₦airaland Forum

Who you look to will determine how far you go in life. It can be a distraction sometimes to be surrounded by people who you think can help you as it would become hard for you to look to God for everything you need. What can man give to you? Can man keep you alive? Man cannot even heal himself. If he gives you money, can he give you prosperity? Rather than run after man, spend time chasing God. God can turn your life and that of your generation around forever. You don’t need an appointment to see God; He is everywhere and willing to help you.

A life that looks to Jesus is a life of peace, joy and love. A person who looks to Jesus would not depend on any man to live; his future is secured in Jesus Christ.

The Christian faith is a race and we cannot finish the race without the help of God. Our confidence in succeeding in this race is placed in Jesus Christ! We are encouraged to look unto Him and Him alone. Turn away from your past – failure, success, sins and so on, and look unto Jesus Christ. We look to Christ because of who He is, what He did and where He reigns.

Who is He? He is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus knows everything about our earthly race. Indeed, He ran His in faith because He is the author and finisher of faith. He is the perfect example to follow.

When we look up to Jesus; He will perfect what He began in us. Those who look unto God cannot be put to shame. You cannot trust in God and be put to shame.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2

Never look unto man; look to Jesus alone, He is higher than the highest. He is a very present help when you are faced with life’s challenges (Psalm 46:1).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
2nd Corinthians 10:5

Fear is a product of thoughts and imaginations the devil whispers to us. To defeat fear, you must cast down all such imaginations.

Anything that does not align with God’s word should not be allowed into your heart. For example, when the devil whispers “You will soon die”, cast down that thought by saying “I shall not die but live to declare the glory of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17). If he says you will fall, cast it down by saying “The Lord will make me the head and not the tail. I shall be above only and not beneath…” (Deuteronomy 28:13). Don’t let the devil tell you what God has not said about you; always use the scripture as a weapon. That is what Jesus did (Matthew 4:1-11).

Ephesians 6 says the enemy will throw fiery darts (arrows of fire) at us, but the shield of faith will protect us and ensure they don’t touch us.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Ephesians 6:16

The devil sends fiery arrows in the form of fears to pierce and weaken us. Once fear is allowed into the believer’s life, he/she becomes weak and unable to fight. This is why every believer needs the shield of faith to ward off the enemies and their attacks. Remember, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

Usually, when people in distress go to God, the first thing He says is “Fear not”. This is because He knows that once fear is gone, the battle is as good as won.

I say to you today: it does not matter what the devil has told you; fear not, you will win this battle in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1

As a believer, you must already have some level of faith. However, irrespective of the current level of your faith, you still have a duty to grow and strengthen it. Just like your physical body needs food and exercise to stay strong and healthy, your faith also needs food and exercise. The word of God is the food that our faith needs to become strong so as to do exploits for Him.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17

You must study your Bible diligently every day. The more of the study of God’s word you do, the more of His abilities you will see and every fear that has previously weakened your faith will vanish.

Alongside the word, another delicacy you must add to your diet in order to have strong faith is prayers in the Holy Ghost as seen from Jude 1:20. The indwelling of the Holy Ghost empowers a person for exploits. Acts 10:38 says:
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

The Holy Ghost is responsible for miracles, signs and wonders. Hence, if you want your faith to birth signs and wonders, you must pray in the spirit often. Paul said he prayed in the Holy Ghost more than all the other Apostles (1st Corinthians 14:18); no wonder God was able to use him to achieve so much.

Your faith also needs exercise to grow and stay alive. Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). You have to put your faith into action, then leave the rest to God. If the miracle doesn’t happen the first time, keep exercising your faith and very soon, it will be strong enough for exploits.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A great leader must be able to foster unity amongst his/her followers. Unfortunately, many leaders fall short of this and it limits the achievement of their goals. In Genesis 11:6, God said “The people is one.” Grammarians could argue that after ‘people’, ‘are’ should follow, but God used ‘is’ to show how unified the people were.
This unity would have made them achieve their goals if God had not intervened (Genesis 11:6).

What then is that vision of yours that looks impossible to achieve? Rest assured that if you have a united team working on it, you can pull it off. Jesus’ earthly ministry only lasted three years, yet thousands of years after, His gospel is still spreading like wildfire. This is as a result of the Holy Ghost in our midst, who did not come down until the Apostles were in one accord (Acts 2:1-3). The Holy Ghost leveraged their unity to spread the gospel.

To foster unity amongst your followers, don’t give any room for gossiping or backbiting. If you do, it can cost you your vision.

Also, you cannot afford to show you have a favourite follower. Even though John was Jesus’ favourite amongst His disciples, He was careful not to ever mention it. Jesus had refused to answer a question that others asked Him, but He could not refuse John, so He answered with an analogy, so as not to raise eyebrows in John 13:25-26:
“He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.”

Finally, unity is fostered by humility. When the system is just and everyone is working to achieve the same goal, there will be progress. Remember, the Lord said: a kingdom divided against itself shall not stand (Mark 3:24).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We have seen that if you want your followers to have one language, then you must ensure the vision is big and clearly articulated from the onset.

If your vision is to ensure there is a restroom in every building in your city, people may not take you seriously as it may appear too simple a task. However, if your goal is audacious like that of Barack Obama – the first black President of the United States of America, then people would follow you with all their heart.

God-given visions usually seem impossible to achieve; however, He is able to fulfil whatever He has promised (Romans 4:21). A vision worth pursing is that which appears impossible to achieve. If for nothing else, people will follow to see if it will actually be achieved.

One day in 1998, I announced we were going to hold a crusade in Lagos where four million people would be in attendance. It really looked impossible, but at the end, we discovered over six million people attended. Of course, while many did come to be part of the big vision, some came to see if we would actually have the projected attendance. People were so many that not all could see or hear what was happening on the altar, but they stayed until the end because it was a vision that was worth becoming a part of.

The crowd attracted international media and ever since, we have had gatherings with larger numbers by God’s grace. I know the power of God had always drawn people to our programmes; however, it is proven that if your vision seems impossible, you will attract attention. The vision of the people in Genesis 11:5 was so big that it got God’s attention.

“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.”

Can your vision attract God’s attention? If people don’t see your vision as impossible, then you may need to rethink it.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Rarely will anyone see a better way of doing things and not connect with it. If you want to do the extraordinary, your followers must first and foremost share the same vision with you.

Before the people started working on the project in Genesis 11, the leaders had spelt out the vision to everyone. Don’t expect people to join you when they don’t know where you are going. Sell your vision so convincingly that they will adopt it as their own and be ready to pay any price to get there. Habakkuk 2:2 says:
“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”

As a leader, is your vision written for all your followers to see? Is it plain enough for them to understand? Is it available on all ‘tables’ rather than just your tables? If you answered yes to all, then you have laid the right foundation for your followers to key into your vision.

Habakkuk 2:2 says the vision should be plain upon tables, not just a table. Thus, every stakeholder must be aware of the vision.

Long before our exponential growth started in the RCCG, we made it compulsory for the vision and mission statements to be displayed publicly in every parish. Everyone knew our number one vision is to make heaven and the second is to take as many as possible with us. So, we were always looking for ways to start new parishes of the Church. Today there are so many parishes around the world, not because I am an expert at planting them, but because the vision is no longer just mine, it is everyone’s.

Sometime ago, I prophesied that the work would be so much, I wouldn’t be able to attend to all and even ushers would perform wonders. Today, by the grace of God, miracles happen during praise and worship sessions at some of our services. A lot of members and workers are already being used of God. One woman even raised three dead people in one day, something I am yet to do.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

You can attract blessings just by being around the right people. Likewise, it is possible to pick up curses by being in the wrong company. That is why the Psalmist said in Psalm 26:4-5:
“I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with disassemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.”

Some time ago, I travelled abroad for a crusade and noted the absence of a particular son of mine who was ill at the time. I went to the hospital and while praying for him, I felt the power of God come down mightily. The next day, I got a report that not only had my son been healed and discharged, but also everyone else in the ward. They got their healing just because they shared the same ward with my son.

Who you associate with has a great influence on what you attract. This is why you must be friends with good Christians. Search for people who are wiser than you and be their friends. Proverbs 13:20 says
“He that walketh with the wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Don’t stay in the midst of gossips or people jesting about their sinful acts. If you find yourself among those smoking and drinking, leave immediately.

Always choose your partners and associates carefully. Partner with genuine children of God. If the person carries the blessings of God, you can be sure that your project(s) will be blessed. When you are in business with one who is suggesting you cut corners, give bribes or cheat, break such relationship because that fellow will invite the devil into your enterprise.


God commands us to love our neighbour as ourselves, not that everyone must be our friend. We must choose our friends wisely. Keep your associations pure.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Several years ago, I promised to visit one of my Pastors. I had told him I would stay only a few minutes, pray and leave. Since he wanted me to stay a bit longer, he devised a means. He got a very good collection of hymns and started playing just before I arrived. I ended up staying for hours.

Do you know God will cut His visit to some homes short if the environment is not conducive?

“….therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.”
Deuteronomy 23:14

My Father-in-the-Lord – Pa Josiah Akindayomi, once preached a message about this. He said we must keep our houses clean if we want God there. God detests dirt so much that if He finds any unclean thing in a camp, He leaves (Deuteronomy 23:14). He asked: When last did you clean under your bed? If it is full of dust and dirt, God cannot stay. Those who work with me know that, if you claimed to have cleaned a room and I find dust at the top of the door, you may have to repeat the cleaning because I want anywhere I am to be conducive for God to stay.

Pa Akindayomi also taught us that God cannot stay where ungodly music is played. This is because music carries a spirit with it. If you play godly music, the spirit of God will stay, but if you play worldly music, demons are invited to stay. What kind of music do you play in your home? This can determine if God will stay in your home or not.

Finally, God is love. He cannot stay where strife and bitterness persist. If you are always fighting and insulting your spouse, you are sending God away. Instead, pray together, raise an altar of praise in your home. Once there is an altar where you and your family meet to pray and praise God, you can be sure He will dwell with you for as long as you want Him to.

Jesus loves you and He wants to stay in your home; make it conducive for Him today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Obededom must have been afraid when King David said he was bringing the ark of the covenant to his house. God had just struck someone dead for touching the ark, and now, the same vessel was headed for his home where he lived with his wife and children. What he did not realise though, is that when God comes into the home of the righteous. He does so with many goodies. Today, He is coming, so, many goodies are coming too.

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Haggai 2:8

His coming means the arrival of wealth. The cattle upon a thousand hills belong to Him (Psalm 50:10), as well as the gold and the silvers. Therefore, once He steps into your home, poverty is banished! I decree: as you welcome God into your home, poverty is banished in the mighty name of Jesus.

God’s arrival will bring fulfilment of density. Since God lives in Heaven, if He decides to come to your home, then there will be an access road between it and Heaven. Like Jacob saw in Bethel (Genesis 28:12-15), his life had been on one spot, serving his uncle for more than fourteen years. Things changed the day he dwelt in a place with a door between Heaven and earth. As God visits your home this season, He will put you on the right path towards the fulfilment of your destiny in the mighty name of Jesus.

God’s coming means the Lord of hosts is coming. Just by rising from His throne, all your enemies will be scattered (Psalm 68:1). Once He enters, demons will be roasted. His coming means anointing is coming to break yokes – ancestral or not. As He comes today, every such yoke is broken in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There were many other houses the Lord could have chosen to visit when He decided on that man’s where He ate the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-16). The Lord will visit your home this season in the mighty name of Jesus.

Imagine if the President of your country offers to dine with you in your house. Everyone on the street would know! Even if you decided to keep it secret, the day before he/she arrives, security operatives would have been monitoring, making sure everything is in order. If that applies for a world leader, imagine the preparation for and effects of a visit of the King of Glory to your house. All the hosts of Heaven would occupy the street such that every witch, wizard or demon would have been scattered. God will visit you this year.

However, do you know it is possible for someone to deny God the opportunity to visit his house? How do I know? Jesus said in Matthew 18:20:
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

If He has offered you a chance of hosting a believers’ fellowship in your house, it means He really wants to be in your house. When you say “No”, you are saying, “Lord, you can keep your offer, I am fine by myself.” May you not reject God in the mighty name of Jesus.

Some feel their house is too big or too beautiful to be used for fellowship. They think “How can just anyone be allowed into my house in the name of fellowship?” When you think this, you are not keeping the people out, rather, God!

The people you think are too low for your house are humans like you and tables turn! God’s heart is with the poor and rejected, so don’t demean them in any way. Also, if your house is too big or beautiful for God to visit, then it would be just perfect for the devil to dwell in because there is never a vacuum in life.

Be wise, let God in.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Psalm 23 is one of my favourite Scriptures because it shows clearly our (the sheep) total dependence on God (our Shepherd) as well as His capacity and willingness to provide for our needs.

In this Psalm, God provides sleep for His sheep – “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures”. Thus when I am tired, He gives me rest – not just anywhere, but in green pastures. A sheep lying in green pastures has so much food that he sleeps in it. That is extreme abundance.

“He leadeth me beside the still waters”, so I can drink to my satisfaction. “He restoreth my soul” means I will never be depressed because my soul is refreshed always. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness” assures me of divine guidance. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” tells me His presence will be with me so much so that I can bring down any mountain. “Thy rod” means correction – He can reprove me when I err; what love! “…and thy staff, they comfort me” means even in my low moments, I will never lack comfort. “Thou preparedst a table before me” is divine catering. Is there ever a better caterer than the Almighty? “In the presence of my enemies” shows security, real security! “Thou anointest my head with oil….” When God Himself pours oil on your head, nothing can be impossible for you. “My cup runneth over” refers to overflowing blessings. “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me…” not for a week or a year, but “All the days of my life…” Isn’t that wonderful? Everywhere I go, goodness and mercy will be my escorts. Then it says I have somewhere to dwell – “in the house of the Lord, forever and ever!” Amen.

God has provided everything: He is a great provider! However, these benefits are only for the sheep. Are you one? Do you obey God’s every instruction, follow His path, know His voice? If you are yet to come into the family of God, it is high time you gave your life to Christ, so He can become your shepherd.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Treasures are precious objects of great value. The accumulation of such could however lead to pride (1st Timothy 6:17), greed (Luke 12:15), dishonesty (Joshua 7:21), and idolatry (Exodus 32:2-4).

Real treasures are however spiritual with eternal value, and they come from knowing and serving God. Such treasures are usually hidden and could turn out to be anything around us: it was the slave girl in Naaman’s case (2nd Kings 5:2-3), a little jar of oil in the case of the widow in 2nd Kings 4:1-7 and David in Jesse’s case (1st Samuel 16:11). Moses was the hidden treasure reserved for the salvation of Israel. I cited all these examples of ordinary people and objects that were hidden treasures to explain that the All-Knowing God is able to make all things work together for the good of His children. Romans 8:28 says:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

In many cases, treasures are not easily identified even when in plain view. That is why it is very important to develop a good relationship with God and live at peace with our neighbours. The slave girl may not have volunteered the information that led to Naaman’s healing had she been ill-treated in that household. The widow’s neighbours may not have loaned her so many vessels if she had not maintained a good relationship with them. The divine appointment of David as king and Moses as Israel’s first spiritual leader would not have happened if they did not have a good relationship with God.

If you want God to reveal hidden treasures that would lead to great and unprecedented breakthrough in your life, you must first accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then live in total submission and obedience to God. Only then can you be sure of accessing the hidden treasures of God and all things will begin to work in your favour.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Having established yesterday that your period of loneliness will soon be over, today, I want us to look more deeply at David’s major preoccupation when he was alone with the sheep. This major preoccupation is also what attracted the anointing that broke the yoke of loneliness in his life. 1st Samuel 16:18-19 gives a report about David while he was alone with the sheep.

“Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cumming in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.”

David’s harp-playing prowess was attested to by one of King Saul’s servants who had witnessed David playing while he was alone with the sheep. The servant could attest to the fact that God was with David, so in reality he was never lonely. When I used to drive myself around, many times I would praise God to such an extent that His presence would fill the car and I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on driving. I would have to park the car by the roadside for a bit. Now, I spend hours walking alone in the middle of the night, praising God. Sometimes I go into the bush because I don’t want any disturbance, but never do I feel lonely in those times. Today, I have so many people around me that it would be difficult for me to be lonely in any part of the world.

God’s presence is the best company you can ever want. If you spend your lonely days praising God, doing His will and soaking yourself in His presence. Soon, He will anoint and lift you out of that place of loneliness and you would become one whom the whole world would want to spend time with.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Loneliness can be a very painful experience. It is possible to be in the middle of a large crowd and still be lonely. It is lonely life when you are a good cook, but have nobody else to eat the meals you prepare. It is a lonely life when you see something and you laugh alone because there is nobody to laugh with. For anyone reading this devotional today who is looking for a life partner, in the name that is above every other name, your wedding bells will ring soon. All that loneliness will be over soon in the mighty name of Jesus.

David was one man who experienced loneliness. He was left all alone at the backside of the desert. The only company he had was sheep. When the national prophet visited his town and told his father to bring all his sons, nobody remembered to bring David, but he was eventually anointed by Prophet Samuel and straightaway, the yoke of loneliness in his life was destroyed permanently (1st Samuel 16:11-13).

David was alone in the desert for many years, but he did not take that as an excuse to misbehave, after all, nobody could see him there. He did not decide to commit suicide. I want to encourage you: the time of loneliness is not a time to destroy or terminate your future. The anointing that will end the loneliness is coming; when it arrives, will it find you waiting faithfully on God?

Use the time of loneliness to build up yourself and your skills. David developed his skill of poetry and harp-playing during his lonely time and that got him into the palace. Psalm 23:1 says:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

He probably wrote that psalm while still a shepherd. He built his battle skills in that time and ended up winning a war for his nation. You need to realize that loneliness is only a phase, not the destination. God will put an end to every form of loneliness in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible teaches that God is the source of love; indeed, it is His very character. Love involves the totality of our being in terms of thoughts, feelings and actions. Matthew 22:37-38 says:
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

Out of love, God gave His only begotten Son as the ultimate sacrifice for the Salvation of humanity (John 3:16). He then commanded all Christians to reciprocate by loving one another. 1st John 4:7-8 says:
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

We are enjoyed first to love God with all our hearts and soul and mind. This is the only way we can truly appreciate what love is and then express it to others. God has empowered us as Christians to do this.

“…Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Romans 5:5

The Bible shows us that love (charity) is revealed in action, especially what you do in the interest of others.

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly. Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in inquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
1st Corinthians 13:4-6

This is the standard God has set for all His children. Assess yourself using the Bible verse above and make amends immediately wherever you have fallen short of God’s standard.

Finally, the way to demonstrate our love to God is to obey all His commandments (John 14:15). As a Christians, we must always radiate the love of God in a way that will draw people attention to Jesus Christ, not the other way round.

Can others see the love of God in you?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

You know that you have met the black sheep of a home when you see a person who only cares about what he/she can get from the family. Good children, no matter how wealthy the family is, are more interested in increasing the family’s wealth.

Black sheep exist in God’s family too. They only care about what they can get from God and never bother about what they can give to Him. They show up when the Pastor wants to pray for business growth but are absent during evangelism. Thankfully, God also has many children who are committed to giving all to Him, hungry to make Him happy every day. To which category do you belong?

Always check to see if God needs anything to be done. Ask your Pastor how you can be of service to God. Organise seminars, evangelisms, Bible Study meetings, invite speakers to teach the people more about the Bible, raise ideas on how the Church can grow. Become obsessed with doing something for God. Mordecai told Esther:
“…and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14

Whatever position you occupy – in the Church or secularly, always seek an opportunity to do something for God through it. Whatever it is you have – Professional network, money, influence or physical strength, let your thoughts always be “How can I use this to advance the kingdom of God?”

The child who is always thinking about giving to the family rather than receiving is the one who will enjoy the best the father of the home has to offer. David was always thinking of what he could do for God. Even when God told him not to build His temple, he provided all that was needed for it. God blessed him so much that he had all he ever wanted, and even more.

If you are constantly thinking of what you can do for God, He will pour the best blessings upon you. Those who always offer acceptable service to God never lack any good thing.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“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.
Romans 12:1

For a dedication exercise to be complete in the sight of God, there must be a sacrifice alongside to show commitment. In Genesis 17:9-13, God asked Abraham to circumcise all male children in his house. This act marked the children of Abraham as God’s; they were dedicated to Him. Today, we must know however, that the ultimate circumcision is that of the heart (Romans 2:29, Deuteronomy 10:16) – giving our lives to Christ. He is our sacrifice. Anyone that will be a child of God has to come under the sacrifice by confessing Him as Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9-10).

When David came face to face with Goliath, he said the Philistine was doomed because he was not circumcised – not dedicated to God. When you are dedicated to God, no Goliath can stand in your way. When you are not, you are exposed.

Anytime there is a dedication, it must go with a sacrifice (Leviticus 12:6-. God knows everyone’s ability. Bring a worthy sacrifice alongside whatever or whoever you are dedicating to Him – yourself, car, business, home or child. When Hannah was going to dedicate Samuel to God, she took along three bullocks and some other materials (1st Samuel 1:24). You see why only few prophets can compare with Samuel.

When you are sealed as God’s own, demons will have no power over you anymore. Even the devil will see you and say “This one belongs to God.”

Always remember the ultimate dedication happens when you surrender your life to Christ as a living sacrifice. You are to deny yourself, pick up your cross every day and follow Him (Luke 9:23). You cannot continue to live in sin and claim you are dedicated to God. 1st John 3:8 puts it clearly: those who sin are of the devil.

As you go about your daily activities today, ensure you remain dedicated to God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“…Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” Matthew 22:21

So many people take dedication for granted and this is because they don’t understand the power behind it. When you dedicate an object, it becomes the possession and responsibility of who it is dedicated to. This is why you must dedicate your children or property to God alone.

It could be very risky to wait several years before handing your children over to God. It doesn’t necessarily require a party; you could just take them to Church and let the Pastor dedicate them officially. If you have to, you can celebrate later.

I met a woman who had three daughters with the youngest approaching age thirty, yet none of them was in a relationship, let alone marriage. I was about to pray when the Lord urged me to ask her certain questions. She eventually confessed that all three daughters had been dedicated to Ifa (A West African deity) when they were born, claiming it was to protect them from witches and wizards. We broke the hold of lfa and rededicated the ladies to God. That same year, all three got married.

Some marriages remain fruitless because someone poured liberation during the traditional wedding ceremony. This is why we advocate that the Church wedding must be done after the traditional, so any such strange spirit that may have been invited into the union, whether with or without the knowledge of the couple can be expelled.

Some businesses have been possessed by one demon or the other because a ‘well-wisher’ invoked a contrary spirit at the opening ceremony. You must never allow such. There is nothing the devil is involved in that ever ends well. From now, dedicate everything that is yours to God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is only a beggar who would not consider the status of whoever is giving him/her gifts, he/she just collects alms from whoever, whenever. God is not a beggar. He accepts gifts only from His children and rejects the proceeds of cheating, embezzlement and the like.

The fact that money lands in the offering bag or Church account does not mean it has been accepted by God. “….And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect…”
Genesis 4:4-5

Note the sequence in the verse above: the names appeared before the offering. This means that the acceptance of the offering depends on the giver. If God accepts your offering, He has accepted you.

Some people have complained of stagnation despite being faithful in the payment of their tithes and offerings. This might be because God has not accepted them. If He hasn’t, He cannot accept their offering. In 2nd Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul asked the Macedonian Church to give themselves to God first before giving to the man of God. That is the only acceptable offering – one that is offered after the giver has given his life to Christ. So, before your next offering, ask yourself: “Am I a genuine child of God?”

It is a terrible thing for God to reject an offering, because it means He has rejected the giver. Cain, out of envy, killed his brother because of this.

A long time ago, the RCCG was in dire need of a new sound system and a rich man donated the latest model to the Church. While I was still rejoicing about this, I heard God say “Tell him to take the gift back; I don’t want it.” The man left in sorrow knowing God had rejected him. May God never reject you and your offering in the mighty name of Jesus. For that prayer to be answered, you must ensure you are in right standing with Him, living a holy life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are over two billion Christians in the world today. However, not all will make it to Heaven, according to Matthew 7:21.

Pretense is a key reason for this looming failure. Many ‘Christians are not Christ like at all; a lot of them live in sin, yet keep a pious appearance to deceive others. They forget that God is all knowing and will reward everyone according to their works. They forgot this world is temporal whereas the world to come – Heaven for the redeemed and hell for the condemned, will last for eternity.

How is your standing in Christ? Your work, position or title in the Church does not matter; if you continue in sin, you are on the road to perdition (Ezekiel 18:20). Be sincere with yourself today and repent. This kind of penitence is the major difference between Saul and David. 1st Samuel 15:30 give the account of Saul when he sinned:
“…he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.”

And 1st Corinthians 21:16-17 gives the account of David when he sinned:
“…Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered…”

While Saul was concerned about his reputation with the elders, David called them to join him to pray for forgiveness. Are you a Saul or a David?

Don’t allow the devil to rob you of the opportunity you still have to repent, confess and forsake your sins. Stand by your decision no matter what.

On the last day, true Christians will be separated – the holy ones to Heaven and the pretenders to hell. Where will you be?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If you extend your hand to someone for a handshake, the person would most likely decline if his/her hands are dirty. Naturally, humans avoid staining clean people. However, God does not operate that way. He is willing to give you a hug even when you are dirty.

The father of the prodigal son for example, did not ask him to take a bath before he could embrace him. He saw his son from afar and ran to meet him (Luke 15:11-32). The woman with the issue of blood had been bleeding for twelve years. She may have been smelly, the doctors might have taken all her earnings and left her wearing rags but she chose to touch Jesus – the One everyone was celebrating. Considering her state, ordinarily, she may not have wanted to come close, but she did! She probably felt too dirty to speak, so she decided to just touch the hem of His garment. She did not stay away totally because she was dirty. She made the move and He did not reject her; He even prayed for her (Luke 8:43-48).

The countless sins you have committed – stealing, adultery, fornication, or even murder may make you feel dirty. So, you may think God cannot accept you anymore. Listen, He is waiting for you to take just one step towards Him. There is no sin too big for the blood of Jesus to cleanse, neither is there any sinner too guilty for Him to forgive.

You might not be able to pray unhindered if you are still feeling dirty. In this case, you have to first pray for forgiveness. All He needs is genuine repentance and He will do the rest.

You might not be able to pray unhindered if you are still feeling dirty. In this case, you have to first pray for forgiveness. All He needs is genuine repentance and He will do the rest.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…”
James 4:8

All He requires is that you take a step towards Him and He will do the rest. Even if you have entered into a covenant with the devil and sold your soul to him, God is able to help you. He remains the same; he still set lawful captives free (Isaiah 49:24-46).

His arms are still wide open, come to Him now when He is near (Isaiah 55:6). Don’t wait until it would be too late.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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