₦airaland Forum

In this perverse world, there are many standards by which people live. Different cultures on earth all define standards they expect people to live by and try to impose this on anyone that lives under their influence. However, when Jesus came to earth preaching the kingdom of God, He dismissed these worldly standards, replacing them with the standards of God’s kingdom. For example, the world believes that a leader should be lord over his or her followers, but Jesus said it should not be so amongst us Christians. Heaven’s standard of leadership establishes that a leader should serve his or her followers (Luke 22:25-27). Also, the world tells us that it is foolish to receive an insult from someone and keep quiet; the expectation is that you should reply with even more insults. Contrary to this, Jesus says that when someone slaps you on one cheek, you should offer him the other cheek also (Luke 6:29)

The standards you live by indicate the kingdom you belong to. Speaking to God concerning His disciples, Jesus said in John 17:16:
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
If you live by the world’s standards, then you are of the world. What standards do you apply in your business dealings? By what standards do you relate with your wife or husband? What standards influence your behavior in your workplace? If you don’t live by Christ’s standards, don’t deceive yourself claiming that you are not of this world.

Many times, people live by the standards of the world because they are afraid of being rejected by the world. You must quickly understand as a disciple of Jesus Christ that you cannot expect the world to love you. Jesus explained this to His disciples in John 15:19, saying:
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
If you are after the love of the world, then you have missed it completely. The One whose love you should be after is Jesus. His approval should be all that you seek. The world can hail you today for giving them bread and fish, then turn around to scream “Crucify Him!” tomorrow. The world is no one’s friend. The only true friend you can have is Jesus Christ. Guard your relationship with Him jealously, and live by His standards rather than those of the world.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Knowledge is considered to be powerful, because it is a major factor that controls the decision-making process and therefore ultimately determines the course of a person’s life. How much you know determines your ability to make the right decisions about a subject matter. Based on this, Proverbs 1:29-31 says that those who despise or detest knowledge do so to their own peril. To this end, Hosea 4:6 says:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
The wisdom you need in taking those crucial decisions is available to you in the written and spoken word of God. If you know more about God and His word, it will help you to make error-proof choices and decision. God can choose to speak to you on the way to go through the Bible or through prophetic utterances of genuine men and women of God. How much time do you set aside for studying the Bible? Some think it is a waste of time to undertake personal Bible studies at night while others are sleeping. This is not so; you are actually gaining time by doing this. When you give priority to God’s word, you will realize that you spend far less time and effort in reaching your goal compared to those who don’t. That is why God told Joshua not to allow the knowledge of His word elude him, so that he would achieve good success (Joshua 1:

Every Christian needs to know that dependence on worldly knowledge can lead to failure, but godly knowledge guarantees success. Biblical knowledge is a combination of scientific, philosophical, psychological and spiritual knowledge, and it is superior to any other kind of knowledge. However, the knowledge of God’s word is not enough; doing what it says is much more important. 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.”
Proverbs 6:6-11 establishes another principle of success that says there is wisdom in hard work and saving for the rainy day. Those who are lazy cannot amount to anything. Also, those who are hardworking but eat both their food and seed, especially their tithes and offerings, cannot walk in the realm of God’s covenant blessings. Apart from sowing seeds, you need to invest for the rainy day. Ants should not be wiser than men, but God in His wisdom directs us to them today to obtain knowledge on the principles of success. May the Lord help us to be wise in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a thing of joy that the truth about of Christian race and the rewards awaiting us at the finish line are not hidden from us. Speaking in Hebrews 6:11, the Holy Spirit admonishes us to diligently endure till the end of our Christian race, having at the back of our minds the assurance of an eternal life of abundance. Our Lord Jesus Christ also shed light on the honours reserved for us, saying in Revelation 2:25-26:
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him I give power over the nations:”
It is not an overstatement to say that the Christian race is a difficult task to undertake. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not hide this from us; rather, He said in John 15:20
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
The early Church endured the persecution of both the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman government. At that time, being a follower of Jesus Christ was enough of a crime to earn a person the death penalty. In spite of this, like the Hebrew boys of old (Daniel 3:14-18), they did not deny their faith in the Master. Unfortunately, what we have in some Christians these days is a shadow of the deep commitment demonstrated by our forerunners. Today, the threat of being penalized for preaching the gospel to a work colleague sends fear down the spine of Christians in organizations, and they retreat into the shell of passive Christianity, to the delight of the antichrist spirit who orchestrates such attacks. In contrast, when the Jewish leaders warned the apostles of old against preaching the gospel of Christ, they responded in Acts 4:19b-20, saying:
“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
After they were released from detention and interrogation, the apostles returned to their company and kept firing on all cylinders. Raising their voices to God in prayer, they received even greater boldness (Acts 4:31). Are you facing hardship and persecution because of your faith? I encourage you to remain steadfast, because our Master will soon return to take all our pain away. Be encouraged by God’s word in Revelation 21:4, saying to you:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
May you not miss heaven in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The topic of today’s devotional (What Is Man?) is a question that has confounded the minds of many and has persistently been on people’s lips down the ages. People are confounded by this question because they have refused to accept the answer that God provides on this in His word. The reason why they reject what God’s word says about it is that they don’t want to be subject to God’s authority as their Creator. They have therefore developed an alternate reality for themselves that says man evolved from apes. This is a lie of the devil. Fabricated to debase the glory of man and keep him oblivious of the power and dominion he stole from him.

The essence of man is revealed in Genesis 1:26. This scripture explains that man emanated from God. In other words, man is the image of God. When we read through the first two chapters of the book of Genesis, we see that man is God’s representative on earth and a co-ruler with Him. Man is the visible representation of the Almighty God, who is a spirit. How awesome this is! No wonder the Psalmist was astounded when he caught a revelation of who man is in Psalm 8:1-9. He observed in Psalm 8:6:
“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”
The lesson from this scripture is that man must not live below the standard which God set for him to live by. What brings man down to live below God’s standard for him is sin. Man is fearfully and wonderfully created by God to be in charge of all circumstances of life. Beloved, if you are not living in dominion, you are not living out the man in you. I don’t mean what man became after the fall; I mean the man described by God in Genesis 1:26 and 31. The question is, what can man do today to regain his dominion? The scripture is clear about this: man must be regenerated by being born again. There must be a spiritual re-engineering in the fallen man for him to return to God’s original design for his life. This is the reason why Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3b
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

After we are born again, we have an inheritance in Jesus Christ to have our dominion restored to us (Ephesians 1:11-18). Beloved, Jesus Christ takes away the image of the fallen man and brings back the original man in you for dominion, if only you will genuinely accept Him today and live by His principles and ideals.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

At one point or the other in life, everyone requires a form of help from another person. Whether this help is received or not depends on the direction it is sought from. David was a man who needed great help to actualize his dreams in life. It is therefore not surprising that he often sought for help, as seen in Psalm 30:10. In Psalm 3:2-3, he also confessed God as his helper, saying:
“Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”
No wonder he achieved great things in life. Do you want God to be your helper like He was to David? If you do, you must make certain that you belong to His kingdom and have the assurance of His salvation, which is obtainable only in Jesus Christ. Jesus is ready to help you, and He will help you as you cry unto Him today. He understands everything you are passing through because He has felt what you feel. One of the reasons why He became a man was to experience what we go through as mortals, so that He can help us in every area of life as our High Priest. Speaking of this, Hebrews 4:15-16 says:
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Beloved, intimacy with God is one factor that yields accelerated help from Him. What does it take to be intimate with God? To guide us on this, the Holy Spirit says in Psalm 24:3-5:
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Divine help requires a perfect walk with God, such as God demand from Abraham in Genesis 17:1 and reinforced by Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:48. In order to develop intimate fellowship with God, after becoming born again, we must walk before Him in perfection by paying close attention to His word (Psalm 119:105). Above all, it is the mercy of God that grants us access to His divine help (Psalm 109:26, Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, if I were you, I would call on His mercy whenever I need help in my life. Are you doing this or running from pillar to post?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God expects His chosen generation to live by His word. Speaking on the source and purpose of the word, the Holy Spirit says in 2nd Timothy 3:16:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Sometimes one is left to wonder if the modern Church still accepts the Bible as a relevant, suitable and adequate source of doctrine, correction and receiving instruction in righteousness. Do churches still see any reason to reprove their members today? Do we still consider the word of God as a means of correcting our ways? These are questions we need to ponder today. What is doctrine? Basically, Christian doctrine is simply the teachings of the Christian faith, and they are very important to living life as a Christian. What place did doctrines have in the early church? We are told in Acts 2:42:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Not only did the believers live by the doctrines taught by the apostles, it was also reported that they propagated these doctrines. The high priest said to the apostles in Acts 5:28:
“…behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine…”
While commending the Christians in Rome, Paul wrote in Romans 6:17:
“But God be thanked, that ye were servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
From this verse, we understand that there was a definite “form of doctrine” delivered to the saints. How was this received? Paul testifies that they “obeyed from the heart”; in other words, by faith and not by reason.

Another function of God’s word is to serve as an instrument of reproof. Sadly, some modern day Christians do not like to be admonished. The state of a person’s heart is best tested by the effect reproof has on it. A good man with a humble mind will be submissive and thankful whenever his or her faults are pointed out. Beloved, we must be submissive to the correction being meted to us in God’s word by our parents, guardians or spiritual mentors. There are three principles we ought to apply to corrections from God’s word in order to reap its benefits. First and foremost, self-correction is very vital for our spiritual wellbeing, as seen in the case of the publican in Luke 18:13-14. Secondly, when corrected by others, we must avoid trying to justify ourselves instead of reflecting on the message being conveyed (Proverbs 28:13, Proverbs 29:1). Lastly, when correcting others, the most effective method that will rescue and heal must be applied (James 5:19-20). Are you walking in these principles?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To understand what real glory looks like, let us consider these two passages of scripture:
“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
Luke 4:5-8
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11

In Luke 4:5-8, we see the devil offering Jesus all the power and glory of the earth, if only He worshipped him. Jesus promptly rejected this offer. Down the line, Philippians 2:9-11 records God giving Him power over everything in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth. After rejecting the glory offered by the devil, Jesus eventually received greater glory from God.

In like manner, the devil brings this same type of temptation to us every day. For example, he could suggest to you, “Why don’t you just doctor the financial records in your place of work, so that you can have enough money to buy the latest car?” If you yield to his suggestion, you are actually bowing to him in order to get a fading glory, but if you refuse and decided to remain holy, God will in turn give you wealth on earth and also in heaven. A Yoruba proverb says, “A child who has not seen a bigger farm will say his father’s farm is the biggest in the world.” The devil’s goodies only look good because you have not seen what God has in store. It may be tough to remain steadfast in Christ, but there is great glory awaiting you if you overcome till the end (Romans 8:18). Jesus had His eyes set on this glory, and so He endured the cross and despised its shame (Hebrews 12:2). It is foolish to bow to sin. Although that sin may look very attractive and even seem like the smartest thing to do, don’t be deceived; there is a greater glory awaiting you if you say “no” to sin.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many children of God in this generation don’t know that discipleship comes at a cost. They don’t even know that our Master, Jesus Christ, has a yoke that they must share with Him. He Himself said to us in Matthew 11:29:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Our willingness to share His yoke with Him is what qualifies us as His disciples. Today, the landscape of the Christian faith is dominated by what I term “the social gospel”. This gospel teaches that the end justifies the means. Things that Jesus Christ abhorred are what some so-called believers are courting today. Knowing that this would happen, the Holy Spirit revealed the mind of God on this to us in 2nd Corinthians 6:15-16, saying:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

In Luke 9:23-26 Jesus Christ gives a vivid description of the price we would have to pay to be a true disciples of His. He said in Luke 9:23-24:
“….If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lost it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
This is the price of discipleship. There are many “disciples” today who are far from being the Lord’s true disciples. Many of such people cannot deny their ungodly friends, not to talk of denying themselves. They hold tenaciously to the world, contrary to the Holy Spirit’s instructions in 1st John 2:15-17. Beloved, are you a true disciple of Jesus or just pretending to be one? Ponder on this and let us stop deceiving ourselves. Remember the words of 2nd Timothy 2:12, which says:
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
Further, speaking on discipleship, the Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:24
“The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”
The Lord’s principle on discipleship is firmly built on followership, service, humility, obedience and loyalty. If you want to follow Jesus acceptably, you must align your views with His ideals.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the things we should know and accept is that disputes will occur amongst us in the Body of Christ. This is because we are made up of different persons from different backgrounds with different levels of understanding.

In 1 Corinthians 6:1-9, Paul was worried about the believers in the Church at Corinth who were taking their fellow believers to court. He wondered why they couldn’t settle their differences amongst themselves but preferred to go before a judge. He therefore admonished them not to go to court but rather take their disputes to the elders for resolution. This admonition still applies to us today. It is shameful for two brothers of the same Father to take their family dispute to an outsider to settle. Not only does it imply that there is no wise fellow in their family who can settle their disputes, it also opens the door for cultures that are not theirs to influence the way they live their lives, because the fellow whom they take their case to will judge it according to the culture he or she is familiar with. This is what happens when we charge our brethren to court.

If you have a dispute with a fellow member of the Body of Christ, your case should be taken to the elders of your Church for them to settle for you. When you take the case to court, the verdict will not be based on the teachings of the Scriptures, and the result is likely to affect your relationship with that person negatively. Even judges sometimes advise brothers to go home and settle their disputes with their family. The reason they do this is to avoid more severe issues within the family later.

I am not promising you that taking a case to the elders will guarantee that you are not cheated, but it will guarantee that you don’t soil the Name of your heavenly Father. Let your priorities be clear: God first before anything or anyone else. Always ask God for what He would like you to do before you make any move. It is only when the other fellow has acted contrary to the lifestyle of a child of God, especially by ignoring the instructions of the elders, that you can then take him or her to the law courts; otherwise, even if you feel like you are being cheated, it is better to keep your family Name intact than to take your family matter to be judged by outsiders.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A decision is a conclusion or resolution reached after due consideration of a subject matter. Making decision is a routine process that is of vital importance of all human endeavours. An individual’s level of success and achievements are usually the product of past decisions and choices. Human beings make decisions and personal choices concerning what to eat, where to go, what to wear and who to relate with on a daily basis. We also make decisions based on our personal preference in the area of religion, education, vocation, fashion and marriage. However, life often leads us to a point of decision where the choices before us have the potential of changing the course of our lives permanently for good or bad. How a person handles such turning-point decisions goes a long way in determining the fulfillment of his or her destiny in life. Abraham’s response to God’s demand to offer his only son as burnt offering determined the course of his life (Genesis 22:2). As a result of his obedience, Abraham received an irreversible blessing of eternal value (Genesis 22:16-17). Ruth also reached a point where she needed to make a critical decision, and the decision she took changed the course of her life for good forever. She took a great decision to abandon her home in pursuit of the true God, saying in Ruth 1:16:
“…Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whiter thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
Through this decision, she became an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As believers in Christ, we are privileged to have insight into God’s truth, as recorded in Scriptures or received through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We must therefore be careful not to resist God’s will or rebel against His commandments in any way. Many people resist God’s truth because of their own pride and self-centeredness. Some claim to be born again, but their true colour becomes exposed by their refusal to give up worldly pleasures and those things that are socially acceptable but contrary to God’s word. There are others still who appear to be committed to God, but their heart is lured away from the ideals of Jesus Christ by anxieties, ambition and the gods of money, position and power. The fact remains that God does not force commitment on anyone; we have the right to count the cost and carefully consider the implications before committing ourselves to Him in any way. A person’s decision to become born again is a solemn undertaking to obey God’s word, and it is a life-long commitment of total submission to the will of God in holiness. I decree that as you endeavour to walk in obedience to God, the Lord will manifest His power in every area of your life and cause your blessings to overflow in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A common practice in the Body of Christ today is the preference to fellowship in big congregations. This idea is favoured by many because it affords them the opportunity of attending church without participating in any form of service, thereby evading responsibility and commitment. People who indulge in this are the category of people Jesus refers to as unfruitful branches in John 15:1-7. Although they are born-again members of the Church and branches in the Vine, they are unwilling to make serious commitments to the Lord’s service or be tied to any responsibility in His Church. Such people are ignorantly denying themselves great blessings from God. Incidentally, without active participation in church activities, spiritual growth and fruitfulness is mandatory and highly rewarding. It is mandatory because God commanded it in Genesis 1:28, which says:
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it….”
The blessing that God bestowed on humanity here is the source from which all other blessings flow to mankind. This scripture also defines a very important principle of life: fruitfulness comes before multiplication. A person that is fruitful will automatically multiply, and anyone who refuses to be fruitful may never multiply.

God has provided everything that is required for our growth in the Vine. Therefore, barrenness or unfruitfulness in any branch of the Vine may be due to sickness, detachment from the vine or a lack of willingness to bear fruit. The Holy Spirit makes it clear that a branch in the Vine can be sick or attacked by pests, saying in Psalm 107:17:
“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.”
It is also possible for a branch to be detached from the Vine, make it impossible for the fluid of life flowing in the Vine to reach it. Such a detached branch will not only find it impossible to bear fruit, it also stands the risk of dying off. It is also possible to find a branch in the Vine that is unwilling to be fruitful, as exemplified by the man given one talent in Matthew 25:24-25. Fruitfulness is a covenant benefit of God’s children that can affect every area of their lives. You can be fruitful spiritually, materially, academically, socially, physically and financially. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 reveals that God expects you to be fruitful in your body, in your business and in your livestock. This implies that everything associated with you is to carry the mark of God’s blessing. Praise God!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A careful study of God’s word reveals three categories of shepherds. There are bad shepherds whose defining trait is feeding on the sheep. There are unrepentant agents of the devil, who are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Holy Spirit describes them as ruthless grievous wolves in Acts 20:28-35, and God’s judgment is declared against them in Jeremiah 23:1-2. The second category of shepherds are those referred to as hirelings by the Lord (John 10:12-13). Shepherds in this category see their assignment as a form of business through which their daily bread is guaranteed. They have little or no commitment to their sheep, and so their productivity is very low. Lastly, we have the good shepherds, whose lives and attitude to the assignment of overseeing God’s sheep are modeled after the Good Shepherd Himself. As expressed in John 10:11-14, God has clearly showed His preference and desire for good shepherds.

Has God called you into a spiritual office in His Church, or are you in a position where your decisions affect the destiny of many people? God is saying to you today that your call to that office is not for the purpose of accumulating titles or enjoying a privileged position only. You are actually called to serve God. You are called to be a blessing to others by workings of God’s gifts in your life. Today, it is evident that some people are not utilizing the spiritual office they occupy for the benefit of God’s Kingdom. If you have been called as a pastor, your responsibility is to care for the physical and spiritual needs of the Church of God you oversee. Are you an evangelist, a preacher or a messenger of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? You ought to declare the entire counsel of God at all times, knowing well that we live in times when many people are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and various doctrines of the devil. The word of the Lord in your mouth should not be watered down under any circumstance. Also, as a teacher of the word, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to explain God’s word, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to explain God’s word in order to build and equip the Church. You are to communicate biblical truths effectively to the understanding of your hearers. Are you occupying the office of a prophet? Then, declare the word of God to the people with boldness. Spiritual offices are meant to complement one another in edifying the Body of Christ. These offices are meant to work together for the unity of the Church, so that God’s people can became well grounded in the full knowledge of God. Every good shepherd will be handsomely rewarded, because our God does not owe any man (1st Corinthians 15:58). You will not lose your reward in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Self-condemnation is one of the evil arrows in the devil’s quiver. It certainly is one of the enemy’s weapons of choice deployed in attacking many Christians today. The activity of the kingdom of darkness in this regard takes the form of laying out accusations against the saints of God whenever they err. The enemy also tries to remind us of sins we committed in the past, which we have repented of, suggesting that perhaps God has not forgiven or forgotten them. No wonder the Bible refers to the devil as the accuser of the brethren, saying in Revelations 12:10:
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
However, our God is always several steps ahead of the enemy’s antics, and He has made provision for Jesus Christ to stand as our advocate in heaven’s court, pleading our cause and interceding on our behalf whenever the devil presents his accusations against us. The Holy Spirit also intercedes on our behalf whenever we err and our soul is cast down. After convicting us of whatever sins we may have committed, He comforts and encourages us to rise up from the pit of sin and return to our rightful place in the bosom of loving Father. We need to clarify the fact that remorse for sin is not the same as self-condemnation. Self-condemnation is a very deadly weapon that is affective in taking away the confidence of believers. As a child of God, the lies of the enemy cannot condemn you before God. Even if you fall into sin, you must remember how precious you are to God, who will surely not leave the judgment of His children in Satan’s hands.

Any time we separate ourselves to focus on God in the place of prayer, the devil is not happy about it. He therefore tries to step in by bombarding our minds with his accusations in order to disrupt and terminate our fellowship with God. He will do anything to keep you from praying, and condemnation is his favorite tactic. Surprisingly, we are also pleased to trash ourselves. Carrying the weight of blame and condemning oneself does not help anyone. The right thing to do is to go to God in prayer, confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness. Be wise, Jesus Christ our Advocate is the only one to consult on issues of sin and forgiveness. As long as you are not a habitual sinner that doesn’t take repentance seriously. Whenever you approach God in prayers, be confident that the Lord will answer your prayer in Jesus’ Name. Have you fallen from grace into sin? Stop condemning yourself today and start talking to your Advocate, Jesus Christ. He will treat your case with tender mercy and ensure that your joy of salvation returns to you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Being religious is not the same as being godly. It is surprising that people cannot tell the difference between the two these days. A religion is a belief system practiced by a group of people who subscribe to its teachings and set of rules. The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’ time on earth are a good example of religious people. Although they followed all the laws of Moses, they were blind to the presence of the Messiah living amongst them, even though Moses spoke of Him. In spite of all the great works He did before their very eyes, which should have convinced them beyond any reasonable doubt of His identity, they questioned everything He did and refused to accept Him. You see, the Pharisees obeyed the laws of Moses to the letter but refused to acknowledge the power of salvation through Christ. They also didn’t believe in His message of love and mercy; rather, they believed that no sinner must go unpunished (John 8:1-5). The Pharisees paid a lot of attention to looking holy rather than actually living a holy life.
In contrast to being religious, godliness is synonymous to being Christ-like and living a life of holiness. A fellow is godly when he or she has the nature of God. Godliness is much more than looking holy or acting holy; it is a lifestyle. It is unfortunate that in the church today, there are more religious people than godly people. Religious people find it easy to castigate others, whereas they do worse things in secret. They can quote many scriptures by heart and know the right Bible passage that fits every situation. While this is good, religious people don’t live according to the scriptures they know and recite, because their hearts are far from God (Matthew 15:. Such people know all the rules and doctrines of the denomination they belong to but deny the power behind such doctrines. Their major problem is that there is a separation between their outer and inner man. In other words, they have mastered the art of pretence. The personality they show to the world is different from who they really are.

2 Timothy 3:5 admonishes us to move far away from religious people. They are quick to call for the head of any fellow in Christ who falls into sin, rather than disciplining and correcting such a person in love. If you find it difficult to show love to people, and yet you preach the gospel, you are practicing religion and not godliness. Godliness, as opposed to religion, will bring you great gain in this world and in the world to come. 1st Timothy 4:8b says:
“…but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Apart from getting your heart’s desires on earth through Christ, godliness will also ensure that you partake of life in heaven.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A person who manifests high moral standards in specific areas of life is said to posses’ virtue in those areas. The virtues of boldness and courage are especially required in Christian leadership. For this reasons, several passages of the Bible admonish children of God to be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:6). Speaking on boldness in Proverbs 28:1, the Holy Spirit says:
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
No wonder we see the virtue of boldness being deployed in the declaration of God’s word in Acts 4:31, Act 14:3 and Hebrews 13:6. Only a person with strength of character can display courage in the face of trouble, while boldness is required to speak the truth in all circumstances, especially in the face of opposition and in hostile environments. May the Lord grant you the boldness and courage you need to overcome every obstacle in your life in Jesus’ Name.

More importantly, the virtues of boldness and courage have spiritual significance because they are necessary for entering the presence of God and for dealing with the forces of darkness. In Ephesians 6:12, the Holy Spirit reveals some truths about the forces of darkness, saying:
“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.”
This clearly shows among other things that Satan and his demons comprise a well-organized army that is skillful in carrying out devastating attacks on its victims. It also shows that the warfare we must fight as Christians is purely restricted to the realms of the spirit. This warfare calls for courage to withstand dreadful circumstances; determination to overcome at all cost persistent prayer. It also calls for loyalty to fight under the banner of Christ the Lord of hosts, standing in His strength and using the weapons He has provided. One good thing about the virtues of boldness and courage is that they yield confidence in us. Speaking on this confidence, Hebrews 10:35-36 says:
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
We cannot achieve much in our Christian race without boldness. We need boldness to correctly apply God’s word to life situations. Indeed, it takes courage to follow and obey God. Anyone who lacks courage will be full of fear. Fear paralyses and makes if impossible to take any progressive stride in life. If you will make impact in life, you must ignore the contrary circumstances around you and focus on God who has called you. All powers in heaven and on earth belong to Him; He has never failed and He will never fail. He will see you through, and you will celebrate at last. Glory be to God!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Matthew 21:28-29, Jesus tells the parable of a man searching for faithful labourers in His household, and even among His own children. This is indicative of what God does in every generation: always searching for a faithful servant, someone He can depend on, to deliver His undiluted message to the people. This was why Jesus commissioned seventy of His disciples to preach the good news of the gospel in the surrounding cities, towns and villages He planned to visit (Luke 10:1). He gave these disciples specific instructions that signified the level of discipline, commitment and faithfulness with which He expected them to carry out the assignment. The truth of the matter is, in all generations, God is always, in search of a few exceptional ones among His children who are obedient, trustworthy, reliable and dependable. Such committed labourers are usually set apart for special assignments, especially tasks related to soul winning. I pray that you will be found among these few special labourers in this generation in Jesus’ Name. In Luke 10:2, Jesus, Jesus acknowledged the vastness of the available harvest and scarcity of labourers to bring in the harvest. The harvest is a reference to the souls that are ready to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, while the labourers are Christians who are faithfully committed to the task of evangelism or soul-winning. In saying the labourers are few, Jesus is not necessarily talking about the quantity of labourers only; He is also referring to their quality. In other words, the Lord is talking about the scarcity of genuine workmen who are faithfully committed to the task of gathering souls into the Kingdom.

Jesus specifically gave us the parable of the talents to teach the importance of faithfulness in stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30). All the servants put their talents to profitable use except the servants to whom was entrusted one talent, who went and dug a hole in the ground, to hide his lord’s money where it would lie fallow. When their master returned, the servant with one talent was seriously reprimanded. His talent was taken away from him and given as a bonus to someone else. In light of this parable, the Lord expects everyone of His children to diligently put their talents and special gifts to profitable use for the advancement of God’s kingdom. We are expected to be committed to God’s work, of which soul-winning is paramount. You will not be named among unprofitable servants in Jesus’ Name. Beloved, the greatest rewards and crowns in heaven will go to soul-winners. I therefore plead with you to become a committed soul winner today. As you strive to please God in your stewardship, God will crown all your efforts with success in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The All-Sufficient One" is one of God’s names that aptly describes His incomparable greatness and self-sufficiency in all things. God is sufficient in power, knowledge, wisdom, wealth and authority, being able to accomplish anything He desires and bring to pass anything He has ordained. It is for this reason that we are commanded to look up to Him and depend on Him to provide all our needs and desires. We are to look unto God for salvation and deliverance from all forms of sin, sickness and poverty. Our gaze should be focused on Him whenever we are in need of boldness, encouragement or strength to forge ahead in the difficult journey of life. Our ears and hearts should also be open to His guidance and direction as we live the Christian life daily. As you look unto the All-sufficient One for the fulfillment of your destiny, you will not be disappointment in Jesus’ Name.

From time to time in the rigorous journey of life, we sometimes find ourselves in a state of tiredness and confusion. At such times, the Holy Spirit admonishes us to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for encouragement (Hebrews 12:1-2). Not only are we meant to look unto Him for encouragement, we are also to look unto Him as our perfect example. Speaking on this, the Holy Spirit says in 1st Peter 2:21-23:
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

Looking unto other gods and human systems for forgiveness, deliverance, healing and salvation has brought untold hardship and losses to many. Even looking unto great men and women who are successful in life and ministry has resulted in great disappointment, sorrow and pain in people’s lives. As a matter of fact, this has been a major cause of failure, in the life of several people. While human beings are prone to failure, there is no failure or disappointment in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus can only increase your faith and uplift you spiritually and physically.

Looking unto Jesus in our daily Christian walk provides us with direction through the revelations He gives us in His word. By looking unto Him, an ordinary person becomes equipped to do exploits of supernatural dimensions. The Lord Jesus is the All-Sufficient God who provides forgiveness of sin, salvation and a life of joy and peace to all who look up to Him as the Messiah. As you call upon Him today, He will meet all your needs and guide your steps towards fulfilling your destiny in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The term ‘put on’ in Ephesians 4:24 is an instruction that is widely used in the Bible to mean ‘be dressed up’. God’s word commands all obedient children of God to be dressed up in certain ways spiritually and physically (Ephesians 6:11, 1st Peter 3:3). Modesty and purity are the hallmarks of our cultural heritage as Christians, we are to protect this heritage in this world of sin and godlessness. Therefore, children of God are to ensure that modesty and purity are reflected in their physical appearance and spiritual lives.

I strongly believe that a person is usually addressed the way he or she is dressed. Moses was mistaken for an Egyptian because of the way he was dressed (Exodus 2:19-21). If you dress like a prostitute, you will be addressed as a prostitute (Proverbs 7:10). If you dress like a hoodlum, you will be taken for one. Some good Christians choose to dress in ways that do not align with modesty and purity, and when others advise them to change their ways, they argue that a person’s preferred manner of dressing cannot in any way nullify their status as born again Christians. The truth of the matter is, it is one thing to be born again and another thing to submit to the authority of God through total obedience to His commandments. 1st John 2:3-4 says:
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
The hallmark of a Christian is total compliance with God’s word. Many unbelievers are contending with God intentionally by refusing to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, but some Christians are unintentionally contending with God out of sheer ignorance. Those who claim to be born again Christians but are yet living in apparent disobedience of God’s word are in effect resisting or contending with Him. Romans 13:2 says:
“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
It is foolish for anyone to contend with the Almighty God (Isaiah 45:9), as this is an exercise in futility that is bound to end in failure, disappointment and eternal regret. I pray that you will yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit today as He speaks to you on the need to change your mode of dressing to comply with God’s standard in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Some wonder how big heaven is for it to accommodate all the people who have existed since the beginning of creation. The curiosity of such people should be appreciated and their questions should be answered by pointing out the mightiness of the Omnipotent God and His capacity to do all things in John 14:1-3, the One who framed the worlds, said:
“Let not your heat be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Considering that what the Almighty God did within six days in Genesis chapter 1 has been more than enough to sustain life on earth for so long, despite the population explosion of man and animals over time, how much more will what Jesus Christ has been preparing for over two thousand years be able to sustain all those who qualify to be there? Definitely, you don’t need to be a mathematician or quantity surveyor to logically conclude that an estate that has taken over two thousand years to build would be very magnificent. In Revelation 21:10, this estate is referred to as “that great city”. If the Almighty God, who is greater than the greatest, says that something is great, the greatness of that thing must definitely be unimaginable. No wonder Isaiah 64:4 says:
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”
Beloved, based on God’s word, I want to assure you that even if the whole world turns to Christ today, there still will be more than enough mansions for each and every one in “that great city”. Let us therefore intensify efforts toward fulfilling our assignment of winning souls. The Lord has assured us that the harvest is ripe, so let us reach out to the millions of souls still heading for hell, redirecting them to the path of righteousness and to the kingdom we are patiently waiting for. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will depopulate hell and populate heaven to the glory of our God and Father. God bless you all as you take this assignment very seriously.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Worship is a beautiful act. Personally, I really love to worship God. The true act of worship is expressed when you bow down before a person in total surrender or in form of adoration. Satan knows this, which is why he told Jesus to bow down to worship him (Matthew 4:8-9). In the spirit realm, the act of worship is high priority. This is why I sometimes wonder why people think the time to worship in a church service is the right time for them to walk around to greet people. Some people purposely get to church after the worship session, while some church workers use that time to “put some things in place”. These are all wrong attitudes to worship. I remember one time when I entered a service during the worship session and all the people I passed by bowed to greet me. When I got the microphone, I asked them how they knew that I was passing by if they were truly worshipping God, and I warned them that no one should ever suspend their worship of God in order to greet me again. The time of worship is the most important time in any service.

Our heavenly Father is the Almighty God. He created the heavens and the earth, but He has no creator. He has done so many wondrous things that man can at best only imagine (Psalm 72:18). He can kill and also raise the dead (1st Samuel 2:6). He can change the life of a poor man within minutes (1st Samuel 2:. He stretches the heavens out as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in (Isaiah 40:22). Speaking of this great God, Exodus 15:8 says:
“And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.”
Doesn’t He therefore deserve to be worshipped with utmost respect? When the president of a country steps into a gathering, all attention is on him; why then is our attention elsewhere when the King of kings is being worshipped? Please don’t take God for granted. If your boss is talking to you and your phone rings, you will immediately end the call, but when we are in the presence of God, we dishonour Him by answering and even making phone calls. Many people often wonder why they attend the same worship service as some other people, and those people get their miracles but they get nothing. Perhaps it is because they do not honour God during the service. God clearly said in 1st Samuel 2:30b:
“…Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
From today, honour God by worshipping Him with all of your being at all times.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Ideally, everyone loves to have good things and hear good news. Indeed, speaking on the impact of good news, the Holy Spirit says in Proverbs 25:25:
“As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”
I pray that good news will come your way this season in Jesus’ Name. Beloved, I want to clearly inform you today that the Almighty God is the fountain of good news, and He has embedded all good news in the person of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The bad news of curses, sorrow and limitation came to mankind through the devil’s introduction of sin (Genesis 3:16-24). However, God turned this bad news around when He sent His angels to proclaim the arrival of Good News on earth (Luke 2:10-11). Upon this Good News rests all other news we can describe as good today. Let us consider the character of the good news brought by the angels to mankind. First of all, the angels said “Fear not”. When you consider what fear has caused in the lives of people down through the ages, you will appreciate the good news that man has no reason to live in fear any more. People have lost their minds and done several abominable things as a result of fear. The fear of death has led some to join secret societies and dabble into witchcraft- things which are abominations before the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Proverbs 29:25). As a result of the angels’ proclamation, Paul was able to write in 2nd Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Another thing to note from the angels’ message is that the good news brings great joy to all people. In other words, any news that does not bring joy is not of God. Also, any message that claims to be good news must be for all people. This can only come from the God of the entire world. So, the good news of the Son of the living God is not for any single race, tribe or class of people only; rather, it is for all people in all race and from generation to generation.

Now, what is the good news? It is the fact that the Saviour has been born, and He has paid the price of redeeming us from the consequences of the bad news that sin represents. For those who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Saviour, the eternal punishment meant for the human race has been wiped away by His sacrifice. This is why we have the assurance in Revelation 21:4 that on the last day, God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and we will no longer experience death, sorrow or pain. This is the source of our joy and hope. Anyone who accepts this message of the good news as true and also accepts Jesus Christ, who is the Good News, as Lord and Saviour will partake of this joy and hope. Have you done this?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Genesis chapter 28, Jacob became a fugitive because of his deceitful lifestyle. He ran away from the comfort zone of his father’s estate into the realm of the unknown. In the course of his flight, he got to a place where his strength could no longer carry on, and so he stopped to rest, using a stone as his pillow. He was so tired that he did not feel the hardness of the stone on which he laid his head. He even slept so deeply that he had a dream! When he woke up the following morning, he made a vow that showed his desperation and dejected state of mind. He said in Genesis 28:20-22:
“…If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”
Thankfully, in Genesis 32:9-10, we see this same Jacob singing a new song, indicating that he had become a new man who had been blessed beyond his wildest imagination. His testimony shows that when the Lord in His glorious majesty shows an individual His mercy, that fellow’s song will change. How marvellous it is that a single man on the run with just a shepherd’s staff could now testify that God’s favour had multiplied him greatly, so that he now had a large family, two bands of men, women and assorted of sheep and oxen.

Another great example of an individual who was given a new song to sing was Hannah. The Bible says this about her in 1st Samuel 1:10&13:
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore …Now Hannah spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.”
This is in sharp contrast with her new song of joy in 1st Samuel 2:1, which says:
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”
Just as the Lord changed Hannah’s song, He is able to change your song too.

What has been your song so far this year? Have you been rejected and downcast because of things have not been working out for you? The Lord is ready to change your song before, this year runs out. Only believe and hold on to His word to you today. I pray that by the intervention of the Lord, you will sing a new song this season in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whether you believe it or not, there is a price tag of time divinely placed on each day we spend on earth. It is therefore imperative for everyone, especially children of God, to cooperate with God in order to extract the maximum value possible from each day. We can only achieve this if we continuously assess the value we place on every passing moment of our lives. For this reason, Moses prayed in Psalms 90:12 that the only wise God should teach us to enumerate and evaluate our days on earth, so that we may wisely make the best use of every opportunity we have in the course of living our single lifespan on earth.

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.”
Job 14:1-2
Reading this scripture through the lens of Psalm 90:12 should teach us some vital lessons. The wisdom of God in these verse teaches us that we have a fixed number of days to live on earth, and those days are few, in the overall context of what God is doing in the universe. Every one of us must therefore place great value on each day we live, so that when the time comes to give account of what we did with our lives, it will not be said that we wasted it. Life is not like a football game that can be replayed; we only have one shot at it. The Holy Spirit puts us on notice as to this reality, saying in Hebrews 9:27:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
The fact that God likens our lives to grasses and flowers which wither after a short while should serve as a wake-up call to us that we have a running stopwatch set against all our activities here on earth. You will therefore be wise to pay attention to the words of Hebrews 13:14, which says:
“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
Those who are building “towers of Babel” in order to create a name for themselves should be pitied, because they fail to recognize that we don’t have an abiding place of abode here on earth. Whether they like it or not, they will die someday. There is a Yoruba adage which says, “How many years will you spend on earth to justify making yourself a coat of iron?” The wisdom behind this adage is that a coat of iron will outlive you, and its style might even go out of fashion before you die! Beloved, let us learn to number our days and add value to our live by serving the Lord in Spirit and truth. Lastly, Ecclesiastes 12:13 says:
“Let us here the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The way many Christians live their lives today shows self-centeredness and a lack of consideration for fellow believers, especially those who are babes in the Body of Christ. This is why the Holy Spirit is asking us today if we are living for Jesus or for ourselves. There was a discussion among some Church leaders concerning the way people dress to church these days, which has become a menace in some quarters, particularly to the well-being of young believers just coming out of the world of lust and promiscuous living. The reaction of some of them was shocking, because they trivialized the effect of nudity and semi-nudity on souls that are not yet mature enough to resist the immoral thoughts that such horrible sights produce in them. The conclusion of that debate was this: “Let everyone dress the way he or she likes.” It is unfortunate that these leaders have forgotten the words of Romans 15:2-3, which says:
“Let everyone of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

Unlike the aforementioned leaders, a good example of a Christian leader who lived for Christ from the moment he gave his life to Him was Paul. This was what motivated him to write the words of Galatians 2:28. In Phillipians 3:1-14, this same Paul gave account of who he used to be before his encounter with the Master, and how he abandoned everything he had once considered gain in order to receive “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” It is interesting to note that Paul willingly went the extra mile just to satisfy his Master and not as a condition for his salvation, because he further said in Philippians 3:9:
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
In other words, Paul was living to please Jesus Christ without being legalistic. When people want to satisfy their own desires, they overstretch the meaning of grace and begin to live careless and lawless lives. Such people are living to please themselves and not the Master any more. Beloved, for you to engage in acceptance service unto our God, you must begin to live for Jesus and pattern your life after His own. You can also pattern your life after His faithful apostles, one of whom said in 1st Corinthians 11:1:
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
Live to please the Master in all you do and you will experience joy like never before.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Daniel was a very intelligent and knowledgeable young man who was taken into captivity in Babylon for the purpose of serving in the king’s palace. As was the custom in Babylon, Daniel had to be trained for three years before he could be assigned his duties. While undergoing his training, he was given a daily portion of the king’s meat, but Daniel refused to partake of it, stating clearly that he would not ‘defile’ himself with the king’s meat. Why? The reasons are simple: Daniel knew that the food the king ate was usually first dedicated to the gods of the land, and those who ate from it included the magicians, astrologers and Chaldeans. He knew his God and was sure that the God he served was not the same as the god of the king. He also knew that eating such meat would defile a child of the Almighty God.

Now, what was the result of Daniel not defiling himself with that meat? One day, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he couldn’t remember, so he called all his magicians, astrologers and the Chaldeans, who usually partook of his meat, demanding them to remind him of his dream and also interpret it, but they couldn’t. The king then ordered the killing of all the wise men of Babylon for this failure. At that point, Daniel came onto the scene and consulted his companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Who along with him didn’t partake of the king’s meat), to pray to God for a solution to the problem at hand. That same night, God revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision (Daniel 2:19). If he has partaken of the king’s meat, his spiritual vision would have been blurred. In Daniel 1:20, the king himself testified that Daniel and his friends were ten times better than his magicians.

The king’s meat is anything that will hinder you from having continuous fellowship with God. For instance, if the staff in your office doctor figures and money from this evil practice is shared round the office, by collecting it, you are eating the king’s meat. If as a public servant you collect bribes to perform a duty you are paid to do, you are also eating the king’s meat. If you are having an affair with your boss or lecturer, you are defiling yourself with the king’s meat. It is therefore no wonder that many people are dull on their jobs and in school; if only they could reject the king’s meat, they would be found to be ten times better than their colleagues. Are others eating the king’s meat around you and it seems as if they are better off? Don’t fret yourself; it is only a matter of time before everyone sees that those who refuse to defile themselves are ten times better than others.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is one thing to look clean on the outside, it is another thing to actually be clean inside and outside. To be clean from within has a lot of advantages, while to be inwardly unclean has dire spiritual and physical consequences, one of which is mentioned in Proverbs 14:30. When you are clean from within and your heart is devoid of evil, you will enjoy good health with peace permeating your entire being. The importance of a clean life from within is revealed in our Lord’s teaching in Mark 7:20-23, which says:
“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
In line with the Lord’s teaching, we further learn from Psalm 15:1-5 that only those who walk uprightly and righteously can fellowship with God. They are those who speak the truth from their hearts, and not those whose hearts bring forth deceit and all forms of wickedness.

What type of heart is considered to be clean in God’s sight? A clean heart is one that has been circumcised and washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Heart of natural man is generally wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). This is the reason why every person needs to surrender his or her heart to Jesus Christ for cleansing. The Lord has promised to give us a new heart and a new spirit when we come to Him (Ezekiel 36:26). The blessing of a clean heart is declared in Psalm 73:1, which says:
“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.”
When God is good to you, your case is settled. David knew this, and so he prayed this prayer in Psalm 51:10, saying:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Beloved, I am using this medium to introduce you to the One who alone can make you clean in and out. That person is Jesus Christ. All you need to do is to surrender your life to Him. Going to church without actually surrendering your life to Jesus is an exercise in futility. Let Jesus come into your heart today, so that He can do the proper cleaning that will qualify you to be a child of God. He is standing at the door of your heart, knocking and waiting for you to let Him in (Revelation 3:20). Receive Him today, and you will be happy you did.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A siege is a situation in which an individual is surrounded by a stronger physical or spiritual power, for the purpose of capturing or tormenting him or her. On several occasions, the children of Israel, due to their stubborn attitude toward God, experienced sieges of varying intensity and severity. Whenever a siege is lifted, the people who were its victims rejoice because it is not a pleasant experience at all. That is why psalm 126:1 says:
“When the LORD turned again the capacity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”
The Lord is saying to someone reading this devotional that the siege is over in your life. 2 Kings 7:1-9 records the deliverance of the children of Israel from a terrible siege. This siege was so severe that women began to eat their own children (2nd Kings 6:25-29)! However, when God caused the siege to be lifted through the words of His prophet, scarcity turned into plenty. Therefore, the first thing you will notice after a siege is terminated in a person’s life is a turnaround from lack to prosperity. An economic siege causes parents to send their children into forced labour for survival instead of being in school. The Lord will deliver you today if you are in this type of situation. I decree in Jesus’ Name that the economic siege over your life is lifted now!

Another thing that happens when a siege is lifted over a person’s life is that his or her captors find themselves in disarray. The Bible says the Syrians who laid siege against Samaria heard a noise of chariots and fled. The Lord will cause your enemies to hear a noise today and take flight away from you in Jesus’ Name. One of my ministers gave a testimony of how a witchdoctor who rented an apartment in his father’s house fled from the house. This witchdoctor had moved in before our brother’s father realised his mistake in renting out an apartment to him. He told his son about his dilemma and his son told him not to worry. Our brother then had just one night vigil in his father’s house and returned to his station. After the vigil, the witchdoctor began to hear a noise in the house and decided he could no longer live there. That was how this evil siege was lifted from this brother’s country home. One more thing that happens when a siege is lifted is that wealth changes hands. The Syrians abandoned all they brought at the gate of Samaria, and the people of Samaria became rich overnight, having food, clothing, silver, gold, horses and much more. This was all God’s perfect plan in action! I announce to you today: any siege over your life is over now in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When you understand the intensity of attacks the Church is under in these end times, you will appreciate the prayer for the multiplication of grace and peace in 2 Peter 1:2. The story of Noah illustrates the essence of grace in a man’s life. Grace located Noah at a time when God saw man’s wickedness and decided to wipe them off the face of the earth. Through grace, Noah lived above the corruption of his generation and was spared the outpouring of God’s wrath. Also, through the grace of God, he received this excellent report in Genesis 6:9;
“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Beloved, considering the prophecies on the perilous nature of the last days, it takes abundant grace to live righteously in this present world. Evil ideas that seek to normalise abhorrent things like greed, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, racism, ethnic cleansing and so on are characteristics of these end times. Such evil ideas have made living a godly life difficult in our time. An end-time prophecy declared by the Holy Spirit in 1st Timothy 4:1-2, says:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

One of my children told a story of a personal encounter that shows his prophecy being fulfilled. He went to a part of the world to Minister God’s word, and there he met two other guest ministers who were busy chatting while the praise and worship session was going on in the sanctuary. When it was time to preach, these guest minister were called from the office of the host-pastor, and one of them said to the other, “Let us go and tell them what they love to hear!” They were obviously speaking lies in hypocrisy to the people, and although they had a form of godliness, they were living a life that denied the power to live holy (2nd Timothy 3:5). We are admonished to turn away from such ministers. It takes abundant grace to escape the charm of their motivational sweet talk and oratory prowess. While Noah found grace to survive the flood, we need abundant grace to escape the lake of fire. The grace is found in Jesus Christ. I therefore encourage you to seek this grace through our Lord. Everyone needs abundant grace to escape the coming outpouring of God’s wrath on earth. The purpose of this grace is not to live a lawless life; rather, it grants us the ability to live righteously, even in this perverse generation. Reach out to God and ask for that grace today, and you will discover that you will begin to do with ease those good things you were not able to do before.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If you will flourish in life, one thing you need is simple obedience. When Jesus told a dejected fisherman who had toiled all night but caught nothing to once more launch into the deep and let down his net for a great catch, his response in Luke 5:5b was:
“Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”
The result of his simple obedience was a net-breaking and boat-sinking haul of fish, which had the capacity to transform his life forever. Beloved, God knows more than you do. Isaiah 40:28 says there is no searching of His understanding. If God instructs you to do something, please don’t argue with Him, because compared to Him, you don’t know anything. 1st Corinthians 1:25 says:
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
If God says “this is the way” and it looks like a bush to you, I would advise you to simply go through that bush and don’t try to rationalise what God has said. When God asks you to do something and you don’t understand it because it doesn’t make sense to you, just remember that simple obedience is the key to flourishing.

When I became born again, I had a lot of problems with tithing. I said to myself, “What are those people talking about? One hundred percent is not enough, yet you are asking me to give ten percent. How will ninety percent handle what a hundred percent cannot cover?” Indeed, tithing doesn’t make mathematical sense, but when you are dealing with God, it won’t always make sense. He is too big for you to understand with your little brain. It took me a while before I began to tithe, but I started and suddenly things began to change for the better. The first thing that happened after I paid my tithe was that I got to my office and my head of department called me aside and asked why I had not requested any money for my research. At that time, I didn’t even know that there was any money provided to fund research. He then explained to me that I needed money so I could travel to gather data, and he asked me to apply for a certain sum. When I heard the amount, I couldn’t believe it; I thought something had gone wrong with my hearing! When God decides to help you, He will give you instructions, and your flourishing will be determined by how well you obey these instructions. Are you walking in simple obedience?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As God’s chosen people, we need to realise that God has designed man to be His partners in His created order. Knowing this truth is essential for the easy fulfilment of our destiny in life. To understand the kind of partnership we have with God, we must go back to the beginning of creation to see the reason why we were created. Speaking on this, Genesis 1:26 says:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepth upon earth.”
Our place as partners with God in ruling His created world becomes clearer when we consider the specific assignments God gave to Adam after he was created. According to Genesis 2:15 and 19:
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it…. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.”
It is interesting to note that even after sin disrupted the initial arrangement of the divine partnership that existed between God and man, God still chose to work with man to execute His salvation plan for mankind. The Holy Spirit revealed the nature of this partnership long before it came to be, saying in Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
In fulfilment of this prophecy, Jesus Christ was born into the world through a partnership of the Holy Spirit with a human vessel, Mary (Luke 1:35). However, God’s partnership with man on the redemption of mankind did not end there. To execute His earthly ministry, God in human form, Jesus, also entered into partnership with man. Speaking on this partnership, Mark 3:14-15 says:
“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, And to cast out devils.”
After His work on earth was done, He further commissioned His disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel. To populate the Father’s kingdom, we His disciples must therefore play our part by preaching the gospel to the unsaved, even as He continues to intercede for us in heaven. Beloved, according to 1 Corinthians 3:9, we are partners with God if truly we are His children. My prayer for you is that you will not disappoint His expectation in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

What can anyone do without hope? Absolutely nothing! Every being lives in anticipation of a better tomorrow. It is the hope of a better government that makes the electorate troop out to the polling booth to vote out a bad government. The absence of hope leads to despair, and that is not the state a child of God should live in. The Christian life is built around hope, which is the anchor of our faith. The heroes of faith who have gone ahead of us all lived in hope and were comforted by it. Hebrews 11:13 says:
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
The hope of living in the kingdom of God in heaven produced a strong faith in them, which drove them to live blessed lives as strangers and pilgrims on earth.

Mark 5:25-34 narrates how hope worked for the good of a woman with an issue of blood. Even when she had no reason to hope anymore, she kept hope alive that she would overcome her problem someday. When she heard about Jesus, hope produced a great sense of purpose in her heart and persuaded her to come out of her hiding place. As she left her home and struggled through the crowd around Jesus in hope, she kept on saying these words of Mark 5:28 to herself:
“…If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”
The forward-looking tone of her statement confirms the hope in her. Hope precedes faith, and without it there is no foundation of faith to stand on. This is the reason why we need to keep hope alive in ourselves as we live our daily lives in faith. Hope is so essential that an adage says, “If there is life, there is hope.” In other words, as long as you are still alive, there should be hope in you for a better tomorrow. Speaking along this same line, Ecclesiastes 9:4 says:
“For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.”
Indeed, hope is an essential part of human life.

Are you living in a state of hopelessness today? Please don’t contemplate suicide. No matter how things are for you, your condition is still better than that of someone else. Please keep your hope alive in God. Having Christ in you is the surest source of hope. He gives the hope of a glorious tomorrow to those who have allowed Him into their hearts (Colossians 1:27). Let Him come into your heart today and He will turn that hopeless situation around for good. It is well with your soul.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whosoever we ask, we know that we have petitions that we desired of him.”
1st John 5:14-15
This scripture reveals that as children of God, we should have the type of confidence that David had when he penned the words of Psalm 23:1. Why would a child of God not be in want? It is because the Shepherd of our lives, the Almighty God, is also our Provider. For this reason, our Good shepherd makes us to lie down in green pastures, and as if that is not enough, this same Jehovah Rohi leads us besides the still waters. Psalm 23:3 reveals righteous living as another secret to a life of not being in want. Speaking on this, Proverbs 14:34 says:
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
In other words, if you do not want to suffer lack, live a holy life. The reason why I don’t need to be persuaded to live holy is because having tasted poverty in the real sense of it and also tasting a little life of abundance, I know that the latter is far better than the former, and I have traced the life of abundance I enjoyed to the time I gave my life to Christ. So, I have made up my mind that I will be obedient to God’s word in its entirety, which is what holiness is all about.

When you study David’s life, you will discover that one of the secrets to his life of abundance is that he was fearless. Some people are afraid of venturing into projects or careers that would bring them abundant material blessings because of the fear of death. Not David! Even when King Saul tried to persuade him not to fight Goliath for fear of him getting killed, he was not deterred (1st Samuel 17:33). He boldly declared in Psalm 23:4 that though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil, because the Good Shepherd was with him. After he became king, he lacked nothing because he did not allow the fear of death to rule his life. To sum it all up, he said in Psalm 23:6:
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
This verse is a great lesson to those who stop presenting themselves in worship before God in His sanctuary after receiving an initial blessing from Him. Consequently, their supplies dry up in a short while due to their ingratitude. To remain connected to the One who daily loads you with benefits, abide in His presence and give Him the worship He deserves. When you continually do this, He will show Himself as the Mighty provider in your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.