₦airaland Forum

You can delegate authority, but not power. If you don’t know how to open a car door without its keys but attempt it anyway, you would end up damaging it. A man can be living in divine health, while his wife and children still take ill regularly. Until he gets authority over sickness, even if delegated, there is little he can do. Delegated authority however, always has an expiry date.

For example, the Minister of Justice gets his authority from the President of the nation. This authority is however subject to his/her continued stay in office as the Minister of Justice. A person who already has spiritual authority can delegate some of it to you. Delegated authority however, can only be retained and increased as you witness. Go out and share your testimony with others; tell people about this your God of wonders. The first miracle God performed through you should birth testimonies. If you however, do not tell others about what God did before and use that testimony to win them to Christ, what will be His encouragement to do more through you?

“…for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”
Mark 1:27

If you want lasting authority over sickness, demons, poverty and the like, then you must be addicted to soul-winning. Has God performed a great miracle through you based on the authority of an anointed man of God? Use that testimony to win souls to the Kingdom. As you do so, more and more miracles will be happening through you, and very soon, you would not even need to refer to the authority of that man of God anymore, because God would now have given you your own authority. When Jesus gave His disciples authority over sicknesses and demons in Luke 10, it did not last because they stopped witnessing. When they resumed witnessing, they didn’t need any proclamation before the miracles began to flow again.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

According to Acts 1:8, the moment you are baptized with the Holy Ghost, you have received power. But as we learnt yesterday, you need to go beyond the level of power to the level of authority. However, authority will only come when you go out to witness. That is why in Mark 16:17, Jesus said “And these signs shall follow…” In other words, if you stay in one place – you won’t exhibit the signs, but if you go out to witness – the signs will follow you. Acts 10:38 says:
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Although Jesus had been anointed with the Holy Ghost and with the power, He did not stop there; He “went about” and because He did, He was about to heal all that were oppressed of the devil.

Peter and John were amongst the seventy disciples that Jesus sent out on evangelism in Luke 10. While they had been unable to cast out demons before then, by the time they went out preaching the gospel and returned, the demons had become subject to them (Luke 10:17). Still they did not understand the secret of this authority they had over demons, so they stopped evangelizing. It was on the resumption of their evangelistic activities, after Jesus had left them, that they were able to make the lame man at the Beautiful Gate walk.

Many Christians pray that they should also be able to heal the sick and raise the dead, but God is wondering why. They don’t go out to witness, not even in their office or to their neighbour, so why do they need signs and wonders? The signs are for unbelievers to believe (John 4:48) so if you are not ready to witness to them, please forget about signs and wonders. They are reserved strictly for those who witness for Jesus Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A Adeboye.

In science, we learnt that power is the ability to do work. It is the ability to get things done. Authority on the other hand is the right to get something done. To illustrate this, let’s say you lost your car key and then got someone to force it open. That person has ‘power’. However, you need to stay with the fellow while he is opening your car because if the police finds him there, he could get arrested, but with you present, you can prove that the car is yours and that you authorized him to open it.

Now, going by our illustration, who would you rather be – the fellow who has the power or the one with the authority?

It is quite unfortunate that many Christians are satisfied with just having power. They boast about how the devil no longer torments them. This is good, but why should you stop there when Jesus said that you are capable of so much more? Mark 16:17-19 says:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

As a believer, you are not only meant to be healthy, you are meant to have so much authority over sicknesses and diseases that once they feel your touch, they would vanish immediately.

You may have the power to divine health, but perhaps you don’t yet have the authority to make someone else healthy. Receive that authority now in the mighty name of Jesus. You may have the power to make wealth, but not yet the authority to cause someone else to get his/her financial breakthrough. Receive that authority now in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the ways in which Christians displease God is by being ungrateful for the things He has done for us. We take many of these things for granted, whereas they are fundamental to our well-being. For example, if you are complaining that God did not give you new shoes, have you considered that, if you didn’t have legs, shoes wouldn’t be an issue? Ingratitude displeases Him. Many years ago, after a power-packed crusade, I and my children kept talking about the great move of God in the car on the way back to the hotel where I was lodged. On getting to the hotel, the fellow on the passenger side got out quickly to open the door for me. I don’t know how my hand got in the way of his door, but as he slammed it shut, it hit my fingers and I tell you, it was painful. In my pain, I cried to God “Why did you let this happen, Lord?” and He said “You kept talking about the miracles that happened in the crusade; did you even bother to say ‘thank you’ to me?” Then I said “Lord, I am sorry, thank You for Your great move during the crusade.” God expects you to be grateful at all times. He is also very jealous about His glory. Isaiah 42:8 says:
‘I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

There was another time when I displeased Him because I thought He had not done anything for me that merited thanksgiving. I began to lay out all the things I had expected in the course of the year but didn’t get. God interrupted me and asked “How many times did you travel this year?” I said “Many times.” “How many times did you have an accident?” He asked. I responded “None.” He continued “How many times did you sleep this year?” “Every night” I answered. “Did any member of your household die in their sleep?” I quickly interrupted Him because I realised how ungrateful I had been.

I want your attitude to thanksgiving to be different from now. Make thanksgiving your lifestyle. Always look for reasons to thank God, no matter how you may feel.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God loves people who are always thankful. While others may get little gifts that make them happy, He makes sure that the joy of the grateful is always full. In Luke 17:11-19, all ten lepers were healed, but only the thankful one was made whole – every sign that he had ever been leprous was removed. I can imagine that anyone who had never seen him prior to his healing would have found it hard to believe he had ever been a leper. The joy of the grateful ones is always full.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4

From the passage above, we see that the right way to come into the presence of God is to do so with thanksgiving. Some Christians just barge into God’s presence with their requests as though He were their slave. No wonder many prayers go unanswered! When you come to Him, do so with thanks. Even if it seems as though everything is going upside down for you, thank Him for the fact that you are still alive. God cannot ignore a thankful heart. Once you get His attention, you can then present your requests to Him.

Many years ago, just before the commencement of a three-day crusade to start off the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Abuja, Nigeria, I was praying “Father, perform miracles today, show Yourself strong, heal the sick, raise the dead…” when I suddenly heard God say “Shut up!” Then He asked “Have you thanked me for all the miracles that I have been doing in the past? For the next three days, I don’t want to hear any request from you – just thanks.” This was very hard for me, but I tried to only give thanks to Him throughout the next three days.

After the crusade, He said “Now, tell the elders to strengthen the foundation of the church because, while you have been experiencing some increase, now you will start experiencing multiplication!” We are still enjoying that multiplication till date.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

PRAYERS
1. Father, thank you for keeping me alive to see this new year. GO ahead and just thank God for all the journey mercies He gave you in 2019, all the times He healed you, all the times He provided for you. just give him praise.

2. Father, in this new year, don’t let me spend money for the devil. Don’t let me spend on sickness, court cases or anything that is evil.

3. Father, in this new year, grant all my heart’s desires and let my joy be full. Everything I lay my hand upon according to Your will, let them be successful.

4. Father, in this new year, anytime I call on You, answer me speedily.

5. Father, in this new year, take me to a higher level. Take me to a higher level of grace, a higher level of holiness, a higher level of anointing, a higher level of blessings. Lord just take me higher in this new year.

6. Father in this New Year, let me serve You like never before. Don’t let me ever draw back in serving You.

7. Father, if You return me before the end of this year, don’t leave me behind. Let me reign with You in glory.

8. Father, everything that has given me sorrow in the past, put an end to it in this new year. Put an end to loneliness, poverty, depression and everything that has been making me to cry in the past.

9. Father in this new year, let your promises concerning me come to pass speedily.

10. Father, let me fulfil your purpose for my life in this new year.

11. Father, in this new year, let it be well with my family, my church and my country. Build a hedge of fire around us, let Your manifest presence never leave us, take disaster far away from us and let Your blessings rest upon us this year,

12. Your special prayer request for the new year.

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

Many times, people make plans for the day but are unable to complete them. Sometimes it is due to circumstances beyond their control, but most of the time, it is because they start their day late, I have discovered that the best way to achieve your goals in a day is to start when everyone else is still sleeping. At that time, you can work faster because there are fewer distractions. With God, a day starts in the evening; that is why in Genesis 1, you keep seeing and the evening and the morning..." The day starts before the sun rises. If your day starts when it is still dark, then you are on the right track. Those who start their days early usually turn out to be high achievers. Our Lord Jesus is a prime example of this principle. Mark 1 :35 states:
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
This is the beginning of the year, so it is important that you start working on your goals early. While everyone is still getting themselves settled in the New Year, you can have a head start by breaking down your plans for the entire year so that you can work on them step by step. Certain countries win gold medals consistently at the Olympic Games primarily because they start preparing their athletes several years ahead for that one event.

Start working on your goals early. If you are a student, start studying from the beginning of the semester or term, not when the exam time-table is out. If you are an employee or business owner, start preparing well ahead for your deliverables. This principle is what separates the successful from the not-so-successful.

Start early this year.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a New Year and many will have resolutions, goals and plans. I pray that all your good desires in this New Year will come to pass in the mighty name of Jesus. Now, let me ask: How have your goals for previous years worked out? If you are not satisfied with your sincere answer to this question, then it means you need to change your strategy this year. It would be foolish to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

Years ago, God asked me to sit and focus on a wall clock. While I was doing that, He suddenly spoke and said: Fools live by the year – they count the years, while wise people live by the day. Psalm 90:12 says:
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

God went on to say that those who excel live by the minute. Make every minute count this year. Those who will excel this year will be those who are constantly looking at their watches – those who will not wait until the sun rises before they rise, nor until the cock crows before they start working on their dreams. If you are wise, you will live by the minute. Who says that you cannot go beyond your own expectations for yourself this year? For you to achieve this however, you must live by the minute. You must also start early.

This year, you must serve God by the minute. One single minute away from God’s presence can be very dangerous and may bring consequences that would last a lifetime. Serve God with all your heart and meditate on His word day and night. This is not a year when you take your attendance in Christian fellowships for granted, but rather one in which iron needs to sharpen iron; when you have to be on fire for God every single minute. I pray that you will have your best year yet this 2020, in the mighty name of Jesus. All your heart’s desires will be met by the Most High. You will serve Him with all your heart, and if Christ returns before the end of the year, you will make it to heaven in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The story was told of two women married to two men who were closely related. The husband of the first woman got a very lucrative job, and within three years, he had built a house for his family of five. Meanwhile, the husband of the second woman was not gainfully employed; he was just surviving by doing different menial jobs around. Unfortunately, because of her family’s good fortune, the first woman developed a negative attitude toward the second woman. The most disheartening aspect of this story is that these two women were worshiping in the same assembly. The rich woman taunted the other woman so much that she almost left her local church. As God would have it, the husband of the second woman got employed by a company, and six months down the line, the company where his relative worked was liquidated and sold to his new employers. The management of the buying company was magnanimous enough to absorb the workers of the liquidated company into their workforce, but at lower cadres compared to their initial designations. So, the husband of the first woman had to manage with a subordinate position in the buying company, and he wasn’t happy when he discovered that the would be an assistant to his relative, and that his salary was 50% less than that of his relative, who was less than 6 months on the job. The ways of God are past finding out!

The laughter that is most desirable is the one that comes last, because Ecclesiastes 7:8a says:
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:”
Are you going through a trying period? The word of the Lord comes to you today from John 16:20 as follows:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”
Are you living your life in wickedness? The Lord is also saying to you today in James 4:8b-10:
“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
He also says in Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
In other words, those who mourn in repentance for their sins and misdeeds will laugh last. Beloved, to be able to laugh last, you need to give your life to Christ today, and you will escape the everlasting agony of an eternity in hell. Jesus is holding out His arms to welcome you into His kingdom today. Run into His arms and you will discover joy and peace like never before.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Exodus 15:1-11 records a classical song of triumph that Moses and the Israelites sang after overcoming the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s forces. After they were liberated from the shackles of slavery in Egypt, the children of Israel were faced with the greatest battle of their lives when they found themselves trapped between the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh’s army behind. At that moment, they fell into a state of despair and murmured against Moses and His God, who took them by His mighty hands out of the land of Egypt. They forgot all the mighty works He did to bring them out, so much so that He killed all the firstborns of Egypt. However, God had mercy on them, and He overthrew Pharaoh’s plan to return them into slavery. After witnessing God’s great intervention on their behalf, songs of triumph filled their mouths and they began to sing, even without any rehearsals. I prophesy to a user of this devotional today: you will experience a victory over your enemies that will put new songs of triumph in your mouth in Jesus’ Name.

David faced so many battles in his life, but at the end of every battle his songs were always songs of triumph. For example, he sang in Psalm 124:1-3, saying;
“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:”
Beloved, you also can sing many songs of triumph provided you choose the correct ally in the battles of life. Our God is a specialist in all forms of warfare – be it ground, underground, marine, underwater or air warfare, it doesn’t matter to Him. What He did with Pharaoh and his hosts is a good example of his marine and submarine warfare capabilities. The battle He fought for the Israelite's in 1st Samuel chapter 7 is an example of His ground warfare abilities. In Exodus 9:18-25, He showed His ability to fight from the air by sending hailstones upon the Egyptians. Describing the mightiness of God in battle, the Holy Spirit said Isaiah 12:5-6:
“Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”
So, if I were you, I would ensure that this God, who is mighty in battle, is my ally, and I would surrender every battle of my life to Him to fight in His own way. Do this today, and you will always have songs of triumph to sing.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the anchors of our faith in Christ is the hope that He is coming back again (1st John 3:2-3). Unfortunately, not a lot of people are still excited about this great event, which will surely take place. As a matter of fact, teachings on the last days and second coming of Christ have not been heard in some churches in the last five to ten years! This is not surprising because this attitude is in line with what the Lord foretold would happen in the last days, saying in Luke 17:26-27
“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”
As revealed by the Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the Lord’s coming is not giving to be a secret event. He is coming with great grandeur, in His true personality as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It is laughable that some so-called scholars claim that Jesus has already come secretly, while some others claim He has changed His mind and is not coming back again! On the day of His ascension, the angels who spoke with the disciples made it clear that He will return the same way He left.

There are some salient truths about the King we are expecting that we need to establish today. First is that He interacted with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection from the dead, and He even ate with them (Acts 1:3, John 21:7-15). So, He is not a ghost, an apparition or the result of the disciples’ hallucinations. He was seen by over five hundred men, not counting the women who were also His disciples (1st Corinthians 15:4-. So His resurrection from the grave is not based on the wishful-thinking of just a few fanatics. Secondly, He ascended into heaven through the sky in the presence of His disciples. There was no gimmick or hidden magic trick about it. After His ascension, angels testified that He would return in like manner. Therefore, nobody should be deceived that Jesus Christ has secretly returned. As a matter of fact, He has no reason to return in secret. In light of these truths, believers must be ready for the imminent return of the King of kings. The amazing thing is that despite the stories Jesus told about kings who traveled and returned requesting accountability from their servants, many do not seem to understand that these parables are intended to prepare us for the events of the last days. I pray that you will be wise enough as the children of Issachar to accurately observe and understand the times and seasons we live in (1st Chronicles 12:32). God will keep you to the very end in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One tactic the devil uses to gain access into the lives of God’s children is portraying our loving heavenly Father in bad light. His end game here is to make us fall from grace and glory into shame and pity. He successfully used this poly against Eve in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:4-5 documents his approach:
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
The devil portrayed himself here as being more loving and caring than God! How deceitful! We see this character being manifested by his agents in the world today. When a man, who is actually a ravenous wolf, beings to show exceptional care for a young girl beyond what her parents can afford, he is actually seeking to devour a precious part of the innocent girl’s life. A housewife who shows more care to a domestic male servant or driver than her husband may be walking in the same spirit as Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-20). If you find yourself in such a situation, please run for your dear life. The Holy Spirit already warned us about this, saying in Proverbs 6:26:
“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.”

Contrary to what the devil and his agents would have us believe, God loves us. Proved His love for us by giving us the gift of Himself in His Son (John 3:16). The Son said in John 15:13
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Did you notice that He called us His friends in this verse? It is a foolish thing to think that anyone can love us like God the Father and His only begotten Son do. It is because of this love that He promises you beauty for ashes in Isaiah 61:1-3. Beloved, do not listen to the negative comments of the devil about the Lover of your soul, who is specifically sending this message to you today so that you may know He has not forgotten you. He sent me to tell you that He is processing your prayers for the appointed time. So, don’t be weary in your faith, because your are next in line for a testimony. The God who did wondrous things in David’s life, so much so that He penned the words of today’s memory verse after overcoming all his foes, will do the same for you this season in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One of the reasons why Jesus was born is to give us peace like a river (Luke 2:14). It is a great thing to have the peace of God inside. If you have God’s peace, you will experience peace in the totality of your inner man, because this peace applies the balm of serenity to our minds and hearts. Without mincing words, it is not a good thing to lack inner peace. The devil uses turbulent storms to generate crisis in people’s lives, leading to worry and anxiety. This is one method he uses to steal God’s peace away from us, but God will not allow his evil venture to succeed in your life in Jesus’ Name. Many people whose peace the devil has stolen seek peace through the use of tranquillisers and depressants, while some others turn to illicit drugs or alcohol. Some even dabble in mystic pseudo-religious movements to find solutions to their lack of peace. All of these sources do not possess peace, and so they cannot give peace to anyone. God is the only source of peace, and He has appointed His Son as the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Speaking through His Holy Spirit, He prescribes His remedy against any raging storm of the devil that wants to steal our inner peace, saying in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
From this verse we understand that prayer holds the key to walking in God’s peace. Through prayer, we are able to beat back the devil’s arrows of anxiety and worry. Spending time alone with God to thank Him and present our petitions is the most effective tranquilliser. There is no solution to inner disquiet as effective as prayer, and it always works.

The peace of God transcends all understanding. In other words, it is above and beyond what we understand. The next time you sense a great inner shaking or even just a slight inner disquiet, try prayer. Shut, yourself away to be alone with God, and pray God’s word back to Him. Thank Him for who He is and for all His grace and goodness; then tell Him about your anxieties and concerns, and He will intervene to change thing for you. When you finish praying, you will discover that the peace of God has filled your inner man. A quiet inner serenity and calm will reign in you, even if the storm is still ranging around you. I know this to be true from experience and from what God’s word says. God’s word is practical and its promises work in every circumstance of life. Have you ever considered that your lack of inner peace might be God’s way of calling you to prayer? God may be calling you to have fellowship with Him, and in the process He will restore His peace that transcends all understanding to your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The greatest gift a person can give is the gift of himself. If Abraham understood this, he would not have complained to God about not having a child after God had offered Himself to him as a gift, saying in Genesis 5:1b:
“Fear not Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
In like manner, God has offered Himself as a gift to all of mankind in the person of Jesus Christ (1st Timothy 3:16). As you celebrate His birth today, you need to understand the magnitude of what God has done in sending Him into the world for the salvation of mankind. No wonder He said to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10:
“If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
If you catch the revelation that Jesus is God Himself wrapped up as a gift just for you, your perspective will change from asking for petty things to desiring more of Him in your life. Having Him in your life is more than enough for you. This is why Colossians 2:10 says:
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
Those who know who He is and have received Him into their lives know that they need nothing more. Having Jesus in your life grants you access to all the resources of heaven, so what more do you need beyond Him (John 16:15)? To give us a better understanding of this mystery, the Holy Spirit asks us a question we should ponder on in Romans 8:32, saying:
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

It is one thing to be offered a gift, and it is another thing to accept this gift. It is one thing to accept an offered gift, and it is another thing to know the worth and capabilities of that gift. Ultimately, for a person to benefit from the benevolence of a gift, its content has to be unpacked and deployed to meet the needs of its recipient. Have you accepted the Greatest Gift that God can give into your life? Today is a great day to do so if you haven’t. He is standing at the door of your heart waiting to enter in, if only you acknowledge that He loves and cares for you, and that He shed His Blood on the cross of Calvary to cleanse your sin. After acknowledging this, you need to declare it with your mouth and also confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to come into your life to reign over you as your personal Lord and Saviour. If you have done this, congratulations! You will begin to discover so many things about this Greatest Gift of God as you begin to study about Him through a Bible, and these will propel your life to the zenith. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When our Lord Jesus Christ was leaving earth, He promised that He would send us a Comforter who would teach us all things (John 14:26). That Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, came on a certain day of Pentecost, and He has been with the Body of Christ ever since then (Acts 2). The Lord sent Him to serve as His representative in our lives, and His ministry in us is so invaluable. His presence in a man’s life is transformative and empowering, so much so that those who don’t have Him or who are not full of His presence do not know what they are missing. He is such a precious Partner in accomplishing the will of God for our lives in this world.

When a person becomes born again, the fellow suddenly begins to feel an unusual peace within. That is the effect of the presence of the Holy Spirit. the Holy Spirit in that person also begins to sound an alarm whenever he or she is about to commit a sin. Such a fellow has a choice to either ignore this warning or take heed. If you are a child of God, I am sure you experience this whenever you are about to commit a sin. My advice is that you yield to His warning, because the Holy Spirit can be displaced from a person’s heart. If you often ignore His voice, you will soon realise that you cannot hear Him anymore. If you continue living in sin, He will leave and other spirits will take His place (Matthew 12:43-45). May you never experience this in Jesus’ Name.

Not only does the Holy Spirit help us to live a holy life, He also teaches and helps us to pray (Romans 8:26). Prayer is a way of communicating with our heavenly Father. If you don’t communicate often with your Father, your relationship with Him will become strained, and you will soon find yourself doing things that are contrary to His will. Hence, it is important to pray regularly. However, many Christians would rather talk about prayer than pray. The Holy Spirit always nudges us to pray. Whenever you feel this nudge, please go to a separate place and pray. Sometimes, its not that you don’t want to pray, you just don’t know what to say when you start. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in such moments. Lastly, what distinguishes our lives as Christians is the fruit of our character. The Holy Spirit influences our character through the manifestation of His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us to live a life filled with love, joy, faith, patience, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness and temperance. Consciously cultivate a relationship with Him and He will manifest more of His precious works in your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The word ‘heritage’ refers to a cherished property or inheritance, having special architectural, historical or natural qualities and values. It reveals the sense of history, personality, importance, authority and worth of a people or nation. It is therefore not surprising that God commanded the Israelite's to document historical events, covenants, laws and commandments that form their heritage, in order to preserve them forever (Exodus 17:14, Exodus 34:27, Deuteronomy 11:20). God and His kingdom also have a heritage. The people of God in all generations are the heritage of God (Psalm 94:5). The Bible therefore refers to the Israelites, the Church of Christ and little children as God’s heritage (Joel 3:2, 1st Peter 5:3, and Psalm 127:3). Since a heritage refers to assets of monumental value, the Lord’s heritage is therefore something very precious, to be protected and watched over with all diligence. This should give you an idea of your worth to God as a Christian.

In the beginning God created us in His own image and for His pleasure, but man later fell from grace and became a slave to sin. In His mercy, God approached the slave market and repurchased us by offering the precious Blood of His Son, Jesus, as ransom for us. By this heavy investment, God has secured a double claim of ownership over us: as the beautiful work of His hands, and as His adopted children, bought with the precious Blood of Jesus. Little wonder the Holy Spirit in 1st Peter 2:9 describes those in Christ in these terms:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
All of mankind have the opportunity of becoming God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ, who came into this world to redeem us from sin and Satan over two thousand years ago. As you celebrate His birth this season, remember what He came to do and do not let it go to waste in your life. Jesus came to manifest the nature of God and demonstrate His character to us, so that through His example we can imitate the ways of our heavenly Father in our daily lives. Those who live their lives in this manner, under the saving grace and lordship of Jesus Christ, are those considered to be God’s heritage. Just as human beings spare no expense to preserve their heritage, God can go to any length to preserve those that are His heritage. Are you part of God’s heritage?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A refuge is a secured shelter or a place of protection from danger and distress. It is a stronghold that is commonly used for retreats, healing and renewal.
It is therefore comforting that the Bible refers to God as our Refuge. 2nd Samuel 22:3 says:
“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”
In effect, God is our Fortress, Strong Tower, Rock of defence, our Shield, our Shade of protection and our Shelter in the time of storms. Indeed, He is a mighty God with incredible capabilities. As the Lord of hosts and our Mighty man in battle, He is mighty to deliver and mighty to save.

A father’s capabilities and actions go a long way in affecting the life of his child. Our heavenly Father does not only neutralize weapons designed against His children, He also protects them from harm. ,I have experienced His goodness in this regards several times, and I would like to share one of these with you today. At a time when I was still very young in the 50’s, we had mining activities going on in my village and our road were very narrow. Nigeria was still under colonial rule back then. Usually, white men came in a jeep to collect the gold that the miners got. The white men were so powerful in those days that the villagers believed that if a white man killed a person’s child, that person would still have to say “thank you” to them, to avoid being sent to prison. For this reason, they were very much dreaded. One day, my sister and I were returning from the farm when we suddenly heard the sound of a jeep moving towards us at top speed. My sister immediately grabbed my hand and we both jumped out of its way, landing in an empty mine pit. We barely escaped the jeep, but before we could have a sigh of relief, we found ourselves before a deadly snake. However, because our heavenly Father can preserve lives, I lived to tell the story. In Luke 10:19, God empowered all believers in Christ to have authority over snakes, scorpions, and over demonic agents and all their activities. I therefore prophesy in the Name that is above all other names: God will protect you and defend everything that is yours this season. I testify that God’s word is trustworthy, reliable and dependable, and this word says in Psalm 20:7-8:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”
Irrespective of what you may be passing through right now, trust in God and call upon His Name today, and He will give you all-round peace.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Yesterday, we considered the place of God’s word in living a holy life, but that is not the only tool we need to sustain a life of holiness. Apart from God’s word, another tool that God has provided for us to live holy is accountability to each other in the place of fellowship. If you are not part of a fellowship of brethren, it will be easy for you to fall into temptation. In fact, when the devil is after a Christian, one of the first things he does is to isolate the person from fellowshipping with the brethren. He will either cause a quarrel between the fellow and someone else in the fellowship or make the fellow offended by some of the activities of the fellowship. In my village, we used to cook with firewood, and we needed a lot of wood to make the fire big enough to cook a meal. Every log in the fire helps the other to get and remain hot. If while cooking, one log of wood was removed from the fire and placed in a separate place, you would soon discover that his log of wood would get cold and stop burning, while the others that stayed together would keep burning. This illustrates the evil strategy of the devil; please don’t fall for it by separating yourself from the fellowship of the brethren. If there is any quarrel between you and any member of your fellowship, go to your leaders and let them settle it, rather than you leaving the fellowship.

Another important thing you need to note is that if you are in a fellowship where everyone else is feeding from you and you are not being fed by anyone, you need to change your strategy from just feeding your fellowship members to teaching them how to get fed directly from God, so that they can also feed you from what God is teaching them. Even though the flame on a candle does not reduce with the number of candles it lights, a time may come when a strong wind blows out its fire and it will need another candle to light it up. If all the other candles in your fellowship have only little light, they will also not be able to withstand the wind, and hence they will be out of the fire too. However, if there is at least one person who has been feeding from you who now knows how to feed directly from God, you can get some fire from that fellow. This is why the Bible says in Proverbs 27:17:
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friends.”
No matter how strong plastic is, it can never sharpen iron; so raise every “plastic” person around you to become iron. Believe me honestly, a “Sunday-Sunday” Christian will find it difficult to live holy. Attending mid-week services are important to keep your fire burning. Small fellowship meetings also help you strengthen your spirit man against temptations. Meeting with a prayer partner or organising small Bible study group meetings regularly will also make you sharper spiritually.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From my encounters with people all around the world, I make bold to say that so many people want to live their lives as true Christians. However, even though they really want to live holy Christ-like lives, they somewhat find themselves falling into sin again and again. Some have even concluded that it is not possible to live a holy life, but nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48:
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Only a bully would ask a person to do something he or she knows cannot be done, just to oppress that person. In some Nigerian secondary schools, a bully would give a junior student N10 and ask the fellow to buy food worth N100. Our God is not like that; if He says you should be perfect, it means He has given you the ability to be perfect. The only problem is that most people fail to realise that they have all it take to live a life of holiness.

God gave us the Bible to help us live a holy life. Everyone who studies their Bible regularly will tell you that the more they study God’s word, the less attractive sin becomes to them. This is the point of sanctification where a person begins love righteousness and hate iniquity. In order for His disciples to remain holy after His departure, Jesus prayed to God thus:
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:17
If you don’t study your Bible daily, it will be impossible for you to live holy.

You should not stop at studying God’s word daily, you must also memorise it. This is why we have a memory verse per day in our devotional. When you memorise scriptures every day, it will be difficult for you to commit sin. David said in Psalm 119:11:
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
What you meditate on and for how long you meditate on it has an effect on your lifestyle. This is why God advised Joshua to meditate on His word day and night. If you continuously do this, you will begin to live like Christ and succeed as He did.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is common knowledge that a tree is known by its fruit. Incidentally, man also possesses the capacity to bear fruit. Are you bearing fruit? What kind of fruit are you bearing? For a sinner, he or she is expected to bear fruits meet for repentance (Matthew 3:, while believers must bear the fruits of souls won into the kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20), as well as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

The fruits emanating from a person’s life can be used in identifying the person’s nature. Our Lord Himself recommended this as a way of differentiating his true messengers from imposters. In these last days, there are imposters among believers and ministers of the gospel. The only way we can identify them is by examining their fruits. For example, when you see a so-called believer drinking beer, patronizing brothels or living a lifestyle of sin, you do not need to be Prophet Elijah to tell that such a person is not is a genuine disciple of Christ. Why? The Holy Spirit already clearly revealed the kind of lifestyle fruit that those who are in Christ will produce. He said in 1st John 3:9-10:
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
In Acts 8:18-23, we read about a fake disciple in the early Church, Simon by name, who was identified as an imposter through his fruit. He had been a sorcerer for a good number of years, but he joined the Church, pretending to be converted. The leadership of the Church was able to discover his deception by his quest to procure spiritual power with money. In other words, he was only in church to make money, contrary to the purpose of the Head of the Church. When his sin found him out, Peter sternly reprimanded him, saying in Acts 8:20-21:
“… Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

There are some people who crave position, title and ordination in church today so that they can make merchandise of the gospel, while some are even in church to cause confusion. What is the motive driving your service in the house of God today? The Lord expects your zeal for him to be grounded in love for Him and commitment to the expansion of His kingdom. Is it so with you?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

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

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

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

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

Every Christian needs to know that dependence on worldly knowledge can lead to failure, but godly knowledge guarantees success. Biblical knowledge is a combination of scientific, philosophical, psychological and spiritual knowledge, and it is superior to any other kind of knowledge. However, the knowledge of God’s word is not enough; doing what it says is much more important. James 1:25 says:
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Proverbs 6:6-11 establishes another principle of success that says there is wisdom in hard work and saving for the rainy day. Those who are lazy cannot amount to anything. Also, those who are hardworking but eat both their food and seed, especially their tithes and offerings, cannot walk in the realm of God’s covenant blessings. Apart from sowing seeds, you need to invest for the rainy day. Ants should not be wiser than men, but God in His wisdom directs us to them today to obtain knowledge on the principles of success. May the Lord help us to be wise in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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