₦airaland Forum

I believe everyone desire all-round success but do we all know the condition required to get it?
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:2-3

According to the text above, the condition for complete success is living by the book of law – the word of God. This is why God asked Joshua to get acquainted with it (Joshua 1:. Today, it is painful that many ‘children of God’ have abused grace so much that the law of God does not matter to them anymore. This is a deception of the devil.

To succeed, you must be wise because foolishness leads to failure (Proverb 14:24). If you would be wise, you must be Bible-compliant (2nd Timothy 3:16). There is no negotiation; God’s word is the surest way to all-round success. James 1:25 says “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

It was through the word of God in Malachi 3:10 that I discovered why my salary was not enough for me – I was not paying my tithe. It was the word of God that taught me to take care of my flock as a Pastor. For many years as the General Overseer I had to stay at the Headquarters, building the source before launching into other parts of the world. Even now, the word of God teaches me that it not over until it is over. The secrets of all-round success are inexhaustible in the word of God.

Beloved, read, study, meditate, hear and live by the word of God and from now, you will begin to experience all-round success.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
1st Peter 3:7

It is not God’s will for His children to do so well across many areas of life and then fail in their marriage. He wants us all to have successful Christian homes. Today, we shall look at the secrets of making your marriage heaven on earth.

Firstly, the couple must respect each other’s opinion even in controversial matters. Nobody has a monopoly on wisdom; hence they must be able to counsel each other. A man should never feel that his wife cannot give godly counsel. What is deficient in the husband may abound in the wife and vice versa.

Secondly, the wife must submit to the lordship of her husband. Some women have been misled by modern concepts to think submission is stupidity or slavery; this is not true. Obedience to God’s word – no matter how illogical, brings success in life, including marriage. Years ago, one of my daughter-in-Christs came in for counselling because of cracks in her marriage. I realised she was arrogant, and the Lord asked me to tell her to be submissive to her husband. She disagreed, saying she was just as educated as he. When the crisis in her home persisted and I would offer no alternative, she complied and peace returned.

Thirdly, the husband must love his wife unconditionally. Don’t love her because of what you can gain from her; rather, love her selflessly as Jesus loves the Church. This is the only way to guarantee success in marriage (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus loves us with all our imperfections and is still working to perfect the saints for the last day.

With the foundational truths and other lessons the Holy Spirit will teach as we study the word of God on marriage, every believing couple can rest assured of a home that is heaven on earth.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In John 3:5, Nicodemus did not ask Jesus to tell him how he could enter the Kingdom of God; he merely praised Him. However, Jesus knew that Nicodemus needed to be shown, like us all, how to get to Heaven, so He said “... verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Jesus knew that any praise that would lead to the Kingdom of God must be packaged in the garment of salvation. He once told His audience.
“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21

Beloved, have you been blown away by the recent wind of liberalism? Have you been engaging in endless arguments on what is or what is not true about the Kingdom of God and the hope of eternal life? It will do you no good.

Some argue that being born again may not be immediately evident – forgetting that the Bible says “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). This confirm that being born again has to be evident.

Jesus queried in Luke 6:46: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Our citizenship in the kingdom of Heaven is based on obedience to the Kingdom ‘constitution’ – the Bible. Anyone who says the Bible is outdated is obviously no longer a citizen of the Kingdom.

1st John 3:7 says he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. Hence, answering Biblical names or ministerial titles are not requirements for being a Kingdom citizen, rather, regeneration and a new life of holiness in Christ are.

Are you a citizen of the kingdom of God?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Daniel 2:1-19, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he couldn’t remember let alone interpret. So, he sought help from the wise men in his kingdom and set a death penalty for any who failed among them (Daniel 2:1-19)

When Daniel heard about the decree of the king, he wondered why he was so hasty to destroy the ‘think-tank’ of the land. Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” All the hasty plans of the devil concerning you and yours shall be destroyed today by divine intervention in the mighty name of Jesus.

Daniel and his companions were faced with an insurmountable challenge humanly speaking but Daniel got a vision that resolved the predicament (Daniel 2:19). All we need to avert a looming disaster is a vision from God. Prevention is so much better than cure.

How do we become visionary children of God?

“That they would desire mercies of God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”
Daniel 2:18

If we must get the vision like Daniel and his friends, we must pay the price of waiting upon the Lord according to His promise.

“Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.”
Ezekiel 12:23

Beloved surrender all to God and He will surely make His words come to pass in your life. Faithfully and patiently wait on Him and you will become a man or woman of vision. With Godly vision, your destiny is secure and shall be fulfilled in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many Christians are impatient with God for the manifestation of His promises, forgetting that there are some necessary steps required of them as we have observed from the scriptures.

· Pray: Daniel, a visionary prophet prayed for the fulfilment of God’s promises – the return from the captivity of Israel (Daniel 10:1-14).
· Wait: Habakkuk 2:3 says what our attitude towards God-given prophecies should be: “…though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” We must learn to wait patiently.
· Believe: Even if visions and prophecies delay, we must continue to believe because such a delay does not necessarily mean it is false. Daniel 10:1 say “… and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long.”

Never be in a hurry to grab the pleasant promises of God. Faith is required for the fulfilment of His promises. Hebrews 11:11 says:
“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judge him faithful who had promised.”

Whatever promise you are waiting for, don’t get so carried away that you miss the benefits the vision carries. You must know the timing of the fulfilment of the vision and when to act upon it.

As a young Bible College graduate, you may have seen a very large congregation in a vision even while in training. You need to ask God what to do, how to do it and when the fulfilment shall come. When a person has not won a seat at the local council and God shows him a vision of becoming a governor, it does not mean the vision is false. The person just needs to locate the time of its fulfilment and patiently work towards it. It took Joseph decades to experience the fulfilment of His dreams.

The vision is for an appointed time; wait for it. Its fulfilment will not elude you, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If a Christian is visionary, his/her pilgrimage on earth becomes bearable. It is a clear vision of heaven that will make a child of God see nothing enticing in the present world as compared to the anticipated eternal bliss.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Proverbs 29:18

From the verse above, we can infer that the lack of vision about the reality of hell is what makes people carefree about the coming judgement on the ungodly. If God were to show a person a vision of heaven as Jesus described in Matthew 13:44-46, he/she would do everything possible to get there.

In Habakkuk 2:1-4, the prophet was eager to get divine vision and take instruction even if it required reproof. Fortunately, it was for his good and for those who would read it with understanding. It ended up as a warning against pride (which lead to destruction) and words of encouragement towards faith (which brings justification).

According to Psalm 53:1, it is only a fool that says there is no God. It is pride that makes an individual think that he knows better than God. Psalm 53:2 says it takes a visionary individual to seek God, especially in times like these, when everything seems to be against godliness.

It was a divine vision that ensured Noah and his household were saved from the flood (Hebrews 11:7). It is the same vision that will keep any Christian focused on holiness without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14)

With a divine vision, we can catch a glimpse of our eternal home like John did in Revelation 21:1-7. If you submit yourself to God, you too would see divinely inspired visions.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is quite sad that many people honour their Fathers but have little or no respect for their mothers. People tend to disrespect their mothers because they are soft and readily accessible, whereas the fathers are tough and usually unavailable. It is however foolish not to honour your mother. Ephesians 6:2 does not only say you should honour your father so you can live long, it asks you to honour your mother too. If you only honour your father and not your mother, then you are toying with untimely death. Mothers labour greatly over their children, so can you imagine how they feel when you esteem them lightly?

According to Proverbs 15:20, the Bible puts the man who says that there is no God in the same category as the man who despises his mother – they are both fools. This is how grievous it is to despise your mother. If your mother is happy with you, you are already in for a great life. Moses’ mother arrange for him to be raised in the Palace and it was there that he got on the path to greatness. Many people have missed their greatness because they despised their mothers and her advice.

“My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:”
proverbs 6:20

Your mother has a very important role to play in your journey to greatness; you must never despise her! I am where I am today because of the prayers of my mother. Whenever I did something to please her, I recall she would say whenever I call on one, many would respond to me. Those prayers have manifested in my life today.

As powerful as Jesus was, He never despised His mother. He performed a miracle at His mother’s request, even though His time of manifestation was not yet fully come (John 2:3-12), simply because He could not disobey her. Can your mother say the same about you?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God loves increase. In His first blessing on mankind, He asked man to multiply and be fruitful (Genesis 1:28). If anything, this means stagnation is never a part of God’s plan for you.

“Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.”
2nd Kings 6:2

As with Elisha in 2nd Kings 6:1-4, my spiritual children in the RCCG usually seek my permission for the execution of one project or the other. To the glory of God, I support and encourage them. What lessons can we learn from this?

.The vision of expansion is not a burden of the leader alone. From 2 Kings 6:1-4, we see that the expansion idea was initiated by the sons of the prophet.
.Elisha’s ‘sons’ did not only propose the expansion they were also actively involved. Expansion requires commitment for it to be achieved.
.The sons recognised authority. They knew the implications of not involving their master. Imagine what would have happened when they lost the axe-head in the river Jordan if they hadn’t involved their master earlier. Today, some subordinates sideline their superiors because of self-glory or material gains only for them to fail.
.As a leader, do not kill the vision of your followers. Like Elisha, encourage them.
.Elisha was a servant-leader. Despite his position, he went to the field with his spiritual sons. Even when the axe-head was lost, he did not upbraid any of them; he just asked questions, performed a miracle and the project was a success (2nd Kings 6:6). We should emulate him.

From now, as you follow the Lord and obey His word, He will grant you great success in every project you embark upon in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One would think that the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3) would ask that his ankles be strengthened; instead, he asked the Apostles for alms. Many of us are like this lame man; we do not know exactly what we need.

In Mark 10:51, Jesus asked the blind man crying after Him what he wanted. The question may appear needless as there should be only one pressing need for a blind man. Yet, if you look at the lame man in Act 3, you would understand the importance of the question. That is why God is asking you today: “What do you need? Do you really know?”

Elijah asked Elisha in 2nd Kings 2:9-10 for what he needed. The latter did not waste time as he quickly asked for the double portion of his master’s anointing. He knew what he wanted, did as his master required and got his blessing.

Many years ago, a mighty man of God offered us – participants at an international conference in the United States – an opportunity to ask for what we needed for our ministries. While some asked for books, tracts and financial assistance, I asked Him to lay his anointed hands on me for the work of the ministry. He was surprised but impressed about my specific and uncommon request; he did so, prayed for me and today, you are a living testimony of God’s faithfulness in our ministry.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33

As a child of God, it is better for you to go after the Giver of gifts than the gifts themselves. This is the most needful pursuit of your life – the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

When this is settled, your Father will meet all your other needs. He will take care of you as His child. Do the needful: accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then trust Him for everything (John 3:3, 5). He will surely meet all your needs (Philippians 4:19) in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God is not a democrat. As we have seen in a previous study, He doesn’t really need numbers to work, He just needs a few faithful men.

It may appear that being on the side of God puts you in a ‘minority group’ like Joshua and Caleb among the twelve spies (Numbers 13) but the truth is, there would always be joy in the end. Numbers 14:30 records that eventually only these two were able to access the promised land.

God wants you to keep in mind that there is an earthly and eternal joy awaiting you if you take a stand for Him. No doubt, you may suffer many persecutions from the sinning majority, but through it all, you must resist the urge to join them because their judgments are not always correct on matters of godliness.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12

In the text above and the Bible reading of today, Jesus assures His disciples of an eternal joy after their earthly trials. Paul and Barnabas also said something similar to the people of Lystra, lconium and Antioch in Acts 14:22. Jesus wants you to maintain your decision to bear His cross and follow Him as a member of the faithful minority in the world. In John 16:20, He says whatsoever sorrow you face shall be turned into joy.

Believe the Lord and you shall be established (2nd Chronicles 20:20). Ensure you are always on His side. Never think of joining the world because you cannot beat them at their game. Remember the parable of the ten virgins! Stay on the side of God. A divine minority is the actual majority.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Tests from God are designed to prove our faith in Him (Genesis 22:1-18) while temptations come from the devil and our flesh to draw us into sin (Mathew 4:1, James 1:13). Our response to tests and temptations will determine what will become of us and our generation. Adam and Eve succumbed to the enemy’s temptation (Genesis 3:1-13) and almost ruined the original purpose of God for mankind. However, Jesus’ victory during His series of temptation in Luke 4:1-13 marked the beginning of redemption for the human race. In 1 Ruth 1:8-16, Ruth excelled in her test; this earned her a position in the family line of Jesus Christ (Luke 3:32). Test are not punishments but stepping stones to promotion. They prove our faith and show our true character.

The following are often tested in life:
. Commitment: One’s faithfulness to God could be questioned (Daniel 6)
. Foundation: Our strength could also be tested once in a while. Proverbs 24:10)
. Appetite: Your longings for food, the opposite sex and material possessions could also be examined (Genesis 25:29-34; Philippians 3:18-19).

God will however, not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can surmount and He will provide an escape route for you.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
1st Corinthians 10:13

Jesus overcame all the temptations by the word of God. God is calling us today to do the same and we shall have good success (Joshua 1: in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As seen from yesterday’s study, there is an urgent need to change for the better. Yet, it is possible that only a few people will take up that challenge. Are you one of these faithful few?

From Isaiah 10:21, we can conclude that not all men have corrupted themselves, as such there will always be a remnant – a faithful few that still remain holy and obedient to the Lordship of Christ in spite of the godlessness in the world today.

In several passage of the Scripture, God talks about the faithful few who have been favoured.
“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Romans 11:5

We see from the Scripture above that to be among these faithful few, grace has a huge role to play. In Matthew 24:37-42, Jesus talks about how only eight people in the whole world were spared from the flood in the days of Noah. This is a fearful thing, yet many people are taking the call of repentance with levity these days. We are no wiser than Noah’s generation, neither were they more sinful than the world is today. We have only enjoyed grace which according to Titus 2:12 should teach us to deny ungodliness.

Beloved, all men have sinned through Adam (Romans 3:23; 5:15-17), therefore, you must repent if you haven’t, otherwise there would be repercussions. In Luke 13:5, Jesus told the people of Galilee who did not accept the gospel that except they repented, they would all perish.

You must determine not to be among the corrupt people of this world. Separate yourself for God’s use (Romans 12:1-2; 2nd Timothy 2:21).

While it may be true that some ungodly people are ‘flourishing’ in the world today, Psalm 73 says such is to their ultimate destruction. For us the faithful few, Psalm 1 and 15 must be our watchword.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many years ago, during a retreat at the Redemption Camp of the RCCG, a preacher said: When God sends down spiritual revival, even the most pious of men would repent! A person seeking repentance may not necessarily have left the faith; such a person may just have stopped doing the good things he/she used to, which according to the Bible is tantamount to sin. No wonder James 4:17 says:
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

So, why is this the time to change and what exactly are you supposed to change?

To start with, eternity can begin at any time for anyone of us. Hebrews 9:27 says it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Therefore, choosing to wait until tomorrow may be too dangerous. Also, God wants you to change from being cold or lukewarm. He wants you to become committed to doing His will.

The whole body of Christ needs a revival – whether you are a member, worker or even a pastor. We have to return to our first love, and doing the deeds of righteousness: fasting, praying, indepth study of God’s word, regular fellowship with the brethren, sacrificial giving, faithful tithing and others. Then, God will send His fire to our lives. Can you recall 2 Chronicles 7:4?

If we will be refreshed, we must surrender ourselves to God and commit to working on our shortcomings in evangelism, missions and separation from the world. In Matthew 3:5-12, John confronted the religious leaders of his time with a message of change so they could enjoy the new testament’s spiritual blessings.

Beloved don’t get so familiar with God’s word that you stop doing the essentials of the faith. We must preach the gospel of Christ to everyone, so that as we have changed, sinners, backsliders, and persecutors can do the same.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Fighting involves violent struggles against a real or perceived enemy, either offensively or defensively. Most people have one thing or the other that they would fight for. It could be their fundamental human rights, source of livelihood, prestige, possession etc. However, the question is: Should a true Christian have any justifiable reason to fight. The answer is Yes! Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is:
“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Indeed, Christians are not called to take up arms and launch offensive attacks on their neighbours, but we have a right to self-defence. The kingdom of God is now under immense attack; His creative order, commandments and principles are being maliciously attacked by heretics. Surprisingly, some of these enemies of the gospel have managed to rise to positions of authority both in the Church and the society at large. Their celebrity status in the world today has aided their evil attacks on the Christian faith. Do we stand aloof or fight whenever these attacks occur around us? 1st Timothy 6:12 says “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Christians are called to fight. Everyone is fully aware of the ongoing conflicts around us; physically, mentally, and spiritually. We are daily confronted with contrary doctrines and diverse kinds of temptations.

The survival of a child of God therefore depends on his or her preparedness for battle and the ability to fight. Your weapons of warfare are however not carnal. Study Ephesians 6 and evaluate the completeness and readiness of your weaponry. It is time to fight against ungodliness. We must fight for holiness, peace and love. We are soldiers and must always be alert in the spirit at all times. The devil will not succeed over you and your loved ones in the mighty name of Jesus.

Raise the banner of JESUS!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible describes love as the sum of all the commandments of God.
1st Corinthians 13:1-2 says:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.”

The Bible clearly presents the importance of love and how children of God should rate it as a virtue. God compared some rare spiritual gifts to love and made it obvious that without it (love), the other gifts are inconsequential. This simply means that love is the golden scale by which whatever gifts we exhibit and whatever services we offer to God are weighed. The big question is: In what sense does love fulfil the totality of the law? The answer is embedded in Romans 13:10 which says “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Therefore, if the love of God is in your heart, you will fulfil the law without grumbling but rather with joy. That is why Paul reduced the commandments to only one: “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” As I have often counselled my children, love can insulate you against the pains, discouragement, and difficulties associated with any given task. Jacob served a total of fourteen years for Rachel and they seemed unto him but a few days, because of the love he had for her (Genesis 29:20). Furthermore, obedience is a natural fruit of love.

You will never want to disobey or rebel against the authority of someone you truly love. Love makes obedience to God very easy.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayers
1. Thank God and praise His holy name for the gift of children across the world. Thank and praise Him also for all unborn children.

2. Father, I pray for the salvation of my children and every other child around me.

3. Father, teach all our children Yourself and let them all enjoy great peace as You have promised in Your word (Isaiah 54:13)

4. Father, I commit my children and all other children around me into Your care; do not permit the enemy to harm them.

5. Lord, I separate my children and every other child around me from bad friends and evil influences forever.

6. Father, put an end to every ungodly trend in my family and never let such come near my children.

7. Father, please preserve the purity of my children and every other child around me. Keep them far from the perverseness, corruption and pollution in the world today.

8. Father, like You started to use Samuel at a tender age, use my children and every other child within my sphere of influence for signs and wonders.

9. Father, do not permit any sickness or disease to come near my children and every other child around me.

10. Father, let the future of my children and every other child around me be great.

11. Lord, open the wombs of everyone trusting You for children and cause them to become fruitful in the mighty name of Jesus.

12. Special prayer request for your children.

I join my faith with yours and pray that the Lord will grant all your request in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

All Christians are called to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. This witnessing entails telling sinners, the wicked, poor, sick, oppressed, bound, and hopeless about the power of God to set them free. Christians usually witness to others by presenting themselves as beneficiaries of the grace, mercy and love of Jesus so others may follow in their footsteps by accepting Him as their Lord and Saviour.

Unfortunately, many Christians witness for Jesus in words alone. For this category of witness, their lifestyles contradict the message they preach and this pushes the unsaved further from salvation. This is where practical Christian witnessing comes into play. Practical Christian witnessing is Christianity without pretense. It is revealed in behaviour, proven, by action or performance, tested by trial and undeterred by persecution. Matthew 5:16 says:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Knowing God is not the same as going to church, and loving God is not the same as being involved in church activities. If you love God it will show in the way you conduct the affairs of your life. If you know God, the evidence will be seen in the way you relate with people around you. If anyone is living contrary to God’s word, all that he or she offers to God will amount to nothing before the Almighty. Sometime ago the Redemption Camp, I had to tell everyone “If you know you are not genuinely saved by the blood of Jesus, there is no need to give any offering to God. He will not accept the offering and worship of sinners. Our lives must count for God first, before other things can follow. God wants His children to be His true representatives. 1st Peter 2:12 says: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that….they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

An obsession is an excessive devotion to someone or something, even to the point of personal loss, injury or death. The word is often applied in a negative sense, but the Bible tells us that Jesus loved and obeyed God to the point of obsession. The word of God counsels us to develop the particular kind of mind that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5-8 says:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus….being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Jesus during His earthly ministry loved God and was obedient to His commandments even to the point of death – an excruciating death on the cross. God therefore expects all His children to follow Christ’s example by loving Him with all our being. If you have ever been so deeply and passionately in love with someone to the point of obsession, you may lose your appetite and forget to eat, your mind may become occupied with nothing else but that person. This kind of positive obsession is hinged on love. Matthew 22:37-38 has this to say: “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.”

Therefore, we are enjoined to first and foremost love God with all our hearts, because we need to have the love of God before we can truly appreciate what love is and then reciprocate by showing love to others. 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.” As Christians, we must obsessively love God with all our being, and always radiate His love to our neighbours.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Human beings have some characteristics and attributes that cut across people from all nations of the world. Principal amongst such is the adamic nature of sin we all inherited from our first parents. This can also be described as carnality – the desire to fulfil the lust of the flesh according to Galatians 5:16-17. Romans 8:6-8 talks about the carnal nature:
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

By this, indeed, a man who is led by the flesh is living at variance with the will of God. As clearly evident in human behaviour around the world, humanity is at enmity with God by rejecting His commandments, and declaring freedom to do whatever catches our interests. The desire to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the major factors that drive the society across the world today. The story is however different for those who have accepted the offer of salvation made available to humanity through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. On this, 1st Peter 2:9 says:
“But ye are a choosen 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.”

The peculiarity of God’s people includes the adoption into His family, whereby we can call Him Abba Father (Romans 8:15). It is indeed a privilege every human should seek as it is the best thing that can happen to anyone. If you are already a member of God’s family congratulations! Please hold fast to your faith until the end. If however, you are yet to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, I urge you to do so right away, so you can Join this group of peculiar people and have cause to praise the name of God forever.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Mark 14:38 is one of the warnings in the Bible that should send chills through anybody’s spine. I consider it very scary. After the All-knowing God had carefully assessed the circumstances surrounding human existence, He concluded that humans need to be careful to survive this dangerously deceptive world. Sobriety and vigilance are the two major components of watchfulness. To be watchful is to be alert, watching over someone or waiting for some significant event. The Bible lays particular emphasis on the need to watch for fake prophets (Matthew 7:15), false doctrines (Hebrews 13:9), the antichrist (2nd John 1:7) and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:42).

God expects every one of His children to be sober and valiant in watching against temptations and sins such as pride, worldliness, self-righteousness, immorality, complacency, lukwarmness, spiritual bareness and rebellion against constituted authority. We must not be confounded by negative news around the world; rather we should respond with understanding as persons who are informed and therefore well-prepared to watch for signs of the end times.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
1st Thessalonians 5:6

Beloved, wake up! Christians cannot afford to lose focus for a moment; our hearts must be kept with all diligence. We must watch the crafty attempts of the enemy to attack the authority of Scripture. Watch against worldliness and the quest for ungodly pleasures. Every member of the body of Christ must watch against the secularisation of the Church and protect its sanctity against false prophets, sexual immorality and all sinful practices.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“…Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.”
Zechariah 13:7
Leaders of any group are very important to the future of the followers. The character, circle of friends, background, process of decision-making and even their emotional wellbeing all have a great impact on the people they are leading. This is why it is important that you pray for your leaders regularly.

We need to pray concerning their character and work ethics. Ecclesiastes 10:16 says:
“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!”

We need to pray concerning their circle of friends and the kind of advice they give them (1st Kings 12:9-14). They are targets of the devil because he knows that once he strikes the shepherd, the sheep will scatter.

It is not just the political leaders you should pray for, but your spiritual leaders as well; their actions and inactions can greatly affect the Church as a whole. If the Church leaders are spiritually blind, there will be trouble in the land. You need to also pray for the leaders in the academic sphere – Minister of Education in the country, principals and teachers in your children’s schools, as their decisions can greatly affect your children. Pray for leaders of industries as their decisions concerning quality and prices have a great effect on millions of lives. Pray for those at the forefront of technological innovations in our generation, who wield great influence on what our children will consume. Imagine if the leaders in the technological industries were all born again; imagine the great impact that would make on the next generation. This is why I always encourage my children to go ahead and lead. Whatever sphere of life you are in, be the very best and lead the rest. The more Christian leaders we have in the society, the more the Kingdom of God forges ahead.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

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.