₦airaland Forum

As we continue with our study on “Who said what?”, we need to be mindful that the Creator of heaven and earth gave us a user’s manual – the Bible. The Bible is called the word of God because it contains all that God has to say about everything in creation. Therefore, you look into the Bible to know the mind of God about any issue of interest. For example, in Hebrews 13:4, the Bible says, “Marriage Is honourable in all and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”. Genesis 2:24 further says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh”. The Christian marriage is therefore a covenant ordained by God which establishes and defines the marital relationship between a man and a woman.

Marriage is sanctified by God as a means of maintaining family life. Above all, marriage is honourable in all that it entails, with a strong warning against whoremongers, adulterers, and anything that defiles the marriage bed. Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and his wife and vice versa. Those who break the marriage covenant are equally pursued by God’s judgment, just as murderers are.

The emphasis here is on sexual immorality. The Bible holds that sex is honourable within the marriage setting immorality then comes in when sex is contracted before marriage or outside wedlock. Obviously, sexual immorality is not something that a child of God pursues as an ambition; many times it occurs as the result of a careless and unserious attitude to some seemingly harmless but very dangerous behaviour. These include immodest dressing and comportment, undue closeness to persons of the opposite sex, exposure to books, audio, and video materials with explicit sexual content, partial or complete nudity, and other compromising behaviour. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, ‘Flee fornication. …but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body”. Also, (2 Timothy 2:22) says, “Flee also youthful lusts… “The main warning in our user manual - the Bible, against sexual immorality is to flee. Beloved, if you go against the provisions of your manufacturer, you would run into a malfunction.

A word is enough for the wise.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are many self-proclaimed teachers of the word, with hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers today. These people speak with a certain level of authority spanning a broad range of issues like religion, marriage, family matters, doctrinal affairs, Church government, entertainment, money matters, etc. Many of them have also put their questionable teachings and unbiblical views in print. Worse still, some ministers of the gospel who should know better are now peddling these wrong teachings on the grounds that they hold some wisdom. The question should be, “Who said what?” Whatever anybody says should be compared with the word of God. God’s word should always be held as superior to the word of any man – no matter how sensible it may sound.

Everybody’s knowledge and view is limited to his or her environment and level of exposure. However, the Alpha and Omega, the all-knowing God, has perfect knowledge of things from the creation of the world to the very end of time. This is why the word of God cannot become obsolete, irrespective of time, advancement in technology and level of civilization.

The word of God remains fresh and new to date. Psalm 138:2 tells us that God magnifies His word above His name, therefore, the word of God should be treated with the utmost respect and honour it deserves. Trivialising the word of God could have devastating effects as it happened to the special adviser to the king in (2 Kings 7:19-20). It is important to note that the word of God is different from the word of man that is subject to changes. God does not change and His word remains constant – forever. For example, in Matthew 19:8, Jesus pointed out a permissive law on divorce that was introduced by Moses, but was not part of the original code. Therefore, any alteration to the word of God is neither encouraged nor acceptable before Him.

Always confirm who is saying what before you jump on the bandwagon of new teachings. We should all borrow a leaf from the Berean Christians who searched the Scriptures daily to confirm teachings they received (Acts 17:11).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I have often told my children that the strength of any statement or promise should be measured based on the identity of the speaker. Therefore, when the Bible in Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus’, the right response would be to check the identity of the One speaking. If God is to supply your needs according to His riches in glory and He is the controller of the whole universe, then you know that you are in for something great.

When the Lord of hosts, the One who has never lost any war says in Isaiah 54:17 that “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…” you can relax and take His word as a guaranteed insurance cover. When the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps promises to watch over you and your family, you can confidently rest on His promise. Whatever comes out of the mouth of the One that is greater than the greatest, older than the oldest, richer than the richest, and wiser than the wisest, should be considered trustworthy, reliable and dependable. The Bible says in (2 Corinthians 1:20), “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us”. Also, Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O Lord, Thy word Is settled in heaven”.

Many kings and powerful individuals who took it upon themselves to speak arrogantly against God and His people in the past all ended up regretting their foolish utterances. Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea (Exodus 14), Herod was eaten by worms (Acts 12:23), Nebuchadnezzar was debased and dethroned until he confessed that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He would (Daniel 5:21).

We need to ask about the personality behind whatever we hear before acting on it. More importantly, we need to find out the source of teachings and prophetic utterances these days, before acting on or even sharing them on social media. However, once confirmed, we should not hesitate to do according to God’s word, no matter how illogical it may seem.

Believe God and His prophets and it shall be well with you (2 Chronicles 20:20).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Right from the beginning of the Scriptures in Genesis 1, you would observe love in action. The love of God for man is so great and deep that He created this world for it. In Genesis 1, God did not create man until He had created everything else that man needed to live comfortably here on earth. Scientists agree that the earth is created in such a manner that everything in it makes it conducive for man to live in it. We cannot quantify the extent of God’s love for man. The Psalmist said in Psalm 8:4:
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

The Scripture above makes it clear that even right now, God is mindful of you. He loves you so much that He said in Isaiah 49:16:
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

God’s love for us is great! This love is so great that it extends to every strand of hair on your head. He has given each strand of hair on your head a number, such that when one drops while you are combing it. He is aware of the particular strand that dropped (Matthew 10:30).

I just want you to know how much God loves you. You must know this love to be able to enjoy a fruitful walk with Him. The knowledge of God’s love for you is what makes your walk with Him effective. You must begin to believe His love for you so you can really experience joy. Everyone else may reject you, but not God. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). I am sure you have an idea of the kind of attachment a mother has to her child, especially when the child is still suckling. Isaiah 49:15 says that even if a suckling mother forgets her child, God will never forget you. Oh, such great love!

Even if you are still living in sin, I want you to know that He loves you (Romans 5:.

He loves you so much that He will not stop calling you to come back into His marvellous light. Please heed His call today. It doesn’t matter how badly you have sinned, He will receive you with a warm hug when you come back home. Jesus loves you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Psalm 119:71 is a pointer to one fact: when we are locked down, we should discover what God really wants us to learn at such times. It is amazing to read the Psalmist saying “It Is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). “It is good” the Psalmist says, “that I have been afflicted”. For what reason? “That I might learn thy statutes”. This is incredible!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. – (Romans 8:28)

The Psalmist knew the benefit of a lockdown. In 2 Samuel 16:5-12, we read about David’s experience when a palace coup was staged against him by his son Absalom. As he was fleeing, a relative of King Saul – Shimei came forth, stoning and cursing David and his entourage. A servant of David, Abishai was enraged and sought permission to kill Shimei but David’s reaction was completely different, as he believed that God was teaching him a lesson through all the problems he was faced with.

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.
2 Samuel 16:11.

There are a lot of lessons to learn from the lockdown of David. David believed that God allowed it for a purpose. He did not fight back at the man who cursed and insulted him since his son Absalom, had done worse. He believed that all things would work for his good (Romans 8:28). He taught his followers that the furnace of humiliation would perfect God’s will for his life. Children of God should share this belief for whatever situation they may find themselves in, with faith that all things would eventually work together for their good.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One lesson or benefit of a lock-down is the opportunity to develop one’s hidden potential. The hustle and bustle of day-to-day human activities often rob us of the opportunity for meditation and spiritual growth. Had it not been for the lockdown David suffered when he was running away from his sworn enemy King Saul, he would not have been able to develop his leadership potential and produce great warriors from the downtrodden, distressed and discontented young men of Israel that formed his first army.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
1 Samuel 22:2.

The result of David’s lockdown in the cave of Adullam is evident in the account of those people regarded as vagabonds, who became mighty men of valour in his army, as written in (2 Samuel 2:3). One of them – the son of Dodo, was described thus: “And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite…He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil” – (2 Samuel 23:9-10).

A time of lockdown, whichever form it takes, should be spent in such a way as to bring the best out of us. David was not sitting to brood over his troubles when being pursued by King Saul. He used the period of his lockdown to develop his military acumen and raise an army of men who would eventually become his generals. Little wonder he had a standing army in contrast to the ad-hoc army of his predecessor.

Beloved, during your period of low estate, find out what God would want you to do, and it will surprise you that you will come out stronger to do exploits. In whatever Situation you may find yourself, ask the Almighty God to open your eyes to lessons to be learnt and opportunities to be seized, just as Joseph did, rising from being a prisoner to become the Prime Minister (Genesis 40-41).

To fully appreciate the potency of God's word, we need to carefully review the descriptions given to it in the Holy Scriptures. In the Old Testament, the word of God is seen as a word about, as well as one from God. In effect, the word of God refers to what God says, and at the same time, it describes God – His essence and attributes. The New Testament presents the Word of God as a person – the second person of the Trinity, that is, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of creation. Colossians 1:16-18 presents the Word of God as follows:

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

This sacred capacity of the word of God to revive is based essentially on the fact that He is the creator of all things both in heaven and earth. Since all things were created by His Word, the power to revive is also inherent in His word. God spoke all things into being by the power of His word. Hebrews 4:12 says "The word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." This means that the Word is able to examine and judge those who hear it; the Word of God does not fail, but always accomplishes the set purpose. The word of God is in fact a weapon of warfare that is able to destroy material things such as joints and marrow as well as the immaterial such as the soul and spirit. Indeed, the total person – spirit, soul and body, comes under the operation of the Word of God.

Beloved, what is that challenge or situation that appears impossible to resolve or overcome? The power in the Word of God can overcome it. Find what the word says about it and pray with that word in faith as the Holy Spirit directs. You will be victorious so long as you have genuinely surrendered your life to Jesus Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible is full of Scriptures to support the power in the word of God. Light came into existence through the power of Gods spoken word (Genesis 1:3), also the entire universe was made by the Word of God.

Our God is the creator of heaven and earth, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the One who knows all things and specializes in bringing to pass the impossible. All power in heaven and on earth belongs to Him – that is why He is called the Almighty God. While it is impossible for anyone to fully understand the might and majesty of God, a better understanding of His creative power, wisdom, and authority could be made visible by considering the works of His hands, according to Psalms 8:3-4.

Considering the almightiness of God therefore, whenever He says yes, one cannot help but wonder why anybody would want to oppose Him. Since the fall of man, mankind has been found in opposition to the Almighty God, to their own detriment. Humanity is used to striving with God from the very beginning. Striving with God is the fruitless opposition of the ungodly to the will of God. It is also the struggle of the righteous with God's commandments as they seek to obey it. However, the striving of the wicked with God is usually the result of a guilty conscience. To this end, Genesis 4:9 says, And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Many Christians today are equally striving with God by holding a view that is contrary to the word of God.

Anybody striving against God can never succeed. God says in Isaiah 46:10, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure. Also Proverbs 19:21 says, There are many devices in a man’s heart; Nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Do not resist the Holy Spirit or be found arguing with God. Don’t ever try to attack Gods people or practice unbelief, lest you be found guilty of striving with God. The creative power of our Sovereign God is as potent as ever, and our God still rules the affairs of the universe today. He is the ultimate controller of everything in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

Forever, His word is settled in heaven (Psalms 119:89).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Mountains, either physical or spiritual, are stubborn and difficult obstacles to overcome. To move physical mountains, one would require various forms of complex and expensive equipment. To move spiritual mountains however, Jesus Christ taught us to pray them out of our paths. The primary ingredient required for this kind of prayer is faith, but some other elements have been identified to also act as either hindrances or aids for our prayers to produce the expected results. Two of these critical elements are unforgiveness and forgiveness.

Unforgiveness is a major hindrance to mountain-moving prayers, while forgiveness is a powerful aid in moving mountains. It is God's will for us to forgive everyone who may have offended us in one way or another no matter how hurt we may be. Unforgiveness hence is disobedience to God, and we know that every disobedience to God is a sin. Unforgiveness in itself is a sin and a mountain that also impedes the progress of its host. To command a mountain to move off your path, you must ensure you are not harbouring the mountain of unforgiveness in your life.

When the burden of the sin of unforgiveness has been removed from us, we are able to pray with confidence, lifting holy hands in prayers to God with a clear conscience and faith for answered prayers. This is why Mark 11:24 says Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Moving mountains is one of the most challenging problems of faith in Christendom because mountains are usually large objects that all eyes can see. Sometimes, as you open your eyes after prayers, you would immediately see that the mountain has refused to move, thereby causing you to doubt. However, the solution is the above verse: when you pray, believe that you have received your answer and leave the rest to God. Don’t forget that you are not the miracle worker; your role is to pray with confidence in the Almighty God who has the power to answer prayers.

I join my faith with yours today and command every mountain in your path to move in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From the context of Mark 11:22-26, we will describe mountains as structures or objects purposely designed to impede movement, interfere with communication, prevent understanding, and ultimately obstruct progress. To obstruct in this regard is to oppose, disturb, attack, pull down, work against, or constitute a barrier to the success of an individual or project. Some objects used in the Bible to represent mountains include barriers, gates, walls, poverty, sickness, slavery, sieges, and imprisonment. All the examples mentioned here exist in physical and spiritual dimensions, but spiritual mountains are much more difficult to overcome. Therefore, those who are held bound by any, or a combination of two or more of these factors would find it extremely difficult to succeed in life. Anyone suffering from any such obstruction has his or her life characterized by hardship, time-wasting, stagnancy, barrenness, fruitless efforts, procrastination, and failure. These conditions have consistently proven insurmountable by human efforts, but Mark 10:27 says, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it Is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible”. I pray that every mountain in your life shall be moved today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Matthew 17:20 says, “..for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you’. Therefore, faith is required to move a mountain, be it of sin, poverty, or sickness. My Daddy is the creator of heaven and the earth; all power in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. He is greater than the greatest, He is the Almighty. Therefore, His ability to move mountains and destroy barriers in your life is not in doubt. Zechariah 4:7 says, “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain…” Furthermore, God has ordained and empowered His anointing as a means of destroying barriers and yokes of all dimensions, according to Isaiah 10:27 which says, “..And the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing”.

Beloved, you can move any mountain blocking your path to greatness if you surrender your life to Jesus Christ and put all your faith in Him.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A promise is the express assurance to fulfil a purpose; thus expectations are built on it. The promises of God reveal His purposes for us. However, the fulfilment of these promises will be dependent upon our diligent obedience to God. Diligent obedience can be described as strict, prompt and consistent adherence to the commandments of God. It is God’s expectation from us all and it is vital to the fulfilment of His promises in our lives. No matter the number of times we say ‘Amen’ to prayers and claim the promises of God, without diligent obedience, very little progress will be recorded.

Indeed, God’s promises are irrevocable, and He is faithful to fulfil them all. We, however, must play our part by obeying Him wholly and promptly. In 1979 I went with my Father-in-the-Lord to Kenneth Hagin’s camp meeting in the United States of America in the company of four others. That was our first trip to the USA. The meeting ended on a Saturday, and we decided to worship with them the following Sunday. During the service, the preacher suddenly walked over to my Father-in-the-Lord and said, “Thus saith the Lord: What I told you several years ago will soon be fulfilled”. The preacher then returned to the pulpit to continue his message. When we got to our hotel later that day, and I told him what the preacher said (I had to translate the sermon and prophecy from English to Yoruba so he could fully understand the message), he broke down in tears, saying that, at the beginning of the RCCG, the Lord had promised that the Church would spread throughout the world. As at the time of this camp meeting, the Church had only 39 parishes in addition to the Headquarters church, but today, we have thousands of parishes spread across 197 nations of the world. Thank God that my Father-in-the Lord obeyed God’s call and instructions to the letter, in turn, God fulfilled His promises. This season, the Lord will fulfil all His promises in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Diligent obedience guarantees the fulfilment of God’s promises in our lives. Beloved, make up your mind to diligently obey the Lord at all times and in all things.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As explained yesterday, the fact that man was created in the image of God empowers him to be great in life. However, we have seen that the pronouncements of God may not necessarily manifest in the lives of individuals until the attached conditions are met. Psalms 33:8-9 says, "Let all the earth fear the Lord: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast". Numbers 23:19 says, God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Mark 13:31 says, Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Furthermore, Isaiah 55:11 says, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It is however unfortunate that despite the plan of God for man to be great, not everyone will accomplish this, for various reasons. In the case of Cain in Genesis 4:10-14, he failed woefully because he allowed jealousy and hatred to push him to commit murder, and he incurred the curse of God. In 1 Samuel 2:30-36, two young prophets were already on the path to greatness, simply by being Elis children, but they lost their chance by messing around with holy things, thereby desecrating the altar of God and making themselves into children of Belial. They both died miserable and untimely deaths on the same day. In the case of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:20-27, he was in line to become the greatest national prophet of his time but ruined everything with greed. He ended up losing the glorious opportunity to be an honoured servant of God and also inherited the leprosy of Naaman. Judas Iscariot was initially numbered among the twelve disciples who learned at the feet of Jesus throughout His earthly ministry. However, he allowed greed to make him give his Master away for only thirty pieces of silver.

Do not be a hindrance to the fulfilment of Gods promises in your life. I pray you will surrender all to Jesus Christ and hold on firmly to Him. Gods promises will be fulfilled in your life, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Genesis 1:27-28 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue It: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Being created in the image of God and having dominion over everything He created is the best thing that ever happened to man. Psalm 139:14 says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, while Hebrews 2:7 says, “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands”.

As it was in the beginning, so it is now. Sin led to the loss of man’s original status. As Adam and Eve short-changed themselves at the beginning by surrendering their authority to the enemy out of ignorance, so are many still doing today.

Sin turned us to servants, without authority. We became ineffective and weak carriers of God’s image. However, out of mercy and compassion, Jesus Christ came to clean up the mess by paying the ultimate price. About this, Colossians 1:13-15 says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who Is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Therefore, every human being, irrespective of colour, nationality, lineage, or birth conditions, is wonderfully made with the potential for greatness.

Unfortunately, however, many are living far below their potential. Jesus came to show us how to live in this world as carriers of God’s image so that we may follow in His footsteps. (1 John 2:6) says, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked”. To reach our full potential in this world, we must accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, then follow His footsteps daily.

You will fulfil your glorious destiny, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

1. Thank You Father, for the gift of my spouse and all You have given us as acouple. Thank You for keeping our home and sustaining the love we share. Thank You for not allowing the enemy to steal, kill and destroy this marriage, in Jesus’ name.

2. Father, let my marriage glorify You this year. Let people be drawn to You because of my marriage. Use my spouse and I Lord, to rebuild people’s confidence in the marriage institution, in Jesus’ name.

3. In this year, God will use my marriage like never before. God will use me and my spouse mightily for His work, in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, every time I call on Your name in this year, please answer me by mercy. Let Your mercy speak for me, my spouse, children and all my loved ones, in Jesus’ name.

5. Sin and disobedience will be far from my home. My spouse and I will not walk in disobedience, in Jesus’ name.

6. Father, please reveal Your will for our marriage so that we can please You in all our ways, in the mighty name of Jesus.

7. Lord, when you come back, please let me and my family reign with You, in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, anything in my marriage that does not align with Your will, please remove it today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

9. Father, in every way, prosper us as a family. Prosper us so we can sponsor Your work on earth. Prosper us so we can be Your Kingdom Treasurers, joyfully financing Your work here on earth, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, I decree that there will be no divorce or separation in my marriage. I decree that my marriage will not fail God, in the mighty name of Jesus.

11. I decree that my spouse and I will live long lives in good health and sound mind with joy, serving the Lord, in Jesus’ name.

12. Your personal prayer points for your marriage.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Forgiveness is the term used to indicate pardon for a fault or offence. It signifies the liberation of a person from guilt and its consequences, including punishment. It usually comes as an act of favour, compassion or love, with the aim of restoring a broken relationship. It may involve both the cancellation of punishment and debts. God forgives the sins of Christians out of love, based on the sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. By this, sins are no longer held against children of God, according to Romans 3:25, Acts 13:38-39 and 1 John 16-9. The sinner is thus, by this act of grace, forever freed from the guilt and penalty of sin.

This act of forgiveness is offered freely to everyone through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Anybody can access the forgiveness of God by meeting three basic conditions: genuine repentance (remorse for all sins committed), confession of such sins unto God, and believing that Jesus is the Son of the Living God who, by the shedding of His blood and death on the cross, has washed away all such sins.

As God has showed us unmerited love, mercy and grace in wiping away all our sins through the blood of Jesus, He commands us to do the same: to love our neighbours and keep no record of sin against our fellow men. This is where the necessity of two-sided forgiveness comes in. As a matter of fact, God expects us to live by the principle of forgiveness, with the understanding that, in order to receive forgiveness from Him, we must, in turn, be ready to forgive others (Luke 6:37). In the same manner, Ephesians 4:32 says, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Unforgiveness deprives us of divine forgiveness and blessings. In contrast, forgiveness leads to peace, reconciliation, healing, unity, progress, joy, prosperity, and answered prayers.

Settle all unresolved disputes you may have with everyone, even if you were the offended party. Let the love of God shine through you to others and become a dispenser of the abundant grace and mercy of God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Praise is probably the most potent weapon of any kind in the whole universe. Apart from the fact that God created man primarily for the purpose of showing forth His praise (Isaiah 43:21), it is capable of moving God into action beyond our wildest imagination.

A leper praised God in Matthew 8:1-4; he was instantly healed of his leprosy. David the shepherd boy wrote poems and sang praises to God; the Lord miraculously appointed him to sit on the throne of Israel. The army of Israel sang praises to God and the wall of Jericho fell flat before them in Joshua 6:20. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel praised God in the beauty of His holiness in 2 Chronicles 20:20-25, and God set an ambush against their enemies to destroy them completely. Paul and Silas sang praises to God in the prison; Acts 16:25-26 says "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every ones bands were loosed". Such is the power of praise. As you praise God today, the hosts of heaven will move on your behalf, in Jesus name.

We can be provoked to praise God like in the above examples by learning a few things from them. They were motivated to praise God by three important factors: the knowledge of God, the vision of God, and the past miracles that God had done in their midst. With our focus on these three factors, the power of praise will always fill our hearts. Above all, praise usually leads to divine intervention. People are lifted by praising God. Praise always turns problems to stepping stones, tests to testimonies and trials to triumphs. When people praise God, obstacles give way to miracles, attacks give birth to attractions and disappointments give wat to divine appointments.

You must note however, that you can only be qualified to praise God acceptably if you are genuinely born again and consecrated to Him. Surrender your life to Jesus today if you haven’t done so and never stop praising Him from now. God bless you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Destiny speaks of the event that will necessarily happen to a person in life. Though the word was not expressly used in the Bible, we see various passages that describe God choosing different people for specific callings or assignments. According to Genesis 18:18-19, God said; “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

In Jeremiah, God said He had ordained Jeremiah a prophet, even from the womb. The Almighty God is a God of plan and purposes; He is always at work to secure His children’s destinies, though behind the scene in a patient way that respects human choices and natural processes. For example, Esther had the choice of rejecting her preordained role of saving the Jews, but chose to accept it. Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Please note that what could be considered an error on the part of Abraham by fathering Ishmael turned out to be instrumental to the fulfillment of God’s covenant with him, as it was the Ishmaelites who took Joseph to the place of destiny fulfillment (Genesis 37:26-28). That is why the Bible in Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” For this reason, you must hand over your destiny to the Lord.

To fulfill destiny, you must be upright and God-fearing, forgiving people just as Joseph readily forgave his brothers. As we see in Romans 8:28-31, all things work together for good to those who love God and called according to His good purpose.

Hand over your destiny to God now, and you would certainly have a glorious future.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The wind of change is a term commonly used to describe breakthroughs and blessings of great significance. However, it has a much deeper meaning in Christendom. The wind is an invisible force endowed with the capacity to accomplish unbelievable things. A seemingly harmless wind could become highly empowered to bulldoze anything in its path when it graduates into a storm.

The wind therefore symbolises the move of God. It is usually called into action whenever God wants to accomplish great things. In Exodus 14:21 the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. In Numbers 11:31 there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were a days journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. Also, in Ezekiel 13:1-23 7:9, the Lord commanded Ezekiel saying, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. In Verse 10, Ezekiel said, So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

It is therefore clear from the above examples that when the wind of God blows, there will be a way where there was none, as it happened in Exodus 14:21-28. There will be restoration of life according to Ezekiel 37:5-10 , and there will be abundant provision as seen in Numbers 11:31. Also, there will be deliverance in line with Acts 16:26, and divine promotion as in 1 Samuel 16:12 :13: And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.

The wind of God can, however, produce negative results for disobedient people, as seen in Jonah 1:1-2. As you surrender your life to God in holiness and righteousness, in total obedience to His commandments, He will cause the wind of change to blow in your favour, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Afflictions are situations that we typically pray against. Interestingly however, afflictions have their benefits in the life of a person. One of the typical benefits of afflictions is that they draw men back to God, especially when faced with challenges they cannot surmount by themselves. In Judges 6:1-10, we see the afflictions of the children of Israel at the hands of the Midianites and Amalekites. These two nations attacked Israel successfully from time to time, causing them to suffer greatly. These afflictions drew the Israelites back to the God of their fathers, whom they had neglected for strange gods, as we see in Judges 6:7:
“And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,”

God was then able to speak to them through His prophet whom they would not have listened to but for the affliction. The Lord reminded them that He was still their God, far superior to the gods of the Amorites and the gentiles among whom they were living.

One lesson to learn from this fall of Israel is that serving other gods will always bring affliction. Also, the environment in which a person lives or operates could lead to a departure from serving God. Many of the sound doctrines we cherished in the past have been trashed due to globalisation and our contact with the Amorites, Canaanites and Jebusites of the present age. This has led to many ungodly practices among believers. This in turn causes grave afflictions. Sicknesses that were not mentioned among the believers before are now commonplace. For example, where would high blood pressure come from when a believers life is full of joy and the peace of God? A believer of old did not compete with the so-called rich people of the world and would seek Gods counsel before engaging in any enterprise. Believers ought to be led by the Holy Spirit on what line of business they should pursue. Failure to do this leads to loss of peace and rest of mind.

The COVID-19 pandemic is also a case in point on how afflictions can draw people to God. All thanks to God as the Church is now retracing her steps to the old rugged way of peace and joy. May the Lord help us, in Jesus mighty name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Bondage is the condition of being dominated by sin – fleshly lusts, or demonic powers. Bondage refers to any situation contrary to Gods plan and purpose for man, according to Genesis 1:27-28. It is anything that binds a fellow in the torment of fear (Hebrews 2:15). Bondage of any kind has one purpose to shame and disgrace. Incidentally, bondage is usually not forced, as we see in the case of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-19). People usually become enslaved through the wrong choices they make in life. Consequently, many live by choice under the control of demonic powers, hard drugs and other forms of addiction like money, alcohol, sex, and worldly pleasures, without any idea that they are in bondage. That is why 2 Peter 2:19 says:
“for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

Furthermore, Romans 6:16 says:
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

No matter what you are passing through, you can make a decision now that will change the course of your life forever. All you need to do is reject sin and evil, then embrace God and righteousness.

There is nothing glorious about living in bondage. Physical bondage includes poverty, sickness, lifestyle, and addictions.

Spiritual bondage includes demonic possession, being remotely controlled or tied down, being under the influence and experiencing situations that are not observable or physically explicable, as seen in the case of the mad man of Gadara in Mark 5:1-15. The good news is that Jesus came to this world for the purpose of restoring freedom to man in line with John 10:10 and Luke 4:18.

As you reject Satan and submit to Jesus today, He will make you whole and deliver you completely from all forms of bondage, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Backsliding is the act of becoming slack in spiritual commitment and not being fervent in the things of God. It means turning back from following Gods ways and guidance, forsaking His laws and commandments (Isaiah 1:4). It is a spiritual defection that grieves God, as it is a form of rebellion and adultery before Him (Jeremiah 3:. Backsliders are likely to forget Gods mighty works in their lives, ignore His counsel, and reject His instruction (Psalms 78:11 Psalms 107:11, Isaiah 30:9). Backsliders are children of God who had repented of their sinful acts and turned a new leaf, but then relapse into their former ungodly ways. Backsliding is, therefore, like abandoning ones faith. As we have learnt from the lessons of the past three days, there is nothing glorious in backsliding. If anyone is in doubt, let the fellow find out from King Saul, who once prophesied by the Spirit of God but ended up being tormented by an evil spirit.

Backsliding is so terrible that it can invoke Gods anger. In 2 Samuel 12:25, the Bible says, "And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord". Jedidiah means "beloved of the Lord". However, in 1 Kings 11:9, the Bible says, "And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice". Backsliding ignited the anger of God against Solomon, despite His initial love and affection for him at birth and early life. God reacted to the backsliding of the nation of Israel similarly, according to Psalms 78:57-59 which says, "But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers… When God heard this, he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel."

To return to living a glorious life in Christ however, a backslider must do the following: Accept Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour, repent of and forsake every sin, and begin to testify to the mercy of God that restored him or her.

Have you fallen from glory to shame? Return to the Lord, and He will welcome you with open arms, as we saw in Luke 15:1-24. God bless you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From the time of creation to date, sin or disobedience to God has been the greatest mistake man has ever made. God frowns at all sins no matter how we choose to categorize them. It is bad enough when sin is committed from time to time, even in ignorance. However, it becomes even worse when sinfulness becomes a lifestyle. The Bible refers to such people as stiff-necked, reprobates, unrepentant sinners, backsliders, or children of perdition. Living in sin is so abominable to God that it carries the ultimate penalty. That is why Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is nothing glorious in living a sinful lifestyle. The following Bible passages speak volumes about Gods hatred for sin. Psalms 104:35 says, Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Isaiah 3:11 also says, Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: For the reward of his hands shall be given him. Ecclesiastes 8:13 also clearly states, But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. Finally, Hosea 4:7 also says, as they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

God's view of sin and His judgment against sinners is clearly revealed in the above Bible passages. Hence, separation from God which is spiritual death, termination of life which is physical death, condemnation to eternity in hell which is the second death and other terrible consequences, await everyone living in sin in this world. I am therefore appealing that you come to Jesus today and be converted, so that you may receive help to stop living a sinful lifestyle.

In Luke 7:36-48, the woman seemed to know that coming to Jesus would transform her life positively. She was unwavering in her pursuit of the Saviour, and in return for her seeds of love, she reaped mercy and pardon. Whosoever comes to Jesus shall not be disappointed. Come to Jesus today!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Glory is a shame terminator. Wherever the glory of God is present, shame will never be found there. Hence, anything that is shameful, embarrassing or humiliating – such as sickness, poverty, a sinful lifestyle, backsliding, bondage, and failure, should not be identified with children of God.

Poverty is closely associated with hunger, unclothedness, homelessness, begging for alms, and wandering. Indeed, poverty is evil, and it has a way of dehumanizing people. However, being a child of God or attending Church services or programmes does not automatically cast away poverty. To be free from poverty, you must be completely obedient to God. In Genesis 26:12-14, Isaac was determined to pursue greener pastures in Egypt in order to escape the terrible famine in the land. The Lord however warned him not to take that step, then showed him where he should dwell.

Isaac obeyed and God blessed him greatly, as we see in Genesis 26:12-14 “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him”

In essence, the Bible is saying that Isaac reaped the fruit of obedience. Furthermore, to be free from poverty, one must be diligent in business. Despite Gods promise of abundant blessings in Genesis 26:3, lsaac did not fold his hands, waiting for the miracle. He cultivated, sowed, and laboured hard in the field, then the Lord fulfilled His promise by blessing his labour. Also, we must persevere in the face of obstacles on our way to achieving true success. There is always an interval between sowing and reaping. It is usually a period when obstacles and challenges come at you from every angle; perseverance is highly required to overcome.

Finally, you must not be a robber of Gods tithes, first fruit and offerings. Obedience in all these things is needed to live a glorious life free of poverty, shame, and all sorts of evil put together.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is difficult to describe God's glory as it is a combination of the great power, splendour and holiness that accompany God's presence, as well as its effects on man. Glory is one of the major attributes of God; it is a manifestation of His presence. Since man was created in the image of God, glory was originally part of his nature. However, when man embraced sin, the inherent glory of God departed. Romans 3:23 therefore says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Sin did not only tamper with man’s glory, it wreaked more havoc by also producing shame.

A glorious life is so wonderful that Genesis 2:25 said of Adam and Eve, And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Though Adam and Eve were physically naked, they were covered with glory – that was why they did not know shame. It was absolutely impossible for them to experience shame. However, in Genesis 3:7-10, after sin entered, fear gripped them; they suddenly discovered they were naked and had to hide due to shame. From the fall of man in the Garden of Eden to date, every human being who ever lived without being born again, wallowed in the realm of shame. According to Proverbs 3:35, glory is the opposite of shame. Quite simply, glory is the atmosphere of heaven on earth. Glory is both the beauty and power of God; it was lost at Eden but was regained at Calvary. Jesus came to redeem mankind and give those who accept Him the hope of glory, according to Romans 5:2.

Isaiah 60:1 tells us to arise and shine because, with the presence of Gods glory, nothing can hinder the rising of a child of God. I therefore pray for you: Today, you will rise and begin to shine, in Jesus name.

There is nothing glorious about sickness, poverty, a sinful lifestyle, backsliding, bondage, and failure. Children of God must be determined to live above these problems, swimming daily in glory. Today, Mark 5:25-34 shows a classic example of a person who encountered Jesus Christ and was relocated from the realm of wallowing in shame to that of swimming in glory. Beloved, come to Jesus today and surrender all to Him so you can also become a candidate for Gods glory (Colossians 1:27).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our possessions as children of God are multifaceted. When we consider Genesis 1:26, we can see an aspect of our possession - dominion. In other words, it is God's will for us to be in charge. This is so important that God also made it a point of His blessing to Abraham and his children (Genesis 22:17). Moses blessed the children of Israel in the name of the Lord and said 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 thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.”

Why this topic “Possess your possession” when a possession is already at the person’s disposal? This is particularly a puzzle when we consider Genesis 1:26. The truth of the matter is that man lost this possession to sin and the devil, according to the account of the fall in Genesis 3. Thus, it has to be repossessed. To do this, man needed Someone more powerful than the devil. Glory to God, Jesus came to our rescue. The Bible says:
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9.

To access the blessing above, you must be a Kingdom child. To be a Kingdom child requires a truly repentant heart and acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. This connects you with the True Vine in whom you would begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance) as we see in Galatians 5:22-23 and the fruit of souls that will abide in the Kingdom of God (John 15:16).

This is the path towards possessing your possessions (Matthew 6:33) and accessing everlasting life (John 3:16). Walk in it.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We discussed the wonders of heaven yesterday, concluding that it is better to experience them and avoid the horrors of hell by all means. Today, we shall look at some reasons we must avoid spending our eternity in hell.

The horrors of hell are indeed many, but we shall consider only a few of them today. The first horror of hell that comes to mind can be found in Revelation 20:10 and Revelation 21:8. Hell is going to be a great gathering of all evil spirits and every abominable human being that ever lived on the face of the earth. The devil himself will be in that eternally miserable assembly. Just imagine being in the company of demons, witches and wizards, and at the same time having all unrepentant wicked persons, warlords, cannibals, terrorists and notorious killers who ever lived, gathered together in a single location. Imagine the oppression, harassment, horror, and trembling that would characterize life in such a place. Everyone there will be in agonizing pain; anger and misery will fill the entire place. There will be unspeakable weeping and expressions of pain and agony. The Bible puts it this way in Matthew 13:50:
“And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth”

This takes us to the second horror of hell: the fire is unquenchable, the heat is terrible, the agony and pain are unbearable. Furthermore, this agonizing torment lasts forever. The terrible heat in hell makes a drop of water far more precious than billions of any currency in this world. The Bible, in Luke 16:23-24 tells us that the rich man in hell lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. The unquenchable fire of hell brought about horrifying agony and thirst in the rich man, so much so that he longed for just a drop of water to cool himself, to no avail.

Beloved, the only way to escape the horrors of hell is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, surrender all to Him and live a righteous life through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I thank God for bringing us into the second month of the year. I pray He will continue to keep us all to witness more months and years, in Jesus name. We must note, however, that no matter how long we live here on earth, we shall live longer in eternity – either in heaven or hell.

Heaven is wondrously blissful and hell is horrifyingly sorrowful. I encourage you today to choose to spend your eternity enjoying the blissful wonders of heaven. Today, we will consider a few of these wonders.

The first is the wonder of heavens magnificence and beauty. According to the description in Revelation 21:16-23, the new Jerusalem – which is the main city, is so large that it has an approximated length of 2,250 kilometres and a corresponding breadth. The city wall measures 16 feet in thickness! The foundations of the city wall were reinforced with precious jewels instead of stone and iron. These jewels include jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst. The city wall is built with clear crystalline jasper, while the vast city itself, especially the streets, are made of pure gold, like transparent glass. Light from the sun or moon is not required in the heavenly city; there shall be no nighttime or any form of darkness because the overpowering radiance of Gods glory shines and glitters through the entire city, and the Lord Jesus shall be the light that illuminates the city (Revelation 21:23). What a wonder it would be to behold!

Another wonder is the spectacular reunions awaiting us all in heaven, which may be the most touching of all the wonders of heaven. The reunions of husbands and wives, parents and children, family members and loved ones long since separated on earth. Most importantly, it shall be a great wonder to meet old saints like Father Abraham, Moses, David, Esther, Mary, Peter, Paul, etc. The glorious gathering of the saints in heaven cannot be compared to any earthly reunion – no matter how sweet. We must do everything within our power to ensure that we do not miss the wonders of heaven by any means.

I will see you in heaven, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One serious attribute of God that I have emphatically taught people not to overlook is divine anger. Truly, the Almighty God is Love (1 John 4:; however, we must never forget that He is also a Consuming Fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). Any time I say this, some people argue that the Bible reference belongs to the Old Testament dispensation and we are now in the New Testament. Amazingly, such people did not read their New Testament thoroughly enough to discover that even Hebrews 12:29 says “For our God is a consuming fire.” This is one of the wonders of divine anger, because how can the God of love be a Consuming Fire at the same time? We need to remember that it was divine anger against the devil that made way for man’s deliverance from satanic oppression. (Genesis 3:14).

Divine anger against the devil after the fall is full of the wonders of God’s love for man – that the man may be redeemable, unlike the fallen angels. He cast the man and the woman out of the garden so they would not have access to the tree of life in their fallen state, which would have made them irredeemable like the angels. Thus, God cast them out as He embarked on a redemption process that was centred on Jesus dying for the sins of man, His resurrection and second coming to rapture the saints. When a child of God falls into sin, “God does not spare the divine rod. Why? It is because God would not want him or her to miss the bliss of His Kingdom. This is why God punishes His erring children.
Hebrews 12:7-8 says:
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Whenever the Lord chastens you, accept it in faith, repent and amend your ways. His fire refines us when we yield to His correction but consumes when we choose to remain in our sins. Repent and forsake all your sins today, then confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour so as not to experience God as a consuming Fire.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Christian life is so full of wonders that one of the earliest apostles marvelled at the manner of love God showered on us, making us His children (1 John 3:1). Every genuine Christian has experienced the wonder of being adopted into the family of God as we see in Romans 8:15.

When we consider the benefits and privileges of being a child of the most powerful Personality in Heaven, on earth and anywhere at all, we will begin to appreciate the wonders of being a Christian. The world cannot understand these benefits, yet they are real. Some religions of the world cannot come to terms with the fact that Christians call God their Father. Some people were even upset with me for calling God my Daddy. However, God is my Daddy indeed. I told them if their relationship with God stops at calling Him Father, no problem, but He is my Daddy. Period.

However, one of the implications of this is that we should not trivialize the privilege or take it for granted. This takes us back to our discussion yesterday on the most important demand on a Christian life - holiness. The child of a lion is a lion. As Christians, we are called to be perfect as our Father in heaven, purifying ourselves always (Matthew 5:48, 1 John 3:3).

How do we purify ourselves? The Bible gives the answer: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word (Psalms 119:9). A pure and sinless life is very simple if we live our lives according to the word of God. I have taught it several times that holiness is simply obedience. You can be considered holy or righteous when you obey God to the last letter of His instructions. God told Adam Don’t but he did and so became a sinner. Thus, by the Spirit of Jesus Christ and our obedience to His word, we are holy and so fulfil the condition of being His children.

It is important to note that these wonders are reserved strictly for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Surrender your life to Him too today if you haven’t done so yet, and you will experience the wonders of being adopted into the family of God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are a lot of blessings accrued to genuine Christian living, but these do not come without some obligations on the part of the Christian. For example, the peace of God that passes all understanding is one of the benefits of Christian living, just like divine healing or divine health, according to Deuteronomy 7:15 and 1 Peter 2:24. However, we must meet certain demands before we can access these blessings. One of such demands is fruit-bearing. The lifestyle of a genuine Christian must show that the fellow has truly repented and forsaken his or her sins. John the Baptist, in Luke 3:7-8, told those who claim to have repented to bear fruit that confirmed repentance:
“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance”

This fruit-bearing also includes soul-winning, as Jesus stated in John 15:8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear many fruits; so shall ye be my disciples. To bear fruit through soul-winning requires preaching the gospel according to Matthew 28:19-20. A Christian worthy of his or her calling must make soul-winning a priority. As a matter of fact, the proof that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ is to harvest the souls He came to die for. A Christian will not allow the passion and the death of Jesus Christ to be in vain. We must also praise Him as the Bible says:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:9.

The most important demand upon a Christian is holiness. Once we have become Christians, we must separate ourselves from all ungodly activities and relationships. The Bible says, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17). Matthew 5:48 says we should be perfect even as our Lord is. May the Lord grant you the grace to be perfect, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Water is named and classified primarily based on its source. For example, saltwater is from the sea, rainwater is from the sky, hard water is from the ground, fresh water is from rivers and so on. Today, we would be discussing the source of living water. Jesus is the only source of living water – water that gives life and eternal life for that matter. However, to access this living water, we must first and foremost accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Jesus was very clear about this when He said, “He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).

In John 4:7-10, Jesus encountered a woman who was unknowingly in dire need of living water to quench her eternal thirst. Our Lord then engaged her in a conversation so as to open her eyes to that need in her life, by asking her to give Him physical water to drink in exchange for living water. As if that was not enough, Jesus promised her that she needed only to drink the living water once, and then it would produce rivers of living water that would spring through all eternity (John 4:14).

Beloved, Jesus Christ is calling you today to come and drink freely of the spiritual water of salvation which will give you all-round fulfilment and satisfaction here on earth and in eternity with Christ. Jesus took care of the Samarian woman’s spiritual and emotional torment in John 4:7-10. Yours can be taken care of as well if you will come to salvation today so that you would live a purposeful and joyful life henceforth.

Jesus Christ – the source of living water is inviting you to come unto Him. Heed this call and you will never thirst again.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The words, “Let there be light” could mean “Lord, open my spiritual and physical eyes”. To the physically blind fellow, it means “Lord, let me be able to see”. To the spiritually blind, it means “Lord, open my spiritual eyes so that I may begin to see the invisible”. The Psalmist wrote, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). This did not mean the Psalmist was physically blind; rather, he knew that he could only see the depth of the Lord’s will for his life in the word of God when his spiritual eyes were open. Some people may be doing wrong thing without knowing and they would think they are on the right path (Proverbs 16:25). This is so common among the religious and intellectuals. The case of Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the Apostle is a classic example of this (Acts 9:1-6).

The story in Mark 10:51 points to the darkness of physical blindness. People shouted Bartimaeus down because he could not see. A blind man may be subjected to unwarranted harassment, even from those very close to him, probably because they feel he is a burden to them, slowing them down. In this story, it was those people who were scrambling to catch a glimpse of the Miracle-Worker – Jesus Christ, that were harassing him. However, the man refused to be intimidated. The Bible says that the more they shouted him down, the louder he shouted back – eventually drawing the attention of Jesus Christ to himself. Shout back to the devil today and call on the Light to shine upon you in order to receive your sight-whether physical or spiritual.

Another lesson from this story is the fact that Jesus asked the blind beggar what he actually wanted. The Lord needed to hear him open his mouth to seek His help. Go ahead, open your mouth and pray about any problem you have today. The Father of lights will beam His light upon the situation in Jesus’ name and you will be victorious.

Spiritual blindness is a terrible form of darkness. In Luke 24:13-31, two of the disciples were so spiritually blind that they did not recognize their Lord until the light shone on them. When the light of God shines on you, despair disappears, strength is regained and joy unspeakable would become your portion. Praise the Lord.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.