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It is needless to reiterate that perfect obedience to God and His word helps us to set our priorities right. Sacrifice is good; God expects all His children to present their bodies as living sacrifices – holy and acceptable to Him Romans 12:1. However, God prefers obedience to sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22 says: …Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Obedience is an act of doing and being willing to do what one is told to. In a spiritual sense, obedience is total submission to the written and spoken word of God. Obedience is an express commandment of God. One distinguishing characteristic of all who are great in the service of the Lord is prompt obedience. The Bible is full of stories of men and women who became great for God as a result of their complete and immediate obedience to the word of God. Heroes of obedience include Abraham, Joshua, Ruth, David, Elijah, Elisha and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says:
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
Psalms 18:44-45

True and perfect obedience comes from a heart of love. It is real and not mere eye service. Boldness is a vital ingredient of perfect obedience. Peter and other disciples boldly confronted the Jewish elders when they chose to preach, saying they would rather please God and displease men. Acts 4:19 says:
Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
Acts 4:19.

Are you facing persecution because of your obedience to Christ? Don’t compromise your stand. Obedience cannot be done halfway. Partial obedience is equal to disobedience. Disobedience is rebellion, which is “as the sin of witchcraft” 1 Samuel 15:23. Partial obedience was the undoing of the first king of Israel – Saul. Obedience starts with knowing the will of God then carrying out His directives promptly and completely.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the secrets behind the success of Moses as the leader of the Israelites is that he knew the importance of the presence of God in every aspect of life. He cherished Gods presence to the point that he would not make any move without the certainty of His approval. God told Moses that His presence would be with them (Exodus 33:14-15 ); this assured him of success, victory, safety and rest of mind.

It is amazing to observe that some so-called children of God feel they can achieve whatever they want to, without God in it. They live carelessly, committing acts which they know are displeasing to God, whereas our Lord Jesus Christ said:
“…He that abideth in me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Beloved, we dare not embark on any journey or project without the certainty of the presence of God going with us because such a venture is bound to fail. Gods presence distinguishes an individual out of the multitude.

“And he said unto him, if they presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”
Exodus 33:15-16

The presence of the Lord guarantees safety according to Psalms 91:1. This blessing of divine presence is what Jesus Christ whose name is Emmanuel has wrought for us according to Exodus 33:15. To have Gods presence with us for guaranteed safety, success, breakthrough, victory and life eternal with Him, all we need to do is surrender to the Great Emmanuel. He will keep us now and in the world to come; He will stand by us and never leave nor forsake us.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One purpose of the Gospel of Matthew is to show that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament promises concerning the Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 says:
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The name Emmanuel means God with us. God is the only being who is unlimited in His might. There are numerous blessings to be enjoyed from being in the presence of God Psalms 16:11. Constantly being in the presence of the Lord ensures the fulfillment of ones divine destiny. Romans 8:31 says:
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

God has many names and they all work for the good of those who have Him as their Father. God is the El-Shaddai – the All-Sufficient One. God has enough resources to meet all your needs - spiritual, physical, emotional as well as psychological. God is the Jehovah Jireh – the Great Provider. He has the ability to turn a fellows austerity to prosperity and poverty to wealth. Philippians 4:19 says:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

God is the Great Healer. Are you sick? God has the ability to cure all ailments pathological (physical or mental) or spiritual. God is the Jehovah-Nissi – the man of war. Are you facing any battle? The Almighty God has the ability to fight all your battles and grant you total victory.

Are the enemies of your life innumerable? Are they stronger than you? Turn to Jehovah-Nissi today. Let Him be your Emmanuel. His promise is:
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him”
Psalm 91:15

I prophesy that you will be victorious in every battle you face in Jesus name.

God is our righteousness - Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Divine Salvation is the greatest of all the numerous advantages of being a child of God. John 3:3 says “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Are you born again? The reality of having God with you can only come to be when you give your life to Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Scriptures present us with a marked difference between the priorities of our Lord Jesus Christ and the concerns of His disciples. Just like His disciples, many of us are too bothered with how to meet our physical, psychological and emotional needs, rather than on spiritual things. We immerse ourselves in temporal concerns. Jesus assured His disciples that the Father knew their needs and would always provide for them (Luke 11:11-13). Jesus described what should be the topmost priority of all Heaven-bound Christians in Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

It is often said that passionate people make the greatest contributions to the society. Be passionate about the things of God. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that the necessities of daily life will be provided. It is time to reprioritize your life and passion.

God is called the God of glory in Acts 7:2. There is a great expectation for all who serve God in holiness and truth. Everyone who dedicates themselves to serving God in spirit and in truth will enjoy divine favour Psalms 5:12. It should be noted that a day of divine favour is better than many years of labour. Divine favour is superior to luck or good fortune. I pray that you will experience divine favour from today, in Jesus name.

Heaven-bound Christians are focused on serving God in spirit and in truth John 4:24. Material and worldly possessions are secondary to them, despite Gods assurance of His provision. There is fruitfulness for all who consecrate themselves to serving God in spirit and truth. Psalms 92:12 says:
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

There is an assurance of victory over all known and unknown enemies for those who serve God in righteousness. Psalms 132:18 says:
“His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.”

Are you consecrated to God? Do you love Him? Is the righteousness of God your priority? If your answer to each of these questions is yes, blessed are you. If not, seek a deeper relationship with the Lord from today and you would be blessed also.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A mark can be described as an impression, a distinguishing trait or quality. Every genuine child of God bears some mark within them that identifies him or her as a child of God.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Romans 8:16

One distinguishing trait or quality that indicates ownership by the Lord Jesus is holiness which produces faithfulness and other Christian virtues. Every one belonging to Christ is expected to be holy in order to exhibit His characteristics. Faithfulness is another hallmark of a Christian carrying the mark of Jesus. This results in our steadfastness in prayer, tithes and offerings, studying the word of God, our marital relationships, general human relations and our service to God. God expects you as His child to be faithful to Him, yourself and others.

Christ came to do the perfect will of God for His life.
Hebrews 10:7 says:
“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

Anything that brings shame or reproach to the name of the Lord is not His will for your life. Are you passionate about the things of God? Do you obey the Bible which is the written word of God?

Love is another mark of the Lord Jesus. John 13:1 says:
“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

Indicators of love include endurance, kindness, selflessness, humility, self-discipline and purity. Love subdues pride and vain glory; It is not puffed up with conceit. It is not insolent, neither does it despise others, trample on them, nor treat them with contempt and scorn. Love is selfless, the complete opposite of selfishness. It cannot harbour malice, neither can it plan evil.

Holiness and love are two marks of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you bear these marks?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every sane person wishes to be healthy, wealthy, fulfilled and have longevity. 1st Chronicles 29:26-28 says:
“Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel… And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour…”

Therefore, good health, long life and prosperity are the heritage of Gods children. Bodily exercise may indeed profit little compared to the spiritual benefits of godliness, but a healthy body is vital to successful living and longevity. Man is a tripartite being. The Bible teaches that man consists of the spirit, soul and body. God is interested in our good health – physically. He desires that we should be sound and complete – spirit, soul and body. This healing of the whole man starts in our spirit, it begins when God touches our spirit with His Holy Ghost. Romans 8:16 says:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. God created the human body to be rugged. However, good food, regular exercise, and daily rest are vital for a healthy body.

A healthy body is required to carry out daily human endeavours. More so, divine assignments are usually tedious and demanding physically, emotionally and spiritually. Therefore, fitness and sound health are two factors that make God appoint people in their youth for special assignments. That is why strength and all-round fitness are common attributes of those that God used in the Bible.

Abraham was energetic and fit enough to produce children at over a hundred years of age Genesis 25:1-4. Moses trekked through the wilderness and climbed mountains at over eighty years of age Exodus 7:7. David displayed agility and strength in the fight against lions, bears, Goliath and various armies, even from his youth. Elijah exhibited speed and stamina, as he was aided by the Holy Spirit to outrun the chariot of King Ahab. The exploits of Joshua, Caleb, Samson, Deborah, Peter, Paul, Stephen, Phillip, John the Beloved and others, show clearly that they were physically fit.

Bodily exercise is required to keep the body fit and strong for the accomplishment of great and mighty things for God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is power in the blood. Leviticus 17:10-12 contains seven prohibitions regarding eating anything that is still bleeding. Leviticus 17:11 explains that firstly, blood is inherently necessary to maintain animal life, so the life of an animal is in its blood. Secondly, God has chosen blood as a fitting symbol for atonement and forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22 says:
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

The blood of Jesus is the most effective in all creation. It is recognized both in Heaven and on earth. It cleanses from all sins:
“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.”
1 John 1:7

With the blood of Jesus every believer has the boldness to enter into the presence of God – the holiest place in Heaven and the earth.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
Hebrews 10:19

You can see from the verse above that the blood of Jesus grants you access to all that you want from God.

There are however, other things you can do with the blood of Jesus, like covering yourself and your loved ones with it. Through the Holy Communion, you can drink the blood of Jesus and eat His flesh. Demons fear the blood of Jesus. You can cover your home and environment with the blood of Jesus. You can also plead the blood of Jesus upon your food or drinks so no demon can touch them. The blood of Jesus has the potency to heal and deliver from all evils, including attacks from witches, wizards and other agents of darkness.

The blood of Jesus however, will only work for those who have put themselves under the direct protection of Christ. These are those who are born again and are living holy.

Are you covered by the blood of Jesus?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One striking thing about holiness is that it is what makes God who He is. As human beings, if we were to be asked the question "Who is God?" we might say "God is love, God is powerful, God is merciful, God is faithful…" However, if any member of the hosts of heavens were to be asked the same question, they would chorus "God is Holy!" (Isaiah 6:1-4, Revelation 4:6-. To know God more intimately requires the deep study of His word.

It is imperative for every child of God to study and meditate on the word of God, day and night (Joshua 1:. Mere reading the word of God is different from studying and serious meditation. Studying is a deliberate effort to gain knowledge.

Meditation on the word of God involves reflecting, or pondering on His word. God instructed Joshua to meditate on the word of God day and night because constant meditation leads to good success (Joshua 1:.

There is a sequence to knowing the Most High more intimately. First, meditate on the word of God on a daily basis. Second, be observant enough to obey the word of God unconditionally. To this effect, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says:
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Do you desire to know the perfect will of God for every aspect of your life? Renew your mind through constant studying and meditation on the word of God. Keep Gods word in your heart, allow it to take root in your entire being and act on it.

Let God know that you will only do what is pleasing to Him from now and He will never leave you (John 8:29). Your life will become completely transformed by the power of the Most High God, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God’s desire for all His children is greatness. He wishes that they prosper, be in health even as their souls prosper (3 John 1:2). However, a study of the word of God reveals that there are certain requirements for greatness, three of which are: prayers, praises and worship. John 4:24 says:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.”

Prayer is communication with God in line with His will. In praises we thank God for what He has done, what He is doing and what He is yet to do. In worship, we appreciate God for who He is. God expects all of creation to worship Him; however, there are various categories of worshippers. One category of worshippers comprises those who, at one time or the other, received a blessing from God (Psalms 150:6). No matter how little you think the goodness of the Lord in your life may be, it is imperative that you praise Him.

The next category of worshippers are the afflicted ones. These include the bereaved, the sorrowful, the disappointed and the discouraged in our midst. A classic example is Job. Job was a man who worshipped God in prosperity (Job 1:1-5), in the midst of satanic afflictions (Job 1:15 to Job 2:9) and at the point of his turnaround (Job 42:1-6).

The third category of worshippers are the vessels unto honour (2 Timothy 2:19-21). Vessels unto dishonour are those used by the devil to change joy to sorrow. These are the agents of the devil. A vessel unto honour however, is someone God can use anytime, anyway and anywhere He wants to. Worship characterizes vessels unto honour. In addition, vessels unto honour are chosen by God (John 15:16). Such people are willing to be chosen and ready to live holy all the time.Are you a vessel unto honour? If yes, go ahead and give high praise to God. If not, repent and cry unto God for mercy.

May the Lord make and keep you as a vessel unto honour in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God wants His children to shine as stars. From Daniel 6:25-28, you would see that Daniel shone and indeed outshone his colleagues. If you haven’t done so already, you must surrender your life to God today, shun iniquity totally and begin to love righteousness if you also want to shine. Psalms 75:6-7 says:
“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

If you are a parent, then you have a crucial role to play in the lives of your children so that they can be stars (Proverbs 22:6). You must give them proper training spiritually, intellectually and morally (Deuteronomy 11:19). I thank God always for my mother; she did a good job of raising me. She encouraged me to study even when other children were out playing. I am what I am today by the grace of God and her efforts.

Teachers too must be involved – at school and in the Church. God bless my Mathematics teacher; he made a star in the subject out of me. He usually challenged the few of us who showed an interest in the subject, to make a hundred percent in our assignments. One day, we did and were very happy, hoping that we had finally impressed him. His reaction however kept us in check. He said Look at you, your mates are now undergraduates and here you are bragging because you scored a hundred percent in Ordinary Level Mathematics! He was clearly telling us to strive harder for excellence.

You can also influence your shining through hard work (Proverbs 22:29). Children should not waste their time playing when there are more profitable things to do. Breakthroughs do not come to lazy people. Look at Daniel, for example: he was diligent even when he was a nobody - a slave. This young man was eventually enlisted as a minister in Babylon (Daniel 1:1-21).

If you would shine, you must also strive to obtain the blessing of your parents (both biological and spiritual) by honouring them. My mother would always pray for me thus "When you call on one fellow, two hundred will respond". Today, it is a reality in my life. Your light will shine, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, I want you to take a self-evaluation: is there anything you have done that could land you in hell? Today is the day of repentance and restoration. A man of God once said "When genuine revival comes, everybody, including pastors, would have one or two things to repent of". Revival is not the working of miracles; it is an increased spiritual interest or renewal of a life of holiness, in complete obedience to the word of God.

The first step towards experiencing a revival is to realise that one has sinned or fallen short of Gods expectations, according to Romans 3:23. Fervent prayers of repentance must therefore precede revival. In Psalms 51:1-19 we read of David praying fervently for revival and restoration after he had sinned against God. This is where many so-called born-again Christians, particularly those who consider themselves fairly old in the faith often miss it. They are like that Pharisee who went to the temple to display his superiority over the publican in Luke 18:10-14. If you ever realise that you have fallen short of Gods approval and favour, put aside your ego and humble yourself before the One who can forgive and forget. The Bible says in 1 John 2:12:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

What the Lord is telling us in this Scripture is that a child of God should be free of sin, according to 1 John 3:8-9 which says:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

However, should anyone fall into sin, such a person must quickly cry to God in remorse for revival and restoration. The person must then have faith in the word of God and the blood of Jesus Christ for cleansing. Plead the blood of Jesus over your life and make up your mind never to go back to sin.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Christianity, revival generally refers to increased spiritual fervency or renewal in the congregation of believers. What happens when revival comes? According to Psalms 85:4-7, people turn away from their wickedness when revival comes. Salvation becomes a household commodity and the anger of God ceases to bum against the people. One pleasant thing about God concerning sinners is that He would always warn them of the dangers of a sinful life so they may repent and escape His fiery judgment.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 18:21-23: But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Another thing that happens when revival comes is that God answers the prayers of sinners – contrary to the general opinion that He does not. However, it is the prayer of repentance from a sinner that God honours before any other, according to 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. Revival brings about total restoration of both spiritual and physical wellbeing as seen in 2 Chronicles 33:14-15: Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon… And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

The true sign of revival is a genuine departure from an ungodly lifestyle, both publicly and even when we are in our closet. This is contrary to what we experience in the Church today when people claim to be born-again but still maintain their sinful lifestyles. Manasseh died a penitent sinner and had peace, according to 2 Chronicles 33:18-20. Your beginning may not matter much but your end certainly will. You shall end well in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are various levels in life. When we talk about health, we have those who are sick; even among the sick, there are levels of sickness some are sick, some are very sick while some have terminal sicknesses. Some may even be dying. When we talk about wealth, there are the destitute, the poor, the comfortable, the rich, the very rich, the wealthy and the flourishing. The flourishing are those who, according to the Bible lend to nations. There are also those who have so much abundance that it is difficult to imagine. In 2 Chronicles 9:20 we read:
“And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold…”

There are also various levels of joy. There are those who are sad, there are sympathizers, there are those who have joy and those with great joy. The Bible in Psalm 16:11 talks about the fullness of joy that is available in the presence of God. The Bible also talks about joy unspeakable in 1 Peter 1:8

There are also varying levels of victory. There is victory after a fight, victory without a fight and victory when the enemy miraculously disappears. There is also a kind of victory recorded in Psalms 23:5 : Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. There is nothing as glorious as rejoicing in the presence of our enemies.

In any aspect of life, everyone is at one level or the other. It doesn’t matter where you are, there is a higher level you can get to. Moving from one level to the other involves three possibilities: One, you want to move to the next level unassisted. Two, you want to move to the next level with assistance. Three and lastly, you are trying to move to the next level, but facing resistance.

It is easier to move to the next level of your life when you have the Lord Jesus Christ as your ally. The Bible says the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it Proverbs 10:22. Surrender your life to Christ now so that He can take you to the next level. No one can resist or stop Jesus from doing whatever He is determined to do, according to Psalms 24:1-10. The plan of God is to take you to the next level according to Jeremiah 29:11 which says:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 1 John 2:15, Apostle Paul enjoins us not to love the world and warned that we cannot love God and the world at the same time. He urges further that we should not engage in the works of darkness as listed in Ephesians 5:4-5 , and Ephesians 5:12:
“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient… For ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God…for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”

Why however, are there thieves in the congregations of Churches today? Why are harlots in the Choir? Why are extra-marital affairs now commonplace among believers? The answer is simple: worldliness has become the order of the day! The get-rich quick spirit is holding sway among believers who have forgotten Paul’s counsel to be content with what they have 1 Timothy 6:6-11. The end justifies the means philosophy growing in the Church today is contrary to the word of God that says everyone shall give account for his or her actions Romans 14:12.

Another reason for the growth of worldliness in the Church today is that the children of light have made our places of worship comfortable for evildoers. Many believers are now living lives of deadly compromise. Integrity is now considered old school.

How can we change this situation? The Bible says in Ephesians 5:7-8
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

The Bible in Romans 13:12-14 also says:
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; …But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Henceforth, let us walk as children of light Ephesians 5:8 and separate ourselves from every form of worldliness. May the second coming of the Lord not catch us unawares in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 that he would not want us to be ignorant of the truth concerning our calling as Christians and workers in the vineyard. Hosea 4:6 also emphasizes the danger of ignorance: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… Our Lord Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of knowing the truth in John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

In other words, lies hold people captive! In Proverbs 22:29 we read that a person who is diligent in his or her business shall stand before kings. In what business? The fellow is to be diligent in whatever is committed into his or her hands – academically, professionally, spiritually and in all other areas. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou guest. – Ecclesiastes 9:10

The Scripture above emphasizes the need for diligence. In the light of today’s reading, let us consider some things worthy of learning: One, it is possible for Christians to be ignorant of facts about spiritual gifts. Two, there are many gifts in the body of Christ and every believer should possess at least one. Three, it is the Holy Spirit who distributes gifts to every believer as He chooses. Four, there are differences in the administration as well as division of labour.

Thus, believers should beware of carrying out too many activities in the Church by themselves because it could be counter-productive. Five, though there are differences in operations from believer to believer, it is the same God through His Holy Spirit that works in all genuine believers. Six, the Holy Spirit then gives different assignments to different believers for the edification of the entire Body of Christ.

Thus, we see that it is not for the fun of it that believers are endowed with one gift or another. Therefore, we come to the seventh lesson: no gift is either superior or inferior to another. For this reason, Apostle Paul further wrote to warn us against discriminating in the use of the spiritual gifts 1 Corinthians 12:15-17.

Therefore beloved, let us work together as many members, but one indivisible Body of Christ – everyone playing his or her part as the Lord has given us enablement. We shall not miss our reward in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The meaning of the name Emmanuel is not real to many so-called children of God because they are not abiding in Christ. Therefore, they are caught in many horrible things in the course of their daily activities. This scripture reveals our part in the covenant of God being our Present Help in times of need Psalms 46:1. We must remember that the Almighty God is forever faithful. Though the world may deny Him, He cannot deny Himself. Though the whole world may be unfaithful, He remains faithful to His word in the lives of His children. What is our part in this bargain? We must abide in Him, living holy because He is holy. We should never take a break from living holy. It is important for all children of God who want to enjoy the presence of Emmanuel to abide in Him so that He would in turn abide in them. How can we abide in God? Ecclesiastes 12:13 says:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

We must fear God and keep His commandments. Many people today are taking the grace of God for granted, teaching that we can live in sin and grace would still abound Romans 6:1. Mischievously they argue that we are in the dispensation of grace and thus can do whatever we like. They seem to be saying Let us commit sin the more, so that we may make maximum use of Gods abundant grace! They claim to believe in God yet do not see Him as the Consuming Fire Hebrews 12:29 !Constantly being in the presence of God attracts multiple blessings. One of these is the opportunity to pray and receive instant answers to our prayers. Jesus said:
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; So shall ye be my disciples.”
John 15:78

What if we fail to abide in Christ? God forbid, because it carries terrible consequences. Jesus Christ our Lord said in John 15:6:
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; And men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Abiding in Christ is the ticket to peace and prosperity on earth, as well as eternity with God. Therefore, let us abide in Him because He is willing to grant us everlasting life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Everybody desires new things. As we expect new things to come our way, the Almighty God shall give them to us this season in Jesus name. God says He will do a new thing Isaiah 43:19. To whom is He making this promise? To His people, of course. This leads all those who are expecting a new thing this season to ask themselves some fundamental questions: Am I a child of God? Does God know me? Am I among His elect? Am I among the redeemed of the Lord? What is the proof that I am redeemed of the Lord?

2 Corinthians 6:17 shows that, for you to be really redeemed of the Lord, you must adopt a new way of living.

One thing that can come upon a new creature in Christ is the movement from poverty to prosperity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 8:9
“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.”

Apostle Paul encourages us to be transformed rather than being conformed to this world of sin Romans 12:1-2. The truth of the matter is this: only those who are in Christ can experience the new things God promises us in His word:
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty".
2 Corinthians 6:17-18

You need to change all old habits that are contrary to Gods word. New blessings cannot come upon an old life of sin. Matthew 9:16-17 says:
“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

I pray that you will experience new things in your life this season, in Jesus' name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Speaking about a new creature is an indication that there was an old one. A new life in Christ however, is the new way of thinking and doing things in accordance with the word of God. Galatians 2:20 says:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

This simply means that when a person accepts Jesus as his or her Lord and Saviour, such a person automatically becomes dead to the old life. Every link with the old life is cut off. The old password simply refuses to work because the username has changed. This marks the end of the old life and the beginning of the new one in Jesus, as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Out of the blue, you suddenly have new standards, you begin to measure everything you do in line with the word of God. This new life in Christ comes with the assurance of abundant life here on earth and even in heaven. You have the assurance of answered prayers, confidence in His love and mercy. As you read His word, your faith grows and intensifies to the point where you know that He will never leave nor forsake you.

God is faithful and dependable; as a new creature in Jesus Christ, you can count on Him. Ignore the devil whenever he comes to remind you of your past. The Bible describes him as the accuser of the brethren Revelation 12:10. Respond boldly by reminding him that old things are passed away and you are now a new creature in Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is sweet to be a conqueror but sweeter still to be more than a conqueror! Christians, being the brides of Jesus Christ, can be likened to the wife of a boxing champion. A boxing champion is a conqueror, but the wife is more than a conqueror because when the champion is awarded the winning belt, he hands it over to the wife who didn’t even fight.

In the same vein, our Lord Jesus Christ conquered for us – His bride and gave us the victory. This fact informed Apostle Paul’s statement who wrote in Romans 8:37 that “…in all these things we are more than conquerors…”

Jesus Christ said to His disciples in John 14:12:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ has obtained more than enough grace and mercy for us with His perfect obedience to the Father.

This is the direct opposite of the disobedience of the first Adam according to Apostle Paul in Romans 5:12,14. To God be the glory, the second Adam brought us victory over sin and death through His atonement 1 Corinthians 5:45. The question now is: What should we do with the revelation in this Scripture? Simple: we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour for victory over Satan, sin and all its attendant woes. John the Beloved wrote in 1 John 5:4-5:
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

This is the assurance we have from Almighty God, that it takes being born again – being born of God, to overcome the world. You will not just overcome the world; you will be more than a conqueror if you surrender your life to God and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour.

With Him as your Lord, you will be a conqueror and an overcomer.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The concept of faith is a great one and it is backed by evidence. For example, Hebrews 11:8 says:
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

This was faith in action. This is why the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

We need faith to experience the supernatural. Jesus said in Mark 11:22-23
“… Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

This means that our faith must be in the God who never fails. Jerminah 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.”

In the light of Genesis 12:1-4, faith is simply accepting the verdict of God in all situations. Faith is saying Yes, Lord. We must learn to identify the will of God as we exercise our faith. Jesus Christ exercised His faith in the will of His Father when He prayed in Luke 22:42:
“…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”

God will give you that kind of faith in Jesus name. The reality of Jesus type of faith is the one that cries "Thy will be done O, Lord" even in the face of adversity. This was also the type of faith that made Job say:
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Job 13:15

This is the type of faith that glorifies God; it is the type that will ultimately take us to heaven.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us what the contents of our prayers should be in the Matthew 6:9-13. We must draw some eternal lessons from this passage. One, we must acknowledge the Fatherhood of God if we want to receive answers to our prayers. Jesus Christ said "…it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs." Matthew 15:26. Who are the dogs? The Bible in Revelation 22:15 says:
“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

Secondly, we must learn that only those who honour the name of the Lord can have their prayers answered. The Bible says:
“… for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
“1 Samuel 2:30”

Finally, every child of God must seek that the will of God be done in this perverse generation. For this reason, Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2:
“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.”

Children of God who want to be successful in life must ensure that they are not influenced by anything contrary to the word of God. If you want your prayers answered, abide in Christ and let His word abide in you, as recorded in John 15:7:
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Psalm 66:18 also says:
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

Abide in Jesus, turn your back on sin completely, exercise your faith James 1:6 and your prayers will surely be answered.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

[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.