₦airaland Forum

“He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”
Psalm 105:14
When a wise person comes across the scripture, the first thing he or she will try to find out is, how can one touch God’s anointed? One way to harmfully touch God’s anointed is by slandering or speaking evil of a minister of God. Doing this can cause God’s anointed so much grief and might even be worse than slapping him or her on the face. It is a dangerous thing to persecute a Christian, because Jesus personally feels the pain of such acts of wickedness, and as the Lion of Judah, He will surely defend His own. Saul of Tarsus was a man committed to persecuting Christians until Jesus met him as he rode to Damascus in furtherance of his sinister objective. In Acts 9:5, Jesus said to him:
“I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
Even if the Lord’s anointed is as humble as Moses and would not respond to the evil and slanderous comments against him or her, there are self-pronounced curses upon whoever speaks evil of God’s prophets, as seen in the case of Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:1-10). They were driven by jealously to speak against Moses and God heard it (Numbers 12:2). The Lord hears every evil word spoken against His ministers, and when He chooses to respond, the result can be severe, as recorded in Numbers 12:9-10 which says:
“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”

From Moses’ story, we see that it was God who fought for His servant. Amazingly, the rebels who stood against Moses were his own siblings (Exodus 4:14, Exodus 15:20). More surprising is the fact that Aaron was also the high priest of God. Why would a high priest be caught in the act of rebellion? What greater position or fame was he angling for that made him speak evil of his brother, who was chosen by God to lead the people? This is food for thought for us today. Unlike Moses who was meek and did not respond when persecuted, Elisha was of a different persuasion. In 2 Kings 2:23-24, the children who mocked him were not as lucky as Aaron and Miriam were. He cursed them in the Lord’s Name and they all suffered a gruesome death immediately. Those who speak evil of the Lord’s anointed should be warned that they might not get away with it someday. Beloved, a word is enough for the wise.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Seeds are a small part of the fruit produced by a plant from which new plants spring forth when planted. The power inherent in a seed is its ability to reproduce. Therefore, the more seeds one sows, the greater the harvest of seeds one will obtain, which is why 2nd Corinthians 9:6 says:
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

Isaac’s experience in Genesis 26:12-14 teaches us the reward of sowing seeds. After the Lord commanded him not to go down to Egypt in search of “greener pastures”, he settled in Gerar in spite of a famine raging there, and got to work sowing seeds. Beloved, every work you do in line with God’s word will be blessed by Him. On the other hand, if you do nothing, God will bless nothing! This is a steadfast divine principle. Every time God performed miracles of multiplication in the Bible, there was always something for Him to bless (Matthew 14:14-21, Matthew 15:32-38, 1st Kings 17:9-15, 2nd Kings 4:1-6, 2nd Kings 4:42-44). The good news is that everyone always has something at his or her disposal that can serve as a springboard into the realm of supernatural multiplication. Before feeding the five thousand through the miracle of multiplication, our Lord Jesus Christ asked the disciples, “How many loaves have ye? Go and see.” After verifying, they told him that they had five loaves and two fish. One can imagine Jesus saying, “That is more than enough!” He blessed the loaves and fish, and after more than five thousand people had eaten from them, they had twelve baskets of fragments as leftovers! The seed in this miracle are the five loaves of bread and two fish. Likewise, the widow of Zarephath had a seed of only a little flour and oil in a curse, but when God blessed her seed, it became a bumper harvest of cakes for three and half years. A similar thing happened to the widow of a man from the company of the prophets. She ran to Elisha concerning the debt left behind by her husband. In response to her cry for help, Elisha said to her in 2nd Kings 4:2a:
“… What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?”
The widow replied that she had nothing at all except a little oil. Little did she know that what she had was enough seed to get her out of poverty. Beloved, find out what God has deposited in you as a seed that He can use to perform the miracle you need. After you have discovered the seed, be ready to surrender it because there is power in that seed if only you can sow it (John 12:24). Unless your seed leaves your hand, you cannot unleash its power to bless you. So, release that seed today and you will witness its power in bringing blessings to your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are foundational problems which have the capacity of hindering the progress of a person’s life. Some people ignorantly struggle with such problems and are unable to overcome them until they die. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. The story in 2 Kings 2:19-22 is a good illustration of foundational problems and their consequences. The men of the city of Jericho confessed to Elisha that the situation of their city was pleasant but its water was bad and its ground barren (2nd Kings 2:19). Jericho’s problems started when Joshua cursed it after its fall (Joshua 6:26). However, God divinely intervened through Elisha, His prophet, and life was restored to it. Are you a victim of foundational problems? I decree that an end has come to those problems today in Jesus’ Name. Another example of foundational problems is seen in the case of Abiathar, who was a descendent of Eli. He was stripped of his priestly office because of a sin he knew nothing about. Narrating his plight, 1st Kings 2:27 says:
“So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.”
As a result of errors made by Abiathar’s ancestors, Solomon removed him from being a priest and sent him on force retirement to his home town of Anathoth.

The story was told of a slave woman who was maltreated during her pregnancy by the freedom women of the household. After she was delivered of her child, those women lied to her that she must not eat food seasoned with salt for a certain period of time. Although she sensed it was a gang-up to further maltreat her, she agreed not to eat salted food for the stipulated period. She however pronounced a curse that from that time forward, every woman newly delivered of a child in that household would also not eat salted food for a stipulated amount of time, otherwise such a woman would lose her child. The freeborn women took her words lightly, thinking it was a joke. Some of them were delivered of their children and went ahead to eat meals with salt, only for their children to die the following day. From then on, no woman who married into that household could eat salt after having children until a certain amount of time passed. They automatically became victims of a foundational problem. However, when one of such women became born again, the power in the Blood of Jesus Christ destroyed the yoke of this curse and she was able to eat salted food after delivering her children without any evil consequence. This is what Jesus Christ can do for whoever believes in His Name. If you will believe today, you will no longer be a victim of foundational problems.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is sad but true that some people love gifts more than their very lives. In other words, they are covetous and love to reap where they did not sow. In order not to be caught in this devilish snare, our Lord Jesus Christ warns us against covetousness in Luke 12:15. One man who loved gifts exceedingly was Elisha’s servant, Gehazi. His master rejected the gifts offered by someone who God had healed through him, because he understood the principle of “freely ye have received, freely give,” which led him to say in 2nd Kings 5:16a:
“As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.”
However, greedy Gehazi was not happy with this response, so he decided to run after the rejected gifts. He went and collected them in secret, not knowing that in the realm of the spirit, “there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2). Imagine the shock he felt when Elisha said to Him in 2nd Kings 5:26:
“…Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?”
Dumbfounded, Gehazi could not answer these questions. You need to learn some critical lessons from this experience today, Gehazi did not know the spiritual eyes given to his master followed him as he executed his devious scheme. If Elisha’s spiritual eyes could see the things Gehazi did in secret, how much more will God’s eyes, which run to and fro the earth, see those who secretly toy with sin? Also, learn that there is a time for everything. There is a time to receive gifts and there are times they must be rejected. Elisha asked Gehazi whether it was the right time to receive gifts. Gehazi did not consider this when he went ahead to demand and not just receive gifts from Naaman. However, this earned him God’s judgment, and he instantly became leprous. Beloved, it is vain to run after gifts that are not approved of God. Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 says:
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?”
Beware of the love for gifts because some gifts are ill-motivated and can destroy your future, like it happened to Gehazi. May the Lord spare you the agony of gifts from ill-gotten wealth in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

All through the gospels, we see that great multitudes followed Jesus wherever He went. One reason for this is the great miracles He performed in people’s lives. We see an example of this in Matthew 19:1-2, where great multitudes followed Him and He healed them. Jesus is still in the business of healing and performing miracles today. Those who teach that the days of miracles are over are wrong. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:. He is risen from the dead and remains alive today and forevermore (Revelation 1:18). That same Jesus who healed the sick, raised the dead and cleansed lepers can do the same works today because He is alive, working His miracles through His followers. The signs that the Lord said will follow those who believe indicate that the days of miracles are not over (Mark, 16:15-18). Moreover, our Lord also said that we will do the works that He did and even do greater works than His (John 14:12). Some argue that these miraculous works ended with the early apostles of Jesus Christ. This is equally wrong, because while giving us the mandate of the Great Commission, our Lord said in Matthew 28:20:
“….lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
If He is with us today as He was with the apostles, then He will also do through us the works He did through them.

Nevertheless, as we proclaim the message of the good news, we must not be lopsided in our preaching or indulge in preaching half-truths. The totality of God’s word must be preached to all. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not imbalanced in His teachings on the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, some preachers today tend to be like the Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’ days by focusing on some aspects of Christ’s message to the detriment of others. Such preachers should take heed of Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:23, which says:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Jesus Christ is here saying, “I do not condemn you for teaching on tithing the tiniest income, but you left out some things that are more important, which you ought to do in addition to what you are doing already.” Brethren, how do we show people the reality of Jesus’ resurrection without manifesting His miracles? Even the most ardent critic cannot argue against physical proof of God’s power (John 4:48, Acts 1:3). When your local assembly becomes a miracle centre, you will need little or no publicity before people begin to troop in to discover the Jesus whom you preach. Are signs and wonders following your declaration of the gospel?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are many unpleasant prophecies about people’s attitude and character in the end times, which are bound to be fulfilled. It is the responsibility of every believer living in times as these to avoid the fulfilment of such prophecies in their lives. One of such prophecies is the abhorrent act of brother giving up brother to death and children rising up against their parents. This prophecy was given by the Lord in Matthew 10:21, which says:
“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.”
Unfortunately, this is happening in the Body of Christ today. He then further said in Matthew 18:7:
“Woe unto the world because of the offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
Even though these prophesies of the Lord are bound to be fulfilled, do not allow them to be fulfilled in your life through your conduct and interpersonal relationship with the brethren. When an individual gives his life to Christ genuinely, he or she becomes a member of God’s family (John 1:12). All other believers in Christ become his or her brothers and sisters. In such a big and complex family, disagreements are bound to arise. A brother or sister may err and fall, but this should not be the end of their Christian journey. It is the responsibility of other members of the family to ensure that such precious souls are brought back to their feet in right standing with God.

Unfortunately, in these last days, instead of looking out to stabilise the weak and restore the fallen, some so-called brethren sit in judgement against other brethren. Some of them even mastermind the fall of fellow brethren, thereby fulfilling the Lord’s prophecies. Some other brethren do not cause the fall of others but watch out for faults in their lives in order to crucify them. contrary to this attitude, the Holy Spirit admonishes us in Galatians 6:1 to work with every sense of humility towards restoring brethren who have fallen, understanding that we ourselves can be tempted and taken in our weaknesses. These are indeed modern-day Pharisees in the Church today. It is sad that brethren bury other brethren who are in spiritual coma, instead of working to revive them to life. We must be like our Master who said in Luke 9:56a:
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
The Lord is speaking to those who have constituted themselves as accusers of other brethren to repent today. Are you one of such?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Years ago, as we were preparing to ordain certain ministers, the Lord instructed me to include a particular minister for ordination. I protested this divine nomination because by my personal assessment, this person should not be considered for ordination yet. The Lord then explained to me why that particular minister should be ordained that year. The reason was amazing to me and I will forever be grateful to my Daddy for that revelation. According to my Daddy, the place where this minister was serving was rife with activities of witchcraft and dominated by the power of divination, and so he needed the shield of the anointing against the onslaught of demons if I did not want his corpse to be brought back to me from the field at any time. In other words, the anointing received in the place of ordination is not a matter of title but an instrument of office or power to perform, and one of its functions is protecting its carriers from demonic attacks as they go about their divinely-designated duties as Christ’s ambassadors.

Many people despise ordination because some people who were ordained in the past rubbished it through their behaviour. The truth is, ordination is a special spiritual shield against the spiritual attacks of the enemy. Spiritual warfare is more destructive than physical warfare and we cannot fight it with carnal weapons (2nd Corinthians 10:4). Out of ignorance, some people reject the privilege of receiving the anointing in the name of being humble and modest. There is no virtue in rejecting the offer of being ordained by God, unless you are not sure of the source of the anointing that flows from that gesture. There are many things that can’t be done in the ministry by physical strength; only the power derived from the anointing does such things. Apart from being a defensive weapon, the anointing is also an offensive weapon that destroys yokes (Isaiah 10:27). Just as electric current cannot be seen as it flows through a cable but is deadly when touched, so it is with the anointing. Its protective nature destroys the enemies of the anointed and all demonic yokes. This is why the Bible warns everyone not to touch the Lord’s anointed (Psalm 105:15). An example of someone who touched God’s anointed was King Herod, who decided to kill the Lord’s disciples in order to please the Jews. He was smitten by an angel of the Lord, died and was instantly eaten up by worms (Acts 12:1-3, 22-24).

Beloved, although the anointing comes through many means, the starting point is at Calvary where sins are rolled away through repentance. Righteousness is the bedrock of the anointing and the word of God prepares and leads us towards it (Hebrews 1:9). Beloved, live a life of holiness and you will be anointed, not only for service but also for protection. It is well with you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

For those who belong to Jesus Christ, our understanding of family life should not be dictated by social media, TV or preconceived notions. The word of God alone provides us the template we are to model our family and home upon. Unfortunately, a lot of people have deviated from the precepts of the Bible regarding the way things are done in their family. In some families, children are wayward and parents don’t seem to be bothered about it. Some fathers are irresponsible men who go about chasing after strange women, while some mothers are unforgiving, bitter and over time have become cold towards their husbands. God definitely didn’t design homes to be like that! We therefore need to continuously work at building holy, godly and Christ-honouring homes. However, building a godly home requires conscious effort. The devil doesn’t want such homes to exist, and so he puts distractions and bad examples everywhere to deter us from building our homes the way God designed it to be. The good news is, with God, all things are possible to us who believe.

How then do we build godly homes? Psalm 34:11 says:
“Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Parents must teach their children to fear the Lord, because the fear of God is a compass that guides families into making the right decisions and choices in life. To fear the Lord is to acknowledge and reverence Him at all times. A family that does not fear God will not serve Him.

A godly home requires a life of separation from the dictates of worldly norms. Although others might be doing wrong things, you can’t and won’t do them because you are peculiar unto God. Every day, Christian families have to draw the line and separate themselves from the increasing sinfulness and wickedness of this world. Parents have to continuously remind their children that they are in the world but not of the world, and so they are never to behave like the children of the world. I pray that all our homes will become godly homes in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When you consider the reason why God overthrew the world by the flood, you will realise that it is His overflowing love that has preserved our world till now. If God were to apply to our world the same standard He applied to Sodom and Gomorrah, it would have been totally destroyed by now. Instead of judging the world, God’s overflowing love has provided a means of escape from His judgement to all those who are willing to accept it. John 3:16 says:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This is the kind of love that God expects us to manifest towards other human beings, most especially those in the household of faith (1st John 3:15-16).

In Like 6:27-36, the Lord commands us to show overflowing love not only to our loved ones but even to our enemies (Luke 6:27-28). According to Romans 13:10, love is the fulfilling of the law. Our Lord Himself established this truth when a young lawyer came to cross-examine Him on which commandment of the law was the greatest (Matthew 22:35-40). Jesus answered him by simply summarising the whole of the law this way: love for God and love for our neighbours. In Matthew 22:40, He emphatically said:
“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Beloved, are you really godly? Remember that only the godly will make it to heaven. The character of those who are godly is love: God’s own type of love which overflows. For our love to overflow like His, we must love even those who despitefully use us. In Matthew 5:45, our Lord says:
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
This appropriately describes what God’s overflowing love looks like. For our preaching to be effective to sinners who don’t know the real meaning of love, we must convey our message practically through a life of overflowing love. Let us give heed to the Holy Spirit’s message to us in 1st John 3:18, which says:
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Are you demonstrating love in deed and in truth?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

According to the worldly way of thinking, one needs to belong to the mainstream majority in order to make appreciable impact. Against this background, when one considers the humble birth of Jesus Christ and the “strange” doctrines He taught, one is left wondering how He was able to accomplish all He did while here on Earth, and He is still making impact even while in heaven (Mark 1:27, Luke 5:26). How come He was successful, even though His peculiar teachings caused many of His disciples to desert Him (John 6:66)? What gave Him strength and resilience even when His closest allies ran away in His darkest hour (Matthew 26:56)? The answer in all this lies in what the Holy Spirit says in Acts 10:38:
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
In essence, Jesus was in the divine majority, even when it seemed He was alone. He spoke the words of John 16:32 to His disciples, from which we understand that walking in agreement with the Father was all that mattered to Him. No wonder He felt so much pain when the Father looked away from Him as He embodied sin on the cross (Mark 15:34, Habakkuk 1:13, 2nd Corinthians 5:21).

It is therefore amazing that some Christians cannot take any stand that is contrary to popular opinion, even when it relates to the Father’s will. Some pastors moderate their sermons when they observe that their congregation members are dropping. Some even dabble into things that chase the presence of the Father far away from them in order to pull crowds to themselves. Such pastors are foolish and do not know the ways of God. When the crowds murmured at Jesus’ teachings, instead of backing down, He delved deeper, so much so that many of them ran away. In spite of that, He turned to those who were left and asked if they also wanted to leave! The secret behind the successful ministry of Jesus Christ was that God the Father was with Him throughout. What a great lesson this is to us! The truth is that Jesus Himself never left God the Father; they were in communion at all times. He would not do anything without the Father’s approval. Before He preached, He would have taken counsel from God the Father and the Holy Spirit – this was the spiritual majority that mattered to Him. Beloved, are you in the world’s majority or God’s majority? Are you yearning to become part of the world’s majority due to the ridicule you suffer from being godly? Please choose to stay in the spiritual majority. Jesus Christ was alone with His Father and it was more than enough for Him to do the unprecedented. It is more than enough for you too.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Advancements in science and technology have attained a level where most organs in the human body can be replaced with organs from a donor’s body, through a medical procedure known as a transplant. Nevertheless, long before human beings discovered how to do this, God has been in the business of carrying out transplants, both in the physical body and spiritual being of man. Unlike transplants carried out by man, the Surgeon of heaven uses only brand new parts, custom-made to perfectly meet His patients’ needs. One area of need lies in the fact that mankind is dead in sin. God knew that for us to receive new life through the Blood of Jesus, we would need a new heart. God committed Himself to doing just that in Ezekiel 36:26. Why does man need a heart transplant? The Holy Spirit answers this in Jeremiah 17:9, saying:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Everyone who has not laid on the operating table of the heavenly Surgeon possesses a stony heart, which is un-receptive to the things of God. As a result, the seed of God’s word cannot take root in it (Mark 4:5). To benefit from the abundant life available in the new covenant with Jesus Christ, we must surrender ourselves to God for the spiritual heart surgery that replaces our stony hearts with a brand new heart of flesh.

Using His surgical knife that leaves no scar, the Surgeon of heaven is ready to work on every sincere patient who comes to Him. God’s surgical knife is His word. Hebrews 4:12 says:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearts.”
We see this instrument at work in Acts 2:37-41. When it had finished its work, three thousand souls were saved. How did it achieve this feat? Acts 2:37 says:
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
God’s word, delivered by Peter, caused the hearts of its hearers to “bleed” as they were convicted of their sins. They experienced godly sorrow, which led to repentance (2nd Corinthians 7:10). God also transplanted their stony hearts with brand new hearts of flesh, in accordance with the prophecy in Ezekiel 36:26. Beloved, God still performs this spiritual surgery today. Are you wondering how you can be free from sin? Surrender yourself to God for spiritual heart transplant. Confess your spiritual ailment of sin to God and ask Jesus to transplant your heart with His word, and you shall be made whole.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To forgive is to decide to reject feelings of resentment between you and a person who has wronged you. This isn’t always easy, especially when a person has really hurt and trampled on you. However, forgiveness is a mandate for Christians; no one can profess to be a genuine Christian and not live a lifestyle of forgiveness. Our Lord said to us in Matthew 6:15:
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
This verse clearly states what happens when we refuse to forgive anyone who wrong us: we too will not be forgiven by our heavenly Father. In other words, forgiving our offenders isn’t just an instruction to be obeyed; it is a matter of life or death for us, because if our sins are not forgiven, then we are doomed eternally. Un-forgiveness is therefore not something to be toyed with at all.

As partakers of His divine nature, God expects our forgiveness to take on the character of His forgiveness. For example, the Holy Spirit says in Jeremiah 31:34:
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
This verse is telling us that forgiveness shall not be temporary. In other words, when you forgive, God expects you to forgive once and for all. As a child of God therefore, you don’t see someone you supposedly forgave months ago and immediately feel resentment for that fellow. When you forgive someone, you forever let go of every hurt and pain that the fellow caused you.

Another character of forgiveness is that it takes just one person to forgive. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation where the two parties involved are required to meet and make up. With forgiveness, you don’t have to wait for the person who offended you to come and apologise for whatever they did. You have to forgive even before being asked. Forgiveness is not about the fellow who offended you; it is about you and your relationship with God. Forgiveness is not easy. In fact, it can be extremely difficult to forgive, but as a Christian, you are required to forgive, no matter how hard it is. Are you walking in forgiveness?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the deadliest sins is sexual immorality of any kind, the reason being that the repercussion do not wait until the great white Throne judgment before stinging their victim (Revelation 20:11-12). The consequences include broken relationships, destroyed families, sexually transmitted diseases and much more. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit is warning us in 1 Corinthians 6:8 to flee from it. Sexual immorality carries a lot of evil baggage, the most grievous of which is spiritual in nature. For example, Reuben slept with his father’s wife and got an everlasting curse for it (Genesis 35:22, Genesis 49:1-4). Another example is Samson. Once a Nazarite consecrated to God, he lost his glory after allowing himself to fornicate with an idol-worshipper who betrayed him. His two eyes were removed and he became a grinder of corn and an object of scorn in the temple of Dagon, the god of the Philistines. (Judges 16:19-23)

The word of God is the sure refuge against the destructive sin of sexual immorality. Speaking in Proverbs 6:20-26, the Holy Spirit shows us the way of escape we need, saying in Proverb 6:23-24:
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strong woman.”
God’s word has power to shield us from falling prey to the seductive instincts of evil men and women. Only the wise who walk in the fear of God like Joseph did can escape this if the word of God is hidden in our hearts (Psalms 119:11). Speaking particularly, God’s word has forever established that extramarital wandering is forbidden. The Almighty God, who knows the end from the beginning, knows what will be the end of that sexual escapade, and He forbids it. He says in Proverbs 6:25-26:
“Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.”
God reveals in this scripture that sexual immorality hunts for the very best of mankind to destroy their future. Indeed, when you look through history, you will observe that sexual immorality has destroyed so many precious souls and destinies.

Beloved, I plead with you not to allow this age-long enemy of mankind to destroy you. If you are indulging in sexual immorality, repent, and if you are being tempted to go into it, run for your dear life like Joseph did. God bless you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We often tend to forget that the Church of Jesus Christ started in a home setting (Acts 1:12-14). The family unit is indeed a sub-unit of the entire Church. The home setting is therefore the best nursery to bring up young converts in the Lord, because at that level, it is easy to avoid hypocrisy, as everyone is familiar with everyone. When the Holy Spirit asks the question that is today's topic (A Church In Your House?), He is actually asking us two things: are members of our household Christians, and do we have any fellowship of believers in our home? In other words, do you allow the gathering of God’s people in your house for the purpose of sharing the word, praying and caring for each other? It is important to ensure that all members of our family are born again. The Lord considers His Church to be the totality of people who have given their lives to Him and are living according to His Father’s ideals (John 7:16-17). We must therefore ensure that members of our household abide by His teachings.

Acts 2:46 describes the early Church’s communal way of life. The effect of this communal living was the expansion of the Church, which Acts 2:47 describes, saying:
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Many people don’t know the tremendous blessings they deny themselves when they refuse to accommodate house fellowship centres in their homes. Are such people not aware of the story of Obed-Edom, who by divine arrangement allowed the Ark of the Covenant to dwell in his house and subsequently received overflowing blessings? 2nd Samuel 6:11 says:
“And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom of Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all ,his household.”
When King David heard of how the Lord had blessed Obed-Edom because of the presence of the ark in his house, he suddenly realised that he had pushed his blessings away to another by keeping the ark in Obed-Edom’s house. Allowing your house to accommodate a gathering of people in Christ’s Name is therefore a wise thing to do. In Acts 10:34-44, the Lord led Peter to the home of Cornelius to preach the gospel of salvation. While he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon the “service” holding in Cornelius’ house. This was a manifestation of the fulfilment of Christ’s prophecy of a time when people will be able to worship God anywhere in Spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24). Church is where two or three people are gathered in Jesus’ Name, and Jesus Christ Himself will be there amongst them (Matthew 18:20). Bring Jesus into your home by establishing a fellowship in your house and make sure members of your family are the first beneficiaries of the grace it brings.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Giving has always been a debated topic in Christendom. Nevertheless, irrespective of how controversial it has become today, it is still part of God’s mandate to us as Christians. Several passage of the Bible clearly instruct us to give, and several more tell us how rewarding it is. However, like many of God’s promises, there are principles to follow in order to reap its benefits. The Holy Spirit wants us to consider some of these principles today so that we can begin to reap the full benefits of our giving.

The first principle of giving that you need to understand is that you must give your life to God first before giving Him a gift. God is not interested in your gift if you are not one of His children. Speaking on this, the Holy Spirit says in Proverbs 15:8a:
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD;”

Secondly, God expects us to give for the right reasons. The Lord said in Matthew 6:1:
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
Most times when we give, we give to be admired by men. As Christians, we have to carefully consider our motive before we give. If you check and find out that the reason you want to give is to be seen as rich or zealous by other people, then it is better to keep your offering to yourself, because God will not acknowledge such giving.

The third principle to consider is based on 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7, which says:
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
As important as it is to give bountifully, it is also pertinent that you give cheerfully. Whatever you give, do it with a cheerful heart and disposition.

Beloved, in order not to lose your reward, ensure that your every act of giving is consciously done to satisfy all the principles required. May God honour you and your gifts from today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whenever we read the story of how God paid the Israelites the arrears of their 430 years of labour, we are understandably excited, but we need to pay close attention to the lessons God is teaching us through it. The Holy Spirit said in 1st Corinthians 10:11:
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
Those who know the true God of the universe understand that He is a God of justice and equity, and He created us to live accordingly. In fact, He requires justice and equity not only from mankind but from all His creatures. For example, when rain falls on the earth, God expects the ground to yield her increase (Leviticus 26:4). This might be the reason why the Lord cursed the fig tree that was just receiving nutrients from the ground and sapping the energy of the gardener without producing the expected fruit (Mark 11:12-14,20), The worst aspect of the Egyptians’ ill-treatment of the Israelites was that they did not pay them any wages; they actually subjected them to forced labour. Its therefore not surprising that in Exodus 3:7 God said:
“…I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;”
Thankfully, God made sure that the Egyptians paid in arrears all that they owed the Israelites (Exodus 12:36). Are you in sorrow as a result of taskmasters dominating your life? This verse is a message coming from the Lord to reassure you that He sees your plight. The Lord will hear you as you cry to Him today over those taskmasters in Jesus’ Name. Beloved, when the Lord is on your side, you will not only win a battle without a fight, you will also gather the spoils of war, just as the Israelites gathered the wealth of the Egyptians in one night.

Moreover, this story also has a serious lesson for tyrant employers of labour. When the Lord begins to fight for the employees that you have been exploiting, you will pay in a hurry, and it will be in devastating arrears! This truth is established in James 5:4, and the consequences that follow are clearly stated in James 5:2-3, which says:
“Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire….”
If you are guilty of this sin, please repent and restitute your ways without further delay.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When you observe the extent some people go to just to receive the commendation of men, you cannot but pity their lack of understanding. In whatever area of service you find yourself, please recognise that your service should be rendered as unto the Lord (Ephesians 6:7). With this mind-set, your focus will be set on heaven’s testimonial about you and not on what people think. Noah was a man who received a great testimonial from heaven, according to Genesis 6:9 which says:
“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
What a great testimony this is! No wonder he found grace in the sight of God and was spared the destruction that came on the earth through the great flood (Genesis 6:7-. It was the grace of God that qualified Noah to be adjudged righteous and perfect. I personally consider this to be a form of divine approval. The whole world may approve of you but if God disapproves of you, it is a disaster. It is just like an individual who was unanimously voted into power by his countrymen, only to die before he was sworn in. How unfortunate!

Another person who got a testimonial from heaven was Moses. When his spiritual leadership was called into question by his siblings, God himself declared His approval of Moses (Numbers 12:6-. Those who truly belong to God do not need to devise schemes to obtain people’s approval, because the God they represent will announce them to the whole world in His own peculiar way. Our Lord said in John 10:37-38:
“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
Anyone who wants heaven’s approval must do the works of God, and the greatest of these works is the winning of lost souls. Jesus was all out to do His Father’s bidding and God Himself testified of Him, saying in Matthew 17:5c:
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
Based on this testimonial, the whole world is still hearing Jesus today. This affirmation also gave His disciples the assurance that His words were not cunningly devised fables (2nd Peter 1:16-17). Beloved, seek the testimonial of heaven today and your struggles to make it in life will become a thing of the past.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Parents are stewards to whom God has entrusted children for proper care, and He expects to get a good report of their performance in this assignment. In essence, every parent is a caretaker of his or her children. As a parent, how are you carrying out this delicate assignment? Are you handling it with levity or putting in all the effort it requires? Modernization is fast eroding good culture in our children. Many parents in the name of modernization put tight and revealing clothes on their little children when they are going out. How do you expect little girls like that to dress when they become adults? Many parents complain about their teenage children’s choice of clothes and level of sexual exposure, without realising that they are the ones who caused it all. These days, some parents claim they don’t want to “force a religion” on their children, saying they want them to choose for themselves; so, they go to church and leave their children at home sleeping. However, when it comes to education, they force their children to wake up early to go to school. Can’t you see that the devil is already deceiving you into placing your child in his hands? How can you say you want to leave your child to possibly choose something else? Ensure your children go to church and that they read their Bibles. Introduce them to the One who died to save their souls, doing the best you can to ensure that they are saved, and trust God to keep them in the light when they are old enough to be on their own.

It is unfortunate that the devil has also started deceiving people into thinking that using the rod on a child is wrong. You may not agree with me, but I know that God’s word is never wrong. Proverbs 23;13-14 says:
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”
In fact, the word of God says if you don’t use the rod on your child, then it means you hate that child (Proverbs 13:24). There is difference between child abuse and chastising a child. You can withhold the cane and still abuse that child, whereas you can use a cane and correct in love. Let us get it clear: our attention should be on correcting with love and not on whether you use the rod or not. The word of God is ever true: if you love your child, you will always instruct that child and will not spare the rod when it is necessary to discipline him or her. Put in your best efforts to ensure that you raise your children God’s way.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Rejecting wisdom is a pathway that leads to death. Any human endeavour that is not founded on wisdom will sooner or later die a natural death. This is the reason why the Bible says in Proverbs 4:7:
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Why does the absence of wisdom result in death? I believe the story of the fox, a cunning animal known for its wisdom, should suffice in illustrating this. The lion was feared as the king of all animals in the jungle. However, he had become terribly old and sick and could no longer chase down his prey, so he devised a scheme to help him get his food with ease. He caught a small rabbit and assured the rabbit that he would not kill it, if the rabbit would go and inform all the other animals in the jungle that he had changed from being wicked and was now very friendly. The rabbit delivered this message and soon enough, all the animals decided to visit the lion one after the other to convey their “get-well-soon” greetings to him. However, every animal that went did not return. When it was the fox’s turn to visit, he did not go inside the lion’s den; rather, he stayed outside and greeted the lion from a distance. The lion said to the fox, “Oh my friend Mr. Fox, you also came? That’s very thoughtful of you; please come in! Why are you greeting me from so far away?” The fox replied, “O king of the jungle, live forever! I am okay outside here, thank you!” Startled, the lion asked, “How do you mean you are comfortable in the sun?” The fox answered, “To be frank with you, O king, I really doubt your sudden change of attitude, and I fear that you are not genuinely sick!” While the fox was saying all this, he kept retreating further and further away from the lion’s den. “When I got here, I saw the footprints of those who came in to greet you, but I cannot see any footprints coming out!” said the fox, and he fled for his dear life. This was how wisdom preserved the fox from ending up in the belly of the lion.

I encourage you to embrace wisdom in all you do. God’s word is the source of all wisdom, instilling godly fear in our hearts. A lover of wisdom is a lover of life, and to be wise is to embrace the principles of God’s word and the type of lifestyle it teaches. Doing so means death will be far away from you. Is wisdom your friend?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Those who fail to live according to God’s word don’t realise that they cannot attain their full potential in life without the power in the word, which created all things in the universe. Going against God’s word is like standing in the path of a moving train. Those who do this will only succeed in wreaking havoc on themselves now and in eternity. When an engine is used contrary to its manufacturer’s guidelines, it breaks down. For example, if you try to run a diesel engine on petrol, you will only end up watching the money you spent in buying it go up in flames. This illustration describes what happens when a person goes contrary to God’s word, either ignorantly or deliberately. Since all things were made by the word of God, it goes without saying that this same word has the power to repair and restore those things it created that have become faulty. Speaking on the restorative and curative power of the word, Psalm 107:20 says:
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
It is therefore not surprising that God always emphasises compliance with His word.

Genesis 1:2 reveals that before the creative power of God’s word came into action, the earth was shapeless, empty and chaotic. However, when the omnipotent power of the word was released, the earth took good shape. Beloved, are you in despair because your life seems void and shapeless? If you allow God’s word to operate in your life today, everything will turn around for the better. When God commanded that there should be light, light came into being. Those who live by God’s word do not live in darkness, because Jesus is the Word of God and also the Light of the world (John 8:12). When He comes into your life, emptiness becomes history. For one reason or the other, some people have never experienced a good day since they were born. If they allow God’s Word, in the person of Jesus, to dwell in them, they will have a testimony like the one Peter had. As a fisherman, Peter laboured all through the night without catching any fish, but when he allowed Jesus into His boat, he had a net-breaking and boat-sinking catch of fish in the same place where he had earlier laboured and caught nothing (Luke 5:4-7). It is indeed God who gives power to get wealth, and this power is in His word (Deuteronomy 8:18, Joshua 1:. The light that God’s word gives is available to anyone groping in darkness. Remember, darkness is harmful and so we need the light of God’s word to illuminate our paths so that we do not stumble or fall in a ditch. Psalm 119:105 says:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Beloved, embrace the infallible word of God today, and it will do you good.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayer is such a potent weapon that can do and undo things in people’s lives. It is so powerful that even the person praying cannot comprehend the extent of its reach. Those who walked with God in times past knew the importance of prayer, and this is what inspired Paul’s request in 1 Thessalonians 5:25. Even though he was a prayer warrior himself, he asked the brethren to continually pray for him and his team. Our Lord Jesus Christ also demonstrated the importance of prayer by often spending all night in prayer alone, encouraging His disciples also to be prayerful (Luke 18:1-. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for grace to accomplish the will of His Father and also asked His disciples to join Him in prayer, rebuking them when they did not do so. Matthew 26:38 & 40 says:
“Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me… And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour.”

Paul also learnt from the Lord about the potency of corporate prayers, which is why he often craved prayers for himself and his team in his epistle. He believed that they could do nothing without God, and that God would not do anything without prayer, based on His principle in Matthew 7:7. On the surface, one would expect that pastors alone should pray for their flock, but in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, we see an apostle giving the Church at Thessalonica a prayer request that the Lord would have His way in the ministry He committed to them. He also asked the Church to pray for their deliverance from wicked men who did not believe in the gospel, trying their best to stop its spread. The Church is facing a lot of obstacles today because we are not praying enough like the early Church did. Peter would not have escaped King Herod’s sword if the early Church was not fervent in prayers. The Lord answered their prayers by sending an angel to rescue him. Having witnessed the great impact of prayer, Apostle James wrote in James 5:16b, saying:
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Beloved, we ought to continually pray for our leaders. The temptations and battles facing Christian leaders are beyond what members of the Church can imagine. We must therefore faithfully and consistently pray for our spiritual and secular leaders so that they may not make mistakes in governance, and so that we can live a peaceful and holy life in this world (1st Timothy 2:1-2). Spiritual leaders need our prayers to administer their responsibilities correctly, and in order not to disappoint God and betray the trust reposed in them by the Church. Furthermore, they need our prayers to finish well and strong. Are you praying for them?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are many things people do that hinder their progress in life or even permanently destroy their destiny. We shall be discussing seven of these today. From Proverbs 6:16-19, these seven include a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies and a person who sows discord among brethren. These all are abominable in the sight of God because of the great negative impact they have on the lives of others. For example, a proud look demeans a fellow human being, which can bring about low self-esteem, which in turn has led several people to commit suicide. In other words, a person can cause the death of another through pride. In addition, a liar is not better than a murderer. The story of Joseph proves this. But for the mercy of God, the lie Potiphar’s wife told against Joseph could have cost him his life, because it is a grievous thing indeed for a slave to attempt to rape his master’s wife. Those who lie against their fellow human beings will not go unpunished by God unless they repent. Proverbs 26:28 says:
“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”

Another abomination is nursing wicked and evil thoughts. Such thoughts, more often than not, lead to acts which the perpetrator might live to regret, like crimes of passion for example. For this reason, Jesus, said in Matthew 5:21-22a:
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”
Mischief-makers are in danger of God’s judgement, and those who profit from the misfortune of others will not go unpunished. This also applies to those who bear false witness for any reason whatsoever (Exodus 20:16). The seventh abomination is one that is common in the household of faith: sowing seeds of discord among brethren. This abomination is so deathly that it can set a whole church ablaze and give room for the devil to freely operate among the brethren because they are no longer walking in agreement. In Mark 3:25, the Lord said a house that is divided against itself cannot stand. No wonder Paul said we should look out for and avoid the so-called “brethren” who cause division in the Church (Romans 16:17). Beloved, God is warning us against these seven deadly abominations today. Repent if you are involved in any of them.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When I hear stories of how some children of God are being deceived by evil spirits and false prophets, I wonder if they read their Bibles at all. Deceptive evil spirits were not just created some years ago; they have been in existence and have been operating since the fall of their master, Lucifer, from heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:4 & 9). These evil spirits were in operation in the Old Testament and were called by many names, such as “lying spirit”, “familiar spirit”, and so on (1st Kings 22:23, 2nd Chronicles 33:6). Knowing that their operation will be rampant in these last days, the Holy Spirit clearly forewarned us of the coming of false prophets who will be controlled by lying and other evil spirits. He told us that they will seek to deceive many by using the Lord’s Name. For you not to become one of their victims, the Holy Spirit says to us in 1st John 4:1:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
In light of this scripture, it is your duty as a child of God to test the spirit operating in anyone who claims to be a prophet of God. By His grace, God has given me some signs by which they operate. I believe that every child of God should be equipped with such knowledge, based on God’s word, in order not to be deceived by the signs and wonders of these imposters. After all, the magicians of Egypt replicated the miracles that God performed through Moses.

In 1st John 2:19, we are given a sign to look out for when testing the spirit operating in a fellow. This scripture says:
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
When you discover rebels who came out of the Body of Christ doing strange things that have no basis in God’s word or are based on a strange interpretation of its message, you must be wary of such people. For example, they might say you need to kill a goat to ward off evil. Beloved, what can be said of a “prophet” who thinks that the Blood shed at Calvary is no longer effective and is seeking to replace it with the Blood of goats? Such a person must definitely be operating under the influence of the devil. In order not to be deceived, you need to immerse yourself in the totality of God’s word, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide you into its truth, Beware of false prophets!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When we say that our God is unchangeable, we may not know the full implication of what we are saying unless we are well-grounded in His word and ways. His word in Hebrews 13:8 emphatically states that Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, is the same yesterday, today and forever, meaning that what He stood for over two thousand years ago has not changed today. Unlike politicians who change their ideologies with the mood swings of the polity, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:18:
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

God’s covenants are established on the pillars of His unchangeable nature (Malachi 3:6). He therefore expects those in covenant with Him to be consistent in living by the terms of His covenant. In Deuteronomy 7:1-12, the Almighty God reminded the children of Israel of the need to abide by the laws of the covenant He had with them. He told them that He had chosen them as a holy and special people for Himself, preferring them above all other people on earth. He chose them not because they were more in number or more righteous than others but because of His love for them and because of His covenant with His friend, Abraham, who was their father. God chose them to live a life set apart for holiness through obedience to His commandments. Just as God chose them, so has He chosen all those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ today.

We are chosen by God to be a peculiar people consecrated to Him (1st Peter 2:9). Beloved, do not be deceived, God has not changed His standard of holiness (2nd Timothy 2:19). If He said in times past that He hates sexual immorality of all kinds, including homosexuality (the reason for which He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), then He has not changed His mind on this today (Romans 1:26-27). No matter how well the world propagates the lie that homosexuals are created that way, it will forever remain a lie of the devil. Just as the devil deceived Eve, so is he deceiving people with diverse philosophies built around lies today. I am persuaded and convinced by the infallible word of God and the Holy Spirit that gays and lesbians cannot inherit the kingdom of God, just as robbers, thieves of all categories and treasury looters will not enter into it (1st Corinthians 6:9-10). God’s unchangeable character is a call to those who are partakers of His divine nature to remain resolute in upholding His standard and banner in this world.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whenever our actions are not based on pleasing the Lord, they will definitely be tainted by a purpose that is far from ideal. For example, only God knows the motive behind Cain’s sacrifice in Genesis chapter 4, but it ultimately led to the murder of his younger brother. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says we should not be weary in doing good deeds (Galatians 6:9). However, the only way we will not be weary in well-doing is when we do it as to the Lord, simply because human beings can be very ungrateful, and if we are waiting for the gratitude of men, we may end up not doing any good thing at all. Thankfully, the Lord has promised to commend and reward those who do good deeds. Speaking on this, the Lord said in Matthew 25:34-35:
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”

There are times when I feel the people I am labouring over do not appreciate my love, concern and efforts to make them what God wants them to be, and I just feel like stopping it all. The Lord has spoken to me on several of such occasions that I should always do everything He ask me to do as unto Him alone, especially as He has never disappointed me. This word has kept me going all these years. Sometimes He sends me encouragement from unexpected quarters, like the time I was feeling so discouraged and a little girl from a place very far away brought me a cake. God used her to prove to me that my labour and efforts do not go unnoticed before Him.

In Ephesians 6:5-8, we are admonished as servants to be faithful in our service to our masters, employers and superiors at our places of work. Of course, even when we attain leadership positions, Jesus taught us to serve, not with eyes service or for self-gratification. Some leaders will not promote their subordinates even when they are due for it. Let such leaders remember the efficacy of God’s word in Ephesians 6:8, which says:
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
Our God is not partial; He is a perfect and just Judge. Even if man forgets, He will not forget. Therefore, whatever you do for His sake, expect to get considerable rewards from Him alone and don’t look to man (Hebrews 6:10).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many Christians don’t realise the dangers inherent in ignoring the poor around them. From Matthew 25:32-46, we see that the Lord cares for the less privileged so much that He literally feels their pain. This means that every time you disregard a person in need, you are ignoring God himself. Matthew 25:45-46 says:
“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
From these verses we understand that neglecting the needy is a passageway to hell fire. When people come to you in hunger, do you give them food or turn deaf ears to their pleas? When someone is sick, do you visit to show love and pray with him or her or do you just go about your own business? When you see someone who needs new clothes, do you scorn or abuse the person for looking haggard or giving out some of the clothes in your wardrobe that you haven’t worn in a long while? If you are ignoring people’s needs around you, be careful because you just might be disregarding God Himself, and the result is eternity in hell.

Believe me honestly, if you make it a point of duty to always give to the poor, you will be blessed bountifully for it. It is popularly said that givers never lack. I believe this to be very true because Proverbs 19:17 says:
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
No one who neglects the poor has a place in heaven. In Matthew 19;16-25, a rich young man went to see Jesus, and he told Him that he had kept all Jewish laws from his youth, but he still felt like he was lacking something. Jesus told him that if he wanted to be perfect, he should sell all that he had and give the proceeds to the poor. This was too hard for the rich man to do, so he went away in sorrow. Then Jesus turned to His disciples and told them it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. In other words, if you are rich and you find anything too big or too valuable to let go of for the sake of the poor, then there is no place for you in the kingdom of heaven. Many people judge this rich young man, but they would do exactly the same thing he did if they were in his shoes. If I may ask, do you care enough for the needy that you can sell all you have to meet their needs? Difficult as this may sound, it is reflective of the kind of heart that has a place in heaven.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The story of Pharaoh’s butler is a good example of what God can do to restore someone in a hopeless situation. He and Pharaoh’s baker had offended their master and were put in the royal prison. While there, they both had compelling dreams. While the interpretation of the baker’s dream was negative, the butler’s dream had a favourable message. Three days later, the baker was executed while the butler was restored. Not only was the butler restored, he also became the key personality whose advice and recommendation brought Joseph out of the prison yard. This shows the wisdom in the counsel that says we should always be mindful of what we do with those we meet on our way up because we may still meet them on our way down. Beloved, restoration is an easy thing for God to do. My prayer for someone reading this is that God’s favour and mercy will locate you in that despicable situation you are in and restore you to glory this season in Jesus’ Name. He will restore your lost opportunities in Jesus’ Name.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1st John 2:1-2
This passage is saying that there is hope of restoration for a backslider who genuinely repents with determination never to go down again. The sad story was told of a young but zealous Christian brother in one of the popular ministries in Lagos, Nigeria. This brother was so zealous that he had zero-tolerance for any appearance of iniquity. Unfortunately, one way or the other, he fell into the sin of sexual immorality. Finding himself in this mess, he concluded in his heart that there could be no pardon for him from Jesus, whom he had disappointed. The thought of the souls he had won and the sermons he had preached against sin haunted him sorely, and he decided that the best thing to do was to commit suicide. Tragically, he ended his life! Beloved, I want to encourage you to have faith in the word being sent to you today. You can truly be restored because God’s promise to you in 2nd Chronicles 7:14 says:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
God promises to restore you if you will repent, and He is waiting to receive you with open arms today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When I newly gave my life to Christ, the love of God in me made me burn with zeal to please the One who paid the supreme price to save my soul. However, some people I met in the faith mocked my zeal and said to each other, “Leave him alone; he will soon be tried and slow down.” I thank God that He has not allowed their prediction come true in my life. For this reason, I can stand to testify, as Paul did in 2 Timothy 1:12, that God is indeed able to keep what is entrusted to Him to the very end.

Paul was a man whose life proved that faith in the sustaining grace of God is not a waste. God kept him going in the Christian race and helped him to finish well and strong. At the end of his life, Paul was able to say in 2nd Timothy 4:6-8:
“For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
How was Paul able to finish his Christian race well in spite of the many obstacles he faced? The answer lies in John 17:1-12. Before our Lord Jesus Christ left the earth, He devoted a substantial amount of time to pray that the faith of those who genuinely belong to Him should endure. As part of His prayer, He also said in John 12:17:
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
This is something for us to think about. Judas was given equal opportunity not to end his race the way he did, but he chose to be a son of perdition. We learn from him that making it to the very end is a matter of the choices we make every day. Those who will cross the finish line are those who give heed to the Lord’s warning in Luke 12:15, which says:
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consiseth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Beloved, I assure you that you can make it to the very end. Hold the fort and don’t compromise your faith. Keep on the firing line, and you will make it in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Having tasted both poverty and wealth, I can categorically say that wealth is the better of the two. Nevertheless, if not handled with the fear of God, wealth can have a negative influence on those who possess it. Agur’s prayers in Proverbs 30:7-9 is food for thought in this regard. From this prayer we understand that wealth can influence a person to question God’s relevance and deny His existence. Frankly speaking, comfort and riches can cause a person to conclude that he or she has no need for God. We see this manifested in rich countries today. Nebuchadnezzar came under this negative influence of wealth, and he did not have a good story to tell. Intoxicated by prosperity, he boasted in Daniel 4:30, saying:
“….Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”
Through this statement, he claimed self-sufficiency and denied God who gave him wealth and power. God had to school him for seven years among animals before he realised his folly (Daniel 4:33). This is why it should not surprise us to see wealthy people in those societies that deny the existence of God manifesting animalistic tendencies in their desires and lifestyle choices.

Usually, those who are rich have a quest to be richer still. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is disheartening that in an attempt to gain more wealth for themselves, many rich people exploit the downtrodden workers who labour to make them wealthy. Sometimes, they may decide not to pay their wages on time, leaving the money in the bank to yield interest for their own pockets. Some don’t even bother to pay at all, while some others choose to pay a token of what their workers are due. People like this should realise that they are committing fraud, and God may choose to fight them Himself (James 5:1-4)

We see from the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that wealthy people who acknowledge the Almighty God as their source of power to get wealth hardly misbehave (Deuteronomy 8:18). Such people will not use their wealth to have extra-marital affairs or to entice the vulnerable into evil acts. They will see their staff as their own brothers and sisters, and will not toy with their wages. Above all, it will not be difficult for them to honour God with first fruits, tithes, offerings and works of charity. Are you free of the negative influence of wealth?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Joy is a great source of strength that many people are unaware of. Nehemiah knew this, and he continuously drew strength from joy in turbulent times. When the people he led were downcast, he was able to encourage them to draw strength from this same source, based on his own personal experience. He said to them in Nehemiah 8:10:
“…Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
In these perilous times, we need strength to run the Christian race. Thankfully, our heavenly Father has what it takes to give us all the strength we need. Our strength can be found in the joy of the Lord. No wonder our Lord Jesus was anointed to give “the oil of joy” to those without strength (Isaiah 61:3). This same anointing is available to us today through the Holy Spirit who lives within us. In fact, one dimension of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22). It is therefore obvious that we need to make Him our friend if we don’t want to experience weariness in our walk with God. However, to be a friend of the Holy Spirit, you need to first live a holy life. Holiness is so paramount to Him that it forms part of His Name. Also, you must avoid grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30). He is grieved when we refuse to heed His warnings, and the resulting separation leads to futile efforts that drain our strength, because those who lose touch with the Holy Spirit are usually taken over by the spirit of error. May this never be your experience in Jesus’ Name.

While sorrow depletes strength from an individual, joy gives strength. The Bible tells of how sorrow drained David of strength after his camp was raided and he and his soldiers discovered that their entire families had been taken captive. 1st Samuel 30:4 says:
“Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”
This is why commands such as “weep not” and “be of good cheer” must be taken seriously (Luke 8:52, Matthew 14:27). To have unspeakable joy, we need to learn obedience to the word of God. We can walk in perpetual joy if we maintain the joy of our salvation. Beloved, if you have lost the joy of your salvation, pray to God for restoration like David did in Psalm 51:12, and He will restore you. I pray that you will be full of the joy of the Lord from now on in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Those who consider suicide as a viable option for handling the hardships of life do not realise that death is not the end of life. In other words, there is life after death. Job was a man who held on to this truth, even though he faced unprecedented calamities in his life. He said in Job 19:26:
“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”
There are two benefits of knowing and accepting that death is not the end of everything in life. One of these is that a person is compelled to behave wisely, knowing that he or she will face God’s judgment after death. Hebrews 9:27 says:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Also, when we realise that death is not the end of everything, it gives us hope of a better life beyond this world. This hope kept Job going in spite of the tragedies that befell him (Job 19:25-27)

I am happy to announce to you that not only is there life after death, there is also a coming event called the resurrection of the dead. The remarkable thing about the resurrection of the dead is that not only shall the just resurrect, the unjust shall also be resurrected to receive the rewards of their deeds in this world. Jesus said in Revelation 22:12:
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Armed with this knowledge, if I were you, I would engage in good works that would earn me great rewards when Jesus returns.

Are you going through any form of affliction at the moment? You need to know that it will not last through eternity. Indeed, it has its own expiry date. So, don’t give up; just keep pressing forward towards the finishing line. Our Lord is coming soon to wipe away all your tears. Are you contemplating suicide as a means of escaping your crisis? Please don’t think of it anymore, because death is not the end of everything. All you need to do is reflect on the manner of life you have lived hitherto, and this will help you identify those things that are responsible for your present predicament. Once you ascertain those things, lay them all at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. Don’t ever believe that suicide is an escape route from crisis. Eternal crisis is awaiting everyone who refuses the salvation that Christ’s atoning work has earned for mankind. Have you received this precious gift? Accept Jesus into your life today and let His atoning Blood wash away your past into the sea of forgetfulness. Receive the peace of God into your life today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Areboye.

The influence of peer groups has always been great in moulding a person’s character either for good or bad. Indeed, friends and peer groups are the “third parent” to every individual. Peer pressure has the power to enticing a person into things they would never have considered doing. No wonder the Holy Spirit says in Proverbs 1:10:
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
To entice is to persuade a person to carry out an act, usually by offering something pleasant and attractive as dividend. An example of this is the serpent’s dangling of the forbidden fruit before Eve (Genesis 3:6). Enticement usually works hand in hand with deception. May you never fall victim to the enticement of the world like Damas did in Jesus’ Name (2nd Timothy 4:10)

The power of temptation lies in its ability to entice its victim. Parents do not lure their children into temptation; rather, they lead their children on the path of greatness and right living. The Holy Spirit in our lives represents our divine parents, the Holy Trinity, and this is why we must always listen to the counsel He gives and reject any counsel contrary to His inspired word. The truth is, the Holy Spirit cannot lead you to do anything that is contrary to God’s written word. Speaking on His mandate, Our Lord said in John 16:13:
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
He then went on to say in John 17:17:
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
In other words, the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all of God’s word, which is truth.

Associating with evil people has the potential to corrupt any person of good character. That is why the Holy Spirit is sending us the warning in 1 Corinthians 15:33. Those who are wise will give heed to what the Holy Spirit says because He knows more than we know and sees better than we see. To avoid the snares of wicked peers and finish your race in heaven, let the Holy Spirit have the greatest influence on you. Do not keep friends like Jonadad in 2 Samuel 13:1-15; 13:25-29, whose advice cost Amnon his life. Jonadad and Amnon were even cousins! Irrespective of family links, don’t allow anyone influence you into destruction, because when it’s all said and done, you will bear your cross yourself. May the Lord make you wise concerning this in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.