₦airaland Forum

Many people think that the greatest enemy of man is the devil. Yes, the devil is an enemy of man because he hates everything loved by God and God loves man. However, the devil is not man’s greatest enemy. The elders say that if the enemy within cannot kill a man, the enemy without would not be able to either. The greatest enemy of man is the enemy within – the flesh. By flesh, I don’t mean your physical flesh, but your worldly desires. You must not lose the battle against the flesh as such a loss would result in the automatic defeat in other battles of life.

The flesh will tell you not to pray even though the Bible says “Pray without ceasing” (1st Thessalonians 5:17). The flesh will tell you not to fast even though Jesus said “When ye fast…” (Matthew 6:16) not “if ye fast”. The flesh will tell you not to witness even though Jesus said the branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off (John 15:2). The flesh will tell you not to give even though Luke 6:38 says “Give and it shall be given unto you….” The flesh will tell you to spend your tithe even though Malachi 3:8-10 says if you don’t pay your tithe, you are a robber. The flesh will tell you to commit sin even though the Bible says those that sin are of the devil (1st John 3:.

The greatest victory of all is the victory over the flesh and to have it, you need to constantly say “No” to its desires. Doing the will of the flesh may seem pleasurable for now, but believe me, it would ultimately bring sorrow. King David decided to indulge the flesh for just one day and the result was killings upon killings in his household (2nd Samuel 11, 12). Up until today; the sword has not left Israel. Romans 8:5-6 says:
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

When next the flesh comes to you with its enticements, say: “Joy to the wise; joy to me. I refuse to be a fool!”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Yoruba land where I am from, there is a saying that goes thus: “That which you would not eat, you should not sniff.” The way to resist temptations is to run from anything that appears to negate the commandments of God. 1st Thessalonians 5:22 puts it thus:
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

If only David had taken his eyes off Bathsheba, he would not have fallen into the sin of adultery and subsequently murder. If only Judas Iscariot had handed over the treasury of Jesus’ ministry to someone else or at least found someone to be accountable to, he would probably have been amongst the Apostles until he died.

Temptation is not a sin; it is merely the arousal to sin. To resist the temptation is to resist the arousal. When the devil wants to conquer a person, he simply puts things in place that will arouse the fellow to sin, and so the Bible says in James 1:14:
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

One of my sons once told me that he was always excited to resume work on Monday mornings because he would see his secretary again. He had started lusting after her. My advice to him was that he should sack her. The godly counsel to escape sexual sins is to flee! (1st Corinthians 6:18). You don’t resist temptation by hanging around it or letting it hang around you; you escape by running (1st Corinthians 10:13). Joseph did not wait to explain to Mrs. Potiphar why he could not sleep with her; he ran (Genesis 39:12). Waiting to explain can be dangerous; run and explain later.

Nothing is more important than your ticket to Heaven. Jesus Christ said if your hand would lead you to sin, cut it off (Mark 9:43). If you have to resign from that job to ensure that you don’t sin and miss Heaven, resign. If you have to move out of your neighborhood, do so. If you have to unfriend someone, unfriend the fellow. Whatsoever it is that you have to do, just flee any appearance of evil.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many times when you ask people to pray, you expect to hear a roar, only to look up and see that they are either muttering or praying in their hearts. There are certain levels you cannot reach in the Spirit just by praying in your heart. Praise, a powerful weapon of war cannot be used without words. You can pray, meditate and study the Bible quietly, but it is impossible to praise God silently. You have to open your mouth to praise Him. You need words to call upon God in the day of trouble. Psalm 50:15 says:
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me”

If I were you, I would not wait until the day of trouble before I call Him, I will call upon Him every day. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). If you really have a serious request that is heavy on your heart, you will open your mouth to ask God for a solution. When a doctor is confronted by two patients – one quietly and eloquently explaining his/her symptoms while the other is shouting and screaming in pain, which would he attend to first? The one shouting, of course!

Do you want God to attend to your request urgently? Then pray out loud. The truth is, you cannot compare the intensity of prayers when you pray in your heart to when you pray out loud.

It is not surprising that majority of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have to do with words (1st Corinthians 12:8-10). Six out of nine of the gifts have to do with words. Words are very important; words shape destinies and turn things around. You need words to engage in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:17 tells us that our Sword of the Spirit is the word of God. I have never seen anyone casting out demons with his mouth closed; you command the with words. Mark 11:23 says that if you have faith and doubt not, you will say to mountains “be removed and be cast into the sea” and they will obey you. Mountains obey your words. Use words wisely.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

While many people see mountains as stumbling blocks, we as Christians should consider them as mere stepping stones to the top. There was a young king who loved the Lord and was sold out to God completely, so the Lord decided to bless him. God got three wealthy kings to attack this young king and when he heard about the impending attack, he ran to God. “Father, what have I done that all these problems are surrounding me?” Someone reading this devotional is asking God this same question. Don’t worry, all your problems will lead to great testimonies in the mighty name of Jesus. God told the young king “This battle is not for you to fight, but to store up riches. You just praise me on your way to the battleground, taking along wheel barrows. I have a surprise waiting for you there.” The young king gathered his people and praised God like never before as they approached the battlefield. God then told the three kings “Now begin to kill one another.” The three kings wiped out one another completely and left all the wealth they came with for this young king. It took him and his army of worshippers three days to transport it all back home. His name was Jehoshaphat (2nd Chronicles 20).

There was also a small boy called David. A giant problem had risen up against his nation and everyone was afraid. He had no fear because he recognised that this one was a promotion problem. When he was assured that solving the problem would guarantee his promotion, he faced it head on in the name of the God of Israel –Jehovah Nissi. Within minutes, the giant’s head was in his hands and he had become even more popular than the king of the nation.

One similarity between these two is that they praised the name of God. If you want all your problems to cause a promotion for you, spend good time praising the name of the Lord today. Sing like David:
“I will prise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalms 9:1
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If someone claims to be telling you the truth, but you later find out he was hiding some details from you, you would feel he/she lied to you. This is what Pastors do when they hide some truth from their members so as not to appear harsh. If the sheep that God has placed in your care get malnourished and die a spiritual death, their blood will be on your hands.
“…He saith unto him, Feed my sheep…”
John 21:16

Many years ago, I was invited as the main speaker at a three-day crusade. On the third day, I told my host that since I had spent the first two days speaking about our Christian lives here on earth, I wanted to speak on restitution, to prepare the people for Heaven. He refused, saying “You want to scatter the people you have already gathered?” Then he asked me to speak on prosperity. Due to ministerial ethics, I had to oblige him, so I chose 3rd John 1:2 as the anchor scripture: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Thank God for the “even as”; I ended up talking about Heaven.

In the Redeem Christian Church of God, I have been speaking the whole truth to the people, even the very hard truths, yet the Church keeps growing. God will draw people to the place where He is sure they will hear the truth. It is okay to preach about prosperity, blessings and other things that being a Christian avails you, but you are a liar if you never preach about sanctification, holiness, restitution and so on. When Jesus was about to leave this earth, in John 17:12 He gave a report of the people He had been discipling, saying:
“Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

When you are about to leave also, you will be required to give a report. What will your report be on that day?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is a popular saying that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. This is very true. Ask King Solomon. He was probably the wealthiest man that ever lived. He was also the wisest on earth during his days, yet the book of Ecclesiastes which he wrote when he was very old, has a tone of depression all over it. Because there was no war in the days of Solomon, he relaxed and it cost him a whole lot. After he was done building God’s temple and completing all the assignments his father gave him before passing on, he was left with nothing to do. He then started marrying strange women, drifted far from the Most High God and built temples for strange gods.

Learn from Solomon. Avoid being idle, it can cost you your life and destiny. King David’s idleness resulted in him falling into adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband (2nd Samuel 11:2-17). This eventually brought a curse on his lineage (2nd Samuel 12:10). The Bible speaks of idleness in 1st Timothy 5:13:
“…They learn to be Idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers and also busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

If you find yourself spending one hour at a stretch watching videos and pictures on social media, be careful. Your free time could become a tool in the devil’s hands; fill it with something meaningful. Take a good book around with you to read in your free time or go somewhere and play. I remember one conference I attended abroad. Reverend W.F Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) was also at the conference. At a time when we were free, I went into the restroom to read my Bible. After fellowshipping with God, I came out holding my Bible, only to see the fellow in the next cubicle coming out, holding his as well. It was Reverend Kumuyi. We looked at each other and laughed. Today, when you look at some of the churches experiencing the extraordinary move of God in Africa, you find DCLM and RCCG at the top. We use our time wisely.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Is it not amazing how some people can speak against the Christian doctrines that have always worked for us while we who have benefited from these just keep quiet and watch? By so doing, you are indirectly giving the devil the opportunity to sell lies to other people who don’t know the truth yet. When you speak out in opposition to the lies, you are not speaking for yourself alone, but so that the wrong beliefs will not be taken as the truth. Whatever a person hears regularly sinks into his subconscious as the truth, so we must ensure that when the world tells a lie once, we say the truth five times with valid proof from the word of God. While you should never argue with them, you do need to speak the truth so that the lie will not prevail in the minds of the people. The younger ones – both age-wise and spiritually, are listening and if all they have to listen to is lies, then they will adopt these as the truth, so we need to speak up.

Many times, Christians don’t speak up because many of us don’t know the Bible well enough. Thus, you need to study the Bible every day and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. The devil knows the Bible and he is an expert at misinterpreting it. Hence, if you are not well grounded in the word of God, you could begin to believe his own interpretation as the truth. Jesus said:
“…If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Matthew 24:24

If you don’t want to be amongst those deceived, then you must study your Bible in depth and pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth in the word to you. When you know what the word of God says, anytime you hear a contrary message, you can speak up with the truth and back it up with Scripture. When you hear a contrary opinion on tithe, for instance you can tell them what the Bible actually says. After you have gotten the real message of what God’s word says about a particular topic, you can even organise a Bible study group and discuss it with other Christians.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a terrible thing to make a vow to God and not fulfil it. The Bible puts the people who do such in the same category as those who say there is no God – fools (Ecclesiastes 5:4). Many people have made vows based on resources that they don’t have. While they may claim to be making such vows by faith, is it not better so say “Lord if you give me this contract, then I will give you so and so percent of the money” than to make vows beyond your actual present reality?

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Ecclesiastes 5:6

From the Bible verse above, we see that there is an angel assigned to the recording and collection of vows. That is how seriously God takes vows. Ecclesiastes 5:6 shows that when a vow defaulter prays, instead of getting an answer to the prayer, he/she gets God’s anger. Then it goes ahead to say that God could destroy the work of their hands too! By now, it should be very clear to you that it is better not to make a vow at all than to make one and not fulfil it. Think very carefully before you make any vows.

Now, in case you have made a vow you did not fulfil, if at all you can, I advise you to quickly go ahead and do so now. If it is however, something that you cannot fulfil, then you should go before God pleading for mercy. Acts 17:30 says:
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

So go ahead and cry to Him for mercy, but now that you know, ensure you don’t make vows carelessly again.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A Christian may be smiling on the outside because he/she is accustomed to looking cheerful, whereas on the inside, the person could be going through a lot of challenges. The ties and the hats we all wear to Church on Sunday cover the empty stomachs or the depressed thoughts of some workers in the Church. Sometimes the Pastor is going through a marital crisis, but he still has to settle issues in the marriage of a Church member.

We need to look out for each other every now and then. We need to pick up the phone and call the brother or sister to ask how they are doing. We need to bring a gift, no matter how small to church once in a while to give someone. Believe me, the one who is strengthening others also needs strengthening once in a while.

When you notice the commitment level of a particular brother or sister waning, before you accuse or judge them, find out how they are faring first. Checking on them, whether they are in Church or not, shows that you love them. Sometimes, the devil brings suggestions to some of the ‘strong’ Christians to drop out of the Christian race, but just a word of encouragement from you, a smile or a show of love can give them strength to continue in the race. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says:
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

Even as General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, many years ago, I decided to resign because I thought the people I was praying and caring so much for did not care about me. It was a little girl whom God sent to bring me a cake that He used to bring me out of that depressed state. Even though I don’t like cake, I ate this one and ever since, I have not considered resigning again. You don’t know the effect that a little encouragement could have on your brethren.

Show kindness to one another always.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.”
Acts 18:7

Justus’ house joined hard to the synagogue. How attached are you to the Church? Do you see the Church as just a part of your life or is it your entire life? Are you only a Church-goer or are you involved in the activities of the Church? Is Sunday the only time you think about Church or do you also attend mid-week services and other soul-lifting programmes? Are you more joined to your secular job than you are to the Church? Do those who you relate with everyday know you as a member of the body of Christ? How hard are you joined to Jesus?

If I have to be involved in something, I would be fully involved. If you are truly a child of God, you would not be dormant in your Father’s house. Get involved, join the workforce, and give towards the work of God.

Years ago we needed to fill an area of the Headquarters church in Ebute-Metta with sawdust so as to reclaim land and have more to build on. I bore a basin of the sawdust on my head, back and forth, without any shame. A traffic jam on the main road caused a student of mine to seek an alternative route near the church to his destination. Seeing me, he cried out “Ah Oga” (meaning ‘Sir’). I looked at him and asked “Who is Oga? I am no Oga in the house of my God; I am merely working for Jesus my Master.” I am fully joined to the house of God. There is nothing being done to advance God’s kingdom that I will not get involved in, even if it is just to pray for them. How hard are you joined to the Church of Christ?

Those who are joined hard to the house of God always enjoy His presence in every area of their lives. Because they are very useful in His Kingdom business, He in turn makes anything that concerns them His business. It pays to be joined hard to the Church of Christ. I am a living witness.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are many people in the ministry today who are going off track because they are operating in areas wherein they were not called. Some, out of personal ambition, are operating in callings that are not theirs while others are innocently operating in the wrong callings out of concern. Having a burden about something or seeing a need does not automatically translate to a calling.

“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2nd Timothy 2:5

According to the above Bible verse, anyone who does things outside the will of the Master will be disqualified. Everyone who God has called is scored by Him. If what you are doing is outside God’s calling for your life, no matter how good you are in that calling or ministry, it is regarded as irrelevant.

Paul was greatly burdened by how the Jews were walking outside the will of God. He kept preaching to them, yet they kept persecuting him. The greatest persecutions he got were from Jews because God was trying to point him in the direction of his main calling – the Gentiles first, then to kings and then to the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Had he not been so persecuted by the Jews, he would not have been able to take the gospel to as many gentiles as he did. Thank God that in Acts 18:5-6, he finally decided to leave the Jews and go to the gentiles to whom he was primarily sent.

God calls people for a reason and if everyone were to leave their calling to attend to someone else’s, there would be trouble. Imagine someone who is called to cause a great evangelical revival being so burdened about leadership in the nation that he distracts himself by contesting elections. Imagine what would happen if the one who is to find the cure to incurable diseases were to become so burdened about the economy that he gets a job in the Ministry of Finance. You need to identity your calling through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and stay in it so as to fulfil your destiny and more importantly, for the world to be a better place.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many people, because of their high level of secular knowledge, enlightenment and exposure, believe they have answers to everything in life and may thus not believe in the reality of the spiritual realm. They believe there is no hell, no heaven, therefore no God; all things – sickness, accidents, death, infant mortality, business failure, natural disasters, physical disability, barrenness, murder, violent crimes and so on, can be explained scientifically.

However, we are often confronted with situations that defy any human understanding; cases that are beyond scientific explanation, where an attack in the dream becomes a reality upon awaking, or when a person’s health is suffering but all medical tests reveal nothing wrong. The Bible in Ephesians 6:12 provides some insight into the root of the matter.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Spiritual activities have become an integral part of this present world, since Satan was thrown out of Heaven unto the earth (Revelation 12:12). 1st Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” The solution to the devil’s rampant attack on humanity is found in 1st John 3:8, “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

All power belongs to Jesus (Matthew 28:18). At His name, even the devil trembles (James 2:19). No matter the greatness of learning, research and technology, a very active spiritual realm exists. If you are born again, congratulations. You have the backing of Jesus to upturn all activities of the enemy against your life and family. However, if you are not yet born again, you are completely open to all the antic of the kingdom of darkness. Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour today so you can destroy the works of the devil in your life and family.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a great thing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is however even much better to be a disciple and friend of Jesus at same time.

In the course of His earthly ministry, Jesus began to develop a more intimate relationship with some of His disciples and he called them friends.

“Greatest love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
John 15:13-15

A classic example of a friend of Jesus is Lazarus. In John 11:11 Jesus said “…Our friend Lazarus sleepeth…” This level of intimacy was emphasized by John 11:35 which says “Jesus wept.”

The Lord God helped me to develope such an intimate relationship with Him that I began to see Him as “My Daddy” and not just “Our Father”. This offended some people who wondered why I would be calling God ‘Daddy’. If God is their Father and He happens to be my Daddy, what is the problem? My prayer for you today is that the Holy Spirit will assist you to develop a relationship with Him that would give you the boldness to call the Almighty God ‘Daddy’ in the mighty name of Jesus.

To be admitted into the circle of friends of Jesus, you need to fulfil only one condition as set in John 15:14 “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” The moment you begin to walk in obedience to the commandments of God, you have become a friend of Jesus. His commandments are not hard to obey or burdensome to live by. He also promises to give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many Christians tell stories of their lives before they came to Christ, confessing of bondage to various gods, diabolical rituals, sexual immorality, gambling, alcohol, tobacco use, hard drugs and so on. As a result of this, many fell into diverse sins, sicknesses, demonic possession, fruitlessness, failure, bankruptcy and suicide. Job 14:1 says “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” I prophesy to anyone suffering from any of the above problems: God will show mercy and deliver you today in the mighty name of Jesus.

The Almighty God offers Jesus as a remedy to all problems of life for anyone who will accept Him as Lord and Saviour. This is the essence of the declaration of Jesus in Matthew 11:28 & 30 that says:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This is an open invitation to everyone labouring under the heavy yoke of the devil to move to the right side of life. Jesus says: Come unto me and I will give you rest from all your troubles. Come to Jesus today for deliverance from the stronghold of sin, addiction and all forms of immorality. Come to Jesus and He will put an end to your miseries, disappointments and failures. Come to Jesus and He will turn your sorrow to Joy.

Moving to the right side of life is yielding your life in totality to God. A lot of people today claim to be born again but after a close look at their lives, it will become obvious that one sin or the other is still keeping them away from the Lord’s side.

Why don’t you surrender all to Jesus today? Repent of every sinful lifestyle; accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. Embrace a life of holiness and from this moment, the abundant blessings of God will begin to pour into your life without measure in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Abraham despite being childless at ninety, kept his hope to become a father of many nations (Romans 4:18). However, many Christians today have lost hope in God’s promises, waiting for their physical manifestations before they believe.

If you are in the category of Christians described above, ask God today for the grace to remain hopeful in His promises for your life.

Abraham for example enjoyed this grace (Romans 4:16) even before Jesus was born and our saviour confirmed this when He said: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). The grace was so sufficient that he hoped against all odds and developed faith that earned him friendship with the Almighty God.

Hope is a key element in describing faith (Hebrews 11:1) without which no man can please God (Hebrews 11:6). Hope ensures that we obey His command to always rejoice (1st Thessalonians 5:16) even in the midst of tribulations.

Hope is the assurance that what we desire will come to pass (Romans 8:24). Romans 12:12 also lets us know that through hope, we can develop patience and strength especially in tribulation. It is saddening however, that some Christians lose hope and backslide in the face of trials. This ought not to be.

In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus talks about rejoicing as a means of endurance, as well as the blessings attached to enduring persecution. James 1:12 also says:
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Hope also helps one to tarry for results in the place of prayer. Someone who lacks hope won’t pray long before searching for an alternative.

Abraham had faith in God and it was imputed to him for righteousness (Romans 4:17-22). Beloved, are you losing hope already? Please do not, because there is glory ahead of you. Be patient so you can obtain (Colossians 1:27).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jesus, aware that His disciples would be empowered with authority over demons, warned them not to fall into the temptation of glorying in their abilities, but rather to rejoice because their names were registered as citizens of heaven (Luke 10:20).

We too have a tendency to forget what is truly important. Heaven has been built and decorated for us – God’s people. It will be hard to fall for Satan’s lies when your mind is filled with thoughts of eternity. How could the devil win any war against an army marching towards its reward in the hereafter? It is amazing how quickly your prospective changes when your heart and mind are set on eternity.

Jesus pointed His disciples towards an eternal perspective when they returned from a successful ministry trip. While sharing in their elation, He however pointedly noted that as awesome as their testimonies were, they were to rejoice even more that their names were written in heaven. What a lesson to popular conference speakers and miracle-working evangelist and pastors!

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works… And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:12, 15

Beloved, God is telling us today that in whatever we do, we must ensure that our names are written in the book of life. To do this is simple: Give your life to Jesus Christ in genuine repentance of your sins. And, if you have given your life to Jesus, leave it with Him. Then and only then can you be sure that your name is duly registered in heaven.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Some people think that being a Christian is just about attending a Church service every Sunday and some other programmes from time to time. Far from it. Being a Christian is having such a cordial relationship with Christ that you begin to behave like Him. How can you have that cordial relationship with Him when all you know about Him is what you are told from the pulpit? True Christians do not depend on the Pastor to know who God is; they study the Scriptures themselves and get the revelation of God firsthand. Believe me, there is no revelation better than the one given to you by the Holy Spirit Himself.

Worse still are Christians who get their knowledge of God from other people’s opinions, without any background check as to the personality of the person addressing them. Once someone comes and talks about God to their hearing, quoting Scriptures and interpreting it, they believe everything the fellow is saying. You know the devil also quotes Scriptures and interprets it. Get to know God yourself. You cannot understand the word of God except by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:26

When last did you take a topic and study the Scriptures about it. When last did you ask the Holy Spirit to explain a particular Scripture to you? After reading this devotional every morning, do you actually ask the Holy Spirit for more insight into what has been discussed in it? I encourage you to start searching for the truth by yourself. As evidently anointed as Paul was, the people of Berea still searched the Scriptures to confirm what he had told them and they were described as more noble than the Thessalonians who never searched the Scriptures themselves (Acts 17:11).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We learnt from the wise King Solomon that there is a time for every purpose under heaven and this of course includes every human being.

Everyone wants to be greatly successful, but there is a process to undergo before the success comes. We must give consideration to the unique seasons we are in as individuals at every point in time.

Many times, people get lucky and get a taste of the success they are pursuing before the time comes. David for example got a taste of being the number one citizen of Israel before he sat on the throne. After killing Goliath, the women considered him the most important man in the nation. They even sang that he was more successful than King Saul.

“And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
1st Samuel 18:7

This short taste of success did not make David plan a coup and overthrow Saul. He knew it was not yet time, so he went back to serving Saul. Many people these days would have started their own army and called it ‘The Giant Slayer’ and the name of David would have faded away. A medical student who treats malaria successfully and goes to open a hospital will soon become the only patient there.

Go through the process necessary for success. There is a seed time and a harvest time. If you eat all the seed up, when harvest time comes, there would be nothing to reap. If you are in doubt, always ask God what season of your life you are in.

Egypt would have perished during the famine if God had not revealed to Pharaoh in a dream that a season of abundance was coming and it would be followed by a season of famine (Genesis 41:25-32).

God is the controller of times and seasons; you should constantly ask Him what season of your life you’re currently in so you don’t commit any errors or miss out on the prospective blessings.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many times, people say it is impossible to live holy. That is not true. Jesus lived on earth for thirty-three years without committing even a single sin. If Jesus could do it, you can do it too because His grace is sufficient for you (2nd Corinthians 12:9). The problem is that we look at the concert of holiness with so much fear and just conclude that it is not possible. Holiness is simply obedience.
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
James 4:17

Once you know the right thing to do, do it. Simple. You have read in your Bible not to steal; don’t steal. You have read that it is wrong to lie; don’t lie. Just obey. That’s all.

Now, you may say “Obedience to every single instruction from God is not easy,” but if you take it one at a time, then you would see the possibility.

“And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Luke 9:23

Jesus said you should take up your cross daily. If you think about keeping your body and teeth clean for the rest of your life, it will look like a lot of work. But when you just ensure that you keep them clean daily, then you will achieve the goal for the rest of your life. You brush your teeth every morning, you take your bath every morning, so also should you decide to live holy every morning. When you wake up in the morning, renew your commitment to live holy just for that day. Tell yourself “Adeboye, throughout today, you will not commit any sin; you will live holy for the next twenty-four hours.” With just twenty-four hours as the goal, it is easier to achieve holiness. By the time you add thirty sets of twenty-four hours together, you would have been holy for one month and then one year and so on. Just take up your cross daily.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“….Therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Proverbs 4:7

How high you fly will depend on the quality of the knowledge and information you feed your brain with. A Yoruba proverb says a bird is propelled to fly by virtue of what it has eaten. In other words, a famished bird may not be able to go a long distance that is even if it flies at all. People say knowledge is power, but that is not true. If it were, then all world rulers would have been Professors. Knowledge is only useful when properly applied and that is wisdom. With Just a little knowledge, some with little have ruled others with plenty. You can’t have wisdom if there is no knowledge. Therefore, you must feed your brain.

When a Policeman cries “Hey you”, while an innocent but uninformed person may be afraid, an equally innocent but knowledgeable one would answer with confidence.

Read books across disciplines, attend seminars, watch documentaries. Be an insatiable learner. Push to know as much as possible because ignorance could be costly. Of course, we must allow the Holy Spirit guide us in the choice of information and knowledge we feed our minds.

You may claim to be so busy that you hardly have time to read. But if you consider knowledge as important, you will find time for it. By reading a book, you can gain in a few hours what it took the writer seventy years to learn. Books enrich, so I make out time to learn something from them all the time.

These days, our youths spend hours on social media rather than reading books that can benefit their lives. They can stay alert with their phones for hours, but doze off as soon as they lay hands on an inspirational book to read. Some don’t even touch their Bible except on Sundays!

If you would be great – soaring higher than your peers, then you must gather more knowledge than they, and apply it too. That is wisdom.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If you are not born again and you read the Proverbs 18:15, you would realize that the God you are fighting and resisting is a fire that can consume. Although He is asking you to surrender your life to Him now, He can suddenly turn and begin to burn you when your time is up. If a person is fire, isn’t it in your best interest to be on His side rather than against Him? As a child of God reading this Scripture, you should rejoice that your Father is so powerful as to be a Consuming Fire. With the Consuming Fire backing you up, all your enemies are in trouble.

“A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.”
Psalm 97:3

As compassionate as God is, do not ever forget that He is a Consuming Fire. Some people say that the Scripture “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10) is actually not talking about fear, but reverence. Well, I think I have enough common sense to know what fire can do. Others can just reverence Him; as for me, I will fear the Consuming Fire and all my enemies had better do the same.

The moment fire engulfs a place, everything changes. The fire will consume some things completely and purify some. Being the Consuming Fire, the moment Jesus enters your life, every pain, sorrow, depression, poverty and ancestral curse will be consumed and burnt off completely. Also, all your potential, talents and skills will be purified and sharpened for manifestation. Gold that has been introduced to fire never remains the same; its inner beauty begins to radiate for the whole world to see. Moses was in exile – a depressed man who led an ordinary life until he came in contact with the Consuming Fire. Before Moses left this world, the whole world had heard about him and we are still talking about him today. I pray that the Consuming Fire will destroy all He needs to for you to be a voice in your generation, in the mighty name of Jesus. Everything He needs to purify for your potentials to manifest will be cleansed now in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I always wonder at those who envy others. Why are you envying someone else? That fellow’s success does not hinder yours. What God wants to do for you cannot be hindered by what He is doing for someone else. My blessings cannot hinder yours and yours cannot hinder mine. In fact, the only way my blessings can hinder yours is if you are envious of me. If instead of concentrating on praying and working for your own blessings, you put your attention on envying someone else’s, how will you be blessed? Job 5:2 says that envy slays a silly fellow.

Instead of envying someone who has been blessed by God, why don’t you seek to learn from him/her? Note however, that you cannot learn from someone you resent. Students usually find it difficult to learn from teachers they don’t like. If somebody is making more sales than you for example, you have two choices: either to envy the person – gossip about them and end up making yourself sad or you rejoice with him/her – get close to them and learn their success strategies. You lose from the former and gain tremendously from the latter.

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice…”
Romans 12:15

God’s standard is that you rejoice with those rejoicing. If you find yourself unhappy when you see a particular person rejoicing then you need to check yourself. Whenever you feel envious of someone, make sure you pray for that fellow. When the devil see that whenever he suggests envy to you, you respond by praying for the fellow, he will stop. You also cannot resent someone who you pray for. Bringing yourself to pray for that person will help you get over the envy. Then, you can begin to love the person genuinely.

Stop the envy; it kills.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many times, the Spirit is speaking to us, but only those who are sensitive hear and obey. If the Holy Spirit dwells within you, He would keep communicating with you through whispers. You may feel it was just your mind, but believe me, it is the Holy Spirit, so listen. As a Christian, you need to get accustomed to the voice of God and recognize when He is nudging you in a particular direction. Knowing this can save you a lot of trouble. Job 32:8 says:
“But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

If the Spirit of God is urging you to pray, do so immediately. You don’t know what He wants you to command in the Spirit or how urgent it may be. It may also be that He is bringing something your way and you have to be in the mood of prayers to receive it. Imagine if Peter had gone to the restroom when the Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost. The cloven fire fell on those present in the room.

God could ask you to take a particular route to your destination. He could ask you to wear a particular garment or shoe. Listen and obey immediately. A former cultist gave his life to Christ on campus. One day, returning to his room in the middle of the night after studying, he prepared to sleep, but the Spirit kept nudging him to pray, so tired as he was, he got up from his bed and began to pray. After only few minutes of prayer, a huge demon walked through the wall into the room. Immediately he saw the demon, his eyes opened wide and he began to cast it. The demon started going backwards, brushing against the leg of the brother’s roommate who was sleeping on his own bed.

When he told me the story, I asked if he was sure it wasn’t a dream. He said he would have thought so, except that, in the morning, his roommate’s leg had swollen to almost five times its normal size. Thank God he listened to the Holy Spirit; imagine what would have happened if that demon had met him sleeping and touched his head.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A fire-quencher is something that reduces your zeal and heat for God. They are in three categories as listed in 1st John 2:15-17;
“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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Beware of the lust of the eyes. Samson saw and kept coveting what he had no business desiring (Judges 14:1, Judges 16:1). In Joshua 7:21, Achan saw and coveted what he had no business touching. It also led to the destruction of himself and his family. Colossians 3:1-2 says:
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Beware of the lust of the flesh. Paul said if we live by the flesh, then we would die.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Romans 8:12-13

Like Paul, you must keep your flesh under (1st Corinthians 9:25-27). It was the lust of the flesh that destroyed Gehazi and Eli’s family.

Beware of the pride of life. The devil is the father of pride. He was the first to exhibit pride (Isaiah 14:13-14). Where pride is, you will find the devil. Pride quenched his fire when he was an archangel and he is using it now as a tool to quench the fire of many people. When your sentences are filled with so many ‘I’s, beware!

Do not tolerate fire-quenchers in your life because their ultimate goal is to cause eternal death.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As Christians, we have a great inheritance. God told Abraham that in blessing, He would bless him and since we are children of Abraham, his blessings are ours. However, the Almighty God who deploys these blessings is holy and very hardworking. Hebrews 11:6 says it is the diligent that God will reward. Thus, if you want to enjoy any reward from God, you must say goodbye to laziness, and indolent people. In Proverbs 13:20, the Bible says:
“He that walketh with the wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Stop being slothful; drop your lazy friends. Spend every minute productively. Stop spending countless hours on social media, just lazing around. The extent to which you will fulfil destiny depends on the quantum of effort you are willing to put in. The brightness of any fire is determined by the fuel applied. 1st Corinthians 15:41 tells us:
“There is one glory of sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the star: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”

You cannot just keep singing ‘Abraham’s blessings are mine’; you must be ready to put in the work. Jesus, during His earthly ministry worked so hard that, one day, in the middle of a storm, He fell asleep. The testimony about His work ethic is thus:
“But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
John 5:17

Even though God had said, many years before I joined, that the RCCG is a covenant church that would have parishes all over the world, I as the General Overseer still work very hard for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Whatever God is involved in involves hard work because He cannot work with lazy people (Amos 3:3).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are three possibilities with your fire. It could be burning bright, low or completely out. If the fire is burning bright, be careful. 1st Peter 5:8, says:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

1st Corinthians 10:12 says:
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

When fire is burning bright, demons take note of it and are watching closely. Since they cannot touch the fire, they await a time when it will burn out, so they can pounce on the fellow. Make sure you stay connected to God (John 15:5).

If the fire is burning low – you still go to Church, still look and walk like a Christian, but inside, you know you are not as close to God as you used to be, that is being lukewarm. Being lukewarm is dangerous (Revelation 3:15-16) Revelations 2:5 is a great warning:
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Cry to God for a fresh baptism of fire if you have become lukewarm.

On the other hand, if your fire is completely out – if you have gone back to the filth of your past and are now doing those things which are completely against the word of God, know that though you have drifted far, God has not rejected you. The fact that you are still alive means He is still interested in having you back. Ezekiel 37:1-10 makes it clear that dry bones can live again. In John 21:15-19, Peter missed it by going back to being a fisherman, but Jesus came to meet him there and restored his destiny. Peter’s repentance was genuine; he wept bitterly and was restored. You too can be restored if you cry genuinely to God.

May your fire always burn bright and never go out in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every human being has the tendency to be proud. We see our possessions as a leverage for us to feel better than others who are less privileged. Beware of pride; God hates it. Indeed, He said in 1st Peter 5:5 that He resists the proud.

One thing about pride is that even though it makes the proud feel he is better than others; it actually makes him less than they are, as seen in Luke 14:11.

Generally, a humble fellow gains more respect and honour, but people tend to ridicule the proud. If even we humans don’t like proud people, how much more God. Wear humility like garment, pride is a destroyer. It destroyed King Saul: in a bid to protect his ego, he sinned against God. 2nd Chronicles 26:1-21 tells us about King Uzziah. When he was young, he did the will of God, but later became proud and died a leper. What do you have that makes you feel you are above others? You need to recognise that God can take it away in an instant. Psalm 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.”

God dethroned a proud Vashti to raise a humble Esther as queen in her stead (Esther 1, 2). King Herod in Acts 12:22-23 was destroyed because of pride. He never uttered a word in that instance; his pride was in the heart. He heard the people praising him, but did not stop them. God does not share His glory with anyone. If you are beginning to feel like several things or people cannot do well without you, then He will show you that you are nothing. So when you hear anyone praising you, immediately ask them to stop before it annoys God. Remain humble, otherwise destruction is coming. Proverbs 16:18 says:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is wise to learn from the experience of others, but sometimes, we ourselves have experiences that we ought to learn from. Nebuchadnezzar was a man who learnt from his personal experience. God had warned him in a dream and also arranged for Daniel not only to interpret the dream to him, but also to counsel him on how to escape the wrath of God. Unfortunately, he did not heed the warning and for seven years, he ate grass like an animal (Daniel 4). Thank God he got a second chance. By the time he came back to his senses, he had learnt his lesson and now recognised Jehovah as the real King. Nobody needed to teach him that again: his experience had done enough. Daniel 4:34 says:
“And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:”

There are however, some foolish people who refuse to either learn from the experience of others or even theirs. Such people usually never live to tell the story. King Pharaoh for example, should have realised, at least by the third plague that the God of Israel is not a God to fight. Little wonder God hardened his heart afterwards and he did not realise this truth even after the tenth plague and his eventual death (Exodus 9).

Many people talk about the foolishness of Pharaoh, but some are doing the same thing. How can someone who committed adultery and lost some privileges from that act still go back into it? How can someone who stole and was imprisoned come out and steal again? For people who refused to learn from personal experience, the end will be disastrous if they don’t repent and forsake their sins. A word is enough for the wise.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is popularly said that experience is the best teacher. There are two ways to learn from experience – either personally or through that of others. I prefer to learn from the experience of others because learning from mine can be painful. In Luke 17:32, Jesus told us to remember Lot’s wife. In other words, He said we should learn from her experience. When I was a little boy, I used to see my elder brother as a very strong man. He was muscular and could carry heavy things. One day, he offended our father and he beat that brother of mine so much that he shed tears like a baby. On seeing that, I determined that I would never do anything to offend my father because I didn’t want to get flogged by him. Samuel learnt from Eli. He knew it was because the children of Eli were tampering with the offering and polluting the house of God that they were rejected. Hence, through his life and with the help of his children, he never polluted the altar of God. In 1st Samuel 12:3-4, he said:
“Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither has thou taken ought of any man’s hand.”

Many Christians would be living better lives today if only they learnt from the experience of the Bible Characters they read of. Have you learnt from Samson that fornication can turn a mighty man to a piece of bread (Proverb 6:26)? Have you learnt from Gehazi that the love of money can only bring everlasting shame? Have you learnt from Ananias and Sapphira that lying to the Holy Spirit is suicidal? Have you learnt from Judas Iscariot that secret sin will lead to public disgrace? Is there anything you are doing now that has led to the destruction of someone in the past? For your own good, desist from such and seek God’s face for forgiveness while you still have the opportunity to do so.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The second coming of Jesus Christ has become a controversial issue in recent times. While some people argue that Jesus Christ will not come again, other say He has come secretly and has taken His position in the Church. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Jesus Christ will come again and when He does, all eyes shall see Him. Many verse of Scripture support the certainty of His second coming – a classic example being Acts 1:9-11. It confirms many truths about today’s discussion.

Jesus went into heaven publicly in full view of His disciples and there were angles who assured them He would return in like manner. It is therefore unwise to accept the teaching that Christ will not come again or that He has come secretly.

He will return with clouds and every eye, including those of the people who crucified Him, shall see. Their shame shall be unimaginable. Revelation 1:7 says the kindred of the earth shall wail. Why? It is because they refused to repent of their sins and Jesus shall come to judge them according to their works (Revelations 6:1, 15).

“For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
Revelations 6:17

Who shall be able to stand? Only those who have accepted the Lamb – who would be the judge, as their personal Lord and Saviour shall be able to stand. Only those who have confessed their sins, accepted the love of God as demonstrated in the gift of His only begotten Son shall be able to stand (John 3:16-18).

Beloved, Jesus is coming sooner than we may accept. Are you prepared for Him? Remember, He is not coming as a Lamb again but as the Righteous Judge. Repent and be transformed into His righteousness if you are yet to do so. If you have already accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, ask for the grace to hold on faithfully to the end.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayers
1. Father, thank You for my community/neighborhood. Thank You for the local government officials, elected representatives and all leaders within the community.

2. Father, I take over this community/neighborhood for You. As I preach the gospel in this neighborhood, let everyone give their lives to You in the mighty name of Jesus.

3. Father, increase the rate of the development of my community/neighborhood. Let it become the home of great discoveries and success.

4. Father, arrest every witch or wizard operating within or around my community/neighborhood with Your fire.

5. Father, make this neighborhood free from crime and every form of unrest in the mighty name of Jesus.

6. Father, make me a spiritual and financial blessing to the people of my community.

7. Father, let us only have cause to celebrate with each other, rather than mourn in this neighbourhood, in the mighty name of Jesus.

8. Father, don’t let any disease break out in this neighbourhood.

9. Father, let there be love amongst us in this neighbourhood.

10. I bless the ground of this neighbourhood; it will only yield good things for us in the mighty name of Jesus.

11. I pray that the leaders of this community will lead us with the fear of God.

12. Your special prayer request for your community/neighbourhood.

I stand in agreement with you today and pray that the Lord will grant all your request concerning your community/ neighbourhood, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is impossible to offer the same service to two human masters at the same time, let alone God and mammon. Whoever tries to do so will lose ultimately. This is because God will see you as unserious and you will get nothing from Him. Mammon (Money), on the other hand is not reliable. Psalm 49:6-7 says
“They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.”

Why is mammon compared with God and not the devil? It is because mammon represents the material things of this world and that is what the devil has been using to compete against God. The devil won against Adam and Eve but thankfully, he failed against Jesus when he tried to lure Him with earthly treasures. So, who is your master – God or mammon?

Once you have chosen to serve God:
You should no longer steal to make money because it is the blessing of God that makes one rich without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). You will not rob to become rich. “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” (Proverbs 9:17-18).

You must not lie or falsify records to become wealthy. Proverbs 11:4 says “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”

You must not lie or falsify records to become wealthy. Proverbs 11:4 says “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”

You must learn to give generously to Kingdom projects. You must always put Him first.

In Joshua 24:15-24, some people decided to stay on the side of God and Joshua warned them that they would be consumed if they served other gods. Dear reader, you must make up your mind today to serve God and not mammon. He will surely take care of you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.