₦airaland Forum

The battle of life has proven to be difficult to every generation for various reasons. The enemies are often difficult to identify and sometimes come in the form of human opposition, criticism and antagonism. At other times they come as physical challenges and obstacles. At times they present themselves as natural happenings that would fade away with time, so we do nothing until they become serious problems. However, we must note that there is a spiritual dimension to every battle of life. According to Ephesians 6:12:
“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.”

Through the credentials of our enemy maybe intimidating, still, a Christian enters the battle of life from a position of victory. This is the high standpoint of the Christian faith and the only ground on which we should meet the devil and his agents.

To bequeath is to hand down or transfer to a beneficiary. Our victory has already been handed down to us! Glory! Revelation 12:11 says “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…”

Our weapons of warfare are clearly greater than those of our wicked foes. The blood of Jesus has secured our victory and our sword of the spirit is the word of God. We do not confront and overcome the devil and his agents by our ability but by the blood of Jesus. This makes it absolutely necessary that we live as victors in this world while we return all glory to God for our victory.

The battle is not ours but the Lord’s. Jesus is the seed of the woman, our Captain and the Lord of hosts. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved and shed His precious blood for us. Let us praise and worship the Almighty God who has granted us victory through the blood of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To triumph is to be victorious in battle against a formidable enemy in a way that calls for jubilation. To triumph is to overcome difficult circumstances of life that seem impossible to surmount, in grand style. Every great victory in battle and triumphant success over the enemy in difficult situations requires the intervention of the Almighty God. This reality makes it mandatory for Christians to worship and sing praises to God whenever we experience triumphant victory. This was the case in Exodus 15:11, after God supernaturally delivered the Israelites from the evil grasp of Pharaoh by opening up the Red Sea for them to pass through on dry land, while the wall of water closed in on their enemies and drowned them all.

The Bible tells us the songs of triumph could even be rendered in anticipation of victory.

Whenever God wants to do something really supernatural, He is fond of calling for musical warriors who are specially prepared to bombard the stronghold of the enemy. Such was the case in the time of King Jehoshaphat, who deployed an army of worshippers marching into battle with musical instruments in their hands and songs of praise in their mouths. As they praised and worshipped God, He rose on their behalf and completely destroyed all their enemies.
“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”
2nd Chronicles 20:22

Godly music is a spiritual language that can reach beyond the intellect to touch the heart of God. I decree: the Lord will put a song of triumph in your mouth today in the mighty name of Jesus. No matter what you are passing through, no matter how hopeless your situation seems, irrespective of your weaknesses and limitations, you will overcome and sing songs of triumph in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Joy is a powerful fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the privilege of every Christian to walk in the light, to have all round peace, and experience joy that flows like a river. There is a difference between happiness and joy; happiness is usually triggered by happenings around a person. A negative turn in circumstances could spoil or ruin happiness. However, joy flows right on through times of trouble, unhindered through dark and difficult periods of life and even in times of persecution or opposition. Nothing hinders the flow of joy because it is not dependent on any earthly condition, but on a spiritual conviction. Joy is an exclusive privilege of the children of God; He gives His people perpetual joy as a reward of obedience to His word. Jeremiah 15:16 says:
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by the name, O Lord God of hosts.”

Joy is divine and is rooted in the word of God. Christians should search for joy through the Word and not in the world. This joy propels people to preach to sinners, help the poor, visit the widow and the fatherless, and spread the good news of the kingdom. Therefore, the kind of joy that is not beneficial to others and does nothing to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ is not worth it, and cannot be from God.

There are however, diverse kinds of Joy: there is joy of one’s own salvation, the joy of the salvation of others, and the joy of seeing young converts walking in the truth. The joy that comes from the salvation of others surpasses the joy of our own salvation. The blessed privileges of being used of God to win souls to Christ, and to see people being delivered from sin, sickness, poverty, and bondage, is the highest honour anyone can receive. I pray that the joy of the Lord will overflow in you and become a source of joy to the whole world, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Wealth is generally interpreted as an abundance of valuable possessions or money. The Bible speaks of wealthy families, nations and also wealthy individuals like Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, and the Queen of Sheba. Worthy of note is the fact that positive references to wealth are few in the Bible. Many statements of Jesus could be viewed as harsh criticism of wealth. In Mark 10:23-25, He said it is extremely difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. In Mark 4:19, the quest for wealth chokes God’s word. Matthew 6:24 says one cannot serve God and Mammon. 1st Timothy 6:9-10 declares that “the love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil. To wrap it up Luke 6:24 concluded by saying “Woe to you who are rich”. Revelation 3:17 says: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…”

However, there is a good side to wealth. Since the beginning of the world, God has created an abundance of good things for human beings to enjoy. Christians however need to have a good understanding of the true nature of earthly riches, and acknowledge God as the source of all blessings. Deuteronomy 8:18 says:
“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…”

Hence, having riches is not the problem, but having a wrong attitude towards it. Riches should be thankfully received, and Christians must value heavenly riches above earthly wealth. Earthly riches are to be used in the service of the Creator and the true owner of all things. God has the power to make anyone wealthy; therefore His children do not have to live in penury. I have however discovered that the poverty of many Christians is not out of laziness or lack of ambition, but due to a prayer less lifestyle. If you would be rich, then you must be ready to continuously knock on the doors of heaven with prayer, until your breakthrough comes.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The fact that God designed humility for greatness is clearly stated in the Bible. Many however, still doubt this reality despite the record in Genesis 1:26-30 where God decided to create mankind in His own image and likeness. He commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it and also to have dominion over all creation. God did not only bestow greatness on humanity in Genesis 1:26-28, He also ensured all creation was subjected to man.

Though the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-19) marred this divine plan, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has restored the lost glory to humanity (John 17:22). For this reason, the Bible emphasises that God’s design for greatness remains intact in every born-again child of God according to 1st Peter 2:9 that says:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

This is profound. Every child of God living holy and committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is bound to experience greatness. Therefore, searching for greatness through dubious, sinful, immoral, or criminal methods is merely a demonstration of foolishness. Seeking greatness anywhere apart from God is an exercise in futility. The power of God to make you great rests squarely on His personality as the Almighty and unlimited God. If you desire to be great, do not waste your money, time and energy in pursuit of greatness outside God; it will end in disappointment and failure (Matthew 16:27). Surrender your life and ambition for greatness to Jesus today then He will save your soul and make you great indeed – far beyond your wildest imagination. Praise God!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

All Christians are saved and given the mandate to go into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring others into the Kingdom of God. Every Christian has also been equipped with all that is necessary to carry out the assignment. The Bible makes it clear that God does not give assignment to His children without providing the necessary tools to execute the task. Before God sent the disciples out as witnesses to Jerusalem. Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth, they were first filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is the One who equips the saints for tasks in the vineyard of God. The importance of the Holy Spirit is emphasised in Luke 24:49:
“…behold, I sent the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” The Holy Spirit is so crucial for service that the disciples were told to remain in Jerusalem until His power came upon them.

When God calls anyone into a spiritual office, it is because He has a role for such a person to play in His redemption plan for mankind. Isaiah 61:1 says,
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good things unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”

The Holy Spirit gives hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick and life to spiritually dead person. Acts 10:38 reveals that it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that enabled Jesus to do all that He did. Hence, if we are to do the same and even greater works (John 14:12), then we must also be filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you ready for service?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The word grace connotes God’s benevolence to the undeserving. Grace empowers Christians to do both the ordinary and extraordinary (2nd Corinthians 9:.

However, if you do not grow in grace after being born again, making heaven may become increasingly difficult. This is why Peter advises Christians to grow in grace as seen in 2 Peter 3:18.

When anyone stays at the level of salvation and fails to grow, there is a great possibility of backsliding. For this reason, Paul rebuked the church in Corinth. Despite being saved, they didn’t aspire to holy living (1st Corinthians 3:1-3).

What are the effects of growing in grace?

According to 2 Peter 3:18, steadily growing in grace helps us avoid lust and worldliness. When a Christian allows such into his/her life, there will be a gradual spiritual decline which is very dangerous. To avoid this decline, we must follow Peter’s counsel’s – desire the sincere milk of the word (1st Peter 2:2). We must also strive to keep our salvation, working it out with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) – not in riotous or careless living, but in sobriety and modesty. When we grow in grace, it will not be difficult to live in obedience to God’s word.
“…..Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”
Zechariah 4:6

The benefit of godly living is further stressed in Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” A life of grace will do wonders.

Today, I adapt an Apostolic prayer for you: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1st Corinthians 16:23), now and forever more. Amen.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I once told my children that, based on human experience, life is generally believed to be hard and full of sorrows. A combination of factors may be responsible for this. First among these is found in 1st Peter 5:8: “…your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Furthermore, Genesis 3:17 says “…Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it…”

The implication of these passages on unsaved people is so great that Job 14:1 had to say “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” For the above reasons, every human being needs divine help and support. In the name that is above all others, you will receive divine help to carry on in life. Isaiah 41:10 says:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Yes, our God is ever ready to help in times of trouble, but many Christians seem to take this for granted until things begin to get out of hand. Whenever you are struggling with sin or addicted to a bad habit, when you find yourself moving in cycles of poverty and sickness, or delayed fulfilment of prophecies; it is time to seek divine help. Remember that only God’s help gives permanent solutions to human problems. Therefore, in line with Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” You must first obtain mercy. Genuinely give your life to Christ, meditate on God’s word at all times (Joshua 1:8-9) and depend completely on the Holy Spirit to access divine help. This is the secret of my success in life and ministry as the General overseer of the RCCG. I cannot thank God enough for the tremendous help I always enjoy from Him. I pray the Lord will send divine help to you today in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is one thing to know God and a completely different matter to be known by God. To know God is highly rewarding. Daniel 11:32 tells us that “…the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits.” This is true of every character in the Bible who had an intimate knowledge of God like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Deborah, David and the apostle of Jesus Christ.

However, as glorious and beneficial as it is to know God, it is far more glorious and profitable to be known by God. God is the All-knowing creator of all things and He is fully aware of the existence of every living soul. So, when we speak of being known by God, we are not talking of mere awareness, but of close recognition and acknowledgement. All those who God recognised and acknowledged in the Bible were commended, vouched for and equipped to operate at a supernatural level. In 2nd Timothy 2:19 the Bible says:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having the seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

This is a very strong statement coming from the Almighty God Himself. The foundation of God is the surest reality on earth and in heaven; this foundation is sealed with the knowledge of God about His people. The verse further hinges the condition for attracting the special recognition of God on departing from sin and living a holy life. Every character in the Bible that fulfilled this condition gained God’s confidence and special recognition. It is therefore the knowledge of God about a person that enables such a person to confidently and effectively represent God. 2nd Corinthians 10:18 says “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

The question is, are you known by God?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God has great need for loyal and trusted hands for His work here on earth. The Bible established the fact that all inhabitants of the world in their billions are potential vessels in the hands of the Almighty. However, Matthew 9:37 tells us that though the kingdom assignment is great and plenteous, the labourers to execute it are few. This indicates that while there are billions of potential vessels for use by God, only few actually qualify. Any vessel that God would use must meet some strict conditions. In this wise, Matthew 20:16 confirms to us that though many are called, only a few are chosen. 2nd Timothy 2:21 gives a detailed description of the kind of vessel God will use.
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sacrificed, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Therefore, the vessel God would use must be holy, honourable, dedicated and available. Each time I see people handling the business of God with levity, I always wonder if they understand the nature of the service they have been called into. God is holy. He is so righteous that He cannot behold iniquity. For you to be a vessel in His service you must be holy in thought and conduct. Those who continue in sin and live a hypocritical lifestyle cannot be blessed in the service of the Lord. Those who rendered acceptable service in the Scriptures like Abraham, Enoch, Joseph and Daniel, made up their minds to abstain from anything that could pollute them. This however, cannot be done by mere self-will but through the grace of the Almighty God, which is more than sufficient (Titus 2:11-12).

Yes, uncountable people are available for God’s use, but only those who purge themselves of filthy habits shall become vessels unto honour, sacrificed and suitable for the Master’s service.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a spiritual experience that is highly misunderstood in Christendom today. It was prophesied in Joel 2:28:
“And it shall come to pass, afterward, That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

It was promised by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after …. Shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”. This was then actualized by Jesus Christ when He said “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you….” (Act 1:18). This is the means by which the Holy Spirit initiates Christians into spiritual communion with Jesus Christ, with the evidence of speaking in tongues and for the purpose of equipping them for God’s service.

Joel 2:28 and Acts 1:8 clearly state that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gives access to some supernatural gifts and abilities like prophecy, healing and vision.

To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, one must develop an insatiable hunger and thirst for His infilling (John 7:37-38). In the scripture above, Jesus said that anyone who believes in Him as the Holy Spirit Baptiser will become a source of living waters. He also said that those who drink from Him will never thirst again (John 4:14). Acts 2:38-39 says. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you….” God provided the Holy Spirit as a means of solving all human problems. However, we must first repent of all our sins, accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and then receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. May the living waters flow through you to the whole world in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Spying is a military strategy. In Numbers 13:1-21, God directed Moses to send spies into Canaan. In Joshua 2:1, Joshua send spies to Jericho. The devil also uses spies. In 2nd Kings 6:13-14, the king of Syria sent spies after Elisha. When the target is a great one, the spy is usually recruited from within. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples was recruited to spy on Him. There is a saying that if the enemy within cannot kill a fellow, neither can the one outside. This is why you need to beware of spies, especially the ones close to you.

Spies collect information from careless talk. Ephesians 5:4 warns us to be careful of careless talk, even jesting. Spies ask questions to know your thoughts and plans. Proverbs 18:7 says:
“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his souls.”

Many people are trapped by their loose tongues. If you are already succeeding, know that there is a spy nearby pretending to be your friend, so be careful of what you say. Be careful of the information you let out, no matter how trivial you think it is. One day, I went on a visit and someone offered to get me a particular brand of soft drink, only for some other fellow to insist that I had a preference of another brand entirely. I thought “Oh, so I have been observed! Should the devil decide to get at me, he could use that drink.” That day, I bid that preferred brand bye-bye. The devil can use the most minute information to get at anyone, however, your Ally can deal with the spy. He said in Matthew 15:13:
“…Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

It is really not your duty to begin to look out for spies; let your Ally deal with them (Psalm 54:4). You just watch your tongue. Proverbs 29:11 says:
“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

PRAYERS
1. Bless the name of the Lord, thank Him for making you see this day, bless the Alpha and the Omega, give Him glory and adoration.

2. Father, destroy any form of sickness in my body and grant me divine health for the rest of my life.

3. Father, You said You would supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory; Lord, please fulfil Your promise and meet all my needs.

4. Father, help me to know You more, to love You more and to serve You better than ever before.

5. Father, empower me to perform great miracles and to win souls to Your kingdom more than ever before.

6. Father, open great doors for me, order my steps and help me to access all You have prepared for me.

7. Father, please keep evil far away from all my loved ones. Hide us in You at all times.

8. Father, as You ordered in the case of Haman and Mordecai, let my enemies fall into their own traps.

9. Father, smile on me today, let me see and enjoy Your favour every day of my life.

10. Father, every time I call on You, please answer me by fire.

11. Lord, like You prayed for Peter, please pray for me.

12. Your special prayer request.

I stand in agreement with you today and pray that God will grant your requests in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The first thing Jesus’ resurrection from death does is that it assures us we are not serving a dead God. Our God is alive forevermore!
Jesus Himself says in Revelations 1:8:
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen…”

When He rose and ascended to Heaven, He made room for the Holy Spirit to descend on us. According to John 16:7:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

If you know me very well, you would know that I love the Holy Spirit. Oh, thank God that Jesus rose and ascended to Heaven. It is because He sent the Holy Spirit to us that we are able to heal the sick, make the barren fruitful and raise the dead.

Jesus’ rising up and going to sit at the right hand of the Father mean that we have an advocate in Heaven, pleading our case. It is because He rose that no matter how dirty you are, no matter how far gone you have been in the world, you can come to the throne of grace and obtain mercy from God because Jesus will plead for you. He has been tempted too, so you can share your temptations with Him and ask Him for grace to overcome them like He did His.

Ultimately, when He arose, He went to prepare a place for His people in Heaven. Those of us who love Him do His will (John 14:15) and we have the assurance that a mansion is waiting for us in Heaven when we leave this world (John 14:3). This however, is sad news for those who commit sin, because they will be going to hell with the devil (Matthew 25:41). Do not allow Jesus’ death and resurrection be in vain over your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When Jesus died on the cross, He bore all our sins with Him. According to 1st Peter 2:24:
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Without Jesus’ death and resurrection, it would be impossible for anyone to be dead to sin. Now, we are above sin because Jesus destroyed its power on the cross. For anyone who connects with Jesus, His blood will wash away their sins and they will receive an unusual grace to live above it. Again, Jesus being the Word of God means that if you are constantly reading and meditating on the Scriptures, then you will live above sin. David said in Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Jesus Christ Himself said in John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” This means that the word of God sanctifies. It is when you have the word dwelling richly in you that you have the supernatural power to live above sin.

Note that 1st Peter 2:24 says “…that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness…” This is contrary to the doctrine of ‘grace’ preachers when they say we can continue to sin once we have accepted Christ. No, His death on the cross gives grace to be dead to sin and live righteously, not to live in unrighteousness. Revelation 1:5 says: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” He shed His blood on the cross so as to wash us from our sins, not to permit us to commit it.

After your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus, you need the word of God to keep you sanctified. As you study the word of God diligently, the Holy Spirit will be ministering unto you and He will help you conform to the image of Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross opened up a new era in Christianity. The first thing that happened when Jesus died was that the veil of the temple was torn into two. Matthew 27:50-51 tell us:
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

The torn veil was what separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple. The only person allowed into the holy of holies was the High Priest, but the moment Jesus died, He went to stand in the place of the veil, so it had to give way. Now, everyone has full access to the Father through Jesus. John 14:6 tells us – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

If you want to meet God, you had better make Jesus your friend. We know that Jesus is the Word of God. This means that to access God, you must always study the word of God. When you read your Bible, you access the mind of God and you can relate with Him on a new level. That is why I pity Pastors who only read their Bibles to prepare messages; they have lost that intimate relationship with God and cannot know His mind.

Before Jesus died, people used to depend on the High Priest to talk to God or to hear from Him, but now, Jesus has bridged the gap. We can access God, speak with Him and hear from Him by ourselves. It is because Jesus died that I can call God “Daddy”. How is your relationship with God? Jesus died because He wanted you to have an intimate relationship with Him. God loves you, that is why He sent His son to die for you so He can talk to you one on one. To what extent are you open to God? He wants to help you with every inadequacy in your life. All He requires is that you are completely open and dedicated to Him.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:5

Many people condemn those in error so as to feel good – not necessarily because they want to bring them to Christ. The men who tried to stone the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11 are classic examples. They wanted to show how ‘faithful’ they were, but did not know Jesus would eventually puncture their self-righteousness.

When you correct others to raise your self-esteem, you lower theirs and break their already bruised need. This makes it harder for them to submit to the Christ you preach. If this happens, you can incur God’s wrath. He could turn against you. Do you want Jesus to turn against you? When Jesus turns against anyone, it can lead to public disgrace. In the story above, Jesus turned against the men who were going to stone the adulterous woman and stood on her side, so she could get the chance to begin to live a holy life. Those who conspired to disgrace her left there in shame. You will not end up in shame in the mighty name of Jesus.

It is very painful to see some Christians gifting souls to the devil because of their ‘holier than thou’ attitude. Even in a bar, alcoholics buy drinks for one another and one would hardly be able to tell which of them cannot afford to buy a drink. If this happens in such settings, how much more should we look out for one another in the house of God?

If a pregnant teenage girl is disdained by her church members, the nightclub or brothel would readily accept her. This is why many fallen Christians go deeper into sin. Rebuke in love. Let your words to erring brethren lift the hands that are falling, and raise the feeble knees (Jobs 4:4). We should not be like that proverbial army that specializes in shooting down its already wounded soldiers.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is a worrisome tread in Christendom today: many people claiming to be holier than others. While I am a serious advocate for holy living, I am not in support of condemning others because of the assumption that they are not as holy as you. We must acknowledge that we are what we are by the grace of God (1st Corinthians 15:10) and no one can be holy except by his grace.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen
Jude 1:24-25

So, when you see someone living a questionable life, do not condemn him/her, rather pray that God gives the person grace to live holy. It is okay to correct someone who has done wrong, but if it is not done in love, you most likely will not get a positive result.

Many people have given up on faith because some Christians have condemned them. The hurting and reproaching words spoken to them have pushed them far away from God rather than closer to Him. This is not good at all. Let love reign. Let your actions be guided by intention to bring people out of darkness, not because you deliberately want to hurt them by pointing out their flaws.

If anyone is backsliding in your local assembly, pray for such as you lovingly try to restore them according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t laugh at any backslider, don’t look at them with disgust. The father of the prodigal son never mentioned all the ills the boy had done, he just embraced him in love.

From today, begin to walk in love with people in your family, church, workplace and everywhere else. See them with the eyes of Jesus and He will not only convict them but will also draw them unto Himself by his power.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Genesis 1:28 tells us that in the beginning when God created humanity, He commissioned us to “…Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” To fully understand this assignment and successfully carry it out, God created us in His image so we may possess some of His divine attributes. One of which is the freewill to make choices. That is, the ability to reason and make decisions based on available options. Making choices is a deliberate act of will and is vital for our survival.

However, the fact that humanity was created with the freedom of choice is being overstretched by many today to mean that man is a free moral agent with the liberty to act as he/she wishes, without recourse to God. Take this as a serious warning: the notion that a person can do whatever he/she likes in this world without repercussions is a lie from the pit of hell. Ecclesiastes 11:9 instructs the youth to rejoice and celebrate with the consciousness that God will judge all things.

This is confirmed by the word of God in Ecclesiastes 12:14 that says “For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Revelation 22:12 also says:
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Children of God shall therefore make choices and decisions carefully, knowing that God will bring everything to judgement. Don’t make choices that will lead to sin, sickness, failure, demonic attack or death. Exercise your will to make decisions that will bring peace, prosperity, divine health, joy in the Holy Ghost, fulfilment of destiny, and eternal life with Jesus. Choose life by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Choose God’s will. Choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Money can be a blessing or a trap, depending on one’s attitude towards it. Money is a powerful weapon against poverty and plays such a vital role in life that Ecclesiastes 10:19 presents it as the answer to all things. It is the great power and influence attached to money that makes financial prosperity the desire of almost every human being.

Contentment however, is an important virtue that money cannot buy. Ecclesiastes 5:10 teaches that anyone who loves money will never be satisfied with it, and whosoever loves wealth will continue to seek more.

I have repeatedly told my children that being wealthy is not evil and there is nothing godly about poverty. A poor person who refuses to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour will end up in hell. While a wealthy person who is born again will surely make it to heaven. When it comes to money, the real issue for us as Christians is our attitude towards it. Some have become slaves to money. Some also worship money and would do anything to get as much of it as they can. 1st Timothy 6:10 says:
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

I pray for everyone who money has dragged away from God and may be in any kind of sorrow right now: Be delivered today and receive the grace to renew your relationship with God in the mighty name of Jesus.

Godliness and contentment are gifts from God that money cannot buy. We must be able to say like Apostle Paul “…For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11). May the Lord break the hold of covetousness over your life and fill you with godliness and contentment in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our God is great and mighty, the Supreme ruler and final authority in heaven and on earth. He deserves the best of all things; He does not accept service that is substandard from anyone, neither does He reward anyone that offers half-hearted service to Him. Romans 12:11 reveals God’s hatred from a slothful attitude to life and His service. It also shows a clear preference for people who are fervent in spirit. committed to His work. Romans 12:1 says;
“ 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.”

While God is concerned about the quality of our service, He is even more concerned about our character and way of life. If the lifestyle of a person is not acceptable to God, then whatever service the fellow renders may not have real value to Him. the Bible in Ephesians 6:6-7 lays emphasis on rendering acceptable service not as men pleasers, but doing the will of God from the heart, as unto Him and not to men. 2nd Timothy 2:21 speak about the personality of the fellow God will use: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

From the Scripture above, it is very clear that God will not accept the service of those not in right standing with Him.

1st Corinthians 3:13 also makes it clear that God will critically examine the works and service we render to Him and reward each person accordingly. Substandard service shall be consumed by fire, making such efforts a loss to the concerned persons. I pray that your service shall be acceptable to God and be rewarded accordingly, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Eternal death is the same as damnation to hell. It describes the condition of living in eternity without God. Eternal death is for those who die physically and depart this world without repentance from sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This is also known as the second death, which is the final banishment of unbelievers from God’s presence. To this effect, 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-9 says:
“….when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed… in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…”

The agony of eternal death may be described in two major ways: (1) The loss of eternal peace and joy with God (2) The hardship of eternal damnation in hell fire. Romans 6:23 categorically states that eternal life is a gift from God. Romans 1:16 further tells us that this precious gift is available to those who believe in the saving power of the name of Jesus. Eternal life provides humility with rest from the troubles of life and grants the pleasure of being in God’s presence forever. Thus, missing out on eternal life will be a major agony of eternal death. The second major agony of eternal death comes from the suffering, pain and anguish of hell itself. The Bible describes hell as an everlasting fire that is prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Dwelling with the devil and his angels will be such a horrific experience. I pray that you will not partake in the agony of eternal death in the mighty name of Jesus.

To escape this agony, simply accept Christ as your Lord as Saviour. If you are saved already, congratulations! Please guard your salvation diligently to the end (1st Corinthians 10:12). Acts 4:12 says “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Spiritual death, described in the Bible as separation from God is a consequence of sin. It ultimately leads to eternal death if there is no repentance before physical death or the second coming of Christ. People who are spiritually dead are often ignorant of their status because when a person dies spiritually, he or she may continue to live a normal life physically. Such people may be intelligent and successful in their chosen professions; they may even be morally upright and committed to ‘good works.’ Spiritual death is characterized primarily by a lack of communication between God and man. It is a state of complete severance of communion with God.

The Bible in Matthew 4:16, tells us categorically that the two major symptoms of spiritual death are darkness and shadow of death. A man/woman that has been separated from God is living in darkness, totally unaware of the imminent dangers surrounding him/her. Often, calamities suddenly envelope such a man with neither warning nor remedy. Unless such a person retraces his or her steps to God in genuine repentance, the agony of spiritual death becomes a real experience. I pray for anyone that may be experiencing this: The Lord will deliver you today in the mighty name of Jesus.

To be spiritually dead is to live without God’s counsel and guidance. The Bible further hinted at the symptom of spiritual death in Ephesians 4:18 by saying:
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because the blindness of their heart.”

Most human beings have come to accept a life of ‘suffering and smiling’ as normal. However, John 10:10 tells us Jesus came for us to have life in abundance. Therefore, you can confess your sins to God in true repentance and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Backsliders should also retrace their steps to God. Jesus in His love and mercy will reconnect with you and your life will never be the same again.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible mentions two kinds of death: physical or temporal, which is the termination of life on earth and then eternal death. The latter is the final and complete separation from God. When temporal death occurs, it opens the way to eternal life for children of God, but leads to eternal death for those who did not accept Jesus Christ during their physical existence.

Life is full of challenges that bring stress to the body and tension to the soul. The Bible presents this dilemma in Job 14:1 by saying “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” As a result, the ageing process take its toll on everyone to the point that many aged persons become totally dependent on the society and are unable to help themselves. 2nd Kings 13:14 says:
“Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face…”

The Bible records Elisha’s sickness as a natural occurrence and not a result of punishment. Great Bible characters like Isaac, Jacob and King David had almost identical experiences in old age, and a similar fate awaits all human beings. However, temporal death enable the body to escape the agony of sickness, particularly that which come as a result of old age. But for death, my Father-in-the-Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi would still be enduring the agony of a body weakened by age. Thanks be to God, he is now at rest. Revelation 14:13 and Revelation 21:4 tell us sweet and wonderful things that God reserves for His children after they experience temporal death. The saints will enter into rest from earthly labours and begin to reap the fruits of righteousness. They will not experience eternal death, sorrow, crying or pain.

I pray that as you close your eyes in physical death, you will rise to the eternal life of joy and peace with the Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Fire represents the potent and unlimited power of the Almighty God and also symbolises His manifest presence. From the stories of the burning bush in Exodus 3:2-5, to the appearance of a pillar of fire in Exodus 13:21, fire often accompanies appearances of God in the Bible. Fire also signifies the acceptance of sacrifices made unto God as evident in Leviticus 9:24. Likewise, it also depicts divine intervention. The contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is a classic example of God’s intervention in a situation with fire.
“Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”
1st Kings 18:38-39

Whenever the fire of God falls, works of darkness are exposed and destroyed. Supernatural laws become activated, leading to unprecedented miracles, signs and wonders. I therefore call the fire of God to fall upon you right now and destroy every work of darkness around you in the mighty name of Jesus. However, according to 1 Kings 18:30-39, some activities must precede the manifestation of divine fire.

Firstly, one must be born again. This makes you a bona fide member of the family of God. Secondly, we have to keep the altar of God in our lives pure and deal with sin decisively. Thirdly, we must obey all His instructions promptly and completely. These three steps will bring down the fire of God into your situation.

Are you standing at the crossroads seeking divine guidance? God requires absolute devotion from you. Jeremiah 29:13 says “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your hearts.” Seek God with all your heart and He will visit your situation with His fire in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Stagnant water stinks – not necessarily because it is dirty, but because it does not share itself with others. A stream with flowing water on the other hand remains fresh and fragrant. If you are the kind of person who loves to hoard the good things you have, then you are stagnant water. It may seem like a good idea to hoard your possessions so that you alone can enjoy them, but soon you will discover that you are stinking to everyone around.

Many people like to hoard knowledge. The moment they know something that can impact others positively; they hide it and refuse to pass it on. Any teacher will tell you that you understand a subject better the more you teach it. This means that the more knowledge you hoard, the duller you become. If you are a student, make it a point of duty to always teach your colleagues any subject that you understand and they don’t. This way, you get a better understanding of the subject and stand a better chance of excelling in it.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love to be number one always. My love to be number one has spurred me to always share whatever knowledge I have. The more knowledge I share, the more I receive. This is also applicable in your office; teach others how to get things done. That is what Jesus Christ would have done if He were in your shoes. Do not think that teaching others would make them better than you. Jesus said in John 13:16:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

As long as you don’t relax and stop learning, then people you teach cannot know more than you. As long as you are their teacher, you will keep rising higher. Every true leader longs for the growth of others. If you try to inhibit the growth of those around you, they will end up rising above you and leading you, but if you actively pursue their growth, you will realise that God will raise you higher and continue to make you their leader.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God is merciful. In fact, He is the Father of mercies (2nd Corinthians 1:3). Romans 9:15 however tells us His mercy will not always be accessible to everyone.

This means that even though God is merciful, He still reserves the right to withhold His mercy when He wants. Don’t take His mercy for granted. If God has overlooked your wrongdoing a number of times, then I think you should know that the more He overlooks, the less time you have until your cup is full.

A woman – very sick and at the point of death, was brought to me for prayers some years ago. As I laid my hands on her, I felt the anointing flow through my hands like warm oil and when it got to her head, it bounced back. I enquired the cause of this from God and He said He had warned her several times to repent but she had refused; now it was His own turn to refuse to heal her. I ran to the altar and cried for mercy on her behalf; there was hardly any scripture on mercy that I did not quote. Then I ran back and laid my hands on her head the second time; the anointing bounced back again. I ran to God pleading for mercy again, laid my hands on her the third time, yet the anointing bounced back. I tried to lay my hand on her head again but it was too late as she had given up the ghost.

In another incident, an elderly man who was the head of the occult in his village led some other cultist into the church where I was preaching. I seized the opportunity to preach the gospel to them with all my heart. When I made the altar call, the leader – the elderly man – was the first to give his life to Jesus. A few weeks later, he passed on.

The woman did not stop when she had the chance to, despite several warnings from God, and she faced the consequences. The elderly man on the other hand was wise enough to stop when he received a warning from God and he must have made it to heaven. Are you still committing one sin or the other? If you are wise, you will heed this warning now and stop it. Don’t wait until He withholds His mercy.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Before any organisation recruits employees, the criteria for qualification would have been determined. Similarly, there are qualifications God expects all workers in His vineyard to meet up with. In Acts 6:1-3, when the first set of Church workers were to be selected, it was mandatory that they had an honest report and be filled with the Holy Ghost. This is how the work of God can grow. After Spirit-filled workers has been chosen in Acts 6, verse 7 says:
“And the word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

It is wonderful to work for God but God is not seeking just anyone to work for Him, He is seeking spirit-filled workers. It is pathetic when someone comes to Church for the first time, willing to surrender to Christ and then he sights his girlfriend or someone who asked him for a bribe in the course of the week amongst the workers. He then say to himself “if these are the kind of people serving God, then I am not interested.”

How will the word of God increase when even the workers are not living by it?

Every worker in the Ushering, Media, Choir, Sanitation, Prayer team, Follow-up, Protocol, Evangelism, Traffic control, and all other departments must be Spirit-filled. Deuteronomy 34:9 says Joshua was filled with the Spirit of wisdom. He was the Personal Assistant to Moses. Everyone assisting a Pastor to do the work of God must be filled with the Holy Spirit, otherwise they will get him/her in trouble. In 2nd Kings 5:20-27, but for the intervention of the Holy Spirit, Gehazi, the Personal Assistant of Elisha could have put him in trouble. There are Church workers who collect money on behalf of their pastors without informing them. It is dangerous to be unfaithful in your service to God. Just ask Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, as recorded in Leviticus 10:1-3.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
John 15:7-8

Since Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches, what then is my duty as a branch? The primary duty of the branch is to bear fruit, to win souls. He said if you don’t bear fruit, then you are no longer qualified to be a branch (John 15:2). How many souls have you won for God since the beginning of this year? Are you sure you are still His branch? In Genesis 1:28, the first commandment to human beings was to be fruitful and multiply. It was a blessing, more importantly, a commandment.

To carry out your duties appropriately as a branch you must abide – stay connected to the Vine. Any branch that disconnects from its Vine will die fruitless. If you don’t abide in Him, how can you bear fruits? You abide in Him by fellowshipping with Him regularly and staying away from sin. He hates sin, so the moment you begin to dip your hands into it, He will disconnect you from Himself. When you abide in Him, He passes spiritual nutrients to you on a regular basis. In other words, in those times of fellowshipping with Him by studying your Bible and praying, you begin to blossom spiritually and the same works that He did during His early ministry, you too will begin to do and even more according to John 14:12.

When you start performing the kind of miracles that He performed while on earth, it will be easy to win souls. In fact, the souls will be the ones coming to ask you to let them meet with your God. Abiding in Him is the most important duty of a branch. If you can abide in Him, you will be fruitful and everything else will fall in place.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman”
John 15:1
When you ask someone to introduce him or herself, you want the surname, first name and so on. In the above passage, Jesus introduced Himself as the Vine and His Father is the Husbandman. He went on to say in verse two that His children are the branches. At other times, Jesus introduced Himself as the Door, Lamb, Way, Truth, Life, Resurrection, Alpha, Omega and so on. As strange as these illustrations may seem, they carry the true picture of who He is.

He is the Vine and we are His branches; therefore, we are an extension of Him. If you open up a vine and you open up a branch, you would find the same thing in both of them; one is only bigger. That is why Jesus said in John 9:5 that He is the light of the world and then said in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the world; this simply means that we bear the light of Jesus. 1st John 4:17 tells us that as He is, so are we in this world. In Romans 8:16-17, we are called joint heirs with Christ. This means that we are His brothers, thus the same genes that are in Him are in us also. Ephesians 2:6 says we are seated together in heavenly places. In Acts 4:13, people saw Peter and John speak and they recognised Jesus in them. All these scriptures make one thing clear: as long as you are a child of God, you are to resemble your Father.

But then, how come we have so many ‘Christians’ who don’t resemble Christ? The answer is in 2 Corinthians 3:18 – they do not behold His glory. If you immerse yourself in God’s presence every day – studying your Bible and praying, you will begin to resemble Him as the days go by. When a man and a woman have been married for a few years, they begin to look, sound and even think alike. That is because they have been spending time together for long. Who you spend time with will determine who you become. You want to truly resemble Jesus? Spend time with Him daily.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God has principles and even He abides by them. For example, His principles is that for the cleansing of sins, there must be the shedding of unpolluted blood, so when the blood of animals was not enough to take away sins, He did not change the principle; rather He sent His own Son (which was a great sacrifice) who was completely unpolluted to shed His blood for our sins (Hebrews 9:13, 10:12). This is why I wonder how people do things contrary to the principles of God, yet expect good results. If God, in His sovereignty abides by His own principles, then we ought to also.

One of His principles is that if you don’t work, you will not eat (2nd Thessalonians 3:10). So, when a lazy fellow is asking for a breakthrough, I wonder if he expects God to just drop the money into his lap. If you want to be wealthy, then you have to be willing to work and work hard. Another principle of wealth that God has laid down is the principle of giving. Do you know that even herbalists use this principle and it works? Yes, because God’s principles are universal; whoever obeys them will reap the fruits. The reason many Christians are still in poverty is simply because they do not give. Luke 6:38 says:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measures, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

One general principle of God is that whatsoever you sow is what you will reap (Galatians 6:7). This means that if you want kindness, show kindness to other. If you want help, help others. There are so many prayers that will not be answered until we begin to work in line with God’s principles. His word is yea and amen; you cannot use prayers to cajole Him into going against His word. Do the right thing!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jesus came for one assignment: to shed His blood for the remission of our sins. 1st John 3:8 says:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

For Jesus to erase your sin, all He needs you to do is confess them. It does not matter how badly you have sinned, the moment you confess and ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour, He will cleanse all that unrighteousness away.

The devil however will keep coming to remind you of all your sins. When he comes, quote 1st John 1:9 to him:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Tell him that the fellow he is talking about is dead because 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says that when you give your life to Christ, you become a new creature and old things have passed away; all things have now become new. Don’t ever allow the devil to make you feel guilty for sins that no longer exist as far as God is concerned.

After confessing your sins, you are to forsake them. Proverbs 28;13 says
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Forsaking your sins means following away anything connected to your old lifestyle and sincerely resolving never to go back to it. If you still hang around the same friends and places that made you sin, enjoying the same worldly music or movies that your ‘old man’ used to love, then you are unwilling to let God erase your past. Confess your sins and forsake them today, you will experience peace like never before.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.