₦airaland Forum

In Philippians 2:9-11, we are made to understand that at the name of Jesus, all knees should bow. This means that you can take total control of any situation by using the name of Jesus. In 1 Samuel 17:42-51, David said to Goliath, “You have come with all these weapons, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Host.” By the time the battle was over, Goliath had lost his head.

There is so much power in the name of Jesus. If you ask for anything in His name, you will see it happen because John 14:14 says:

“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Several years ago, I travelled from Ibadan, a city in Western Nigeria, to Ilorin, another city in the same region. On the way, there was a narrow bridge that could only take one vehicle at a time. As we approached the bridge, there was a sign that read, ‘narrow bridge ahead’, to warn drivers to reduce the speed of their vehicles because if another vehicle was coming from the other side of the bridge, they would have to wait for it to drive by before getting on the bridge. We were already on the bridge when we saw a truck coming from the other side of the bridge at top speed. We didn’t know if the driver didn’t see us or if he just couldn’t stop; a head-on collision seemed unavoidable. There was no time to pray, but there was just enough time to shout the name of Jesus. My driver and I shouted the name, “JESUS.” We somehow passed the truck in the middle of the bridge, and when we got off the bridge, my driver was trembling so vigorously that he had to park the car immediately. In the back of the car where I was seated, I was trembling even more than he was. By the time he composed himself, he asked, “Daddy, what just happened?” I replied, “God expanded the bridge.” For the rest of the journey, he just kept repeating, “Wonderful.”

Beloved, at the mention of the name of Jesus, wonderful things happen. Therefore, when next you find yourself in a situation that needs to be brought under control, just shout the name of Jesus, and every force will submit to His authority.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many people mistake happiness for joy. Happiness is based on happenings, while joy is not dependent on any happenings at all. The only way to access real joy is through Jesus Christ. This is why, after a person becomes born again, he or she begins to feel so joyful, even though nothing special seems to be happening to him or her on the outside.

Many years ago, a professor, who had just given his life to Christ, came to me and said, “Can I ask you a question, sir?” I braced myself because I thought to myself, “If a professor wants to ask a question, it must be a tough one.” He then said, “I hope there is no problem with being so joyful. I don’t know why, but recently, I have been so joyful, and I am concerned.” I told him that what he was experiencing was very normal; everyone who connects with God experiences real joy. If you are yet to experience the kind of joy that goes beyond your circumstances, give your life to Christ today and live holy. You will begin to experience joy that you will find difficult to explain.

Some people have been born again for a long time but have lost their joy. They lost their joy, not because they had less money or less of whatever they used to have, but because they started disobeying Jesus.

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” – John 15:10-11

In the Scripture above, Jesus said that if you keep His commandments and abide in His love, His joy will remain in you, and your joy will be full. If you really want that joy that chases depression and sorrow away forever, you need to obey Jesus and abide in His love. 1 John 5:3 says that God’s commandments are not grievous.

Beloved, the secret to real joy is in obeying the commandments of Jesus Christ. Commit to always obey Him, and as you begin to live for Him, His joy will flood your heart. He loves you, and He wants to give you unexplainable joy.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

You cannot always determine a person’s strength from his or her physical appearance. For instance, having big muscles does not necessarily reflect how strong a person is. If a person’s strength is based on physical appearance alone, then David would not have defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:42-54).

Ecclesiastes 7:19 says that a wise man is stronger than ten mighty men. In verse 12 of that same chapter, the Bible says: “For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” This means that wisdom, money, or both, provides strength and security.

Everyone has something or someone that they depend on as their strength. However, the greatest of strengths comes from above. This is why David said in Psalm 121:1-2:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

David had a source of strength that helped him overcome battles, live in prosperity, and leave a good legacy. In the Scripture above, he said that his help came from the Lord. In other words, God was his strength. The strength that comes from the Lord is absolutely reliable because, not only is it supreme, it is always constant. That strength does not ever fade; it is everlasting. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. If the Lord is your strength, your strength will be constant, even in old age. Deuteronomy 34:7 says that at 120 years old, Moses was still very strong; His eyes were not dim and his natural strength had not diminished. The strength that comes from the Lord is comprehensive. Philippians 4:13 says:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

‘All things’ in the above Scripture includes working miracles and laying hands on the sick for their recovery. Mark 16:17-18 says:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Beloved, do not be satisfied with your natural strength alone because it is very limited. Like David, look up to God for strength to overcome all of life’s challenges and to do the impossible. Our God is faithful, and He can be relied on.

When people seek solutions to their problems outside God, they end up failing, even if it sometimes seems they were solved initially. The advantage we have as God’s children is that we have a Father who never fails. The worst verdict any sick fellow can hear from a doctor is, “There is nothing more we can do.” However, when doctors reach their limit, the Almighty God can step into the situation and bring total healing because He is limitless.

Years ago, a woman told me that her daughter in the United States of America was pregnant and was about to deliver. The doctors discovered that the baby was too big to be delivered naturally, so they decided to perform a surgical procedure to bring the baby out. When they tested her blood, they discovered another issue – she was suffering from a very rare disease that would not allow her blood to clot. This meant that they also could not operate on her because she would bleed to death. God told me to ask the mother to bring two handkerchiefs for me to pray over. Even though I didn’t understand why, I relayed the message to her, and she obeyed. After praying over the handkerchiefs, I told her to travel to meet her daughter in the hospital and lay one of the handkerchiefs on her. When she got to her daughter, she laid one handkerchief on her as I instructed. The following morning, the handkerchief was missing. They searched everywhere, and they just couldn’t find it. The woman then said, “Thank God I brought two handkerchiefs.” She tied the second handkerchief firmly to her daughter’s wrist and asked the doctors to wait to see what happens. The doctors said they could only wait until 10am, after which they will bring out the baby and take their chances with the mother. By 8am however, the baby that they said couldn’t come naturally was delivered safely.’ If you cry out to Jesus when faced with an impossible situation, He will show up for you.

God said in Psalm 50:15 that you should call on Him in the day of trouble and He will answer. I want to advise that before that day of trouble comes, ensure that you are close to God so that He will listen to you when you call. Isaiah 59:1 says that He is not deaf, but sin can stop Him from hearing a person’s call. Live holy so that in the day of trouble, when you call on God, He will hear you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.” Ecclesiastes 7:19

The Scripture above tells us that a wise man can be stronger than ten mighty men put together. Therefore, one can say that having wisdom is a very good thing.

In 1 Corinthians 1:20, the Bible says:

“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”

From the Scripture above, we know that there is something called ‘the wisdom of this world’, and that God can turn this wisdom into foolishness. However, the question is, what is the wisdom of this world?

The wisdom of this world is any kind of wisdom that is not of God. In other words, any kind of wisdom that does not agree with the word of God is the wisdom of this world. It may seem good and also seem to yield temporary results, but if it is not of God, it will eventually become foolishness. In the same Scripture that was quoted above, the Bible tells us that when the wisdom of this world was turned into foolishness, the wise men of the world were nowhere to be found. They could no longer make a case for their kind of wisdom.

Some people are boasting now, arguing that their kind of wisdom is the best because it appears to be yielding results for them, either in helping them to make money, or to get into positions of power and so on. However, because their wisdom is not based on the word of God, a time is coming when they will hide their faces in shame because it will be made foolishness.

Beloved, do not be moved by the methods and recommendations of men, even though they might seem very logical. If their recommendations are not based on what the word of God says, they are foolishness, and you should not partake of such. The Lord has superior wisdom for you, and He said that you only need to ask in order to get it (James 1:5). When you begin to use His wisdom, you may seem foolish at first to the people who are using the wisdom of the world, but I tell you from experience, sooner or later, you will have excellent results. Better still, your results will endure, and you will keep on excelling, long after the so-called results of the people who relied on the wisdom of the world have been forgotten.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says that two are better than one. This is because, if one person falls, the other can lift him up. For instance, if a fellow is walking alone at night and is suddenly attacked by some miscreants, that fellow would most likely find it more difficult to fend off the attackers than if he or she had company. It is indeed not good to be alone (Ecclesiastes 4:11).

There are battles you may never win if you fight alone, but if you have the right people on your side, you will stand a better chance of winning. There is an exponential increase in strength when a fellow is not alone. 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?”

While it is good to have friends, it is important to choose the right ones. A popular saying goes thus: “Two heads are better than one.” However, that saying has been adjusted in recent times to be, “Two good heads are better than one.” Evil communication corrupts good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33). Who is your friend? Is your friend making you better or making you worse? If you have a friend who is corrupting your good manners, you should separate from such a fellow as he or she can cause you a lot of trouble. There are many people in prison today because of the kind of friend they had.

Make sure your friends are people with good heads on their shoulders. If you put a bad apple in a bowl with good ones, the bad apple will make the others rotten as well. If you have just one bad fellow in your group of friends, that one fellow will likely pull everyone down. It is better to stay away from such a person. Proverbs 13:20 says that the companion of fools shall be destroyed. Don’t allow yourself to be destroyed.

If you are unmarried, you must be extra careful when choosing a spouse. It is better not to be married at all than to get married to a bad spouse. Take your time to hear from God first. Get many confirmations that the fellow you want to get married to is not a fool. Do not think you can change him or her after marriage.

Beloved, your friendships and associations can greatly impact your life. Do not keep company with the wrong crowd.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 says that money answers all things. Truly, when someone has money, that person has a level of power because he or she can pay to get so many things done, some of which would have probably been impossible without money.

I saw an inscription many years ago which said, “When money is speaking, nobody checks the grammar.” Nobody checks the grammar because most people are at the beck and call of a rich man. Even when he does something wrong, not many people are bold enough to correct him. Hence, money truly can give a person a level of power.

As powerful as money can be, however, Proverbs 23:5 says that it can grow wings and fly away. Also, even though money is powerful, there’s a limit to what it can achieve. For example, it was recorded in the Bible that when there was a famine in Egypt, money failed (Genesis 47:15-16). In modern terms, this can mean that money no longer retains the value that it once had. For instance, in recent times, due to economic hardship, the currencies of many countries have lost so much value.

Since money can fail, it is not something you should rely on. There are many rich people who had the money for the best medical care in the world, but their money could not save their loved ones. There are people with state-of-the-art beds in their houses who can hardly sleep. Also, there are people with enough money to feed a city, who cannot eat what they want because of a health condition. You should not put your trust in money as whoever does so will be greatly disappointed. Proverbs 11:28 says:

“He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.”

If a fellow has all the money in the world but does not have Jesus, he or she is finished. There is absolutely no profit in having all the money in the world and missing heaven (Mark 8:36). Only Jesus can be relied on; only He can stand by you to help you when everything else fails. Only He can give you and the generations after you a glorious future here on earth and in eternity.

Beloved, the money you have in your bank account, as much as it may be, can fail you. Do not put your trust in riches; rather, put your trust in Jesus. He loves you, and He will never fail you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Proverbs 20:29, the Bible says that the glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their grey head. When you are young, you are strong and agile, and you have the strength to jump around and work for long hours. However, the Bible says in Isaiah 40:30:

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

The strength that comes with youthfulness does not last forever. David was a valiant warrior when he was young; not only did he kill Goliath, he also trained other giant killers. However, a point came in his life when he fainted and would have died in battle if someone had not come to his rescue (2 Samuel 21:15-22).

The glory of the youth is in their strength; however, this strength must not be used selfishly. Rather, it must be used primarily to serve God. If you are a youth, you should not use your strength to engage in sexual immorality or pursue worldly pleasures. Rather, use your strength to work for God as this is the primary reason for making you strong. There are many people today who constantly regret how they spent their youth. Some of them do not have a stable marriage or a good source of income because of how they lived their lives when they were much younger. They sacrificed having a good future on the altar of ‘having fun’.

If you are a youth, you need to be careful of the seeds you are sowing now because you will surely reap them in the future. Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 says:

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

You should put evil far away from you, especially if you are a youth reading this. Your strength as a youth will not last forever. When this youthful strength is gone, and you become old, you will have to face the results of the seeds that you sowed in your youth.

Beloved, serve the Lord with all your strength now. A word is enough for the wise.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The most important reason God created your mouth is for you to sing and shout to Him. This is why He said in Psalm 98:4:

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

In the passage above, God was commanding the whole earth, not just a few people, to make a loud noise unto Him. In other words, He was telling the sea to roar His praises, the trees to clap for Him, and the birds to sing. Likewise, since you are on the earth, your voice must not be missing in this great choir. David said in Psalm 119:164:

Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

God created your mouth principally to sing His praise and to shout unto Him. You may not be able to sing as beautifully as the choristers in your church, but God knows that everybody can shout. That is why He said in Psalm 98:4 that you should make a joyful noise unto Him.

There is a story in Matthew 12:22 that illustrates how important the mouth is to God. A man was brought to Jesus Christ, and the Bible says that the man was blind and dumb. Jesus healed the man, and he began to speak and see. It is interesting to note the order in which the Bible recorded the miracle; the man was ‘blind and dumb’, but then the Bible recorded that he ‘spoke and saw’. This shows that Jesus healed the man’s mouth first before his eyes.

If you have not been shouting and singing to God before, start doing so henceforth. When you are in the bathroom, sing praises to Him. When you are walking along the road, let a chorus be in your mouth. When you are in church, and the minister on the pulpit asks you to shout Halleluyah, shout at the top of your voice. God loves it when you praise Him. When you shout and sing to Him, He is pleased with you and will draw near to you. The Bible says in Psalm 22:3:

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

When you open your mouth to praise God at all times, He will draw near to you and abide with you continually. As a result, you will enjoy the numerous pleasures in His presence forevermore (Psalm 16:11) and experience His peace at all times, irrespective of what is going on around you. Beloved, never stop praising God with your mouth!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s teaching, God created you for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11), and He specifically created every part of your body for a purpose. Yesterday, I taught about God’s purpose for your hands, and today, I will be teaching about the legs.

One of the main reasons God created your legs is so that they can dance for Him. Psalm 150:4 says:

“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”

God expects you to use your legs to dance for Him. In Acts 3:1-11, a man was born lame, and even though he always sat at the gate of the temple and could hear the praises from inside, he couldn’t dance. On that fateful day, he asked the apostles for money, but God had arranged for his legs to finally be able to dance for Him. He didn’t get the money he asked for, but Peter took him by the hand, and his ankle bones received strength. The Bible says that he entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. May you always have reasons to dance, in Jesus’ name.

If you want to know how important dancing is to God, you should read 2 Samuel 6:14-23. In that passage, David was dancing to God, but his wife reprimanded him because she thought that he had abased himself by dancing shamelessly. God was so upset with her, and as a result, she never had a child until she died. No matter how great you become in life, you must always ensure that you use your legs to dance for the One who lifted you.

Many years ago, we were at a meeting of pastors. During the praise session, I closed my eyes to avoid distractions as I danced to the King of kings. One of the men of God needed to get my attention for something, but he couldn’t, because my eyes were shut. When he finally got me to open my eyes, he said, “Look at you, don’t you know you are a General Overseer?” I ignored him because I was dancing to the One who made me a General Overseer, and I will keep dancing for Him until my last breath.

Beloved, ensure that you always show your gratitude to God by praising Him and dancing for Him. This way, He will continue to lift you up, and you will never cease to experience the beauty of His salvation (Psalm 149:3-4).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Most High God does not do anything without a purpose, so, everything He created has a purpose. In the same way, every part of your body was made for a purpose. Revelation 4:11 tells us that we were created for His pleasure. God sent you into this world to give Him pleasure. In fact, every part of your body was created specifically to give pleasure to God. Today, I will start teaching on the reason God made every part of the human body, and I will begin with the hands.

Psalm 47:1 says:

“O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

One of the main reasons your hands were created is to clap for God. In Mark 3:1-5, Jesus Christ healed the man with the withered hand, even though the leaders of the synagogue didn’t want Him to heal on the Sabbath day. God did not create the hands to be withered; the hands are meant to clap for Him. This was why, even though the man with the withered hand did not ask Jesus for healing, it was very important to Jesus that the man’s hand be made whole.

There are people whose hands do not look withered physically, however, when a fellow’s hands cannot achieve as much as they used to, they can be considered to be withered. Also, when a fellow cannot spend as much as before, or when he or she cannot get certain things done as before, the fellow’s hands can be said to be withered. When a person’s hands are withered, he or she cannot be joyful, and when the person is not joyful, he or she will not be able to clap. I decree today, that if you have a withered hand, it will be restored, in Jesus’ name.

If God has ensured that your hands do not become withered, then you will be ungrateful if you do not clap for Him in worship. If a fellow is ungrateful to God for His goodness and blessings, his or her hands are in danger of becoming withered. An ungrateful person is indirectly asking for his or her hands to be withered.

Beloved, I implore you to take a minute to think about all of the great and mighty things that God has done for you, and how great and powerful He is. Henceforth, always focus your thoughts on His goodness and clap for Him in thanksgiving and praise with all of your strength.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Power can simply be defined as the ability to do work. Sometimes, you can tell that a person is powerful based on his or her physical appearance. However, there is another kind of power that cannot be judged based on physical appearance alone. For example, in Judges 15:14-15, when Samson took the jawbone of an ass and killed a thousand Philistines, amongst other great acts he performed, the Philistines could tell that he had extraordinary strength. This was why they asked Delilah to find out the source of his extraordinary strength (Judges 16:4-5). What they didn’t know was that the Holy Spirit always came upon him to give him the power to do the things that he did. Unfortunately, sin made him lose his power (Judges 16:20).

Not long after I got born again, I got a letter inviting me to my village for a programme. When I told my mother that I was going to honour the invitation, she became afraid because I had run away from the village after some people threatened to have me for breakfast. By this, they meant that they were going to kill me using diabolic powers. I told my mother that I was now born again and no weapon fashioned against me can prosper. She replied that I didn’t look different at all, and asked how I was sure that I was now powerful. I told her that an electric wire that has electricity running through it and one that doesn’t, both look alike. However, anyone who touches the one with electricity will know the difference. When you become born again, greater is He that is now in you than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

There are certain things that are needed to keep a fellow strong. Just like a bodybuilder is careful about eating healthy and exercising regularly, you also must be careful about what you let into your spirit. You must also constantly engage in spiritual exercise. When a Christian allows negative things into his or her spirit man, such a fellow will be contaminated. If you listen to worldly music, watch worldly movies, or view sensual pictures and videos on social media, you are reducing your spiritual strength.

Beloved, pray and fast regularly to maintain and increase the power of God within you. As you do these and live holy, the power of the Holy Ghost within you will grow, and God will be able to use you for greater exploits in His kingdom.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham was walking towards Sodom with the three ‘men’ who had visited him. On their way, the Lord told him of His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their numerous sins. I believe that God told Abraham His plan because He wanted him to intercede for the people in those cities.

Abraham interceded, and God accepted everything that he said. However, there were not enough righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, so they still ended up being destroyed. This shows that even when God calls for intercessors to pray against destruction in a particular nation or city, if He cannot find enough Christians there, the land may still be destroyed.

When Abraham was interceding for Sodom, his nephew, Lot, must have been on his mind. I am sure that he quickly did a little bit of Arithmetic and counted Lot, his wife, and his daughters. He also probably assumed that Lot’s daughters had fiancés whose parents were also there. After his quick calculation, he must have come to the conclusion that there must have been at least ten children of God in the city. That must have been the reason he settled with God and said, “Lord, if you get to Sodom and find ten righteous people, will you spare the city because of them?” God accepted, but unfortunately, there weren’t up to ten righteous people in the city. I pray that whenever God visits your hometown, He will find more than ten righteous people there, and His mercy will prevail over judgment.

This is why you should do something urgently about your hometown. You must make sure that the light of the gospel shines there so that even if some people commit evil acts that should ordinarily draw the wrath of God, He will consider His children and spare the land. Ensure that you regularly preach the gospel to the people of your hometown so that you can turn as many souls as possible to the path of righteousness. The Bible says that if you do this, you are wise, and great glory lies ahead of you (Daniel 12:3).

Jesus specifically told His followers to start preaching the gospel from their hometowns when He said in Acts 1:8 that they shall be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem first before progressing to Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the world.

Beloved, preach and teach the word of God to the people in your hometown. This is God’s will, and as you obey, you and your hometown will be blessed tremendously.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 2 Samuel 22:7-10, we see that when God hears the cry of one of His children and arises on behalf of that fellow, the whole earth will tremble, and the foundations of heaven will shake. This means that when God steps into a situation, His impact will be felt immediately.

Do you know that it is possible for you to get God to rise on your behalf? Psalm 144:5-6 says:

“Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.”

When the battle you are facing is becoming too great for you, and you need urgent divine intervention, you can specifically ask God to arise and come down to the earth for your sake, and He will do so. God sits in the heavens and controls everything that happens on the earth because the earth is His footstool. However, every now and then, when His children are facing some tough battles, He prefers to arise and come down by Himself to fight for them. Psalm 68:1-2 says:

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”

When you become overwhelmed, and all you need is for your enemies to be scattered, cry unto God and say, “Oh Lord, Arise!” He said in Psalm 50:15 that you should call on Him in the day of trouble, and He will answer you. I have discovered from the Scriptures and from personal experiences that whenever a genuine child of God is faced with overwhelming situations and circumstances, and he or she cries for God to arise and fight the battle, God always shows up.

In 2 Kings 19:14-19, King Hezekiah cried to the Lord when a mighty army decided to wage war against Judah. He knew that Judah did not stand any chance against the mighty Assyrian army; therefore, he reported the matter to God. God arose for Judah, and in that same night, the angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrian army and killed 185,000 soldiers. Hezekiah did not even need to raise an army to fight against the Assyrians; God took care of them Himself.

Beloved, do not despair when you are faced with seemingly impossible situations. Cry unto God, and He will surely arise to deliver you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a terrible thing to miss the time of divine visitation. In Acts 3:1-11, the Bible tells us of a man who was born lame and who was always sitting at the gate of the temple. He could have decided to sit anywhere else in Jerusalem and beg for alms, but he chose to position himself where God would easily find him. He chose to sit at the gate of His temple, and the day of his divine visitation eventually came. You never can tell when the Almighty God will pay you a visit.

If you are a member of your church choir, there is usually a time that is allotted for rehearsals. If that is where God expects you to be at that particular time, He can decide to visit you there with your blessings. Some people left the place that God expected them to be, and by doing so, they were not available at the time He sent their miracle to them. When you are feeling tempted not to go where God expects you to go, or you feel like leaving where He expects you to be, whether it is a church service or a place of spiritual assignment, it means that the devil is trying to make you miss your blessing. May you not miss your day of visitation, in Jesus’ name.

Apart from missing the time of divine visitation by not being in the right place at the right time, the devil also tries to get believers to be in the wrong places so that he can carry out his evil plans on them. There was a man who was killed when some robbers came to his house. The robbers had been watching him closely, and they knew that he was supposed to be in church at that time. However, on that particular day, he decided to stay at home rather than attend church service. When the robbers were caught, they confessed that they decided to rob the house because they thought that the man would be in church. When they met him at home, they couldn’t let him live because he saw their faces.

Beloved, be consistent in your walk with God and in your service to Him. Surrender all to Him and be diligent in doing what He has called you to do. He will surely visit you and reward you as you keep doing what He tells you to do (Ephesians 6:.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is no place in the Bible that says you are to fight for yourself. Rather, what the Bible says is, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14). Also, the memory verse for today says that you should not avenge yourself, for vengeance is the Lord’s.

The reason God tells you not to fight for yourself or avenge yourself is that you belong to Him, and He is responsible for you. Therefore, if anyone comes to fight you, He is the One who will stand up to fight. Hence, whenever you fight for yourself, you are telling God that you own yourself and you can take care of yourself. In essence, you are telling Him to stay out of your matter. Believe me, if God stays out of a person’s matter, he or she is finished (Lamentations 3:22).

Some people think that they are strong, therefore, they are quick to stand up to any fight. As for me, I know that I am not strong at all. If you see any strength in me, it is because Christ strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Without Christ, I am just a weakling. This is why, whenever I am faced with any opposition, I always tell whoever is confronting me, “If it is me you are fighting, you have won, even before the fight starts, because I have no power. However, if it is God you are fighting, then I pity you.” This has always been my disposition because God has assured me of rest and safety in Him. I know that in quietness and confidence shall my strength be (Isaiah 30:15), for I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me (Romans 8:37). Ever since I made the decision to put all my trust in Him, He has never let me down and He never will (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Beloved, you are stronger when you are quiet and confident in the ability of the Lord to fight for you. People who confront you already think that they are stronger than you, therefore, when you shout and try to fight for yourself, you will only make them feel stronger. However, when you are quiet but confident, they will know that the One who is greater than the greatest is behind you, and they will leave you alone. If they however choose to continue to challenge you, they will be destroyed by the Lord of hosts whom you put your confidence in.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When people sing, dance, and even cry while worshipping God, it will look as if they are worshipping God in spirit and in truth. However, only God knows those who are truly worshipping Him and those who are just faking it.

In 1 Samuel 15:20-31, we see one of the major indicators of fake worship. Saul was only worshipping God so that the elders, and all the people of Israel, could see that he was worshipping. If you only worship God in church for people to see you, then that is not true worship. When genuine worshippers worship God in public, it is an offshoot of what they have been doing in private. They actually prefer to worship God in private so that they can freely express themselves, rather than in public, where they would be conscious of the people that are around them.

Another indicator of fake worship is when your worship consists only of clapping, singing, and dancing, without seeking to know and obey God. If you do not seek to do His will at all times, but only like to sing worship songs, you are only enjoying good music; you are not truly worshipping. Real worship is about pleasing God, not just singing, enjoying good music, and feeling good about yourself. True worshippers daily seek to know God and obey His commandments. They give their hearts completely to God and seek to glorify Him with everything in their lives. This is because, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

True worship comes from the heart; it is not a jamboree. True worshippers are so in love with God that they worship Him by serving Him and giving to His work in tithes and offerings. They also worship God by putting Him first in everything that they do. They are addicted to spending time in His presence and cannot imagine being separated from Him. Like David, a true worshipper would say:

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”
Psalm 42:1-2

The essence of true worship lies in obedience and glorifying God in our lives, rather than offering sacrifices to Him with our mouths only. Are you truly worshipping God?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Questions like, “Do you know who I am? Do you know who you are talking to? How dare you speak to me like that?” are borne out of pride. The truth is that every human being was made from the dust of the ground and will eventually return there (Genesis 3:19). It is only the grace and favour of God that has brought us this far (1 Corinthians 15:10). If you think that you are successful because of how smart or brilliant you are, my question for you is, did you create your brain? Could you have single-handedly created the opportunities that you had while climbing the ladder of success?

The Bible tells us in Colossians 1:16-17 that all things exist in God and were created by Him and for Him. Everything we are and have is by God’s provision and by His grace alone. This is why Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us that no one can boast before God.

Even though I can be considered brilliant because I obtained a PhD in Mathematics, I could have ended up as a farmer in my small hometown, Ifewara, if God had not given me the kind of mother that I had. She supported my dream to go to school in every way she could, and if this had not happened, I would not be where I am today. This is why I cannot afford to be proud because I know my humble beginnings, and I did not get to where I am today solely by my efforts. God raised me by His grace and mercy, and He can also pull me down. In the Bible, even though King Saul was initially aware of his humble state before he was crowned king (1 Samuel 15:17), pride began to set in his heart as time went by. He got to a point where he began to feel like he needed more respect from people. Consequently, he lost his position and the kingdom was taken away from him (1 Samuel 15:22-31). By the time we get to 1 Samuel 16:1, God was telling Samuel not to waste his time praying for Saul because He had rejected him.

Beloved, do not allow pride into your heart. The moment a fellow becomes proud, destruction is waiting at the door (Proverbs 16:18). Never forget about God’s abundant grace, and be careful never to think that you are superior to other people. God is the One raising you and all the glory must be given to Him.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I will be concluding the teaching I started yesterday on prophesying with wisdom. In 2 Samuel 12:1-15, God sent Nathan to announce King David’s punishment. As a wise prophet, Nathan knew that the way he communicated God’s message would determine if he would leave the palace alive that day or not. Therefore, he started the message with a parable. When the king himself pronounced judgment based on his parable, he said, “That fellow is you, sir.” There is a powerful lesson for you to learn from here: when God sends a message through you to someone, you must be careful about the way you relay that message to the fellow.

If God tells you something about somebody, don’t be in a hurry to tell the fellow. Ask God for wisdom to relay the message in the right way so that no one gets in trouble because of the prophecy. Over time, I have learnt to do this. This is why I often give prophecies in the form of parables. If God has told me something and I am to share it with the public, if I know that the thing can be tough for some people to swallow, I will say it in the form of a parable. This way, I communicate God’s message with wisdom.

I have also seen people who use the gift of prophecy to destroy families. If God tells you something about someone and He says you should tell the fellow, after asking God for wisdom on how to relay the message, you might also need to advise the fellow on how to use the information that he or she now has. This is because such a fellow might not have the same level of wisdom and understanding as you. If he or she lacks understanding or is not mature enough to handle the message appropriately, the devil can take advantage of this and push the fellow into taking actions that will cause more harm than good. If you know that the fellow may not use the prophecy correctly, and God is not compelling you to reveal the message, you may decide to just approach the person with general advice and guidance concerning that issue. This way, you can help him or her without causing any trouble.

Beloved, the gift of prophecy is to perfect the saints, not to confuse or endanger them (Ephesians 4:11-12); use it wisely!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The gift of prophecy is special. It is a great honour for God to choose someone as a vessel that He can speak to and communicate His mind concerning situations. However, great wisdom must be applied when using the gift of prophecy.

First of all, it is not everything that God tells you that you should tell others. There are certain things God tells you that are for your ears only. If you become so excited that you start telling them to people that He has not permitted you to share them with, you might cause more harm than good. God likes to share secrets with those that are close to Him. If He tells you a secret, you should ask Him if it is okay to share it with anyone. The moment He tells you a secret, and you tell someone that He has not permitted you to, He might stop speaking to you.

You must note that the gift of prophecy should not be used to show off that you are close to God. Prophecies must be handled with care because some people might not be able to receive, understand, and interpret what God is saying correctly.

When God tells you something about a particular fellow, you are not to say that thing in public except He specifically asks you to do so. If the fellow He spoke to you about is a public figure, find a way to send a message to him or her privately about what God told you. When God told Samuel that King Saul had offended Him, Samuel did not announce it to the entire kingdom. Our God is not a gossip. If He gives you information about someone, it is not for you to discuss it with the whole world. You must pay particular attention to this, especially when the prophecy is not a pleasant one. Even if such a fellow would have received your prophecy well, hearing it in public might make him or her defensive, and as such, the aim of that prophecy will be defeated. Also, God can change His mind about such a fellow if he or she begins to do the right thing as we see in Isaiah 38:1-5. If instead of telling the fellow privately, you announced the prophecy to the whole world, if God changes His mind, you will be left to defend what you had prophesied.

Beloved, be slow to speak (James 1:19). Ask God for wisdom on how to handle the things that He reveals to you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

These days, many people attempt to modernise Christianity. However, the Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is never going to change; therefore, such people are only compromising on their faith.

It is okay to introduce technology into the work of God. It is also okay to use new approaches to share the gospel. However, the ancient landmarks must remain intact. The moment a fellow begins to explain away some of the basic principles of Christianity in the Bible, that fellow is already on the wrong path. For example, 2 Corinthians 6:14 says clearly that believers should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Some youths, in a bid to be modern, say that it is not bad to marry someone who is not a Christian. They claim that they are practising a less rigid Christianity than that of their parents. This can be potentially dangerous because someone who is an unbeliever will not understand the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14) and will most likely oppose them or persecute the believer because of them.

Some people say that I am old school, and I agree, after all, I serve the Ancient of Days. However, I have been standing in the faith for over 40 years, while many ‘modern Christians’ are nowhere to be found. Without the ‘old school’ landmarks, you cannot remain strong in the faith. Some youths say that their parents are too rigid with the way they serve God. You may think some of the things that they do are not necessary, but believe me, they would not have achieved the results that they have today if they had not served God with such commitment. Denying one’s self for the sake of the gospel shows a believer’s level of commitment, and God rewards commitment (Hebrews 11:6).

If you are keeping the ancient landmarks, I want to encourage you to continue. Some people may laugh at you or call you a religious fanatic, but you must stand firm in your commitment to God and not compromise on God’s principles. In the past, I was also laughed at, but see how far God has brought me now.

Beloved, give yourself completely to God, and do not compromise on His standards; the whole world will soon come to the brightness of your rising in Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Before God called me into full-time ministry, my dream was to become the youngest Vice Chancellor in Africa. I thought I had a great dream, and so, I pursued it with everything that I had. What I did not think of was, after becoming the youngest Vice Chancellor in Africa, what next? I thought I had my tomorrow all figured out, but the truth is, I was short-sighted. I thank God that He came in to give me real hope for my tomorrow.

It is good to be ambitious but believe me, any ambition that negates the will of God will only cause more trouble than good. Isaiah 45:9 says:

“Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?”

Beloved, you are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). Do not try to go in a different direction from the will of God if you do not want to go astray; the clay that argues with its potter will end up broken. The only way to achieve genuine success in life is to go on the path that your creator made for you. You should find out God’s purpose for your life and walk in it.

You may ask, “How do I discover the purpose of God for my life?” If a product does not understand its purpose, it can get a hint by staying close to its manufacturer. As it spends time with its manufacturer, it will begin to notice what the manufacturer uses it for and realise its purpose. God is your creator; spend quality time with Him daily. As you do this, He will begin to give you specific instructions and use you for certain tasks. These instructions and tasks will tell you clearly what His purpose for your life is.

Peter thought that his purpose was to be a fisherman. He went about fishing so diligently that he worked all night, even when there was no catch. However, when he came in contact with Jesus, He told him, “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.” As he followed Jesus, he fulfilled God’s purpose for his life.

Beloved, stay close to God, and He will reveal His purpose for you here on earth. Make up your mind to obey His instructions, and you will indeed fulfil your destiny.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As we see in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, the rapture is the sudden taking away of the dead in Christ along with believers who are alive to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ and spend eternity with Him. Many people, however, feel that the rapture is not real because they have heard of it for so long and it hasn’t happened yet. Whatever anyone thinks about the reality of the rapture does not matter. It is in your best interest to study and believe only what the word of God says about it. The Bible says that the day will come like a thief in the night and you must be prepared if you do not want to be left behind (1 Thessalonians 5:1-.

A key characteristic of the major prophecies in the Bible is that they sounded unbelievable when they were spoken. When Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth in Isaiah 7:14, it seemed very unreasonable. At that time, most people must have watched to see if a virgin would really give birth. It wasn’t until centuries later that Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. Whether the people believed Isaiah’s prophecy or not, God’s word came to pass. In the Bible, there were numerous prophecies that seemed impossible but have come to pass. If the Bible has been so accurate, it is wise to believe that it is absolutely right about the rapture.

When Noah announced to everyone that a flood was coming to destroy the whole earth, they laughed at him. He started building the ark, and they laughed even more. Years passed, and no flood came. Just before he went into the ark with his family, the people were still drinking and rejoicing like every other day, but a few days after, they had all drowned. Today, many people are living recklessly, ignoring the reality of the rapture. However, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that the rapture will happen suddenly. Only those who are prepared for it will be saved while the rest will be left on the earth to suffer.

One thing I know for sure is that the day the rapture happens, many people will be caught by surprise. There will be a lot of regrets from people who heard about the rapture, but who lived their lives without bothering to prepare for it by giving their lives to Jesus Christ and living holy. Unfortunately for them, it will be too late because the rapture will only happen once.

Beloved, are you ready for the rapture?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:24

Jesus Christ said in the above passage that it is possible for you to be full of joy. In other words, He was saying that it is possible for you to have absolutely no sorrow. There are many people who look good on the outside but are dying on the inside. A lot of people have sorrows that they can’t share and problems that they hide beneath their appearance. However, God can take away sorrows completely and heal the broken-hearted (Psalm 147:3). If you are currently experiencing sorrows or problems that you cannot share, you will be healed today, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Many years ago, one of my daughters came to me and asked me to pray for her. I asked her what she wanted me to pray about, but she said that I didn’t need to know and that when the prayer is answered, she would come back and share the testimony with me. I prayed for her, and to the glory of God, some days later, she came back to share her testimony with me. She was well over 20 years old, but she was still bedwetting. She said that she never travelled with her friends on trips where they had to spend the night together, but that with just a simple prayer, the problem was over. In the name of the Lord Jesus who made it possible for you to be reading this teaching now, if there are any secret sorrows in your life, they will disappear today.

Jesus Christ said in John 16:24 that the way to get all your sorrows turned to so much joy that you will be filled with it, is to ask Him. It may seem like a simple instruction, but it is a very powerful one. Rather than cry or worry, just pray. Matthew 6:27 says that no matter how worried you are, you cannot add an inch to your height.

Beloved, stop worrying. Rather than spending time to worry, use that time to pray. Philippians 4:6 says:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

When disturbing thoughts wake you up at night, get up and pray. As you pray and sing praises to God, the sorrows will be lifted from your heart and will be replaced with joy. I pray that henceforth, your life will be filled with joy, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every now and then in the Bible, you read about people who got ‘unplanned’ miracles. For example, in the Gospels, Jesus would be going somewhere, not planning to pray for anyone along the way, but somehow, someone would get a miracle from Him. One of such people is the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:21-34. Jesus was on His way to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead when she met him. She pushed through the crowd that followed Him until she was able to touch His garment and get her miracle. In doing so, all the sufferings in the last 12 years of her life vanished. If she had not done what she did, she might have died a sick and wretched woman.

Do you know that you can get a miracle even when a minister of God is not praying for you? You can be at a programme, and while a ministration is going on, if you say to yourself just like the woman with the issue of blood, “If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will receive my miracle,” God will do it.

One of our drummers in RCCG had been waiting on God for the fruit of the womb. One day, while the Holy Ghost Service was going on, he said in his heart, “If the General Overseer can just look at me, I will have my child.” I didn’t know what was going on, I just looked his way, and he was very excited. Nine months later, his baby came. There was also a woman many years ago who had heard of the great things God was doing through us. She decided to come for one of our programmes and said in her heart, “If I can just see the man of God, I will receive my healing.” When I came up, she asked those around her to confirm that the fellow on the altar was me. When they confirmed it, she started rejoicing, and she got her miracle.

If you have faith, you can get your miracle at any time. Even if a minister of God does not mention your case or lay hands on you during a ministration, you can get a miracle from God through him. You don’t have to wait for a minister of God to pray for you. You can get a miracle through him or her with your faith.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When God moves, He distributes miracles along His path. When you read through the Bible, you will see many instances where this happened. For example, in Genesis 18, He was going to Sodom, but on His way, He stopped at Abraham’s tent to give him a miracle. Also, in Luke 7:11-15, Jesus was going into the city of Nain and He saw a dead man being carried to his grave. He touched the coffin, and immediately, the dead man came back to life.

Psalm 97:3 says that fire goes before God. In other words, He has a convoy that goes before Him that is made of fire. This means that whenever He is moving, fire goes ahead of Him, clearing everything that is evil, and preparing the way for the One whose name is ‘Consuming Fire’. Even if you are not the one that God is coming to see, as He is passing by your house, everything that is considered evil in your home will be dealt with. When the One who is passing by is the Almighty God Himself, then no sickness, pain, sorrow, poverty, or anything evil, will remain.

Beloved, this is why it is good to have Christian neighbours. If you have Christian neighbours, every now and then, God will come to visit them. When He comes to visit them, since you are nearby, you should receive a miracle as well. This is why you should do something about the salvation of the people who live close to you, as well as everyone you interact with regularly. The Bible says that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34), therefore, if you are surrounded by righteous people, God will move more frequently within your community, ensuring that you and the entire community are continually blessed in Him.

You should note, however, that the Consuming Fire hates sin. Therefore, when He moves, everything that relates to sin in His path will be destroyed. This is why you must abstain from sin because you do not want to become a victim of the Consuming Fire whenever He is moving around you.

Beloved, ensure that you live a holy life and also surround yourself with true children of God so that whenever God moves around you, you will receive a miracle.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God has many children, but as every parent knows, there is always that one child that is a favourite. Even though they do not like to admit it, their relationship with that child goes beyond regular parenting; it often extends into friendship. Likewise, God doesn’t just want you to be His child, He wants you to be so close to Him that He can consider you His friend.

Jesus loves His friends so dearly that He said that He was willing to lay down His life for them (John 15:13). Do you have a friend who can inject himself with a disease so that you will not be infected with it? This can be likened to what Jesus did in Matthew 8:17. Can any of your friends take a bullet for you? Jesus did more than this when He was beaten by Roman soldiers and hung on a cross. This means that Jesus is the best friend that anyone can ever have.

People often tell tales of friends that they used to have. While it is common for people to betray friendships because of selfish interests or terminate them because of disagreements, the friendship of Jesus Christ lasts forever. Whether you are going through a storm (Matthew 14:24-25), or you are caught in a fire (Daniel 3:22-25), He will never leave your side. Even when He knows that you can betray His friendship, He will remain your friend indeed (Luke 22:31-32). The Bible says in John 13:1 that He loves until the end.

What does it take to become a friend of God? John 15:14 tells us that we can become His friend by obeying His commandments. This goes beyond staying away from sin; it means that when He says, “Don’t eat, I want you to fast today,” you should do it. When you are tired, and all you want to do is sleep, if He says, “Let us discuss before you sleep,” you should push the sleep aside and pray. When He says, “Give me your car,” you should do it. Abraham was called a friend of God in 2 Chronicles 20:7 because, when God asked him to sacrifice his son in Genesis 22:1-3, he was ready to do it.

Beloved, when God instructs you to do anything, you should make the necessary sacrifices and obey Him promptly. Nothing in this world should be too big for you to sacrifice to God. This is the only way to become His friend. Are you ready to become God’s friend?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In conclusion of the teaching I started two days ago on gender and sexuality, I will like to share an experience I had with you. Some years ago, I was in one of the Western nations to preach, and a journalist interviewed me about my views on same-sex marriage. I told the fellow interviewing me that God made men and women to reproduce after their kind. Then I asked, “Is it possible for people of the same gender to produce offspring?” I concluded by telling the interviewer that if everyone was getting married to someone of the same sex, the world will come to an end in this generation.

As a child of God, whenever you have the opportunity to speak about homosexuality, don’t beat around the bush. The reason evil thrives is that good people are too afraid to say the truth. Don’t keep quiet when people say that they are sexually attracted to people of the same gender as them. Don’t judge or condemn them, rather, tell them the truth with love. Condemning them will only make them put up a fight, and our God is not a God of condemnation, but of love. Speak to them in love, but still show them from the Scriptures that what they are feeling is not from God because He clearly speaks against it. Tell them that you are willing to pray with them and help them overcome that feeling.

Romans 1:20-32 tells us what happens to people when they are left to their reprobate minds; such people cannot end well unless they repent. Stand firm against homosexuality and do everything you can to show people that are sexually attracted to individuals of the same sex the right way to live from the Scriptures. Lot stood firm against homosexuality in Genesis 19:1-7, even when he was under severe pressure. He did not allow the men of Sodom to come into his house to have sexual relations with the angels that he invited in, even though they pressed on him greatly and were going to break into his home.

Beloved, I know that in some countries, the government has made it illegal to speak the truth as regards homosexuality. However, we have a greater government in Christ, and we must represent Him everywhere we go. Do not stand by and do nothing while people are on their way to destruction; you have a responsibility to save as many as you can (Jude 1:17-23).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I will continue my teaching on what the Bible says about gender and sexuality. The Bible makes it clear in Leviticus 18:22, that it is an abomination to have sexual relations with someone of the same gender. Homosexuality might have been painted as normal in some societies, but anyone who engages in it is committing an abomination. Leviticus 18:22-30 says that if people who engage in homosexuality do not repent, their souls will be cut off from amongst the people. It says further that the nations and places in which such acts are encouraged will be punished and will not know peace. Do not imbibe these ideologies from such societies; the word of God is ‘yea’ and ‘amen’. God’s word says that such people and societies will be punished, so we must stay away from their ideologies and intensify our prayers for them.

When you read about Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities that God destroyed with fire and brimstone, you will see what can happen to societies that are defiled by homosexuality (Genesis 19:1-25). Even though they were initially said to be flourishing and seemed like the perfect places to live in (Genesis 13:8-12), they were eventually destroyed due to the wickedness and immoral acts of their inhabitants. Even after they were invaded by enemies and Abraham came to their rescue in Genesis 14:1-16, they continued proudly in their abominations, and this eventually led to their destruction. In Isaiah 3:9, the Bible says:

“The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.”

Beloved, do not partake of such evil rewards. Don’t believe the lie that some people are born homosexual. Homosexuality is an abomination before God because it was not part of His original design; it is a devilish act that is intended to destroy the lives of people and tamper with the work of God. If you have been engaging in homosexuality, pray to God for deliverance from the manipulation of the devil, and see a genuine minister of God to pray with you.

Beloved, God loves you and brought this message to you so that you can either be delivered or be used to deliver others.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We live in a world today where many are confused about their sexuality and gender. Some Christians are also confused about what to believe concerning the topic. Over the next few days, I will be digging deep into the Scriptures to explain the truth about sexuality and gender.

First of all, I will like to emphasise that God created man in His own image, and He created them male and female (Genesis 1:27); anything outside this is not God’s design, neither is it His will. When an artist creates a masterpiece, the artist puts his or her signature on it. Every human being is God’s masterpiece and is uniquely made, such that no two people in this world have the same fingerprints. If someone takes a masterpiece and decides to change something about it, it immediately ceases to be a masterpiece. People who decide to change their gender are destroying the essence of their creation. They are telling God – their creator – that they can do a better job at creating.

One thing I know is that my God does not make mistakes. Therefore, when someone says that she feels like she is a male trapped inside a female body for instance, I immediately know that the devil is at work and is trying to manipulate her to destroy her body which is God’s masterpiece. Changing God’s original design concerning our bodies can be disastrous because the Bible warns that our bodies are God’s temple and that God will destroy whoever defiles His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). There are records of many people who have altered their genders admitting that they are suffering serious health and emotional trauma as a result of their decisions. A person cannot tamper with God’s masterpiece and not suffer the consequences if he or she does not repent.

One of our pastors was arrested because he addressed a group of people as, “Ladies and gentlemen.” They told him that not all of them were ladies or gentlemen. When I heard this, I wondered, “How many genders did God create?” Your body is the temple of God, and any advice to disfigure it is from the devil. If you feel confused about your identity, draw closer to God, study your Bible, and pray more than ever before. Also, speak to a Christian counsellor who holds firmly to God’s position about gender and sexuality. God will show you who you really are in Him and His purpose for your life. He had a plan for you, even before you were formed in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.”
1 Timothy 5:6

Even though people who live for pleasure appear to be living a normal life, the reality is that they are actually dead. This particular kind of people seek worldly pleasures only and have no self-control. As a matter of fact, they can be likened to zombies. A zombie is a fictional entity that does not have a mind of its own. It is controlled by a basic urge to feed and is literally a dead man walking.

If you are always lured by things that give your flesh pleasure, it means that your flesh is ruling over your spirit. This also implies spiritual death. You must gain full control over yourself. Do not let the urge to sleep overcome the need to work. Do not let the urge to eat overcome the need to fast. The key to remaining in control of your life is to be disciplined. The price of discipline far outweighs the cost of indiscipline. A fellow who always gives in to pleasure will die poor. This is what the Bible tells us in Proverbs 21:17:

“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”

Nobody ever achieves anything great by giving in to pleasure all the time. Anyone who does this will come into this world and leave unnoticed.

Being a lover of pleasure is so dangerous that the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 that you should not associate with people who only seek the pleasures of life. It says that you must turn away from people who love pleasure and themselves more than they love God. A tree does not eat its own fruit. It exists to cater for the needs of others. In the same vein, people are created to impact others and contribute positively to society. They are not created to only serve themselves.

When some people talk about self-love, what they are actually talking about is selfishness. If you want to really live, then you must make an impact on those around you. Anyone who is only living for himself or herself is already dying. The best way to impact those around you is to bring them out of darkness into the light of Christ. This is the true essence of living as a Christian, as you were chosen to bear fruits (John 15:16).

Beloved, ensure that you remain truly alive by not only seeking your own good but also the good of others.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The lips are a very sensitive part of the human body. In Isaiah 6:6-7, when the angel wanted to help Isaiah, he put a coal of fire on his lips. Even though that must have been very painful considering how sensitive the lips are, the experience ensured that Isaiah became a changed person.

Nothing touches fire and remains the same. In Acts 2:1-14, Peter stood boldly to address and preach to a large crowd of people after the Holy Ghost had descended on the Upper Room congregation like cloven tongues of fire. This was the same Peter that denied Jesus three times out of fear. From the day a believer gets a kiss of fire, everything about him or her changes completely; the impact of the fire will abide with him or her forever.

When you see someone who is always ready to do the will of Christ and go all out for Him, that fellow has been kissed by fire. This is why after Isaiah received that kiss of fire, all he could hear was God saying, “Whom shall we send, who will go for us?” and his response was, “Lord, send me” (Isaiah 6:1-. When you are kissed by fire, you will begin to hear the heartbeat of God concerning the nations of the world, and your response will be, “Lord, send me anywhere to do your work, and I will go.”

Paul did God’s work with great zeal. That zeal came upon him in Acts 9:3-6 when Jesus appeared to him in a great light on his way to Damascus. That light was not from an electric bulb; it was from the fire of God, and the moment Paul’s body touched it, he was kissed by fire and was changed forever. From that moment, he went to every length to do the will of God.

The reason many Christians find it difficult to do great exploits for God is that they have not been kissed by fire. Some of them want to serve God in greater capacities, but they lack the required zeal because they have not been kissed by fire. If you are a pastor, and you want to have an army that is willing to join you in doing great exploits for the kingdom, pray for them to be kissed by fire. The moment they are kissed by fire, the zeal of the Lord will take over their hearts and all they will long for is to do His will at all times.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.