₦airaland Forum

Circumcision of the heart speaks of internal consecration to godliness. It implies deep reverence for God which produces a practical awareness of Him in every aspect of one’s life, bringing about the desire to always do His will. Circumcision of the heart permeates every aspect of a person’s life, including appearance, speech and actions. A circumcised or consecrated person will always transmit and radiate godliness, so much so that anyone who comes in contact with him or her will immediately feel the presence of God. Just as God mandated the Israelites to be circumcised in their bodies and hearts before approaching His tabernacle (Ezekiel 44:9), those who are members of the Body of Christ have the responsibility of keeping anything that is abominable or polluting away from God’s holy altar in their hearts. Speaking on this, Titus 2:11-12 says,
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Furthermore, circumcision of the heart indicates the level of consecration or sanctification of a child of God (Romans 2:29). The Bible in a few cases used the term “walking with God” to reflect the level of consecration of some fathers of faith. One example is Enoch, of whom the Bible in Genesis 5:24 says:
“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
Noah is another example of one who walked with God in perfection (Genesis 6:9). Other great examples include Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25, Luke 2:37). Their lives teach us that our hearts must be circumcised if we are to know God and be known by Him.

One characteristic of a circumcised heart is contentment (1st Timothy 6:6). God expects His children to be pleased with whatever He has blessed them with spiritually, physically, financially and materially. The Bible also teaches that godly sorrow for sins committed is another sign of a circumcised heart (Joel 2:13). A circumcised heart produces a godly life whose benefits cannot be over emphasized. 1st Timothy 4:8 tells us that godliness is profitable unto all things, both in this life and in eternity. Acts 7:51 that the uncircumcised in heart have the habit of always resisting the Holy Spirit. In other words, an uncircumcised heart is at the root of all acts of disobedience and apostasy among children of God. Is your heart circumcised?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In His wisdom, the Holy Spirit has chosen to speak to wives in today’s devotional. Please note that He is speaking to wives and not just women. Obviously, not all women are wives. However, every wife is first a woman before becoming a wife. Are you a woman trusting God to change your status from single to married? I pray that God will grant you your good heart’s desire this season in Jesus’ Name. In God’s kingdom, only wives are given the assignment of building homes, not mistresses or “bed-partners”. In other words, a mistress or bed-partner does not have the divine grace to build a godly family. With divine wisdom, a woman develops into a wife who builds her home. This wisdom comes through the fear of God, which dwells in every woman who has received Jesus into her heart (Proverbs 9:10, Revelation 3:20). Jesus is the embodiment of God’s wisdom (1st Corinthians 1:24), and in this age of enlightenment, it takes Jesus in the life of a woman to do according to all that the Holy Spirit instructs in 1 Peter 3:1-6.

Godly wives are distinguishable by their chastity and general attitude of life, which is a product of the fear of God they possess and not necessarily because of the fear of their husbands. It is a wise thing for a wife to build her home; only a foolish person would pull down the house he or she lives in. Many women who have pulled down their homes are now roaming the “streets of life”. Although they may pretend that all is well, they are actually hurting and nursing regrets over their past actions. Sadly, many of such women are now encouraging naïve wives to act against the interest of their homes so that they can become their companions in misery. No wonder the Holy Spirit warns in 1st Timothy 4:7, saying:
“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Some years ago, one of my daughters started having problems in her marriage, and she asked me to counsel her. I discovered that she was getting carried away by her academic achievements, because she had bagged a PhD like her husband. So, I told her to be submissive to her husband if she really wanted to have a home. This suggestion was so ridiculous to her that she reminded me that she had a PhD like her husband! I said to her, “No problem, since your PhD can solve your martial challenges, go ahead and apply its philosophical principles to build yourself a happy home.” She got the message and began to yield to her husband. Before long, peace, joy and progress returned to her home. My prayer for someone reading this devotional today is that your troubled home will receive peace and unspeakable joy in Jesus’ Name. Be wise and invite Jesus Christ into your home today, and you will be glad you did.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The word ‘grace’ is commonly used in the Bible to describe the demonstration of God’s goodwill towards humanity and its effects on our lives. Grace is simply the unmerited favour of God, the supreme expression of which is the redemption of sinners and the full forgiveness they freely receive through faith in Jesus Christ. The grace of God is more than enough to cover every weakness and challenges in the life of anyone who comes to Him through Jesus Christ (1st Timothy 1:14). Throughout the Bible, God shows Himself gracious in His dealings with mankind. Reading through the Bible, we see God’s grace spoken of in relation to three overlapping terms: goodness, love and mercy. Grace is therefore a product of God’s goodness, love and mercy towards humanity. We all owe the blessings of life to the goodwill of the Almighty God, who makes His sun rise on the evil and good, and sends His rain on the just and unjust. There is therefore no one who has not tasted of God’s grace. Beyond this, there is a higher level of grace that sets a people apart unto God, granting them privileges which others don’t enjoy. I pray that God will be gracious to you, and you will progressively experience higher levels of His grace throughout your lifetime in Jesus’ Name.

Those who desire to enjoy the benefits of being distinguished by grace need to recognise that God’s grace is made known today in Jesus Christ. John 1:17 says:
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came to Jesus Christ.”
Truly, divine grace is a gift of God that is exceedingly abundant in securing forgiveness and redemption of anyone dead in sin. God’s grace raises sinners up from the dunghill of shame and makes them sit together with Christ in heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). In addition to being more than enough, God’s grace also opens the door to healing from all kinds of sicknesses and deliverance from captivity, breaking down satanic strongholds and transforming lives. Amazingly, even though no one deserves this grace, it is abundantly available to us all for free. Indeed, no one can ever meet the requirements or fulfil the conditions necessary to access benefits associated with God’s grace. This is why Ephesians 2:8-9 says:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
We should therefore always be thankful for grace. The saving grace of Jesus Christ is available to all human beings without exception; please don’t reject or ignore it! Accept it with thanksgiving to God, and your life will never be the same again. Amen!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every discerning mind connected to heaven knows beyond any reasonable doubt that perilous times are here. Happenings in different parts of the world are beginning to align very accurately with what the prophets of old and the Lord Jesus Christ foretold about the end times. This is why it is very urgent that we maximise the time we have left to propagate the gospel of the Lord to those who are yet to know Him. Speaking to us on this in Ephesians 5:14-16, the Holy Spirit says:
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Today, even the very elect are straying from the flock of the Good Shepherd. The devil is attacking our faith from all angles, and some brethren have been hit by his evil arrows, making their love wax cold. The faith of some others has suffered shipwreck and their love is now directed at the pleasures of this world. Those things that should not even be mentioned in the house of God are now being celebrated on some pulpits. There are now more lovers of pleasure in the Church than lovers of God. We are in dire times indeed.

In this modern age where people are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, believers must watch against satanic wiles and temptations. We must avoid all forms of false doctrine being spread by the devil and his agents in the Church. Let us remain in the simple gospel of Jesus, which is able to see us through to the very end. There are false teachers rising up every day with different kinds of teachings and beliefs, using their influence to spread erroneous teachings to unsuspecting believers. Avoid such people and reject their teachings. Let us run with the message of the true gospel to every part of the world, reminding people that those who are not on the Lord’s side on the last day will face eternal damnation. Let us do the work of an evangelist, which includes going after those people straying from the flock of Christ. These are those who started well but have become consumed with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. The signs of the second coming of Christ are daily being fulfilled before our very eyes. In order not to be caught unawares, we must prepare ourselves daily through self-examination. The enemy of our soul is out there seeking how to devour us, and we must not allow him to truncate our destinies. We must not make room for the flesh and we must put out all works of darkness around us. As you occupy in the Lord’s service until He returns, be wise and circumspect in all that you do. Above all, always be fully prepared for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In John 10:14, Jesus Christ identifies who He is with respect to His responsibility towards His own. To fully partake of all He has to offer, you need to pay close attention to what He is saying here. In that verse, He does not introduce Himself as any ordinary shepherd but as the Good Shepherd who has intimate knowledge of His sheep on an individual basis. He also says the litmus test to know those who belong to Him is that they are able to recognise His voice, follow His guidance and obey His instructions (John 10:27). He confirms to us through these words that He is personally concerned about those who are His own. He does not deal with us on an impersonal basis or bureaucratically from a distance. This is made clear in Hebrews 4:15, which 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.”
Through the parable of the lost sheep, the Lord also assures us that He cares personally about every single member of His flock, so much so that even if one of them is lost, He will search until He finds that one (Luke 15:3-7).

Identity is very important to God. Just as Jesus presented Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and calls them by name, He also expects His sheep to recognise His voice and come to Him willingly. More so, He expects that His sheep would disregard the voice of strangers. He said in John 10:4-5
“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”
The Lord clearly indicates that He is only responsible for those who identify with Him and obey His commandments. Are you one of those? As the Good Shepherd, the Lord watches over His sheep and protects them, even to the point of giving His life as the ultimate sacrifice for them (John 10:11). Furthermore, Matthew 10:30 teaches that God has meticulously numbered every strand of our hair, and He is committed to doing everything necessary to protect us from every form of attack or harm. He has proven in times past and even today that He keeps His commandments. God consistently affirms in His word that His personal relationship with us is important to Him (2nd Timothy 2:19). Even though His providence extends to all of humanity, He specially cares for those who belong to him (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 5:45). Therefore, if I were you, I would ensure that I belong to His fold for the rest of my life, to continue enjoying the awesome benefits He gives. Are you part of His sheep?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As children of the Most High, we need a good understanding of the times and seasons we live in as an important part of enjoying our relationship with God, and to make us successful in our endeavours in this world. We must not ignore the Holy Spirit’s teaching in Ecclesiastes 3:1 which says:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
It is clear from this verse that our God is a God of plan and purpose who in His infinite wisdom has predetermined the times and seasons to activate His plan and fulfil His purpose. Genesis 8:22 is very insightful in this regard. It is amazing that the words God spoke to Noah so many years ago are still relevant to us in this generation. We understand from this verse that even though we should be heaven-minded, as this world is not our home, we must also be active and productive as long as we remain in this world. As profitable stewards of the resources of God’s kingdom, we must prepare for every season and put in our very best to make the most of every opportunity God gives to us. We must not occupy the back seat in the affairs of this world or accept servitude and poverty as our lot. We must refuse unfavourable circumstances and reject mediocrity disguised as spirituality. I pray that the Almighty God will give you perfect understanding of the times and seasons He makes available to you in Jesus’ Name.

Children of God need to know that the same God who commanded us to be sober, vigilant and to watch carefully for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ also instructed us to occupy till He returns (Luke 19:13). Therefore, as we continue to say “Come, Lord Jesus” and intensify our efforts to take His gospel to every corner of the earth, we must also continue to prosper and multiply in all aspects of life. We must continue in our efforts to dominate our world and subdue it for the Almighty God. Isaiah 49:8 says:
“Thus saith the LORD, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;”
I pray that your understanding will become open to realise that this is the acceptable time and season that our God in His wisdom has set to favour His children. Therefore, to as many as are determined to do exploits for God, I say the Lord will preserve you, and all your efforts to win souls for Christ will be richly rewarded. God will empower you to be established and cause you to inherit the desolate heritage of the earth, in the mighty Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;”
John 5:26
Life is an essential gift that God gives to every living entity in His creation. God is the Source and Author of life. This means that life cannot be acquired or possessed independently by any creature in the universe. Don’t be deceived; life is not an incidental product of nature, neither can nature take care of itself without God. Nature cannot produce life on its own because it is God’s special gift, produced and ordered by God Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten of the Father and not created, and being one with the Father, He has the same life-giving power that the Father possesses; so that just as the Father gave life as a gift at creation, Jesus is also able to give life freely to all those who come to Him through redemption.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Genesis 2:7
This scripture describes how the first Adam received life. The breath of God transmitted life into man’s inanimate body and he became a living soul. This process closely mirrors what the Second Adam (Jesus Christ) is saying in John 6:63. He is revealing to us that just as the Father gave life through His breath in the beginning, He also gives life through His words today. Therefore, the words of Jesus Christ are literally the ‘Word of life’, not only in His own mouth but also in the mouth of those He has committed it to. No wonder John wrote in 1st John 1:1&3:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life…. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
The word of life carries the creative power of God that is able to bring life to any dead situation. This is the same power that framed the universe! If you catch the revelation, you will realise the magnitude of the power at your disposal. You can speak the word of life to any situation in which death reigns and the life of God will come into it. The same word of life that the early disciples used in turning the world “upside down” is what God has committed to your mouth (Acts 5:20, Acts 17:6, Philippians 2:15-16). I therefore decree that from today, the word of God will become life fire in your mouth that will turn the world upside down for Christ in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Since the Bible declares that man was created in God’s image, to any objective person, a look at man’s creative works should reflect how creative God is (Genesis 1:26). Just as there can be no house without a builder or car without a manufacturer, so also is it impossible to have a universe so organised without a creator. God is indeed the Creator of all things in heaven and on earth. Colossians 1:16 says:
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”
A consideration of the intelligent design of everything in creation should convince anyone that the Creator of it all must be a great and mighty God. No wonder Psalm 19:1 says:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Indeed, the signature of the Almighty God is seen in the firmament and everywhere throughout creation: from the perfectly organised, precision-driven cosmos to the wonders of the human body. The spectacles of God’s creative power are on display in various plants, insects, animals, mountains, rock formations, waterfalls and beautiful landscapes all over the world. All of these are meant to leave us without any iota of doubt that there is nothing impossible with the Almighty God, who is all-knowing and all-powerful. Speaking on this, the Holy Spirit says in Romans 1:20
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Having revealed Himself throughout the observable universe in diverse ways, those who still doubt God’s existence or His ability to do all things only rob themselves of partaking in His miraculous works. They are like the government official in 2nd Kings 7:2 who doubted the word of God declared by Elisha. Although His eyes saw the fulfilment of God’s word, he did not live to partake of it. Similarly, the Israelites who doubted God in Numbers 13:26-33 also denied themselves the pleasure of entering the Promised Land, as they all perished in the wilderness. That is what doubt does in the life of a person. I encourage you therefore not to doubt God. Your doubt will not diminish Him in any way; it will only rob you of His purpose and provision for your life. May the Lord completely destroy the root of doubt in your life and family today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the most important responsibilities of leaders is to make the people they lead happy by providing an enabling environment for peace and prosperity. A leader who listens to the yearnings and aspirations of his people and tries to provide solutions to their problems is usually loved, while any leader who fails to satisfy the common interest of the people, even for the best reasons, is generally condemned. Therefore, leaders at every level of human endeavour have perfected the art of pleasing the people they lead in order to continually earn their approval and to keep enjoying the power, wealth and influence made available by their office. However, the Bible admonishes Christians in general and those in position of authority in particular to reject the temptation of becoming pleasers of men. 1st Thessalonians 2:4 says:
“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
We see from this scripture that God expects all Christians to view every opportunity to influence others as a divine responsibility that has a divine purpose. Therefore, we are to do all things to the glory of God with the consciousness that we owe our allegiance to Him and not to any human being. For this reason, the Holy Spirit says in Psalm 75:6-7:
“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Pleasing people involves making every effort to do whatever they want in order to win their approval, even when such actions are contrary to God’s commandments. Pleasing people requires eye service, insincerity, self-centeredness and godlessness. Men pleasers have an insatiable appetite for money and power, and they can mortgage the future of the people they lead to achieve their selfish ambitions. Anyone who is obsessed with pleasing people will unconsciously begin to work against God’s purpose until he or she becomes an enemy of God. Paul came to this conclusion in Galatians 1:10, saying:
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Aaron, King Saul and Herod are examples of leaders who were committed to pleasing people in order to win their approval, without much consideration for the will and commandments of God (Exodus 32, 1st Samuel 15, Acts 12:20-23). Unfortunately, they all got punished for their evil actions. I pray that every tendency to be a people-pleaser will be completely removed from your life today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Fear is an unpleasant emotion that is usually triggered by a perceived or real threat of danger, pain or harm. It manifests as a general feeling or anxiety over the likelihood of a negative occurrence that may never become reality. It is indeed a paralysing force that often leads to self-doubt, timidity and lack of confidence, and if allowed to fester, it usually deals irreparable blows on its victim over time. Speaking on the debilitating effects of fear, Proverbs 22:13 says:
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”
Fear prevents its victims from investing quality time, effort and money into profitable ventures, rendering them powerless and denying them bountiful harvest. Have you been held captive by fear? May the Lord deliver you from the spirit of fear and its paralysing effects today in Jesus’ Name. To liberate His people from the bondage of fear, God repeatedly encouraged them to “fear not” several times in the Bible. What He said to them, He also says to you now: “Fear not”. Be strengthened by His assuring words in Isaiah 41:10, saying:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

In light of God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10-13, it is clear that He expects us to allow our faith in Him shape the realities of our lives rather than let fear dominate us. God is disappointed whenever we exercise fear instead of faith. When the disciples of Jesus were confronted by a ranging storm which frightened them, Jesus asked them in Mark 4:40b:
“Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
This shows us that God sees people who exhibit fear as having little or no faith at all. Faith is the antidote to fear, and anyone who will overcome fear must develop strong faith in God. Complete trust and faith in God is a central pillar of our life as Christians. The Holy Spirit assures us that whoever believes in Christ will not be disappointed or confounded (1st Peter 2:6). Whenever frightening events happen around us or we are overwhelmed by difficult circumstances of life, when danger lurks and failure or death stares us in the face, God expects us to safely trust in His love and ability to see us through such difficult times. May the anchor of your faith continually hold on to God forever in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Miracles are simply God’s supernatural interventions in the natural world, which suspends the laws of nature.
God performs miracles to show His sovereignty over His created world. In other words, through miracles, He shows that none of His creations can stand in His way whenever He decides to do anything. For example, contrary to the laws of nature, Sarah got pregnant and had a child after she had passed the age of child bearing (Genesis 21:1-. Unfortunately, many people who desire miracles are not ready to fulfil the requirements that bring about their manifestation, and so their desire remains a mirage. How do we unlock the door to the miraculous? The topic of today’s devotional (Faith, Obedience & Miracles) gives insights into this. Firstly, we must live a life that is pleasing to God if we want His supernatural interventions in our lives, and we please God when we live by faith. The Bible categorically says in Hebrews 11:6a:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:”
The word ‘faith’ has a deeper meaning than many people imagine. For example, it is a lack of faith in God that makes people sin. Adam and Eve lacked faith in the One who placed them in the Garden of Eden and told them what to eat and what not to eat. They doubted God’s integrity and believed the lie of the devil, thereby falling straight into sin. Due to the presence of sin, God’s supernatural intervention, which hitherto made things happen easily for them, departed from their lives. Beloved, Jesus says to you today, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22)

Another key which unlocks the miraculous is obedience to the word of God. As a matter of fact, disobedience is the by-product of having no faith. When a person lacks faith in God, the tendency is there for the fellow to disobey God with impunity. You can hardly obey the fellow you do not have faith in. It is therefore ironic that the miracle-working God is being disobeyed by those seeking His miracles. From experience, Jesus’ mother knew the link between obedience and walking in the miraculous, and so she said in John 2:5b:
“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
When the servants did what Jesus Christ instructed them to do, they experienced the miraculous. Other examples abound in the Bible which show the connection between faith and obedience on the one hand and between obedience and miracles on the other hand. The story of Naaman is another good example in this regard (2nd Kings 5:1-14). Beloved, if you desire to open the door to the miraculous in your life, have faith in the God of miracles and obey Him completely.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Some information is deemed classified, meaning that it is top-secret. The Almighty God has a lot of such information at His disposal. Thankfully, He releases classified information to His elect from time to time.
As seen in Genesis 18:17, Abraham was one who had access to such information. Are you one of God’s favourite? Are you qualified to receive heaven’s classified information? There are prerequisites that must be met before anyone can have access to heaven’s secrets. Speaking on this, the Bible says in Psalm 25:14:
“The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”
So, the fear of the Lord is one of the criteria for accessing God’s classified information. When we look into the lives of those who enjoyed this rare privilege, we will see that they feared God. For example, Joseph was given access to classified information because he feared the Lord. it was this fear that prevented him from sleeping with his master’s wife (Exodus 20:14).

Another prerequisite is the ability to guard a secret in your heart without divulging it. I believe one reason why Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was chosen and given classified information about the Messiah that would come through her was that she knew how to keep secrets. From the time the angel of the Lord appeared to her announcing the immaculate Conception to the time the angels announced the arrival of the Holy Child, many secrets things were revealed to her, and the Bible says in Luke 2:19:
“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Beloved, you can be one who receives God’s classified information if only you can refrain from being a talebearer and revealer of secrets. God has the prerogative of revealing secrets and showing unknown things to His prophets, according to Daniel 2:22 which say:
“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”
Paul is another example of someone who had access to God’s classified information. In Acts 27:21-24, while all the crew and passengers of the ship he was travelling in were in great turmoil, he had peace because he knew what would happen. Paul had credit in his account with God, and so he was privileged to know God’s mind concerning his voyage. Beloved, you can also qualify to have access to heaven’s secrets if only you can pay the price.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The topic of today’s devotional (Don't Be A Carnal Christian) is not a piece of advice but an express command from the Holy Spirit. Roman 8:6 reveals that it is a dangerous thing to remain carnal after experiencing the new birth, which is why the Holy Spirit is speaking to us on it today. Unfortunately, many carnal Christians either don’t know their canal state or refuse to admit it. For this reason, Paul had to directly inform the brethren at Corinth that they were canal Christian? There are many signs which indicate a Christian is still carnal, and 1 Corinthians 3:3 mentions some, one of which is envy. Envy opens the door to strife, and when strife is fully grown, it brings about divisions and schisms in the Body of Christ. All of these were present in the Church at Corinth. Even fornication was found there!

In 1st Corinthians 3:1, Christians who are carnal are declared to be babes who need to grow into maturity. For this reason, the Holy Spirit encourages us in Philippians 4:4-9 to grow in Christian virtues by meditating on things that are truthful, honest, just, pure and lovely. We are also called to live a praiseworthy life of good report. How do we attain all these virtues? It is through purposeful training in discipleship. Christian virtues do not come automatically; they are learnt. This is made clear through Paul’s words in Philippians 4:9, saying:
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard,. and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ is still calling believers to come and learn of Him (Matthew 11:28-30). Growing in faith requires conscious and concerted efforts in learning God’s ways in order to know His mind on all things. Philippians 3:10-11 says:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Beloved, please give heed to the Holy Spirit’s admonition in 2nd Peter 3:18a, which says:
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
By doing this, you will become a heaven-bound Christian who is mature and not carnal.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Who is an ambassador? An ambassador is simply an official who lives in a foreign country as the representative of his or her own country. Two things are striking in this definition. The first is that an ambassador is an official and a representative of his or her country’s government. In other words, there is a relationship between the ambassador and the country he or she represents. Secondly, an ambassador lives in a foreign country. From these points, it is obvious that Christ’s ambassadors must have a relationship with Him. There are many people today who claim to be representatives of Jesus Christ, whereas there is no relationship between them and the Master. Concerning such people, Jesus says in Luke 13:26-27:
“Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
Furthermore, Christ’s ambassadors must see themselves as strangers living in a foreign land called earth. Unless you live your life as a pilgrim with temporary stay on earth, you cannot be Christ’s ambassador indeed. Learn from those who have gone ahead of us, of whom 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 early apostles are great examples of how to live our lives as Christ’s ambassadors. Although most of them were ignorant and illiterate men, they were also something else, which supersedes every other thing: they were clones of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflecting the life and principles He brought from heaven. It is therefore not surprising that they did the same feats the Lord did while in the flesh – thus fulfilling the prophecy Jesus made that we would do the works He did, and even greater works than He did (John 14:12). Even the Jewish leaders who persecuted the disciples admitted that they resembled their Master.

Beloved, to be Christ’s ambassador indeed requires learning of Him (Matthew 11:28-30). Are you ready to learn of Him? Do you see yourself as Christ’s ambassador in all that you do? The disciples of old lived their lives as Christ’s ambassadors and did not regret it. In fact, Jesus promised them a hundredfold return on their commitment, and this promise is yours also (Mark 10:29-30).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, the Spirit of the Lord is warning us to beware of excessive profiteering in business. This is something people do in order to enrich themselves with worldly materials and possessions procured through huge profits. God says it is an act of wickedness when we unduly profit from essential goods and services. You may not know the pain you are inflicting by doing this unless God opens your eyes to see that some who need your goods or services for survival are suffering because they cannot afford to pay what you are charging them. People who do this either do not know or have forgotten the words of wisdom in Proverbs 13:11, which says:
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”
It is even worse when some rich employers of labour deny their workers their due wages, all in a bid to live large on what does not belong to them. it is equivalent to slavery when people work for you and you either don’t pay them or you tactically delay their payday. If you are involved in this, the Holy Spirit says to you in James 5:3-4:
“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. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”
A close look at the misfortunes of those practicing such wickedness will make any wise person to heed God’s warning in this scripture. Those who loot the public treasury in order to leave something behind for their children have proved themselves foolish in this regard. Even in their lifetime, their children begin to mismanage their ill-gotten properties. We have heard stories of labourers’ children buying the properties of their fathers’ masters after the Lord of Sabaoth caused wealth to change hands. Only the riches gotten through just means can stand the test of time. No wonder Proverbs 22:22-23 says:
“Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.”
Beloved, remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and be wise: He warned us that the value of a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things he has (Luke 12:15). May the Lord grant you the great gain that comes from godly contentment in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are two very important characteristics of a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ which we shall be reflecting on today. The first of those is knowledge of the truth. The Truth is no other person than the Lord Jesus Christ. He declared Himself to be The Truth in John 14:6, saying:
“….I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
He further declared that the word of God is truth, thereby indicating that He is the Word of God (John 17:17, John 1:1-12). By implication, whoever rejects the word of God rejects Jesus Christ, and whoever rejects Jesus Christ rejects the Truth. Through this principle, we know those who are genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. Real Disciples of Christ accept the infallible word of God as the truth, which no ancient or modern philosophy can change. Speaking on the constancy of God’s word, the Lord said in Luke 21:33:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”
He further declared in John 6:63b:
“the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
True disciples of Jesus Christ are known by their lifestyles which reflect God’s word. Today, many who call themselves disciples of Christ pick and choose which of Jesus’ words they would live by. Some even say that if Jesus had to live in our time, He would reverse many of his teachings! What a lie from the pit of hell! If you want to finish your Christian race in heaven, beware of such people, because they will try to mislead you into believing their falsehood.

A second characteristic of genuine disciples of Jesus Christ is that they are free from the bondage of the devil. When I come across some so-called disciples of the Lord complaining of one form of demonic oppression or the other, I often wonder. Jesus Christ said we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. Why then are some disciples not free? They are either ignorant of the truth concerning who they really are, or they are not genuine disciples of the Lord in the first place (Hosea 4:6). Beloved, I counsel you to re-examine your position as a disciple of Christ and find out if there is any missing link between you and the Master, subjecting you to any form of bondage. If this is the case, quickly do something about it today. Freedom from every form of demonic oppression is your inheritance in Christ. Claim it now!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, we will be reflecting on an area of compromise in the Body of Christ which the Lord wants us to repent of. This has to do with partaking in other men’s sin, whether by supporting, celebrating or turning a blind eye to their misdeeds. The reason why The Redeemed Christian Church of God is perceived by some to be rigid on certain matters is because we are conscious of the possibility of being an accomplice of heresies. We prefer to give God the benefit of the doubt rather than take things for granted – after all, it is safer to be overly obedient than to fall prey to sin.

Romans 1:32 is strong food for thought for the Body of Christ. Through it, we understand that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven not only against those who commit acts that He hates, but also against those who have pleasure in those that do them. Some pastors would say, “What is my business if a man divorces his wife and marries another woman? It is their problem, not mine.” However, such pastors are not just witnesses but accomplices to the joining of two spiritually incompatible partners through remarriage, thereby approving of those who have gone against the Lord’s instructions in 1st Corinthians 7:10-11. May you not be a partaker of sins you did not directly commit in Jesus’ Name (1st Timothy 5:22).

In times past, we were taught that it was not enough to abstain from alcohol; we were also expected not to serve it to others to drink. Habakkuk 2:15 says:
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makes him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their unclothedness!”
This was how my old friends knew that a change had occurred in me after I gave my life to Christ. When I started serving them soft drinks instead of whiskey and champagne, they thought I had gone crazy. Another area of compromise that makes believers accomplices to sin is when they allow fraud to be perpetrated under their noses and do nothing about it. There is a Yoruba adage which says, “The one who collects the stolen curse of oil is as guilty as the one who actually stole it from the kitchen rack.” This same principle applies to those who allow their homes to be used for immoral acts. Although some young Christians would not fornicate, they allow their unbelieving friends bring their girlfriends to commit sexual immorality in their houses. In the sight of God, they are as guilty as those committing the act. The giver of a bribe is as guilty as the taker of it. Don’t be an accomplice to corrupt practices. The Lord is watching you, and He is coming back soon.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We need a deeper insight into Proverbs 22:29 in order to understand what God is teaching us today. To put it quite simply, God is asking us to be diligent, specifically in our own business. Anyone who is inordinately diligent in someone else’s personal affairs is a busybody, and such a person will reap no reward for this. When I was young, my mother was so hard on me whenever I played too much. She would order me to immediately go into the house and read my books. If I protested that I was being singled out for harsh treatment when other children were also playing, she would remind me that she was not called to mind other people’s business. I thank God that my mother diligently minded the business which the Lord committed into her hands. She would say to me, “Enoch, you are my business; I will mind you and not other people’s business.”

When a person is not mindful of what to do with his or her life, he or she wastes it. Please understand that time wasted is life wasted. The easiest way to waste a life is to not do something meaningful with that life. Paul could boldly say to the Church at Thessalonica that he and his team purposely did not live on other people’s provision. He gave his reason for this in 2nd Thessalonians 3:8-9, saying:
“….that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”
Paul went as far as telling the Church that any so-called brother or sister who would not work should not be allowed to eat of the shared provisions of the brethren! Beloved, the needy in our midst should be fed, but they should also be taught how to work with their hands. This has been the tradition of the Church from the very beginning (2nd Thessalonians 3:6&10). Some people are so selective that they claim there are no job opportunities, whereas there are jobs they can do to earn a living. Their problem is that they are looking for certain “white collar jobs” which may not be available. The truth is, if you are not able to find work in your profession or chosen trade, you can try your hands at other things. Learn from Paul the lawyer who laboured as a tent maker to earn a living when the churches he had planted were not strong enough to bear the cost of his missionary work (Acts 22:3, Act 18:3). One of my sons told the story of a young lady who was feeding from the church. When he tried to get her a cleaning job at the Redemption Camp, she rejected it, saying the job was not dignifying enough. Ironically, cleaners were among those contributing to the purse where her needs were being met. May you never underrate the door of opportunity God opens to you in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

While its one thing to build, it’s another thing to build something that benefits mankind and glorifies God Almighty. God is therefore asking you today, “What are you building?” When you consider the construction of the tower of Babel, you will understand the relevance of this question (Genesis 11:1-9). Although those people were indeed building, they were erecting an edifice that symbolised rebellion against God. Their example shows us that anyone building anything worthwhile must build in the pattern that God has established, and whatever is being built must not go against His purpose.

Without a doubt, parents are builders of future generations, but the question is, what type of generation are they building? In Genesis 18:19, God said of Abraham as a parent:
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
Can God say the same of you? Apart from parents, teachers are also builders. As a teacher, what are you building in your students? A good teacher should be able to say like Paul in Philippians 3:17:
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
It is unfortunate that in some places, students dictate to teachers what the standard should be. Wherever this is happening, something is fundamentally wrong. A bad teacher will definitely build a faulty generation. Eventually, every bad teacher will definitely reap the reward of their work. The story was told of a bad teacher who produced a half-baked medical doctor. Years later, this doctor was complicit in the death of the teacher’s child. Ministers of the gospel are also builders. In fact, they are the greatest builders of all because they build the Body of Christ. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 that by God’s grace, he was a wise master builder who had laid the foundation of faith in people’s lives, warning others to be careful of how they built on that foundation. Why? The answer is found in 1st Corinthians 3:11, which says:
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
From this, we understand that it is possible to build junk upon a golden foundation. Such a building will not stand the test of time. Beloved, what are you building with your life? Remember that every man’s work shall be tested by fire, and if it is burnt, it is counted as loss to its owner. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Any time I am confronted with a challenge in life, I take consolation in the fact that every challenge has an expiry date. In fact, for those who believe, every challenge expires the very day it emerges. Once the sun sets and I go to bed, the lifespan of any challenge before me is ended. It is so because the Spirit of the Lord says in Psalm 30:5:
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Since every word of God is pure and He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him, I have confidence in what this scripture says (Proverbs 30:5)

One fellow who experienced joy coming in the morning is Peter. One night, he was in prison awaiting execution, and the next morning he woke up a free man. Our God is marvellous! Peter’s experience becomes even more amazing when you consider that the night before his planned execution he slept between two soldiers, bound with chains. There were also keepers of the prisons watching over the prison gate to ensure that he did not escape, but it was all to no avail. I decree that the Almighty God will rescue you from the hands of your captors this very day in Jesus’ Name. One lesson we can learn from this story is that Peter had faith in the Lord. This was why he could sleep in the face of imminent death. Peter seemed to be saying, “Let me sleep tonight because by the time day breaks, my joy will be full.” As he slept, the Lord sent His angels to rescue him in the middle of the night, ushering him into his joyful morning. Acts 12:11 says:
“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jews.”
Although the brethren of the early Church entered into that fateful night with agony for Peter, they rejoiced at daybreak with Peter standing at the door of the place where they met to pray. God’s word in Psalm 126:1 literarily came to pass in their lives, and it says:
“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”
I decree that your morning of joy is here, and the expectation of your enemies shall be cut short in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One great promise God has given His children is victory over enemies. When enemies come with determination to crush a child of God, the Lord promises that He will drive them back. In Isaiah 59:19, He says:
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
If you desire this promise to be fulfilled in your life, there are some steps you need to take. The first of these is that you must have the fear of God in your heart. This fear keeps you away from sin. Through the fear of God, Joseph said to his master’s wife in Genesis 39:9:
“…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
It was the fear of God that kept Joseph away from sexual immorality and not the law. This reverence for God accounts for his victories over all enemies, beginning from his father’s house to the foreign land of Egypt.

Furthermore, Isaiah 43:1-2 reveals some more reasons why you cannot be defeated as a child of God. For one thing, you cannot be crushed because the Lord God Almighty is your Creator. Because you are not a product of chance or an accident, nothing can happen by chance to destroy you. The Almighty formed you and so you cannot be deformed by any evil (Psalm 91:1-4). Another reason why you can’t be crushed is that you are not cheap. You were redeemed at the cost of the priceless Blood of Jesus Christ. You are so valuable that you have a name peculiar to you alone (Revelation 2:17). Speaking about you worth, the Lord said in Luke 12:7:
“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
God’s promise in Isaiah 43:1-2 is part of the benefits of believers in Christ who have made peace with their Maker through repentance and regeneration. Are you one of them? If you are not, what are you waiting for? Beloved, you must believe that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is your Creator. Believe in the redemptive power of the work Jesus Christ did at Calvary and repent. As you return to God, He will give you a name that is indestructible. You will be victorious here on earth, and in the hereafter, you will overcome everlasting death. Believe this, and you will see the glory of God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Yesterday, we reflected on the blessedness of having a teachable heart. The Holy Spirit taught us that when an individual is instructed in God’s word, he becomes wise, and if he was already wise, he will become even wiser. Today, we want to consider the link between God’s word and divine prosperity. What the Lord says concerning walking in prosperity in whatever we do in life is clear from Joshua 1:8. The link between God’s word and divine prosperity is that God’s word makes a person wise, and wisdom is all a person needs to prosper in life. God specifically told Joshua that he must be a friend of His word if he would prosper in his God-given assignment. This instruction applies to everyone, irrespective of vocation and age. Doctors, teachers, engineers, pastors, artisans and even soldiers need the wisdom of God’s word to break through into divine prosperity. David, a great commander of an outstanding army, needed to hear from God before he could succeed in his bid to recover all that the enemies had stolen from his camp (1st Samuel 30:8-19).

The word of God further reveals the true source of wealth, saying in Deuteronomy 8:18:
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
From this scripture, we know that true wealth devoid of sorrow comes only from the Almighty God. We can therefore spare ourselves the many troubles that come with looking elsewhere for wealth if we allow God’s word to dwell rightly in us (1st Timothy 6:10). Beloved, do you desire to prosper? All you need is to get properly acquainted with the word of God. Don’t be among those who see God’s word as outdated, to their own frustration and life-time agony. However, if you have not given you life to Christ, it means you have not known the Word at all, because Jesus is the eternal Word of God. So, give your life to Jesus today and learn of Him (Matthew 11:28-30). God will bless you richly as you learn His principles on wealth and apply them to your daily life. Take note of the words used by the Holy Spirit in James 1:25: it’s the doer of the work that is blessed in his or her deeds. May God prosper the works of your hands in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Teaching becomes a herculean task when a teacher is confronted with stubborn students. To be un-teachable in the things of God is a very dangerous state for everyone to be in. Proverbs 29:1 says:
“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, that without remedy.”
Pharaoh found himself in this state and he did not end well. God warned him several times with at least ten plagues. Yet he hardened his heart until he met his waterloo at the Red Sea. We also see a similar scenario in the case of Haman, who was warned by his wife and friends to desist from persecuting Mordecai, but he would not listen until he was executed on the same gallows he had built for Mordecai (Esther 6-7). I decree over someone using this devotional today; the pit which your enemies dug for you shall swallow them up in Jesus’ Name.

Unlike Pharaoh and Haman, a teachable fellow is a pleasant student to have. A receptive heart is blessed for many reasons, some of which are indicted in Proverbs 9:7-9. The Bible says wisdom is the principle thing, and so we should go all out to get wisdom and understanding, even if it costs us all we have (Proverbs 4:7). In other words, it is of no use if a man possesses the whole world but lacks wisdom and understanding. The question now is, how can we get wisdom and understanding? Proverbs 9:9 says:
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”
This verse is saying that a wise man acquires wisdom by receiving instructions, and the understanding of an upright man is increased through teaching. Of course, the one being taught must have a teachable heart, as it is rightly said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink.” Therefore, the first blessing of a teachable heart is that it increases in wisdom. This wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, which is manifested as deep reverence for God’s word (Proverbs 1:7). When someone who fears God is taught God’s word, it will restrain him or her from doing things against God’s will. For a heart to be teachable in God’s word, it must be meek. The Spirit of God makes this clear in Pslam 25:9, which says:
“The meek will be guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way.”
The trait, clearly demonstrated in Psalm 25:4, made David a man after God’s heart. Anyone who desires to have a special place in God’s heart must also develop a teachable heart through meekness. Do you have a teachable heart?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 2 Timothy 2:20, the Holy Spirit makes it clear that there are different categories of vessels, all of which God uses. In other words, there is no one who comes into this world without serving one divine purpose or the other. The question is, what material are you made of, and what category of vessels do you belong to? There are vessels made of gold, silver, wood and clay. However, more sobering is the classification of vessels into those for honour and those for dishonour. I pray that you will be a vessel unto honour in Jesus’ Name. Pharaoh was a vessel unto dishonour. In Romans 9:17, the Bible says concerning him:
“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”
A deep secret in the above scripture is that man is given the freewill to choose what type of vessel he wants to be. Pharaoh was given ample opportunity to write a beautiful history concerning himself as a king who feared God and saved his people the agony of catastrophic destruction. What did he do with that opportunity? He bungled it and perished in the Red Sea. Unlike him, Abimelech who took Abraham’s wife listened to God, did exactly what God instructed him to do, and he was blessed (Genesis 20:2-18). His barren wife and maidservants became fruitful. The king of Nineveh also was a vessel unto honour. He led his city to repentance, and they obtained God’s mercy because they chose to obey His instructions.


1 Timothy 2:20 gives a clue on how to become a vessel unto honour. In it the Holy Spirit emphatically says that whoever chooses to be a vessel unto honour, such as a minister of the gospel, must be blameless, among other requirements. The reason for this high standard is not far-fetched: honourable assignments are meant for honourable people. Sinners are not honourable in the sight of God. No wonder 2nd Timothy 2:21 says:
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
This is the higher ground to which the Lord is calling us. We can be vessels of honour if we chose to be. All that is required of us is to do what the Holy Spirit specified in 2nd Timothy 2:21. Cleanse yourself of the dishonourable works of the flesh, be sanctified by grace and let the Holy Spirit dwell in you. God bless you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”
Proverbs 18:16
This scripture makes clear the reason why we need to identify our gifts. However, it is one thing to identify your gift and another to put it to positive and profitable use. Paul knew this, and so he encouraged his spiritual son, Timothy, to stir up the gift of God which had been imparted to him by putting it to profitable use (2nd Timothy 1:6). Gifts are bestowed on people for specific reasons and purposes. For example, when the Lord gave Moses the architectural design of the tabernacle, He also gifted Bezaleel and Aholiab with artisan skills to carry out the works (Exodus 31:2-6, Exodus 36:1-2). The task was so complex that only those who were given the gift of “all manner of workmanship” could have carried it out with the precision it required. At the end of the exercise, the Bible says in Exodus 39:32&43:
“Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they… And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.”

Many people are gifted, but they fail to develop the gifts in them; so their gifts remain dormant and useless. Buried gifts are useless to the one who possesses them and also to the society at large, which ordinarily should benefit from them. People who fail to develop their gifts are like the proverbial unprofitable servant who refused to trade with (develop or multiply) the talent he was given by his lord (Matthew 25:14-30). The same principles apply to spiritual gifts. From 1 Corinthians 12:1-7 we understand that even though there are various spiritual gifts, they are all given for the common purpose and goal declared in Ephesians 4:12-13, which says:
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Everyone has a gift which we must all develop in order to be relevant in our generation. If we successfully use our gifts and bring profit to God through them, we will receive physical and spiritual rewards. Brethren, I encourage you to identify your gift, develop it and use it to glorify God and bless humanity.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

What parents see in their children goes a long way to determine how well they treasure them. As God’s heritage, it is important that parents see the image of God in their children, so that they can nurture them for the glory and plesaure of God, who is their rightful Owner. Unfortunately, some parents, especially in under-developed nations, treat their children as domestic animals or working machines, so much so that you begin to wonder if they purposely gave birth to them for economic reasons. Many abuse their children by engaging them in money making ventures and making them become breadwinners at a tender age. I know of a man who has about thirteen children. He gives them out to serve as domestic workers and collects the wages of their labour to feed himself. Clearly, he does not see his children as carriers of God’s image.

Furthermore, some couples decide to abort pregnancies they are not prepared for. However you look at it, this is murder – a grievous sin against God and humanity. God asked me to tell someone reading this devotional that the pregnancy you are about to terminate is your glory; don’t abort the child that will bring God’s glory upon your life. When ‘struck’ with an unwanted child, many parents go ahead to despise such a child, instead of seeing him or her as a pleasant surprise from God. These are all examples of ungodly parenting.

In Exodus 2:1-4, we see what godly parents look like. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, was a godly parent. Even though Pharaoh had ordered all sons born to Hebrew families to be killed at birth, she saw God’s image in her own child and did all she could to preserve him. Exodus 2:2 says:
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.”
When the baby could no longer be hidden, she decided to commit him into the hands of his original Owner, the Almighty. In all this, Moses’ parents never imagined that this child was to become the deliverer of the whole nation of Israel. The Lord asked me to tell someone using this devotional that the child you think is a problem will turn around to put smiles on your face in your lifetime. All you need to do is to give that child the best you have as a springboard for his or her leap into destiny. Children are carriers of God’s image, and unless we see them in that light, there is the tendency to abuse them and lose the blessings accompanying them. In light of what Psalm 127:1-5 says about children, I encourage all parents to first surrender their lives to God, and then it will be easy for them to also surrender their children to Him for supreme care. Parents who do this will not be denied their blessings in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Disobedience has the evil tag of being the first sin man committed. The deadly mystery of this sin is that disobedient people more often than not never accept blame for their act.They tend to give excuses and blame other people or “factors beyond their control”. This is what Adam did when God questioned him concerning his disobedience. Genesis 3:12 says:
“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
Unfortunately, his excuse did not clear him of responsibility, nor did it deter God from punishing him. Another person who gave excuses for disobedience is King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15:17-22, when he was confronted with his sin, he tried to justify himself by using the good act of sacrifice as an excuse for his disobedience. In response to his attempt at justifying himself, God’s prophet told him in 1st Samuel 15:22:
“…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Let us take a closer look at King Saul’s excuse for disobeying God. 1st Samuel 15:21 says:
“But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.”
Saul’s excuse was that it was not him, but the people, who took the spoil. This make one wonder who was leading who in the battle against the Amalekites. He was trying to pass the buck. He felt he could appease God or His prophet, Samuel, by presenting a big offering in the form of sacrifice.

Beloved, in what areas are you disobeying God? You better repent today and cultivate the habit of living by the dictates of the infallible word of God. No amount of service you render to God can take the place of obeying His word. No amount of money given as seed offerings, tithes or donations can justify indulging in fraudulent practices at your place of work. May the Lord give you the grace to obey His commandments to the letter in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Women are a blessing to mankind, created by God to address a special need (Genesis 2:18-20). In fact, God’s will and purpose for the human race cannot be accomplished without the wonderful vessels that women are. Why then does the Bible identify some women as ‘strange’ in Proverbs 5:3? It is because the character of such women has deviated from the purpose of which God created them. a strange woman is an outsider operating where she does not belong. This includes but is not limited to adultery and fornication. The strange woman is also that woman who inappropriately knows everything about a man who is not her husband. She will likely use that knowledge to manipulate him to her own advantage. Wives, this equally applies to men other than your husband. Many people’s lives have been destroyed through loose talk with strange people about their marriages. Husbands must learn to communicate and relate with their wives and not strange women, so that they can experience the joys and blessings of marriage.

From the time Satan misled Adam and Eve, this world has been full of deceit. You must therefore be on your guard not to get caught in the web of deceit. Strange women are deceitful in everything. They put on the appearance of elegance and perfection but they are empty inside. They pretend they can offer the comfort which a wife should provide, but the wisdom of God says in Proverbs 5:5:
“Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.”
As seen in Proverbs 5:3, they pretend to be sweet and speak with a smile, but they are out to steal from you. A strange woman will steal the happiness of your home, and may even end up stealing your home itself. Are you having issues with your spouse? Once you start finding succour elsewhere, you will not be motivated to work on your marriage, and as a consequence, you will continue to drift away from your spouse until your relationship is shipwrecked. At that stage, the strange woman will welcome you with open arms into her bosom. After she gets what she wants from you, you will then discover her true nature and character, but it will be too late. May this never be your experience in Jesus’ Name. Listen to this admonition in Proverbs 5:8 so that you don’t get caught in the web of the strange woman. It says:
“Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To be born again means to be born by the seed of God. Simply put, those who are born again are born of God. Our God is holy, and there is no iniquity in Him. It therefore follows that anyone who becomes born again through His seed will also possess His nature of holiness. 1st Peter 1:23 says:
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever"
We manifest the nature of holiness when we love righteousness and hate whatever is evil (Hebrews 1:9). Therefore, those who are born of God do not cultivate the habit of sin because the seed of God in them prevents them from committing sin (1st John 3:9). It is a glorious thing indeed to be born of God. No wonder John was excited to declare in 1st John 3:1a:
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:"

Are you born again? If you say you are, do you pass the litmus test of having the nature of holiness? Do you live righteously for all to see? Do you really hate sin or secretly take pleasure in it, even though you do not partake in the act? Weigh yourself on the scales of God's word today to determine your true situation. Based on the standard of God's word, we either belong to God or the devil - there is no middle ground. How do we know those who belong to the devil? 1 John 3:8a says:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.”
It is clear as daylight from this scripture that those who live a lifestyle of sin are of the devil. The devil has sin in his nature, and he shares this nature with his children. Conversely, righteousness is God’s character, and His children are known for righteous living. Those who hate righteousness, no matter how long they have been in church, are not of God. Beloved, where do you stand after weighing yourself on God’s scale? If you are still indulging in one sin or the other, you are far from being born of God- you need to return to Calvary to surrender your lifestyle of sin completely. Genuinely repent of your sins and ask God to infuse His seed into you so that you can bring forth His nature. Once you do this, God will graciously replace the nature of sin in you with His nature of holiness. After receiving His nature, subjugate your body and mind to the dictates of His nature. God bless you as you yield to righteousness in all that you do in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The title of today’s devotional (Fighting God) is a question we all need to answer. Is it possible for a mere mortal to fight God? The word of God makes it clear that even though it’s an exercise in futility, in reality, it is something people do. Psalm 2:1-3 says:
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
This scripture describes what is happening in our world today. The government of several nations have taken counsel against God and against Jesus Christ, His Anointed. Teachings about God have been thrown out of public schools, praying publicly in the Name of Jesus is forbidden, and preaching in public spaces in the Name of Jesus Christ is illegal in many societies. As prophesied in this scripture, some societies have cast away the Biblical cords of restraint that hitherto defined mortality. In the name of freedom of thought and self, they have broken off the bands of God’s commandments and created room for individuals to indulge in and advocate for all manner of profane lifestyles. People should remember that all those who towed this path in times past ended up being destroyed. You cannot fight God without grave consequences.


Are you guilty of fighting God? Do you even believe in Him? Those who don’t believe God exist are indirectly saying that they are not answerable to His authority. This sets them in direct confrontation with God, and He can choose to prove His existence to them. Pharaoh provoked God to prove Himself by his utterances in Exodus 5:2, saying:
“…Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.”
Those who provoke God to prove His existence and capabilities are fighting Him. Those who move God to jealousy by breaking the covenant they made with Him are also fighting Him (Isaiah 45:9; Jeremiah 2:5). The children of Israel broke the covenant they had with God by disobeying His ordinances. This made God jealous, causing Him to fight against them. I pray that you will not provoke God’s anger in Jesus’ Name. What is the state of the covenant between you and the Lord Jesus Christ, which you entered into at the altar of repentance? Have you crucified Him afresh and put Him to shame by falling away from the truth (Hebrews 6:4-6)? Are you abiding by the covenant to tithe, or have you joined scoffers to trample God’s commandment under foot? Beloved, In whatever areas you are fighting God, repent today before it is too late.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are many benefits that believers in Christ enjoy as part of their heritage in God’s kingdom, some of which are the supernatural things outlined in Mark 16:16-18. Sadly, these benefits elude some people who believe in Christ today! Why is this so? A thorough examination of Mark 16:16-18 will reveal the answer. The first key to unlocking these miraculous signs is that you must have been baptized into Jesus Christ. What does this mean? It means that you must have accepted Christ into your life by believing Him with your heart and confessing so with your mouth. Also, you must have identified yourself as belonging to His camp, and most importantly, you must have formed a union with Him that has produced a permanent change in your life. That is what it means to be baptised into Christ. It goes beyond merely accepting Him as Lord and Saviour on a superficial level. Speaking on this, the Holy Spirit says in Galatians 3:27:
“For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ.”
To be baptised into Christ is to put on Jesus Christ as a garment. A person is identified by his or her clothing. If you claim to be baptised into Christ, has it left a permanent change in you? When people take note of you, do they identify you with the person of Jesus Christ? The disciples were noted to have been with Jesus without them voicing it out. Is it so with you (Acts 4:13)? The next key to unlocking the manifestation of miraculous signs is having faith in the power in the Name of Jesus and using it (Acts 3:16). Some people have invented other names to call upon, whereas the Name of Jesus Christ is the only one recognised and obeyed in heaven and hell (Acts 4:10, Philippians 2:9-11).

In addition, Jesus said that believer shall speak with new tongues. Today, some people don’t believe that believers can sill speak with new tongues after being baptised in the Holy Spirit. They believe that the days of speaking in tongues are over, and so they don’t even bother to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Such people short-change themselves of the power of God that they need to overcome the devil and his agents, and easily fall prey to the challenges of these perilous times. If only they had believed, not only would they enjoy divine healing and divine health, they would also have been agents of divine healing. However, all these benefits are lost to unbelief! Beloved of God, one can be in Church for many years and still remain an unbeliever. As the old English adage goes, “The hood does not make the priest.” I therefore encourage you to be a practical believer today, and all those signs listed in Mark 16:16-18 shall be your portion in Jesus Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

After Cain murdered Abel his brother, a mark was placed on him, which illustrates the bad identity that sin gives. Genesis 4:15 say:
“And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”
Nobody knows the nature of the mark that was placed on Cain; all we know is that it was meant to identity Cain so that those who met him would not kill him. Some Bible scholars suggest that this mark was given to ensure that Cain did not die cheaply, thereby preventing him from receiving a full dose of the penalty of his sin. Irrespective of the nature or purpose of this mark, one thing is certain: Cain’s sin gave him a bad identity on the whole earth.

From 1 John 3:8 we understand that sin puts the mark of the devil’s ownership upon every sinner. Revelation 22:15 further reveals that in God’s sight, a sinner has the identity of a stray dog. Stray dogs are seen outside and are known to be dirty, promiscuous and aggressive. Sin is so terrible that it deforms the image of a person created in God’s image to the level of a dog! No wonder we see the people of this world manifesting the characteristics of dogs today. It is because their minds have been deformed by sin, so they are just manifesting the nature of the image they now possess in them. Some have even gone so low to indulge in unspeakable acts. Sin really leaves a terrible identity on anyone who yields to its control.

Are you caught in the web of sin? Has sin warped your mind so terribly? Is your life overshadowed by the bad identity given by sin? I have good news for you today: no matter how horrible the identity sin has placed on you is, Jesus Christ can remove it today with His Blood. All you need to do is to surrender your life to Him as He calls all people to reconcile with God the Father through genuine repentance. When you do this, He will give you a brand new identity (2nd Corinthians 5:17-18). Have you been saved by grace? Never return to your vomit of sin like a dog would (2nd Peter 2:21-22). Sin will deform your new identity in Christ and change your standing with God. Is that sinful act really worth that much to you? Can the pleasure you derive from it compare to the joy of your salvation and the hope of glory you have in Christ Jesus? Don’t listen to the devil when he says that it doesn’t matter and that no consequence will follow an act of sin. It’s all a lie! Sin does give a bad identity, so run away from it.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.