₦airaland Forum

[img][/img]There are secrets of blessings in marriage. The first secret is the knowledge of the reason for marriage. It takes great commitment for a marriage to succeed and be blissful.

Ephesians 5:21-25 shows us some principles that will help us to make our marriages work. The first one is mutual submission as believers in Christ. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:21:
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

1 Corinthians 7:3-4 explains further:
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Another principle is the submission of the wife. The Christian wife must learn to submit to her husband. When she does, she receives blessings that money cannot buy:
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1 Peter 3:5-6

It is dangerous for a woman to go into a marriage with a man she would not willingly submit herself to; it is better that such a woman does not marry at all. When the word of God says “Wives, submit…” some people take it as a piece of advice rather than the express command it is. It must be obeyed. In fact, the Bible goes further to reveal the degree of the submission; it says in Ephesians 5:24:
…as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

You would know a virtuous woman by the extent of her submission to her husband. I thank God that I have found in my wife a virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies Proverbs 31:10. May the Lord bless your home with eternal peace, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The promises of God in Christ are Yea and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20); this means that any promise God makes to all believers in Christ will definitely come to pass. Isaiah 26:1-3 also says:
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, That the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.

For a fellow to enjoy this benevolence however, some conditions must be met. Firstly, you must be born again (John 3:3,5). Secondly, you must believe every word that proceeds from the mouth of God – that is faith. You can prove that you believe in God’s word by obeying it. James 1:22-25 says “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves… but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

When a man does the will of God as contained in His word, he is emboldened to trust the Lord for his miracles. Remember the story of Daniel? After he was thrown in the den of lions, the king went early in the morning to confirm that the God of Daniel is great and mighty. He asked “…O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20). Instead of the lions roaring back at the king, it was Daniel who replied with the voice of triumph. He said “…My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt” (Daniel 6:21-22). Daniel’s experience was in line with the word of the Lord in Isaiah 43:2 which says:
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Kindly note however, that Daniel was able to enjoy God’s protection because he lived a life of holiness. Isaiah 59:1-2 clearly shows that iniquity prevents God from saving a person. From this day onward, divine protection will be your portion in Jesus’ name. Ensure however, that you are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, in righteousness (Psalm 91:1-3).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our God is the God of plan and purpose. He does not do anything without a reason. For example, when He wanted to create man He said, …Let us make man in our image…and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea… Genesis 1:26.

Also, when God sent His only begotten Son to the world, it was for a purpose – “…for he shall save his people from their sins” Matthew. 1:21. Examples are inexhaustible. In the same vein, when God brings us to Himself through the ministry of the Church, it is for a purpose. You are not in Church just to add to the number. Therefore, every child of God must find out the divine purpose for his or her life.

Every child of God must also ensure that he or she is spiritually prepared as a vessel unto honour and not unto dishonour. The striking thing about this truth is that both honourable and dishonourable vessels are found in the Church! Every Christian must therefore ensure that he or she is a vessel unto honour 2 Timothy 2:20.

To be a vessel of honour, every child of God must purge himself or herself of anything sinful. Matthew 5:48 says:
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 says in part, that we should not touch the unclean thing; rather we should separate ourselves from the world of darkness. A vessel of honour according to the Psalmist does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful Psalm 1:1.

Beloved, if you want to be used of God for good works, be ready to pay the price of a true disciple and live holy. The Lord will not only use you but He will reward you handsomely according to Mark 10:28-30. As Christians, we have the greatest calling, so let us make ourselves available for good and honourable service.

May the Lord find us to be worthy vessels in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Galatians 6:10, Apostle Paul teaches us one missing ingredient of true discipleship in today’s contemporary Church: the ministry of care. Despite the great anointing with which Apostle Paul was ministering to the Jews and Gentiles alike, he was still particular about the ministry of care.

Jesus Christ taught on the importance of hospitality when He said:
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward
Mark 9:41

In Matthew 25:35-40 He says:
…For I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? …And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

The Bible reinforces this in James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit.

Children of God must engage in the ministry of care along with any other that we may have been called into. This makes our calling a complete and perfect one. The needy among us should be given consideration at all times, even as we preach the gospel to them James 2:15-16. Indeed, many have testified that taking care of the needy has provided opportunities for effective soul-winning. As a Christian, are you socially responsible as directed in Isaiah 58:6-7?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When Isaac asked Esau to prepare a delicious meal of venison (deer or antelope meat) for him to eat so that he could pray for him, Rebekah took advantage of the short distance between Jacob’s tent and his flock, ensuring that the dish was prepared and the blessing stolen before Esau returned. The quick response worked to the advantage of Rebekah and Jacob.

One lesson to learn from the events that happened shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion is the gesture of the woman who anointed His feet with oil Luke 7:37-38. It was timely. Many of us are too slow when it comes to giving offerings to God or doing good to our neighbours. Many times, our so-called kind gestures are belated.

I shared a need of the Church with one of my sons and instead of promptly meeting it because of its urgency, he said he would go and pray about it. The following week when he came, ready to meet the need, God had already raised somebody else to resolve the issue. He felt bad about it. What a lesson.

Some people criticized the woman at Bethany for ‘wasting’ the ointment instead of selling it to provide for the poor. Jesus rebuked them, saying:
“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.” – Mark 14:8

By the time this same woman, along with another and Jesus’ mother came to anoint the body of the Lord after His death, it was a belated gesture; Jesus had risen! Thankfully, Mary Magdalene had given her sacrifice before it was too late.

We must always be ready to do good according to Galatians 6:10:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

May the Lord grant you the grace and wisdom to offer your gifts at a time acceptable unto Him, in the mighty name of Jesus. May your gift or sacrifice to God never be considered late by Him. May the Lord never have cause to raise someone else in your stead, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Exodus 20:16 God commanded that we should not bear false witness against our neighbours. The consequences of being a false witness are found in Proverbs 19:9 where the Bible says:
“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”

Wicked people rely on false witnesses to perpetrate their evil deeds. It was the false witness of Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe and their cohorts against the Jews that halted the rebuilding project of Zerubbabel according to Ezra Chapter 4. These people wrote false allegations against the Jews and their leadership, then sent the document to King Artaxerxes.

“Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” – Ezra 4:24

The consequences of false witness can be unimaginable. False witnessing shall not destroy your destiny in Jesus’ name.

The only way the Jewish leaders could get Jesus crucified was through false witnessing. The Bible says:
“For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.”
Mark 14:56

Despite the conspiracy, there were discrepancies in their reports. The lessons to learn here is that, as Christians, we must live above board like our Master if we shall not become easy prey to the accuser of the brethren. In the same vein, we must learn to be transparent and honest. This will prevent us from being false witnesses.

When we engage in false witnessing and other forms of falsehood, we crucify Jesus Christ over and over again. In what areas of your life are you being a false witness – a fake affidavit, a false claim that you are married with so many children whereas you are still single? May that lying spirit not blot your name from the book of life in Jesus’ name. Be a witness to the Truth; Jesus is the Truth personified, as clearly stated in John 1:17 and John 14:6.

Ask yourself today: are you a witness for God or Satan?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our obedience to 1 Thessalonians 5:22 urging us to abstain from every appearance of evil saves us from calamity. The Bible on many occasions warns us against keeping company of the ungodly, so that we are not entangled with their wickedness. For example, the Bible says in Proverbs 1:10:
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

The Bible also says:
“Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33.

Mark 14:54, 66-71 shows that Peter did three deadly things that fostered his denial of Jesus Christ: he was following Jesus from afar (from a distance). It is possible that he would have received courage from the Master if he had followed Jesus closely. Secondly, even though Jesus had asked the soldiers to allow His disciples to leave, Peter ignored this request. He followed Jesus, though fearfully, to the palace of the high priest. This is why Jesus told the Laodicean Church to be either hot or cold (Revelation 3:14-16). Thirdly, on getting to the palace of the high priest, Peter sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire (Mark 14:66-67). One could wonder what Peter was still doing in that place up to the point where he was confronted with the fact that he had been with Jesus. the answer is not far-fetched-he was enjoying the warmth of the fire with the ungodly.

Beloved, let us be wary of the comfort zones of life; they may be physically comfortable but not spiritually ideal. Some Christians cannot distinguish between spiritually conducive environments and locations that are detrimental to Christian living. A Christian sharing an apartment with a member of the opposite sex due to accommodation issues, is simply playing with the fire of lust and it would soon burn him or her. Let us be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayers For Your Community
1. Father, we thank You for our various communities and how You have kept us through the years. Please, help us to work in unity to bring great development to our community in Jesus’ name.

2. Lord, we cancel every satanic operation in our community. Witches and wizards will never be able to operate in this community in Jesus’ name.

3. Lord, let Your peace and unity reign in our community. Father, do not let the enemy come between us. Please, keep us in one accord.

4. Father, we decree that the fathers, mothers, youth and children shall enjoy divine safety in our community in Jesus’ name.

5. Lord, let no kidnapper, armed robber, ritualist or any other, evildoer attack our community successfully in Jesus’ name.

6. Father, let Your light shine forever in our community. Make our community a miracle center in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, let there be no natural disaster- whether fire, flood or any other kind in our community in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, send helper to our community. Send helpers from every side and let the government of this nation favour our community in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, send helpers to our community, let there be a great salvation of souls in Jesus’ name. Let men be drawn to the light of Your word in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, favour our community so that everything that has been difficult for us to do will now be easy, in Jesus’s name.

11. Father, give our community leaders wisdom to lead us to greater heights in Jesus’ name. Let holiness reign in our community in the mighty name of Jesus.

12. Pray about that particular thing you want God to do in your community.

He will rise on your behalf in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses the servant of God encourages the children of Israel to be of good courage and not be afraid of their enemies. There are many reasons we cannot afford to be afraid of people. Proverbs 29:25 says:
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Anyone who wants to represent God in the world must be courageous or else he or she would make a mess of his or her divine assignment as in the case of King Saul. When confronted with not obeying God’s instructions to the letter, he said “I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel…” (1 Samuel 15:22-30)

Another reason we should not be afraid of any man or thing is that God is with us. His name is Emmanuel. He Himself said “…I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20). In Isaiah 43:2-3, the Bible says:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.”

In the face of threats of war from Sennacherib King of Assyria, Hezekiah said in 2 Chronicles 32:8:
“With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

Hebrews 10:35 says:
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”

Never cast away your confidence by giving way to fear. Beloved, I encourage you to fear not and be courageous in whatever situation you may find yourself, and God shall be with you – body, soul and spirit, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is tremendous power in a divine touch. A divine touch could be positive or negative. Naaman knew the power in a touch; that was why he was disappointed when Elisha did not come out to welcome him to Samaria. 2 Kings 5:11 describes it thus:
“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.”

Apart from God touching an individual for healing, a fellow can equally touch the Divine with the hands of faith and get healed, according to Matthew 9:20-22. Some years ago, during one of our Conventions at the Redemption Camp in Nigeria, the Lord asked us to provide a piece of cloth for people to touch by faith so they could receive their miracles. However, He warned that the people should only tough and not hold the cloth. A man went ahead to grab it instead of touching; it took the special grace of God for him not to die as he began to shake from morning until evening. While others got their miracles by a touch of faith, he got ‘vibrations’ because of faithlessness.

A divine touch can bring the dead to life as we see in the story of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15). The Bible says Jesus only touched the bier of the son of the widow and commanded him to rise; that was all. I pray for you: The Almighty God will touch your unpleasant situation and you will laugh last, in Jesus’ name. The widow of Nain laughed last because of a touch from the Author of life. A touch that comes from faith can work for both the person touching and for the fellow being touched. In Matthew 9:29-30, two blind men cried to Jesus for healing. When Jesus found out that these men had the required faith, He touched their eyes and they received their sight.

The touch of faith is required in order to get a miracle. May your faith be strong enough to get you a divine touch so that you will have great testimonies, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One major attribute of God is the fact that He occupies the beginning and the ending of everything that exists. In other words, when we look at the beginning of everything that exists, the first personality we will find is God and as we travel through eternity, we will still find God. As a matter of fact, this attribute makes Him the God that He is. The implication of the above revelation is that our God is in January of every year and if you are privileged to see December of that same year, you would find Him there, taking charge of every minute until the last day of the year, God is in control of everything that happens, both now and in the future. Nothing catches Him unawares.

Now, what lessons can we learn from these truths about the Almighty God? One, He does not only know our beginning, He determines it. Two, because He determines our beginning, He also determines our ending. Three, because He determines our ending, it is wisdom for us to completely hand over our lives to Him this is because He knows how best to keep it for us. Paul, one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, being assured and persuaded of this truth, writes in 2 Timothy 1:12:
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

Beloved, I want you to commit your life unto Jesus Christ, whose name is the Alpha and Omega, knowing very well that He knows the end of this year from the very beginning. He will direct your path unto righteousness which is obtainable only through His accomplished work of redemption and He will keep you away from all evil. If you are still contemplating giving your life to Him, please do this today without further delay 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.

The gospel was preached to a man but he decided to postpone the day of his salvation. Unfortunately for him, he died before he could decide for Jesus Christ. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ name. May the Almighty God keep you, bless you and see you through the remaining part of the year in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jesus’ parable in Luke 19:13 was directed to the disciples who He was preparing for the Great Commission in Mark 16:15-16. They were to occupy until His return. Sometimes, we think the word ‘occupy’ means ‘to keep busy’ alone; it is more than that. We must not keep ourselves ‘busy’ doing nothing substantial. To understand the import of Christ’s command in Luke 19:13, we must look at Joshua 13:1-6. The Lord assessed the occupation of the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership as below His expectation. This should be food for thought for the Church today. Joshua 13:1 says:
“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”

Joshua became old and did not have the required energy to lead the battle against the inhabitants of the land which God had given to the children of Israel. In the same vein, when Jesus Christ said that we should go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he was actually saying that we should occupy the land so as to establish His reign on earth. It is beyond keeping ourselves busy just for the sake of it. The questions now are, “Are we really occupying while awaiting Jesus’ second coming?” “Can we say we are occupying both the geographical and spiritual landscape and atmosphere of the world?” “What can we show for all the millions we are spending on missions and evangelistic efforts?” “Have we paused our efforts to occupy the nooks and crannies of the kingdoms of this world like the disciples of old?” We must always remember that our mandate is to make disciples of all nations.

Beloved, we must not lose ground any more. As a matter of fact, we must recover the grounds we have lost. We must summon courage to go after the enemy and recover the kingdoms that once belonged to the Church and the cathedrals that have been turned to dens of sin. Christian nations that have become secular must be revived and brought back to the light of the gospel of the Son of the Living God. May the Lord help us.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jesus offered His body to His disciples and by extension to us His present-day apostles. An invitation to a Holy Communion Service is an invitation to come and partake in the life of the Life-Giver. The body of Jesus was broken for us and so, when we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we are eating Jesus’ body which is meat indeed John 6:48-50. Whoever eats His body has eternal life.

The significance of the Lord’s Supper resides in its value. The value of a meal is determined by how much you put into it. To give us the Lord’s Supper, Jesus Christ had to pay a great price by shedding His blood on the cross. The Lord cannot pay such a great price only for us to remain in the congregation of the dead. After so great a price has been paid for such a meal, we must reap the benefits of life to its fullest. Jesus said:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10.

The Holy Communion meal positively affects our body, soul and spirit. When you partake in the life-giving meal comprising the broken body of Jesus Christ, value is added to your life. No matter how empty or meaningless life may have seemed, partaking of the Holy Communion meal gives you new life – ensuring that you can have a better life, go further and achieve greater things.

To access the benefits of the Holy Communion Meal however, you must first accept and acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then begin to live by the commandments of the One who paid the supreme price for the salvation of your soul.

You must however be careful not to partake of this meal unworthily 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, as doing so would bring damnation. This is why many are weak and sickly in the congregation. In order not to partake of the meal unworthily, you must do a self-examination and ensure that you do not have a lifestyle of sexual immorality and other sins.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many times in the Scripture, Jesus warns believers against the lust of the world. As Christians, we are enjoined to set our affections on heavenly things so that we would not be drawn into covetousness. Mark 8:36 poses a great question that every believer must reflect on.

Beloved, what is your spiritual state today? In Revelation 3:14-19, our Lord accused the Church in Laodicea of being lukewarm; they were neither hot nor cold. What could have been responsible for this? The answer is simple: They had been carried away by their material prosperity. Unfortunately, the Church today is just like the one in Laodicea; services have now become jamborees and we have ministers who are not genuine. Jesus described the Church in Revelation 3:17 as “…wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” This tells us one thing: if not properly managed, material prosperity could be very dangerous.

It may be easier for a person to fast when he barely has something to eat, than when his or her kitchen is loaded with all sorts of food. I remember many years ago when my meal was one finger of plantain per day. In those days if I dared eat two in a day, I would have to fast the following day. It takes the grace of God and strong determination to fast when your storehouse is full of assorted food. In the same vein, it may not take a longtime for a woman to dress up for Church service on Sunday morning when all she has is just two pairs of shoes. However, when she has to choose matching shoes among many pairs, she may end up struggling to get to Church on time. If King Solomon could ask God to take away the vanity of riches from him, how much more should we (Proverbs 30:7-9).

God called on Adam after he had sold himself to Satan and the three main temptations in history – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He responded by saying he was hiding because he realized that he was naked. He was right: riches without God is spiritual unclothedness. Beloved, don’t be deceived. Only Jesus Christ can satisfy; nothing else can – not even the possession of the whole world.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our title (Heartitude) is a coinage of the words ‘heart’ and ‘gratitude’ meaning a heart of gratitude. God can perform miracles in the life of anybody; all He demands is gratitude thereafter. Anyone who lacks gratitude will ultimately miss everything good in life, and may not be blessed again. We see this in the story of the ten lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17:15-19. Jesus asked:
“….Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

Although Jesus healed ten lepers, it was the one who returned to testify that was made whole. While the attitude of the other nine couldn’t take them beyond their healing, the one who returned to give thanks got not just healing but wholeness. Jesus certified him as permanently healed. You too can receive perfect miracles if you show gratitude to the one and only miracle worker – Jesus Christ.

Some wise children of God even give promissory gratitude by vowing to do one thing or the other in anticipation of their miracles and it works for them. Hannah is a good example; she promised God that if He would give her a male child, she would gratefully dedicate him to God. In the end, she got more than she asked for – six children in all (1 Samuel 2:21).

This is the direct opposite of a so-called Christian who God blessed with a big business opportunity, then picked offense when a man of God suggested that He should thank God. He eventually lost the opportunity. You must cultivate the habit of worshipping God for who He is, thank Him for what He has done in the past, in anticipation of what He will continue to do. He is Jehovah El-Shaddai – the God who is more than enough for all situations. Never trivialize even the miracle of sleeping and waking, among others. You will be more thankful when you see people who cannot ease themselves without medical aid.

When you are grateful to God, you will receive even more blessings of the One from whom all blessings flow. The best way of saying thank you to God for His provision is by giving your life to Christ. You can also show gratitude by paying your tithes consistently (Malachi 3:10). As you do, the Lord will bless you mightily in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Psalmist, in Psalm 5:2, made a great discovery. He found that prayer is very important to anyone who wants to be victorious in life. Not only that, the Person to whom we channel our prayers is even more important. In (2 Kings 6:26-27), we see a woman who misdirected her prayer to the King of Israel when she was in distress. Thank God the king was wise, he redirected her focus to the Lord. We must channel our prayers to the right person. No wonder Psalm 5:3 says:
“…in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

Luke 18:1-8 paints a true picture of where we should direct our prayers. Only God knows how long it took the judge to pay attention to this helpless widow. However, she did not relent in asking. Jesus Christ said:
“Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” adding “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
The lesson we should draw from this is that had the woman directed her prayers to God, she would not have suffered from the insensitivity of the judge. We should however also learn persistence from this widow.

Beloved, to whom are you directing your prayers? If it is your pastor, despite the fact that he is God’s representative, you are missing it. Is it the government of your country? No government of this world can adequately solve your problem. The King of Samaria, in (2 Kings 6:26-27), was sincere enough to tell the woman who came to him that he himself was helpless. When we seek solutions to our problems from people, we’re making a god out of them. Seeking solutions from people rather than God leads to disappointment. Jeremiah 17:5 says:
“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.“

Put your trust in the Almighty God who gives liberally without upbraiding (James 1:5); He will definitely help you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A common weak point in the lives of many believers is impatience. Unfortunately, the devil exploits this. This is why the devil tempts believers to turn ‘stone to bread’ – meaning that he tries to get them to rush ahead in life without waiting for God’s time and provision. When this happens, the believer must react like Jesus in Matthew 4:4 by saying “… Man shall not live by bread alone….” Sadly, not many believers are able to do this. We have seen married people go out of their way in search of the fruit of the womb, despite the numerous Bible passages that enjoins us to patiently run the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

Joseph waited patiently for the fulfilment of his dream and was rewarded. Two years after he interpreted the butler’s dream, he was still waiting. At the fullness of time, Genesis 41:1 says:
“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:..”

The Scripture above speaks volumes and our understanding of its depth will go a long way to cure us of the spiritual disease of impatience. “And it came pass…” It does not matter how terrible the situation a child of God is passing through is, the promise of God is that it shall not last forever; rather the breakthrough shall come to pass! Psalm 30:5 confirms this. On this subject of patience, Jesus said in John 16:20, 22:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy…ye now ….have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”


Jesus knows what we would encounter in our walk with God, that was why He already prayed for us in John 17:15- 16:
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Beloved, you must keep on looking unto Jesus, who though tempted, endured everything for our sake. As He was victorious, so shall you also be in the mighty name of Jesus. we are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is sad that today, many people pretend to worship God all in the name of religion. They worship in the flesh but not in spirit and truth. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5:
“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

The message of Jesus in the Scripture above was to the religious people of His days and the founding fathers of the Church. This message however still applies today. We cannot be in sin and claim that we are worshippers of the Holy God. 1 John 1:6-9 says:
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Sadly, many Christian worshippers’ today do not admit sin to be sin; they explain sin away and see it as ‘mistakes’ and mere social mis-behaviour. Hence, they neither confess it nor strive to live above it by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Paul, in Galatians 5:19-23, wrote extensively about the works of the flesh which include adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred and so on. If we would worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), we must not entangle ourselves with sin. Ponder on Romans 12:1-2 below and get the message the Lord is sending to you today:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

You cannot be a true worshipper without the Holy Spirit and a sound knowledge of the word. Seek the Holy Spirit; also make time to study and meditate on the word of God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Nothing tangible can be achieved in a chaotic atmosphere, organization, family or mind. This is why peace is very important. There are factors that can guarantee peace in the life of an individual, particularly a child of God. The first is genuine salvation. Sin brought about the trouble that man encountered right from the Garden of Eden. Proverbs 28:1 says:
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

Thus, whoever desires peace must seek the Author of salvation, Jesus Christ. We see this in Philippians 4:7, as well as in Matthew 11:28, in which Jesus says:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Apart from being born again (John 3:3,5), we must learn the ways of the Lord. He said that we should take His yoke of meekness upon ourselves and learn it through Him. Another thing we must learn is contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6 says godliness with contentment is great gain. Many people lack peace because they are not content with what they have. It is unfortunate that many so-called children of God are guilty of this; they dabble in some ungodly acts just to gain the material things of this world. Believers must beware! As good as wealth is, it does not satisfy. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says:
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”

We can obtain contentment by simply enjoying the blessings of God as they come and giving glory to Him for them (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20; Psalm 103:1-5). Philippians 4:5-6 cautions believers thus:
“Let your moderation be known unto all men…Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

In this Scripture, we see other factors necessary to obtain peace. You have to be moderate in your lifestyle, without being anxious for anything. You must also learn to cast your cares upon God because He is more than able to take them up for you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When we call on the name of the Lord, we remind Him of what He has done in the past, which He is capable of doing over and over again. At such times, when we call Him by the name that is associated with some specific wonderous deed of His, He is moved to repeat what He did initially and in a greater dimension. Each name of the Lord describes some of His attributes and what He is capable of doing among the children of men. For example, the Lord’s name – Jehovah-Nissi – meaning the Lord is my banner (as in a war) speaks to the words “hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:16). When you are confronted with a need that only God can meet and you call Him by His name – Jehovah-Jireh, you are reminding Him of His miraculous provision of a ram according to Genesis 22:13-14.

When you call on the name of Jesus Christ in faith, you get miracles. This is because the name of Jesus Christ has been highly exalted, according to Philippians 2:9-11.

For example, the Almighty God sent an angel to announce to Joseph what name the miraculous child should bear – that is, Jesus, and gave the reason for it.
“…for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21

The greatest thing the name of the Lord Jesus Christ does to humanity is the work of salvation. The Bible says:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12

The name of the Lord is a strong tower, it is a shield and a sure defense against demonic attack. When someone is genuinely associated with the name of the Lord, the fellow will live a victorious life without limitation. The Bible also says:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;”
Mark 16:17

Every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord (Romans 14:11). This is the reason those who are genuinely saved cannot be attacked successfully by demons. My prayer is that as many as are reading this devotional today are delivered from all forms of demonic oppression in the name of Jesus Christ. However, whoever wants that name to work for him or her must surrender to the Lordship of the Owner of the name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When we say God always remembers, we do not mean that He forgets things or people. ‘God remembers’ means that He has decided to do something. 1 Samuel 1:17-19 says God remembered Hannah. God could not have forgotten her because she and her family went to Shiloh every year to worship Him (1 Samuel 1:3). When God remembers an individual in need, his or her problems will become history. Rachel in Genesis 30:22 had been barren for years. When God remembered her however, she gave birth to the choice son of Jacob – Joseph. When God flooded the earth, Genesis 8:1 says:
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;

Beloved, like Noah and his family came to understand, there are conditions for God’s remembrance. One, you must be godly even among the perverse generations of men. It is sad that now, many ‘Christians’ have become ungodly with the excuse that the world is perverted. At the end of time, Noah will be a witness against such people (Matthew 24:37-39). Despite the immoral state of his world, Noah remained godly. No wonder he found grace with God, and was described as a just and perfect man (Genesis 6:8,9). Two, God must see in you the intent to worship Him before He can remember you for good. Our God is a prudent investor (Genesis 8:20-22).

Hannah, in spite of her state of barrenness, was a devout woman who followed her husband in the worship of Jehovah. It was on one of such occasions that God remembered her and gave her a prophetic proclamation through His priest, which came to pass before the next Shiloh programme. For God to remember you, you must be consistent in His worship. The Bible says that it is good to worship the Lord Psalm 92:1.

As you worship the Lord this year, the Almighty will remember you for good in Jesus’ name. As long as you live in holiness you will experience divine remembrance, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When God remembers a positive promise He has made concerning an individual, the fellow is in for a pleasant surprise. Luke 1:73-75 confirms this. In Genesis 8:1, the Lord remembered Noah and every living thing with him in the ark. When God remembers His mercy, He abandons judgment, provided the fellow has genuinely repented Ezekiel 33:13-16.

Another good thing about this divine remembrance for salvation is that the process is simple. You only need to genuinely turn away from wickedness to godliness. In other words, repent. In Luke 19:8, Zacchaeus demonstrated this, by saying:
…Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Immediately after, Jesus said salvation had come to him and his household. How pleasant would it be, if every unsaved soul reading this devotional today, would cry to Jesus now and say “Lord remember me for Your salvation”.

When God remembers the good deeds of an individual, the fellow is in for a celebration. Nehemiah knew this and leveraged on it. He asked God to remember his good deeds of building the broken wall of Jerusalem and repairing the gate that was burnt by the enemies of God’s people. It was the good deeds of Abraham, according to Psalm 105:42, that earned his descendants the mercies of the Almighty God. God always remembers the good deeds of His people. Hebrews 6:10.

Beloved, since God cannot forget the good deeds of His people, it is only wise to start and continue doing good. Nehemiah could only be bold to ask God to remember him for his labour because he had done good deeds concerning the house of God. What will God remember you for: good deeds or acts of wickedness?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God is the Ultimate Father. In fact, He prefers the title of Father to God. No wonder when Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9, He said they should start with “Our Father”. As a Father, God likes to bless His children. The first thing He did when He created the man and woman was to bless them (Genesis 1:27-28). He has also transferred some of that power to fathers on earth. This means that when your earthly father blesses you, it is as though God Himself is blessing you; it is irreversible. We see this in Genesis 27:33:
And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

Your father’s blessing will propel you to tremendous greatness. In Genesis 27:38-40, Esau only got a remnant of the blessing from Isaac, yet in Genesis 32:6, we see that he had four hundred bodyguards. The first time a President attended one of our programmes at the Redemption Camp in Nigeria, he came along with two hundred and fifty bodyguards. Esau went to meet Jacob with four hundred bodyguards. That is what only a remnant of the blessing can do. In Genesis 27:29, we see that it can also make nations run helter-skelter to help you.

Nothing good comes cheap however; the father’s blessing is costly too, especially when it is from the heart. When Isaac wanted to bless Esau, he asked for something he loved. When you make your father happy, he will bless you from his heart. I had just arrived at the airport in Heathrow and I was carrying two big bags. There were two of my children-in-the-Lord there. One of them just greeted me while the other one ran to take my bags. I told the latter “God bless you”. The other one then said “Daddy, you did not say “God bless you’ to me”. I asked, “What did you do to warrant me blessing you?” When you make your father happy, he will bless you from his heart.

Now, what can you gift your father – whether biological or spiritual, that would provoke him to bless you from his heart such that heaven would back it up? Present it to him in such a way that he would be happy with you; then ask him to bless you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jesus told a parable about an unproductive, but well nurtured fig tree in Luke 13:6-7. The reaction of the person tending this tree, in Luke 13:7, is our concern in today’s devotional. The farmer in this parable had been expecting pleasant fruits based on his efforts; unfortunately, he got nothing. Like this farmer in Luke 3:9, John the Baptist told the Jewish religious leaders of his days:
“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

Beloved, according to 1 Corinthians 3:9, we are God’s husbandry. In other words, God is the husbandman, we are the lively trees, nurtured since the day of our birth and particularly since we gave our lives to Christ. There is no doubt that we have been nourished graciously by the Almighty through His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The fact that you are alive to see this day is a pointer to how we have received both physical and spiritual nourishment. The question now is: Are you bearing fruits? The husbandman in our study today ordered that the unproductive fig tree be cut down. This is serious. May we not be cut down in Jesus’ name. The practical “Amen” to this prayer is to simply turn away from a life of fruitlessness.

If you are yet to be born again, Matthew 3:8 says you must first bring forth fruits meet for repentance, if you are already God’s child by His grace, Jesus is saying to you in John 15:4:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

You must give yourself completely to the Lordship of Jesus. you must go the ‘extra mile’ for Him and you will surely get your reward.

Apart from not being cut down and thrown into fire, Jesus promised in John 15:16 that the Father will grant all the requests you make in His name. Once you begin to bear fruit, the Lord will also continue to purge you from all impurities so that you may bear even more. Please meditate on Galatians 5:22-26.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a common saying that salvation is free. While this is true because no one can pay for the salvation Jesus offers, the reality is that Jesus already paid for it on our behalf. Thus, we would be correct if we say salvation is not free after all. Also, it is not free because recipients too have a token to offer in obtaining eternal life, as we will see today.

In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus describes how precious the Kingdom of God is, by likening it to what a rich man had to sell all his fortune for. In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus explained how important it is to gain entrance into the Kingdom of God by advising that we do away with anything that would disqualify us from gaining entry into God’s presence, even if it’s our eye!

Today, some Christians are very careless with matters of Heaven. So many people trivialize sin and the harm it is capable of wreaking on their souls. Revelations 21:8 contains a plain truth about the kingdom of God:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Jesus calls us into free salvation but He adds in Matthew 11:29
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

This is the cost of eternal life – meekness. This is why He said “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5). He also said that blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). These, no doubt are the cost of discipleship that we must pay to access the free salvation that gives eternal life. Beloved, if you desire eternal life, you must bear the cost even though Jesus has paid the supreme price.

It is sad that today, some leaders in the Church are encouraging people to be comfortable with sin. They explain away the reality of hell and teach grace with gross irresponsibility. You must do away with such people. Today is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time. Make your way right with God now.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Beloved, you must know that life is a battleground. Revelation 12:12 says that the devil has come in great fury to torment the inhabitants of the earth because he lost out in Heaven as a result of his rebellion against God.

Apart from the devil, even mankind has, from the beginning of time, been wicked to one another. The story of Cain and Abel is a classic example. No wonder Jeremiah 17:9 says:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Should believers then run from the children of men to avoid being victims? No, Christians should instead look into the word of God to find a way out. The way of escape is prayer. Joel 2:32 succinctly guides us in the direction of prayer so that we may be victors and not victims.

There is also a lesson from Psalm 30:1-3: it is that when we call upon the Lord for help, He will not withhold His everlasting arms from saving us. David called on God when he was distressed and his testimony was that God heard him (Psalm 3:4). Beloved, what are you waiting for? Why can’t you call upon the Lord today concerning the unpleasant situation you are passing through? I assure you that you will not be disappointed because God promised in Psalm 91:15:
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

The condition for the fulfilment of this promise, however, is in the preceding verse which says “…I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”

The question is: Do you love God, do you know His name as Jesus, the Deliverer from sin? If yes, have you been delivered from your sin and become one of His own? If your answer is in the affirmative, I congratulate you. Go ahead and pray like never before because today is the day you will receive express answers to your prayers. If not, ask Him to save you today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Covetousness is a major challenge both in the Church and in the world today. Worldliness too has become a great foe of the Church and it appears many Christians (irrespective of how long they have been in the faith), are being carried along. This may be because even they are victims of this sinful habit.

Our Lord Jesus, in Luke 12:15 warns us against covetousness. Covetousness can be described as an inordinate desire for material or non-material possessions, especially those of another individual. In Exodus 20:17, the Lord warns against coveting someone else’s possession or spouse. The vanity in being covetous is captured in Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 which says:
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?”

In 1 Timothy 6:6-9, Apostle Paul wrote to warn us against the menace of worldliness and covetousness. He encouraged believers to embrace godliness with contentment which is great gain. He said also that “…they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Timothy 6:9). John corroborates this in 1 John 2:15-17 where he warned us against worldliness, saying:

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him…And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof…”

Beloved, how far have you been dragged into the world? How far has the world been dragged into you? Are you not running after those things that did not matter to you years ago? Even the rich are now running into the Church; they want peace and satisfaction. They envy believers and want to share in our heritage. While they are running to God for peace and joy, many of us have thrown away these blessings that money cannot buy, for the vanity of this world. Remain where God has established you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Most High is also a fortress. A fortress is where you go out from to fight. After you have stayed in the refuge for some time and have prepared for the battle, it will become your fortress. A fortress is where you put on your armour, get all your strength and then go out to battle. For a child of God, the Almighty God is not only our refuge, He is also your fortress. Jehovah-Nissi is not just a God who defends; He also attacks! He is the Divine Fortress for genuine children of God. The God who told Elijah to hide was also the One who told him to go forth and fight, after some time. We see a different Elijah in 1 Kings 18:40
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Another example is in 1 Samuel 17:43-45. Goliath had cursed David by the name of his gods and the latter handed him over to the Lord of Hosts. Goliath was disappointed by his gods and weapons whereas David was protected by the Everlasting Arms of the Almighty. Deuteronomy 33:27 says:
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Our God never loses a war: David discovered this truth, no wonder he said “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…” Psalm 71:3 knowing fully well that no evil shall befall anyone who makes God his or her habitation Psalm 91:9-10.

When you make the Almighty your habitation, you must live holy because He is holy. Some people cannot be offered the opportunity to spend time with prominent people simply because they are dirty. If you don’t want to short-change yourself of the benefits of living with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, then you have to do away with sinful habits. When you make God your fortress, He will deliver you from the wickedness of life. As you live a life of holiness, God will be your habitation in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Knowledge, particularly godly knowledge is power. This is why Paul in Philippians 3:10 prayed:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

The Almighty God is our sure refuge and fortress. However, that only applies if you are His child. A refuge is somewhere you hide when trouble is looming. For me, this place is the presence of God.

Sometimes, hiding is not cowardice. it could be wisdom, provided you are hiding with the Sure Refuge. Even gallant warriors learn to hide; it is a military strategy. There are several occasions in the Bible when God told His prophets to hide. In 1 Kings 17:1-3, Elijah pronounced before a king that there would be no rain until he commanded so. Immediately after he did, God asked him to hide. Is this not strange? Was God afraid of the king? Definitely not! When God says you should hide, what it implies is that the battle is no longer yours but His. I have learnt to hide when God says I should. In Matthew 2:13-15, God told Joseph to take Mary and the baby Jesus into hiding. Even the Son of God had to be taken into hiding. He was hidden so that God could deal with Herod. eventually, Herod was smitten by an angel and eaten by worms thereafter (Acts 12:21-23). If God ask me to hide so He can fight for me, I will gladly do so.

Like the Psalmist in Psalm 71:1-2, when our trust in the Lord is total, we would not need anyone to persuade us to exercise faith. One of my sons told the story of how he destroyed all his charms after he gave his life to Christ. Thus, it became difficult for him to think of going back. Pay attention to the second verse of our Bible reading:
“Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.”

Only the righteousness of God can make us victorious over the attacks of the enemy. A life of holiness makes God incline His ears to our cry in times of trouble. The promise of God in Psalm 91:14-15 is for those who love Him, know His name and keep His commandments. I pray God will be your Sure Refuge from today in Jesus’ mighty name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The word of God is more potent than any two-edged sword, according to the following passage from Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and 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.”

It is unfortunate, however, that some Christians trivialize the word of God and so lose its benefits. When the word of God comes to an individual in the form of prophecy, scriptures or other means, wisdom should tell the fellow to pay close attention to it.

Going by Jeremiah 33:1-9 and Psalm 107:20, we can see that the word was sent to the people of Judah for deliverance and restoration of their freedom which they had in battle to the Chaldeans. Never allow yourself to lose focus so that you would know when God sends a specific word of prophecy that could settle your case.

Typically, in the Old Testament before the children of Israel went to war, the word of God would go forth – announcing their victories and that always settled the battle. Sometimes in Church services and programmes, God sends forth prophesies that would have settled people’s cases before they even begin to pray, I prophesy to you: your life, marriage, business or career will receive the peace of God now, in Jesus’ name.

It is equally comforting that the word of God offers spiritual cleansing.

“And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”
Jeremiah 33:8

Thus, every child of God must read, study and meditate upon the word of God day and night (Joshua 1:. We must partake of the word of God being taught and preached in Sunday School, Bible Study and Christian teaching seminars. The Bible says:
“…even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” – Ephesians 5:25-26
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The situation in Jeremiah’s time as seen in Matthew 28:19-20 closely reflects the true state of affairs of God’s people. The Bible says that all these were written as examples for those who shall be alive at the end-times. The ongoing fulfilment of end-time prophesies is an indication that the end is near (1 Corinthians 10:11). In this end-time, many pastors and preachers are no longer building precious stones on the Sure Foundation – Jesus Christ. Rather they are building rubble, that is, basing their sermons on modern ideologies in order to make Christianity acceptable to the 21st century generation. 1 Peter 2:2 says:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

Many modern-day pastors and ministers of the gospel are failing to live by Apostle Paul’s instruction in 2 Timothy 4:2,5:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine…But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

The Bible encourages ministers of the gospel against negligence in their service. Ezekiel 3:11 says:
“…go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear…”

Ezekiel was also told not to consider their unfriendly countenance but rather give the word as he was asked to (Ezekiel 2:6).

As a Christian parent, you need to take cognizance of today’s message for your family. Your home is the God-given flock you are to nurture in the fear of the Lord.

Followers however, also have the duty to crosscheck what they are being taught by their leaders, like the Berean Christians (Acts 17:11).

Are you a shepherd or a wolf? Think about this and may the Lord grant you understanding in Jesus’ Name.

Be a good under-shepherd, building your flock not on the rubble of modern ideologies but on the solid foundation of the word of God. Ensure that you study and teach the undiluted word of the Good Shepherd.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many people do not know the depth of the saying “Our Father is a God of order”. They quote this statement without giving it much thought. Orderliness is a characteristic of Heaven as we see in Psalm 136:5-9. Every confusion in your life will be divinely ordered today in the mighty name of Jesus. The Lord will set in order all that pertains to you in Jesus’ name. In the beginning God ordered the course of the universe by His word. This is the reason we must give the word of God prominence in our lives. The Lord said “…I will hasten my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12).

The Almighty God does not hold His word lightly like some of us do. Bible teachings come in form of doctrines which we must follow if we are to live orderly lives. Jesus Christ said:
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
John 7:17

Disobedience to God’s order brings chaos and calamity (Genesis 2:15-16, Genesis 3:2-5 and 16-19). I encourage you to begin to value the word of God even as He Himself values it.
“…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” – Psalm 138:2

By His word, the Almighty ordered the course of the universe – the seas in their places, the dry land, the animals and variety of vegetation. God had made provision for everything that man needs. This means that lack was not originally planned to characterize the life of man. To avoid lack, you must pay close attention to the words of the Great Provider.

May the Lord provide in abundance everything that you need in this season, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.