of your need, in Jesus’ name. Several years ago, I received my gratuity from the government, and I was excited because it was a lot of money. I had just become the General Overseer of the RCCG, and the church could barely pay me a salary, so things were quite tough at the time. While I was rejoicing, I remembered that I was now under a new management, so I turned to God and said, “Father, what do you want me to do with this money?” I thought He would ask me to pay my tithe, give an offering, and do whatever I wanted with the rest. However, He said that I should divide the money into three parts and give them to three different ministries. Then, He made a promise to me saying, “Son, I will be your source.” He has been my source ever since. Even when it looks like I am stranded, God always shows up with His timely provision. In Genesis 17:1, God reveals Himself as Jehovah El-Shaddai, the God who is more than enough. I pray that Jehovah El-Shaddai will be your source, in Jesus’ name. Sometime ago, I travelled to minister in the United States of America. After I finished ministering in one place, I was to fly to the next town for another ministration. However, when the plane was about to take off, it began to emit smoke and we had to disembark. The people in the next town where I was to minister were already gathering, and there were no commercial planes available at that time to fly into the town. Suddenly, the pilot of a jet that belonged to someone I know came around, and I asked him about his boss. When he heard about what had happened with my flight, he immediately told his boss, who asked him to take me to where I was going. God, the One who provides for me, already had an alternative plane waiting for me because He knew I would need it. Beloved, never worry about your needs. Put your total trust in God, and He will show Himself as Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah El-Shaddai in your life. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
Jesus referred to Himself as the Truth in John 14:6. Since the Bible tells us in John 8:32 that the truth shall make you free, it means that if you have Jesus, you are free from bondage. John 8:36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” If you have the Son, it means that you can never be in any kind of bondage. The devil destroys many people by putting them in bondage. Also, when he sees that he cannot stop believers from serving God, he will look for a loophole in their lives through which he can put them in bondage. A fellow’s physical strength is useless if he or she is in bondage. This is why policemen arrest people in handcuffs. It is so that they cannot escape, even if they are stronger than the policemen. There are quite a lot of people who have been chained by forces of darkness. If such people engage in a business that others are prospering in, for instance, they will become bankrupt. However, there is a God, whose name is the Truth, who is willing and able to set them free. I decree today, if you are experiencing bondage in any area of your life, the forces that have held you bound shall be scattered in different directions, in Jesus’ name. Many Christians are in the bondage of poverty because they don’t know the truth about their wealthy heritage in Christ. The greatest bondage a fellow can experience is the bondage of the mind. There are so many blessings that are available to the children of God, but unfortunately, many Christians do not access them because they don’t know the Truth. The Truth is the Word of God according to John 17:17. The more you study God’s word with the help of the Holy Spirit, the more you will understand your divine rights in Christ and the blessings that He has made available to you. This will ensure that the devil cannot bring you under any form of bondage. Beloved, if it seems like you are experiencing bondage in any area of your life, study what the word of God says about that aspect of your life. Listen to sermons and read books by genuine men of God about that particular area of life. As you study, the entrance of the word will bring light to you, and you will be liberated forever. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
God’s titles give us assurances of what we can get from Him. For example, one of His titles is found in Exodus 15:26 where He said, “…I am the Lord that healeth thee.” This gives believers an assurance that no matter how terrible a sickness is, Jehovah Rapha can heal them. Medical doctors have different areas of specialisation, and it is standard practice for a doctor to refer patients to other doctors who are considered more knowledgeable and qualified to handle certain ailments. This was what happened to the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34. Doctors kept referring her to other doctors until she had spent all that she had. One day, however, she came in contact with the Great Physician – the One who never refers a case – and that day, she got her healing. Jesus Christ secured your healing when he was severely beaten and crucified (Isaiah 53:5). He took the stripes from the Roman soldiers so that you can confidently say that sickness and pain have no place in your body. He took your infirmities with Him to the grave; this means that they are gone forever. Henceforth, I want you to know God as the God that heals you. When you read passages like Matthew 8:16 or Luke 6:19, you will see that Jesus Christ healed ALL that came to Him. There was no sickness that was difficult for Him to heal, and there was no person with too many sicknesses that He couldn’t heal. If you have been dealing with any sickness or disease in your body, approach the Great Physician, He will surely heal you completely. You must note, however, that healing is the bread of God’s children (Mark 7:24-29). If you are not a child of God, or if you are professing to be a Christian but you are still living in sin, do not expect healing from Him. If God heals an unbeliever or a Christian who is not living holy, it is because He wants such a fellow to let go of the sins in his or her life. If the fellow does not repent and forsake his or her sins, it is very likely that a worse sickness will come upon the fellow. This was the warning that Jesus gave the man He healed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:14. Beloved, your healing has already been provided by Jesus. Surrender yourself completely to Him and walk in this divine right; He is the One that heals you. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
You can get a lot of strength from God’s promises. Numbers 23:19 says that God is not like the people who make promises that they do not keep. When God makes you a promise, He is going to fulfil it. It may take a while, but every promise you have received from God will come to pass because 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that His promises are ‘yea and amen’. One of His promises is that you will always overcome evil attacks because Isaiah 54:17 says clearly that no weapon that is fashioned against you will prosper. This is the promise of the Almighty God, and it can never fail. Deuteronomy 28:7 says that when enemies come against you, they will be smitten before your face. In other words, you are not the one who will do the fighting; you will just watch them being defeated before your face. When they come against you in one direction, they will scatter in seven different directions (Deuteronomy 28:7). Another promise is in Deuteronomy 28:13: And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: From the Scripture above, it is evident that you will always emerge at the top, no matter what happens to you. When I was young, I used to play with house cats. I would hold a cat’s four legs, put its back on the floor, and remove my hands. As soon as I removed my hands, the cat would be back on its feet in the twinkling of an eye. This affirms the saying of African elders: “The back of the cat does not touch the ground.” This is another way of saying that no matter what happens to you, you will not lose. God’s promise to you is that no matter what happens, you will always be the head and not the tail; you will be above, and never beneath. You must note, however, that you have a part to play for God’s promises to be fulfilled in your life. Beloved, if there is a promise that you are trying to activate in your life, find out the conditions attached to it in the Scriptures, do your part, and you will see that promise come to pass in your life at the right time. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
The love of Christ avails us of so many benefits. For example, Roman 8:37 says: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” ‘More than conquerors’ simply means winning without fighting. God loves you, and He will fight for you. Romans 8:31 says that if God be for us, who can be against us? This means that no one can overcome you. One of the many things that God’s love does for you is that it gives you victories for battles you are not even aware of. Many years ago, when I was a lecturer at the University of Ilorin, I was resting on the couch in the living room of my apartment while waiting to leave for the lecture hall. I closed my eyes because I didn’t want to be disturbed, and all of a sudden, I felt hands holding my legs and hands. At first, I thought it was my wife because it felt like the fellow holding me was reaching forward as if to kiss me. However, I realised that whoever could hold my legs with one hand and my hands with the other must be really tall and strong. I opened my eyes to see a tall demon just before it disappeared. I felt a cold sensation throughout my body, but I shrugged it off because it was time to leave for my lecture. Immediately after the lecture, I started vomiting and stooling such that when I managed to drive back home, I had to practically crawl from my car into the apartment. I was in the toilet when I cried, “Daddy, what is this? How can this be happening to your son?” He then replied, “Son, I just wanted you to have a glimpse of the battles I fight for you that you are not aware of.” Afterwards, the stooling stopped. Beloved, you are alive today because God loves you. Isaiah 54:15 says that those who gather against you shall fall for your sake. It will be childish for someone to think that everybody loves him or her. Sometimes, even the members of a fellow’s household will hate him or her (Matthew 10:36). As a child of God, however, your confidence should be in knowing that God loves you and that when evil forces gather against you, He will always scatter them. Beloved, never be afraid of anything; you are more than a conqueror because of the love of Christ. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
When the Lord was tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:1-11, the weapon our Lord used was, “It is written.” The devil could not argue against that weapon; all he did was to also quote the word of God and try to give it a wrong interpretation. Psalm 119:89 says: For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. The word of God has absolute authority, therefore, any believer who knows the Scriptures will always be above the wiles of the devil and his cohorts. This is because God’s word is final and the devil cannot change it. How often do you study your Bible? Many believers only open their Bibles when they are in church and the pastor asks the congregation to read the Bible passage for the sermon. This is why there are many powerless Christians today. If you don’t study the word of God, how will you know the God that you claim to be serving and the blessings that He has made available for you in Him? The word of God must be like food to you. Jeremiah 15:16 says: Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. When you esteem the word of God like the food that you depend on to survive, it will bring you so much joy because, all of a sudden, you will realise that you are called by the name of the Lord of Hosts. Names are door openers. If you are the son of a king, whenever you mention your father’s name anywhere in the kingdom, you will be treated with respect and doors will be opened to you because you are called by the name of the king. Our God is the King of kings and the Lord of Hosts. In other words, all kings, the hosts in heaven, on the earth, and underneath the earth are subject to Him. When you eat His word, you personify His name. This means that all kings, the hosts in heaven, on the earth, and underneath the earth will cooperate to do your will. Study the word of God and meditate on it every day. Beloved, this is how to walk in God’s blessings for you and have good success (Joshua 1: . Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
The blood of Jesus is more powerful than many people think. It is a potent weapon that can be used to easily overcome our adversary, the devil, and his cohorts as we see in Revelations 12:10-11: “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” I faced various oppositions from terrible evil forces, and I always emerge victorious because I have learnt to plead the blood of Jesus at all times. In the United States of America, there is a fifth amendment to the constitution that contains the right of a person to not answer any questions that law enforcement agents ask so that the fellow does not incriminate himself or herself. Therefore, when you hear an American say, “I plead the fifth,” he or she is exercising the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment of the American Constitution. In the same vein, when a child of God pleads the blood of Jesus, he or she is invoking the rights guaranteed by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross of Calvary. Some of those rights are recorded in Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” You cannot be hurt by the devil because Jesus Christ has already been wounded and bruised for your transgressions. This is a protective cover over you against any force of darkness. Also, the devil cannot touch any of your friends, family members, or properties because he must not do anything that will affect your peace, as Jesus already took the chastisement of your peace upon Himself. Also, your health is secure because by the stripes of Jesus Christ, you are healed. Beloved, you can overcome the devil and his cohorts by the blood of Jesus Christ because the moment you plead the blood, all that Jesus Christ suffered for you comes between you and the devil, forcing him to leave you alone. Make it a habit to always plead the blood of Jesus and you will experience victory in Christ. Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. |
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. Engage the power of prayer to enter into the new things that God has prepared for you and your family in this new year.