₦airaland Forum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The word of God is more potent than any two-edged sword, according to the following passage from Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fruitfulness has qualifications, so does growth. Fruitfulness could be negative if the source and nature are outside the plan of God for an individual’s life. There is a kind of Fruitfulness mentioned in the epistle of Paul to the Galatians which is of the flesh – bad and deadly:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,…”
Galatians 5:19-21

There could be positive and blessed fruitfulness as found in Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…”

Let us look at the secret behind blessed fruitfulness. In John 15:1-5, it is clearly stated that abiding in Jesus Christ is the secret of bearing good fruit. The first secret of divine fruitfulness is being born again. Another secret is abiding in Jesus Christ. Jesus further said:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: 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


How then can we abide in Jesus Christ? It is very simple. Obey all His commandments. John 15:7-8 says:
“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.”

Beloved, one other fact is that everyone will eat out of whatever fruit he or she bears – be it good or bad. Therefore, it is wise for you to decide today whether you want to bear good or bad fruit. The good news is that everyone is capable of bearing good fruit provided the fellow comes into Jesus Christ by faith in the saving power in His blood. He said “…if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

1. Father, we thank You for all our elders. Please, help them to stay true to their calling as men and women of wisdom. Whenever we go to them for advice, give them wisdom to answer us correctly.

2. Father, please help all our elders to finish well. None of them will lose their place in Your kingdom in Jesus’ name.

3. Father, please heal all our elders who may be sick in their bodies. Touch them and take away the sickness and all its symptoms in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, let none of the elders suffer the sicknesses and diseases that plague people in their old age. Father, give them divine health.

5. Lord, as You used Moses until age one hundred and twenty years, please continue to use all our elders for Your glory.

6. Father, for those of our elders who have stopped dreaming, please give them the grace to begin to dream again. It is not over until You say so, Lord. Our elders will dream again in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, protect our elders in all their ways. Let the blood of Jesus speak for them every day. Let no harm come near them or their dwelling in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, if there are lands and territories our elders have not covered according to Your will for them, please, help them to arise with strength to take over these territories so their assignments are completed in Jesus’ name.

9. Lord, by mercy, none of our elders will be put to shame in Jesus’ name. Their enemies will not mock them in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, we decree that our elders are blessed with long life and good health. They will see their grandchildren and great grandchildren even to the fourth generation in Jesus’ name.

11. Lord, no matter what happens, our elders will live fulfilled lives in Jesus name. They will see all their dreams come true in Jesus name. They will laugh for joy in the Mighty name of Jesus.

12. Your personal prayer point for the elders around you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Proverbs 4:7 says wisdom is the principal thing because it promotes beyond human imagination. We also know that God promotes, thus we can say that belonging to God is wisdom. According to Proverbs 3:35, there are two types of promotions – glory and shame. There is glorious promotion for the wise and shameful promotion for the fools.

Who are the wise? Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who fear God are wise and because of this, they live a holy life. God says such people will have glorious promotions. Joseph is a classic example of a wise man. He feared God, abstained from sin (Genesis 39:9) and he was eventually promoted to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. It is foolishness to shun the cry of wisdom. Proverbs 14:16 says:
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.”

Who are the foolish? Fools are those that know that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and yet continue in sin. Fools are those who have decided to continue living in sin, despite knowing that without holiness, no one shall see God (Hebrews 12:14).

God will never lower His standards; He is perfect in His ways (Matthew 5:48). He is ready to promote you if you live holy. A glorious promotion puts you on top, it also comes with many responsibilities and advantages, it requires listening diligently to the voice of God and keeping His commandment to the letter (Deuteronomy 28:1). Unfortunately, many Christians of today have overstretched grace to the point where they only obey God’s commandment when it is convenient.

God will give you a glorious promotion if you keep His commandments. Being unfaithful, even in the “least” of God’s laws will be a hindrance. God’s children are always on top, enjoying divine promotion, special promotion and privileges, whereas those who are not obedient will suffer. I pray that the Lord will grant you the grace to live holy, in the mighty name of Jesus. Make up your mind never to live in sin again.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

You cannot afford to be gentle with your enemy – the devil because if you do not get him first, he will get you. When the woman in Luke 18:1-3 prayed thus “avenge me of my adversary”, I assume:

1. That the adversary was not a stranger.
2. Since the adversary was known to her, it means the battle was not new.
3. The adversary must have wronged her significantly. Once an adversary discovers your weakness, he will keep hitting you at the same spot.
4. When the widow said, “my adversary”, it means the adversary was personal to her. It is sad that some people fight other people’s enemies-leaving theirs unchallenged.

The fact that the woman cried to the judge shows that she knew she could not fight for herself; she needed a higher power. This is exactly what David knew and wrote in Psalms 35. Goliath was a mighty external enemy; however, it was easy for David to kill him. This is because David knew that the spiritual controls the physical even from the utterance of his adversary who said in 1 Samuel 17:43:
“…Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”

Why did Goliath curse David by his gods and then go head to use his weapons against the lad? Beloved, unbelievers believe that no life can be taken if the thing they believe in does not allow it. It was as if Goliath was taken permission from his gods to take David’s life. As for David, he saw Goliath as someone who tried to ridicule the Almighty God. In the end, David dealt with Goliath. Some people seem to be more benevolent than God, to their peril. When they are asked to pray to God to fight their battles for them, they keep mute, thinking it is wrong to say such prayers, whereas the man whom Psalm 35:1 described as after God’s heart prayed when confronted with the destroyers of his life. While we are not permitted to take vengeance on our adversaries, we must act like the widow in Luke 18:1-3; she reported the case to a higher authority. God is the Righteous Judge and His judgment is the most accurate (Psalm 9:. As you do, the Lord will fight your battle for you today in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is an adage in my mother tongue that says “When God has revealed your enemies to you; they can no longer kill you.” The belief is that once you identify your enemies, you would be able to relate with them with caution such that there would be no loopholes through which they can harm you.

Today, many people become victims of the plots of their enemies because they cannot identify them. David knew this and that was why he did not leave any stone unturned to identify his enemies throughout his lifetime.

1 Kings 2:5-6 says:
“Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wisdom and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.”

Beyond identifying his enemies however, David was always quick to go to God in prayer for deliverance. It is wisdom to hand over someone you cannot handle to the One who can deal with them on your behalf.

There can be internal and external enemies; the former are more dangerous than the latter. This is because if the internal enemy does not open the door to the external one, you cannot get hurt. As we see in Judges 16:16-21, Samson never identified his internal enemy – lust, which led him to succumb to his external enemy – Delilah.

Sin is the greatest enemy of man and resides in everyone yet to be born again. Apostle Paul described this in Romans 7:18-23. He however did not just lament about it, he dealt with it. Sin is the enemy within; it must be identified and dealt with decisively.

How do we deal with this dangerous enemy? The only way to deal with sin is to confess it, forsake it and ask Jesus to use His Blood to cleanse you from it after accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour. If you do, you will be forgiven and made free from all the consequences of sin.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When God says surely, He means surely. When He says it will be well with you, nobody can change it. When He says surely, by His stripes you are healed, nobody can change it. He says surely, everything you do shall prosper and nobody can change this fact. This assurance can also be yours provided you dwell in the secret place of the Most High and you abide under His shadow. However, if you go away from Jesus, it would be an entirely different matter.

Beloved, there are enemies prowling around unsuspecting children of God and Satan is their ‘commander’. According to 1 Chronicles 21:1:
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

While David was the one who conducted the actual census, it was Satan however that stood against Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1). Satan will always use someone against you. In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus assures us of victory against the attacks of the enemies. Isn’t it interesting that demons by which Satan maims, destroys and kills are the same spirits that Jesus has given us the authority to cast out Luke 9:1? This is why it is a sheer waste of time to dialogue with demons. You should exercise your authority completely without limits. In the same vein, our Lord has given us power to cure all diseases. No longer should you live at the mercy of the devil. 1 John 5:14 says:
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Divine security is also for all believers who know their position in Christ. Take the battle to the gate of the enemy because victory is guaranteed in Jesus’ Name

Some years ago, I experienced a spiritual attack that resulted in excessive stooling and vomiting. I cried out to the Lord and He healed me. He told me that He had just wanted me to have an idea of the unseen battles He had been fighting on my behalf. He had spiritually secured me in His hands. The good news is that even if you fall into the trap of the devil, God can deliver you from any attack of the enemy. The Lord will deliver you from all forms of disease and demonic possession in the mighty name of Jesus. Just call upon Him today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every one of us wants to be secure. This is why people search for security from any source. Unfortunately, many stray into the hands of the very one who wants to destroy them. The good news is Christians who are living holy already have the protection of God and have no need to worry. This is because God has built a hedge of fire around every child of His, such that Satan cannot reach us Zechariah 2:5. When Satan sees a child of God who is surrounded by fire, he keeps his distance.

From the story of Daniel in our Scripture reading today, we see that it pays to live holy, Daniel 6:22 says
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.

Psalm 91:1 and 4-10 also contain some of God’s promises to His children; you must however be holy to access them. You cannot abide in the secret place of the Most High if you are not holy. This is because “…it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs” – Mark 7:27.

When God builds His fire around you, it will be so hot that the fire of this world will give way. The story of the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3:24-28 confirms what Isaiah 43:2 says concerning the holy: “…when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” As much as God is ready to secure you, engaging in sin can remove this cover and put out the fire. Whenever you sin, you create a barrier between you and God. Flee every appearance of sin because you may not be able to recover from the effect of the satanic attack that may come from it. I pray that your fire will not go out in Jesus’ name.

Samson foolishly drove away the fire of protection from himself Judges 16:20, and the consequences were terrible. Beloved, if you want to be secure in this evil world, I advise you to live holy from today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is a need to make certain sacrifices if you would claim any rewards. The same rule applies to holiness. God has a sure reward for everyone who is living holy. For example, if you live holy, you would live long (Proverbs 11:19). Sin leads to death and holiness leads to life eternal. You will die young if you are indulging in sin. However, if you are living holy, Satan will not be able to get you into his death snare. Hosea 10:12 says:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”


The Scripture above is saying that if you plant holiness, you will harvest the mercy of God. What do we know about God’s mercy? Lamentation 3:22 says “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed…” He will keep on showing us more mercy if we keep living holy. Peace is another reward of holy living. Philippians 4:4-9 gives a catalogue of what holiness entails, and it results in perfect peace. Holiness includes rejoicing in the Lord rather than grumbling, living a life of modesty, avoiding worry and covetousness, being truthful, honest, pure, loving and virtuous. The question is not what peace is but who Peace is. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

The first step to holiness is giving your life to Christ. God calls us to holiness and requires that we live a holy life through the help of His Son and the Holy Spirit. The call to holiness is actually the call to peace. When God calls you to live a holy life, He is actually calling you into peace. Why has God called us into peace? The answer is in 1 Corinthians 14:33. Our God is a God of peace. Just like a father would give to his child whatever he has, God is ready to give us peace. The devil on the other hand can only give sickness, sorrow and confusion. God is the King of kings and His Kingdom is everlasting. For you to enjoy His rewards however, you must enter into His Kingdom. To enter, you must be holy as He is. Those who live holy on earth will live with God, in Heaven forever.

I encourage you to begin to live holy from now and the Almighty God Himself will perfect His holiness in your life today, in the mighty name Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When something is perfect, it means that it is good in itself and there is no complaint about it. It also means that it is so good that it cannot be improved upon. Thus, a perfect Christian is one without blemish.

There are Christians who have been saved but not sanctified. Such people may easily get annoyed. Some are saved and sanctified and may not get annoyed as easily. I recall a rehearsal session for a drama that was to be staged in our Church years ago. A scene required that a character become very annoyed but the actor assigned to the role could not bring himself to demonstrate anger, despite numerous attempts. He had dealt so completely with anger in his life that he could not even pretend to be angry. May you be sanctified to this point and beyond in Jesus’ name.

Without the power of the Holy Spirit however, even if you are saved and sanctified, you may still have limitations in fighting spiritual battles. Evil forces may overpower you if there were to be any encounter. 1 Peter 1:2 says:
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

To strive towards perfection as a Christian, you must first and foremost be Spirit-filled. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot bear any of the different fruits (Galatians 5:22-23). For you to strive towards perfection as a Christian, three things must manifest in your life. First, you have to do things exactly how God Himself would do them. Knowing that God can only do things perfectly, you must see to it that you strive towards perfection in everything you do. Secondly, to strive towards perfection as a Christian, you will aspire to get to where God wants you to reach. You should never stop or rest until God’s purpose for you is accomplished. Many Christians backslide because they think they have attained the highest spiritual height. Thus, they become contended. Thirdly, you must be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). I pray that God gives you the grace to be so in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Usually, when people think God is silent, He may be speaking but they are just not listening. At other times, they don’t want to accept what He has to say. God can also be silent when your covenant with Him has been broken. This happened with King Saul who wanted to hear from God as well as familiar spirits.

If you have prayed to know God’s mind on certain issues and He seems to be silent, turn the searchlight on yourself. God is never at fault; check your heart, sincerity and willingness to accept His plan for you. God refuses to speak to some people simply because they have idols in their hearts. Never allow your desire to stand between you and God. When it appears as if God is silent, then there may be something you have to give up. Ezekiel 14:3 says:
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?”

Some people cannot hear God because sin has created a barrier between them and God (Isaiah 59:1-3) or they have a wrong motive. James 4:3 says:
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

For your prayers to be answered, you need to bring down the glory of God. God’s glory brings deliverance. Psalm 24:8 says the Lord of glory is strong and mighty in battle. I recall a student who wet himself in an examination hall. He was going to be excused from the hall when he asked the people around to send for his pastor. I was called and briefed of what happened. I got to the place and discerning that the boy was under some demonic manipulation, I commanded the foul spirit to lose its hold in Jesus’ name. God answered and he was immediately set free. He changed his clothes, returned to the hall and finished before everybody else. Just imagine what would have happened if I had not been in tune with the Spirit of God to know what to do.

The shortest way of calling God’s attention when it seems He is silent is through intense praise. God dwells in the praises of His people. His glory announces His person and presence; it is a revelation of His power and awesomeness. No enemy can stand His glory. Call on Him today, listen to what He has to say and watch your life turn around for good.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Sometimes, you have to make a choice between two or more alternatives. As long as you are alive, you will always have to make choices; whether in your career, business, of whom to marry, place of residence or who to serve. For every choice made, there is always an alternative forgone. This is why it is very important to make the right choices in life. It is unfortunate that some so-called Christians want to eat their cake and have it at the same time. They want to be in Christ and in the world simultaneously. 1 John 2:15-17 has no meaning to them. Jeremiah 21:8 says:
“And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.”

Beloved, one of the most critical choices you have to make in life is the one between death and life. This is because it determines the kind of life you will live on earth and where you will spend eternity. You see, being a follower of a hero is not as important as knowing his or her final destination. Jesus has made it clear that as many who serve and follow Him will be with Him in glory (John 12:26). Moses called Heaven and earth to witness when he was asking the children of Israel to choose between the god of the gentiles and the God of their fathers – in other words, between the life-giving God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the dead gods of the Philistines and other neighbours among whom they lived. who is your master – Jesus or Satan?

After death, no one would be able to switch over to the destination of a master he or she did not serve while on earth. You cannot be with Jesus in eternity if you were not His follower before death took you away from the earth. You must choose wisely whom you will serve today – Jesus Christ or Satan. Beloved, I encourage you to choose Jesus Christ, the Giver of life, so that you can spend eternity with Him in heaven. Remember, there is no repentance or switching of allegiance in the grave (Hebrews 9:27).

God bless you as you choose Christ today.
Written by Pastor E.A Adeboye.