₦airaland Forum

Food is a very important part of our existence as human beings. Even before God created man, He had created the things that Adam and Eve would eat. From this we see that eating food is not ungodly. In fact, as part of God’s instructions to Adam, He told him what was available for him to eat. Genesis 2:16 says:
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:”
Nevertheless, man’s existence does not depend solely on food. Adam and Eve failed to realise this when the tempter came to dangle the forbidden fruit before them and they fell headlong for it. No wonder the Lord took the Israelites through the rigours of the wilderness for forty years, to teach them that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of His mouth. This lesson is so critical that even the first test Jesus faced in the wilderness of temptation was based on it (Matthew 4:1-4). All this happened so we can learn from it.

Amazingly, although food may appear basic and ordinary, it can lead to man’s downfall. A good example of this is Esau, who sold his birthright for a plate of pottage (Genesis 25-29-34). We must therefore open our ears to learn from the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us on food. In Deuteronomy 8:3, He says man shall not live by bread alone. In other words, bread is part of the things that man needs to live, but this bread must come by a process that follows the pattern of God’s word and meets its standards. This is why Jesus Christ refused to turn stone into bread when the devil asked him to (Luke 4:3-4). He showed us that food is good but it must follow the dictates of God’s word and not be influenced by the devil’s suggestions. Thank God that the Second Adam overcame the mistakes of the first Adam.

Many Christians have shipwrecked their faith because of food and drink, failing to heed the Lord’s warning in Matthew 6:25, which says:
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
Of course, the answer to the Lord’s question is obvious: life is more than meat. This is why it is foolishness to eat the food of death, since the essence of food is to keep us alive in the first place. We must not live by bread alone. In all we do, we must continually look out for the perfect will of God and avoid anything that will send us to hell. May the Lord grant you understanding of this in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible says children are the heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward (Psalm 127:3). In other words, God is the owner of children, and He gives them to whoever He pleases. Whenever God counts an individual worthy to have custody of His possession, the fellow should be careful of what he or she does with it. For this reason, through His word, God teaches us how to handle children as precious seeds kept in our care. One of His teachings on this all-important subject matter is found in Ephesians 6:4, where the Lord says we must train our children in His ways, not according to any other system.

1 Samuel 8:1-5 reveals the danger of not taking godly care of our children. As upright as Samuel was, he failed in the area of bringing up his children in the ways of the Lord. Concerning his sons, 1st Samuel 8:3 says:
“And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes and perverted judgment.”
The surprising aspect of this story is that Samuel witnessed how Eli and his household were cut off because Eli did not nurture his children in the ways of the Lord. Beloved, it is better a person does not bear a child than to have a child and fail to take godly care of him or her. Eli’s example shows that a heavy price accompanies failure in this regard.

The story was told of a mother who immersed herself into training her son to succeed academically and career-wise, but she neglected training in the fear of God and did not expose him to spiritual activities that could connect him to God. Meanwhile, the son progressed at school, graduated with good grades, and eventually got a good job in the city. Having tasted life in the city, he forgot his roots and did not keep in touch with his mother. One day, his mother decided to visit him in the city, having missed her son for a long time. When she got to her son’s house, she met the gate securely locked. She knocked for a long while before her son managed to open the window of his front room, and behold, it was his mother sweating in the African sun. “Mum, you did not tell me you were coming!” the young man yelled. He then threw a wad of cash at her and told her to go back to the village. This woman wept bitterly. How sad! This is what the wages of nursing a child for ourselves and not for God looks like. I pray that this will not be your portion as a parent in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Towards the end of His early ministry, Jesus called His disciples aside and said to them in John 16:24:
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
I believe the disciples were shocked to hear Him say this, because they must surely have been praying. What the Lord was actually saying to them was that they had not been asking rightly. This is the case with many children of God today. When we think we are praying, we are actually complaining, and some of us are even weary in prayer, contrary to the Lord’s teaching in Luke chapter 18. There is a difference between prayer and complaining. Some of us even accuse God in our prayers! We issue Him queries and present a long list of our good works that should compel Him to do our bidding. This should not be so. Let us learn from the experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness. The Lord said of them in Numbers 14:27-28:
“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:”

When we ask God to do something that does not align with His will, He does not consider that to be prayer. We cannot coerce or manipulate Him into doing things that are against His integrity and honour. If you overhear some people’s prayers, you will be amazed. Some pray that God should kill their “troublesome” spouses so that they can be free to marry someone else! This is not prayer; it is witchcraft! Praying contrary to the will of God is nothing but lusting after ungodliness. If you are under distress due to the wickedness of fellow human beings, it is enough to ask God for deliverance from all enemies; He knows what to do to deliver you. Today, I want you to pray like you have never prayed before, asking God to accomplish His will concerning whatever situation you are currently in. Ask Him to provide for you, but don’t tell Him how. Tell Him to promote you but don’t tell Him how. Ask for your long-awaited spouse but don’t prescribe for Him. God will answer your prayers today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

These days, many children of God do not pay attention to giving. For many, their experience with false prophets has made them adverse to giving, while some others are now tired of giving because they have been ignorantly sowing on infertile ground and have not reaped their expected harvest. Have you chosen not to give for one reason or the other? Whatever the reason maybe, your experience does not change the validity of God’s word. If the word of God is not working for you, you must have gotten something wrong somewhere. Examine your past actions on giving and make appropriate adjustments where required. The question is, how much and how often should you give?

According to Proverbs 3:27-28, we are to help anyone who is in need, just as Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). When I was in kindergarten, my teacher taught us a song which says, “Whosoever you have the power to help is your neighbour; so help him or her”. Furthermore, this scripture teaches that we should not postpone the good deeds of today till tomorrow. Tomorrow might be too late! The story was told of a man who delayed to help his younger brother get the medical treatment he needed. When he later made up his mind to help, he took the money to the hospital, only to meet his brother’s lifeless body on the way to the mortuary! His help was late. In other words, giving is time-bound. Esau is another example of someone who gave belatedly. By the time he brought to his father the meal needed to procure his blessing, someone else had carted the blessing away already. We must be quick to respond to calls to give, especially when it comes to projects that have to do with God’s kingdom. Another lesson we should learn from Proverbs 3:27:28 is that for as long as you still have anything to give, give and give again. The good thing about giving is that the giver can never lack something to give. Proverbs 11:24 says:
“There is that scsttereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”
Beloved, give, give and give again, because you will be adequately rewarded.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As Christians, we need to recognise that the privilege of God’s grace does not absolve us of our responsibilities. It is true that for anyone to succeed in life, God’s grace has to come into play. Nevertheless, we must also understand that by God’s design, all good things come at a cost. In other words, to get a good output from any endeavour, God expects you to give a tangible input in form of effort, which His grace will multiply. Indeed, it is our works that lubricate the wheels of grace. Even the Omnipotent God did not form us from nothing: man was formed from the dust of the ground. When we understand this truth and act on it, we create room for God’s grace to be multiplied in our lives. This was what happened in the life of the widow of Zarephath (1st Kings 17:9-16). For her to have food throughout the period of famine, she needed to put in something that would cause God’s grace to work on her behalf. Giving her last meal provided God’s grace an object to act on and multiply. In God’s divine economy, multiplication does not occur in the place of emptiness.

John 6:5-13 is a testament to how the divine economy works. While the disciples worried about how to feed five thousand hungry people after their retreat, the Master knew that all He needed was something that God’s grace could act upon in order to unleash God’s miraculous provision. All it took was a boy’s lunch of five small barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took the meal, gave thanks and distributed it to the multitude through His disciples. There is a lot we can learn from this story. First, our God is not presumptuous; rather He is orderly and intentional. Second, though there is nothing He cannot do, there are many things He will not do except we play our part as carriers of His image and collaborate with Him. For example, unless a farmer puts something in the ground, there can be no harvest, not because God cannot do it but because He will not do it. In the same way, unless a man comes together with his wife, reproduction will not take place. Couples waiting on the Lord for the fruit of the womb should know that they have a part to play in this regard for God’s grace to be activated in their lives. Those who keep robbing God of His tithe should also realise that they are preventing God from unleashing His blessing over their lives. May the Lord grant you understanding of His ways in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.”
From this scripture, we see that no one attains the position of leadership without God having a hand in it. It then follows that irrespective of your background, when God decides to promote or enthrone you, nothing can stop your divine elevation. In this regard, Esther’s case readily comes to mind. A slave girl like her could only become a first lady through divine elevation. We also see this demonstrated in Joseph’s life: an imprisoned slave boy rose to become the second in command to a world emperor. To appreciate what God did in Joseph’s life, we must consider the factors that stood against him. Not only was he a foreigner, he was a slave and a prisoner who had a case of attempted rape hanging round his neck. Only God could have brought about the fulfilment of his long-time dreams in a strange land. I prophesy to you today: regardless of your family, education or socio-economic background, you will reach your goal in Jesus’ Name.

We can learn some lessons from the story of Joseph’s elevation. First, the Lord caused Pharaoh to recognise the gift of the Holy Spirit in Joseph. Considering the fact that Egypt was a headquarters of astrologers and magicians, Pharaoh could have doubted the accuracy or authenticity of the interpretation and counsel that Joseph gave, if not for God’s hand. Secondly, if age was a factor, Joseph would not have been entrusted with such great responsibilities. In fact, for Pharaoh to have handed over his people and entire realm to a total stranger, it means Joseph found uncommon love and favour in his sight. On the remarkable day, he woke up as a slave boy and went to bed as the prime minister of Egypt. All this was made possible because of the God-factor. Beloved, the Lord is telling you to stop considering your background as a hindrance to your forward and upward movement in life. He will grant you a pleasant surprise this season, and those looking down on you will begin to look up to you, as it happened for Joseph in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whenever the devil wants to frustrate the agenda of God’s children, he applies the tactic of “divide and conquer”, knowing that he stands no chance against us whenever we walk in unity of purpose. We must therefore stop the enemy in his tracks by fostering unity among ourselves. It is unfortunate that the devil pays closer attention to the word of God than we do. He knows the power in God’s word and that is why he tries to make us trivialise it. Matthew 18:19 is a scripture that packs enormous power. If we walk in it, we will surely devastate the devil’s kingdom. Beloved, if just two of us can perform great feats simply by uniting and agreeing on what we want to happen, what happens when three, four, ten, twenty, fifty or hundred of us do the same? No doubt, the results would be phenomenal! In Genesis 11:6, the Almighty God said something significant, which those of us who want to do exploits for Him must take not of. He said:
“…Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”
In a nutshell, the scripture encapsulates and confirms the power of unity.

God takes the issue of unity so seriously that He says in Matthew 5:23-24:
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
Great unity exists among the Godhead, and as carriers of God’s image, we also are capable of living in unity if we choose to. Indeed, if you want to increase your productivity, keep the unity of the Spirit with those God has made to be your fellow labourers (Ephesians 4:3). The early Church was able to turn the world upside down for Jesus because they were one in heart and soul (Acts 4:32). When they prayed, they got results because they prayed in unity. Acts 4:31 records what happened when they came together to pray.“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Unfortunately, the Church today prays without similar results because we are not united in the Spirit. Whenever the devil discovers our broken chain, he exploits it. May the Lord return brotherly love back to His Church in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To enjoy your walk with God and avoid feelings of frustration, you need to recognise that God has His own timetable for everything that occurs in the life of every individual. For example, when it is not time for a man to be rich, all his efforts towards prosperity will be in vain, no matter how hard he tries; but when God’s time comes, regardless of any contrary circumstances, he will become astonishingly rich with ease. In fact, God’s timetable includes the time of birth and death of everyone. When a person is not due to die on God’s timetable, nothing can kill him or her. However, when the time comes for someone to die, no medical practitioner or prayer warrior can prevent it. Hezekiah’s case may sound exceptional, but then, it boils down to the fact that God changed the programme for him (Isaiah 38). As children of the Most High, we need to grow in our knowledge of how God works. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
Since there is a time for everything and purpose, wisdom demands that we seek God’s face to know His will and timing, so that we don’t run ourselves to death pursuing shadows.
Martha in John 11:21 reflects the attitude that several believers have towards God’s timing of things. She accused Jesus of being too slow to respond to their SOS call when her brother was sick, possibly suggesting that Jesus was not concerned about his condition. That was very characteristic of Martha; she always wanted things done quickly and “No wonder Jesus once told her in Luke 10:41b:
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.”
Unlike Martha, people of faith must be wary of the “microwave” style of living. It did not help situations in times past and cannot help today. Abraham cut corners to have a son in Ishmael, and the whole world is still paying dearly for it (Genesis 16). If only he had waited for God’s own timing! In spite of what he did, God was still faithful to His promise of giving him a son through Sarah; his hasty act was therefore unnecessary. King Saul also offered a sacrifice which he was not supposed to because he could not wait for God’s appointed time, and this marked the beginning of the end for him (1st Samuel 13:7-14). In order not to fall into the same error, we must receive David’s counsel in Psalm 37:7a, which says:
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:”
May the Lord grant you the grace to wait for His perfect timing. Are you unmarried? Please wait for God to send you your perfect mate at His own time, and do not make your own choice in haste. God bless you as you wait for Him in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The spiritual regeneration experience can either be positive or negative. The type that Jesus recommended to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 is the positive kind. Describing it, the Holy Spirit says in 2nd Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”
However, there is also the negative kind of rebirth. When a person who was filled with good works turns around and begins to behave badly. Such a person is manifesting the symptoms of negative rebirth. The Bible refers to this as ‘backsliding’. According to Proverbs 14:14, a backslider begins to behave abnormally, exalting personal satisfaction above God’s will.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s transformation in Daniel 4:28-33 demonstrating what negation rebirth is all about. In the twinkling of an eye, he changed from a royal majesty to an animal, to the extent that he began to graze like cattle! When a child of God suddenly develops the appetite for alcohol, cigarettes, pornography or extramarital affairs, he or she has experienced a negative rebirth. Don’t be surprised therefore when you see holiness preachers of yesteryear beginning to say that holiness is an illusion – they have undergone a negative rebirth. Are you in a backslidden state? My prayer for you is that the Almighty God will restore you, and every satanic appetite for sin shall vanish from your life today in Jesus’ Name.

Why did Nebuchadnezzar experience negative rebirth? The answer lies in Daniel 4:27 – he refused to take heed when God’s prophet warned him to turn from his wicked ways. It is amazing that in spite of the miracles that Nebuchadnezzar experienced, including seeing the Son of God walking around in the fiery furnace, he continued to be arrogant before the God of heaven (Daniel 3:22-25). In like manner, is it not surprising that in spite of the reality of HIV/AIDS, some people still practice prostitution and have several people patronising them? it is more disheartening when one sees Christians or ministers of God for that matter going back to their old vomit and engaging in sexual immorality and fraudulent practices. Are you one of such people? God is saying to you today in Ezekiel 18:31:
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
It is time for you to repent so that times of refreshing can be poured over your life (Acts 3:19).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Sacrifice is the act of surrendering a prized possession as an offering to God. In reality, it is the death or loss of the object that makes it a sacrifice. In this light, the use of the term “living sacrifice” in Romans 12:1 seems like a contradiction, since an object or sacrifice should not remain alive. However, the term “living sacrifice” is used in that verse with specific focus on our living bodies being presented as holy and acceptable unto God. To this effect, 1st Corinthians 6:19 says:
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
This verse says that our body is God’s temple. A temple is a holy place of sacred building which has been set aside as a place of worship or consecrated as the house of God. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle in the desert, the sanctuaries at Bethel and Shiloh, and the temple at Jerusalem were all temples of God in different forms. However, under the new covenant, the notion of God dwelling within us is fundamental to our faith. Our Lord clearly says in John 14:23:
“…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
For anyone who belongs to Christ indeed, God is saying clearly that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You therefore need to handle it with all the care, holiness and sacredness it deserves, if it is to be acceptable to God as a dwelling place.

When I was a university lecturer some years ago, there was a young lady whose prayer was always “Lord, use me for Your glory.” Shunning interest in anything else, this was the only prayer point consistent on her list. One day, she needed to use the toilet because she was seriously pressed, but as she opened the toilets one by one, she discovered they were all messed up. As she left in annoyance, she heard God saying, “I thought you wanted to use the toilet, what happened?” She responded that the toilets were all dirty. To her shock, she heard the Lord saying the reason He had not used her, despite her numerous prayers, was because she was dirty! Therefore, for anyone to be used of God as a living sacrifice, he or she must be clean in and out, and thoroughly furnished unto good works. God expects us to live in holiness and righteousness, while handling our bodies in sanctification and honour (1st Thessalonians 4:4).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

An ally is an entity that comes to the aid of another with superior ability in one area or the other, helping it to overcome, defect or escape the oppression of an aggressor or dominant circumstances. One usually seeks an ally when there are indications that he or she may not be able to handle a situation alone. For example, when a nation discovers that it cannot overcome another nation in battle, such a nation may form an alliance with other nations which are also in enmity with the nation confronting it in battle. An example of this is the alliance of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir which rose up against the Israelites (2nd Chronicles 20). In spite of this alliance, these three nations were defeated by the children of Israel because they had the Greatest Ally fighting on their behalf. When Paul and Barnabas took the gospel to Paphos, they were also confronted by Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-11). But for the greatest Ally, this sorcerer would have frustrated their efforts to win an important personality to Christ. With His help, Paul pronounced judgement upon the spirit of sorcery at war with them, and the result speaks for itself in Acts 13:12:
“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
One important lesson to learn from this story is that witnessing for Christ without the backing of the Holy Spirit may not be successful. The Lord Himself confirms that the Holy Spirit is the Perfect Ally of the Church in the task of enforcing and expanding the kingdom of God (Acts 1:. I call Him my Senior Partner, and indeed, He is more than that in the real sense of it. Beloved, ensure that you also have the Holy Spirit as your Ally. However, this is only possible if Jesus Christ is not only your Saviour but also your Lord. Romans 8:31 declares that if we have God as our Ally, victory is guaranteed, regardless of how hopeless the situation at hand may seem. 2nd Kings 6:16 echoes a similar truth. Prophet Elisha and his servant woke up one morning to discover that they were surrounded by enemy soldiers with horses and chariots. Nevertheless, the prophet calmed his terrified servant down with these words in 2nd Kings 6:16:
“…Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
I therefore decree that in the Name that is above all other names, the Greatest Ally will rise on your behalf today, and the enemies that have been keeping vigil over your life will suddenly become outnumbered by the host of heaven.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Hope is a confident expectation of something to happen in the future. When rooted in God, it provides motivation to live the Christian life, even in the face of anxiety and despair. Hope is a loyal companion of faith which helps a Christian to have peace in spite of adversity, persecution and oppression. God’s desire for us is that we abound in hope. Romans 15:13 says:
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Are you facing the headwinds of life? Are you asking yourself if it is worth it to hope against hope? Yes, it is worth it, if your hope is anchored on the Creator of Heaven and earth! In Luke 5:1-5, Peter was in the pit of hopelessness, having exhausted all his wisdom, business expertise and strength without anything to show for it. He was about to call it quits when the Master of the universe stepped in and told him to hope for a catch of fish form the same water that had been unproductive all through the night. One lesson from this is that God uses different methods to meet His children’s needs. In 2nd Kings 8:1-2, the Lord told a woman to relocate because the city she lived in was about to face seven years of famine, while Peter was asked to make another effort in the same river where he has failed, and both cases yielded good results. Are you faced with an extreme case of despair? Has the unexpected happened already and hopelessness is staring you in the face? The word of God in Job 14:7 is saying to you today:
“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.”
No matter how hopeless your situation appears to be, if you put your hope in Jesus, He will surely turn that situation around for good in a way that is beyond human understanding (Colossians 1:27, 2nd Kings 3:9-18).

God is our hope, salvation and peace. Even in times of deep sorrow and despair, don’t yield to the temptation of seeking respite in alcohol, drugs, strong stimulants or suicide. God wants you to turn to Him for a solution, and you can always count on Him for consolation and encouragement. I pray that no matter what you are passing through right now, you will not take any step that will lead to your destruction in Jesus’ Name. Finally, hopelessness fizzles away the moment God speaks concerning a matter (Acts 27:21-25). Are you in a hopeless situation? Take time to seek God’s intervention, asking Him for a word for that situation. I pray that the light of God will shine on your life and hope will arise for you today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Lord’s Supper, also known as the Last Supper, refers to the very last meal our Lord took before He was crucified on the cross of Calvary. This very important and mysterious meal also referred to as the Holy Communion is a multi-dimensional meal with diverse implications. The Lord’s Supper is interconnected with the Jewish Passover in a special way because Christ is the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for us (1st Corinthians 5:7). This spiritual meal therefore brings to remembrance the Lord’s suffering and sacrificial death and represents the establishment of a new covenant for humanity in the Blood of Jesus. It also points us to Calvary, the place of Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion and death. Consequently, a certain level of sober reflection is expected when we celebrate the Holy Communion. By partaking in the Lord’s Supper, we also depict the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:1-9). This adds a forward-looking dimension to this holy meal, so that it is not viewed simply as a memorial of past events alone. Essentially, the Holy Communion is not just a routine practice; it is a celebration in faith, as we continue to hope and sing “Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!”

Before celebrating communion as a memorial, there must be a clear understanding of and strict compliance with God’s instructions as it relates to the Holy Communion. It is most holy and meant for sanctified members of the family of God only. Anyone who is unclean or who is a stranger to the household of faith cannot partake of it. It is a most powerful meal that brings healing and deliverance from all kinds of bondage, but at the same time, it poses danger to anyone who partakes of it unworthily. Therefore, the importance of adequate preparation for divine communion cannot be overemphasised. The Holy Spirit cautions in 1st Corinthians 11:27 that whoever eats the Holy Communion unworthily shall be guilty of profaning and sinning against the Body and Blood of Jesus. He then compels us to carefully examine our spiritual state and current standing with God, to deal with any sins we haven’t confessed yet and repair any broken relationship with God and man, before partaking of this meal. He warns that the Holy Communion should not be taken lightly, specifying that those who partake of it unworthily do so at the risk of eternal damnation. In 1st Corinthians 11:30, He reveals the bombshell that many in the Church are sickly and some have even died because they were ignorant of the power embedded in the Holy Communion and handled it carelessly. I pray that every time you take the Holy Communion, the power of death will be destroyed over you and the divine life of God will flow into your body, soul and spirit in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Be fruitful” is the very first statement God made to mankind. This statement was pronounced both as a blessing and command. It is therefore obvious that fruitfulness is the heartbeat and overriding objective of the Almighty God for mankind. Out of His abundant love, God conferred fruitfulness as an irreversible blessing on mankind so that every human being is empowered to bear fruit effortlessly. He also made it a commandment to bear fruit effortlessly. He also made it a commandment so that everyone, without exception, must bear fruit. Fruitfulness is so important that Jesus in John 15:8 said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit, and by bearing much fruit, we demonstrate that we are His disciples indeed. Consequently, God reacts to fruitfulness the same way He reacts to rebellion, because failure to bear fruit is actually rebellion against the commandment and purpose of God for mankind (Luke 3:9, Matthew 21:19).

The question is, are you bearing fruit? What type of fruit are you producing? If you have not yet given your life to Christ, God expects you to first bear the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:. For those who are saved, God expects us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and produce the fruit of souls won into His kingdom (Ephesians 5:8-9, Matthew 28:18-20). Our Lord Jesus Christ gave the disciples many parables, including the Parable of Talents, to teach them the importance of faithfulness in stewardship. In that parable, all the servants put their talents to profitable use except the servant to whom was entrusted one talent (Matthew 25:14-30). This servant went and dug the ground to hide his lord’s money where it lay fallow. When his lord returned and all servants rendered account of their stewardship, he was seriously reprimanded for lack of productivity. His talent was taken away from him and given as bonus to another servant. In like manner, the Lord expects every one of His children to diligently put their talents and gifts into profitable use for the advancement of His kingdom. We are to do the works of Christ, of which spreading the gospel and soul-winning is paramount. If we fail to be fruitful or productive, we may be guilty of receiving the grace of God in vain, thereby becoming unprofitable servants. I pray that you will never be considered an unprofitable servant in Jesus’ Name. God is keenly looking out for our fruits, expecting us to bear fruit spiritually, physically, financially and materially. He will judge our individual and corporate performance by the quality and quantity of fruit we bear. May you bear fruits that abound and remain, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To be determined is to be single-minded. It also means having firmness of purpose or being resolute to achieve success in any assignment committed into one’s hands. Determination is essential for anyone to succeed and be effective in life and ministry. God is looking for men and women who are faithful and determined stewards to commit special assignments to. Indeed, 2nd Chronicles 16:9 says that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro the whole earth in search of determined people. It was in the process of this search that He found David (Psalm 89:20). When God searches a person out and commits an assignment into his or her hands, such a person must realise that stewardship is a trust that must not be abused, and all stewards of God’s resources will give account of their service to God. As a faithful and dedicated worker in God’s vineyard, you have to be focused on your own mandate and never use another man’s parameter to evaluate your life (2nd Corinthians 10:12). To be focused is to have a target and work towards actualising it to the glory of the Almighty, keeping in mind that the business of God’s kingdom requires haste. In John 9:4, the Lord says:
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
To be commended by the Lord on His return, you must do His work heartily and cheerfully. It is my earnest prayer that as you devote all available energy and resources to the assignment committed into your hands, the Lord himself will prosper your determination in Jesus’ Name.

Determination is reflected in the lives of the heroes of faith. Noah showed determination in building the ark and carrying out all of God’s instructions to specification. Abraham displayed determination by obeying God to the letter. Moses showed determination in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and effectively communicating the will of God to them, and Nehemiah the builder was determined to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, even under hostile conditions. Sarah, David, Daniel, Esther and the prophets were all dedicated vessels of God who left legacies which endure even today. Above all, Jesus Christ displayed uncommon determination and steadfastness, not only to come to this world but also to go to Jerusalem to die for our sins (Luke 9:51). Determination is a virtue that is highly rewarding. The Bible says that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). All the heroes of faith were greatly rewarded during their lifetime, and God gave them everlasting peace and joy in heaven. As you strive with determination in all your assignments, God will crown your efforts with resounding success, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Mercy is a concrete expression of compassion and love. It means to have pity or to feel concern out of sympathy for someone. Mercy is part of God’s core nature, and it defines that character in Him by which He faithfully keeps His covenant, fulfils His promises, and maintains His relationship with His children, despite our shortcomings, unworthiness and unfaithfulness (Exodus 34:6-7). This is very well explained in Romans 9:15-16, which says:
“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Mercy connotes loving-kindness, goodness, grace, favour and steadfast love. The most prominent aspect of mercy is the compassionate disposition to forgive an offender, coupled with finding a way to help the offender out of his or her sorry situation. These qualities make it possible to lovingly correct fellow Christians who fall into error, instead of passing hostile judgment on them. Here is how the Holy Spirit commands us to deal with each other in Ephesians 4:2-3:
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Furthermore, while identifying the qualities that the Body of Christ must have, mercy and kindness are prominent on that list. He says in Colossians 3:12:
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
God designed mercy to be an essential part of Christian community, because it reveals the state of our heart. It is an intense inner feeling that usually manifests itself as compassionate acts of love and kindness. We are recipients of God’s mercy through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we live our lives in daily anticipation of new mercies from God. The consistent new outpouring of God’s mercy is the seal of God’s love for His children (Lamentations 3:22-23). In responses to past, present and future gifts of God’s mercy, we also must be channels of divine mercy both within the Church and out there in the world (Jude 1:22-22). The Bible teaches us to take up the responsibility of showing mercy through the help ministry and assisting the less privileged (1st Corinthians 12:28). Charitable giving is a proper response to God’s mercy and a mark of genuine spirituality. I pray that you will be a candidate for God’s mercy and a dispenser of it, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As foretold by the Holy Spirit, the Christian life is under a barrage of attacks by the enemy in these last days. He is sowing seeds of confusion in the heats of many through conflicting interpretations of the Bible, and no doctrine of the Christian faith is spared in this onslaught. In spite of this, I encourage you to remain rooted in Christ. All these things happening now need to happen in fulfilment of God’s word and point to Christ’s imminent return. Unfortunately, those who are not grounded in God’s word and whose faith is not founded on a personal revelation of Jesus Christ are easily falling away into error and apostasy. The Holy Spirit already told us of this falling away in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3, Saying:
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
You therefore need to be settled in your convictions, steadfast in your faith and established in the word of God. Like a ship in a storm that is solidly anchored. You must be unmovable by the external forces that will try to shipwreck your faith (Hebrews 6:19). Even though the winds may blow strongly against it, such a ship would not be removed from its position because it is anchored on solid ground. Let the hope of seeing Christ in glory someday be the anchor of your soul. Let all that this world has to offer grow dim in the light of what Christ has in store for you. Embrace and be comported by the words of the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians 15:58, which says:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

To be unmovable means that no matter what the devil does, the solid foundation of your faith, which is built on the word of God, will hold things together such that you cannot be moved. Indeed, we must not allow ourselves to be moved away from what is right. Colossians 2:6-7 says:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
There are constantly new forces, new inventions and new innovations which will always seek to push a Christian off course. You must be unmovable in the face of such attacks. The Christian’s anchor is his faith and hope in the power of God. You must be unwavering in your dedication to Christ and His kingdom. I pray that you will play a leading role in the move of God to raise an army of unmovable Christians to the glory of His Holy Name, in Jesus mighty Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A personal encounter with Jesus is always the beginning of every genuine relationship with God. The Samaritan woman in John 4:16-26 had one encounter with Jesus that empowered her to turn her whole city around for God. All the great men and women of God in the Bible like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Mary, David, Jeremiah, Elisha, and many others had personal encounters with God in very special ways, which reflected in the nature and depth of their relationship with Him. When you encounter God through a divine visitation, you can be sure you are in for pleasant surprises. Being a benevolent God, He does not come empty-handed whenever He visits an individual. In Genesis chapter 18, the angelic visitation to Abraham and Sarah brought about the pronouncement of irreversible blessings which led to the birth of Isaac (Genesis 18:10). My prayer for you today is that you will encounter God in a powerful way in Jesus’ Name.

Apart from a divine visitation, you can also encounter God through His word (Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 9:. Every encounter with God’s word releases life-changing truth that sets free (John 17:17, John 8:32). Because our needs are different, the dose of truth needed to bring total liberation varies from one person to another. If you can expose yourself to more and more of God’s word and allow its light to shine upon your heart, captivity will give way and you will be completely free. God desires your absolute freedom, so that He can empower you to set other captives free (John 8:36, Mark 16:17). How much freedom are you experiencing in your life today? Everything that has taken you captive shall release you now in Jesus’ Name. Your deliverance shall be permanent, and you shall become a channel of salvation and deliverance to others in Jesus’ Name.

Beloved, the Christian life is not an ordinary life but a supernatural one (John 10:10, 2nd Peter 1:3-4). It is superior to ordinary natural existence. The kind of life we have compels things which ordinarily are impossible to happen. The supernatural can cause events which are contrary to natural laws to take place; therefore, anyone operating in the realm of the supernatural does things others consider to be impossible. It makes supernatural power to reverse the irreversible and move the immovable. This power is capable of igniting a revival that would turn the heart of a whole nation to Jesus. It is the only power that is superior to demonic and magical powers. I pray that you will encounter the supernatural power of God, which will destroy every work of the devil against you, and you will become a problem solver to your generation, to the glory of God, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Over the years, I have always used every possible opportunity I get to remind my children that soul-winning is not an option for Christians, it is a necessity. Although God has made provision for the salvation of all of mankind, the Holy Spirit declares in Romans 10:13-15 that sinners may not have access to salvation unless preachers are sent. This highlights the importance of answering the call to missions. The call of God refers to God summoning individuals or groups of people to Himself for the purpose of fellowship and service, both in this world and in eternity. A great example of this is the call of the disciples by the Master in Mark 3:14, which says:
“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach”

The call of God may be tied to a specific place, task or vocation in life, and it might also be of a general nature. For example, God called Abraham, Moses and Jeremiah for specific purposes (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 3:4, Jeremiah 1:5), and after Christ’s successful ministry on earth, He called all His disciples to accomplish the general mission of reaching the whole world with His gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). The primary mandate of the Church is to reach out to all nations of the earth with gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching and baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost. This is our Great Commission. Referring to our mandate, an author once wrote, “It was a Jew who brought the Gospel to Rome; a Roman who took it to France; a Frenchman who took it to Scandinavia; a Scotsman who evangelized Ireland; and an Irishman in turn made the missionary conquest of Scotland. No people have ever received the gospel except at the hands of an alien.”

It is crucial to note that every member of the Church has an obligation to preach the gospel, because our Lord said in Mark 13:10
“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”
Soul winners are not born; they are made out of ordinary individuals who possess a yielded spirit, commitment to do God’s will, compassion for lost souls, and a deep sense of God’s calling. I pray that you will not disappoint God’s grace upon your life, and that you will become an incurable soul winner in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

To conquer is to overcome and have dominion over a person, territory or kingdom. It therefore follows that a conqueror or over-comer is someone who has been able to defeat or overpower a person, territory or kingdom to the point of surrender. The word ‘conqueror’ is also a military term which describes a person who has come out victorious from a war or conflict situation. Who then is our adversary? The answer is found in Ephesians 6:12, which says:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Through this verse we understand that our greatest enemy is the devil and his kingdom. As mere mortals, it is absolutely impossible to consider overcoming the devil in any form of contest. However, we speak of being conquerors on the basis of God’s declaration concerning us in 1st John 4:4, which says that God in us is greater than anyone in the world. Furthermore, we have the confidence to confront our enemies because God’s Spirit assures us in Romans 8:31 that if God is for us, no one can successfully stand against us. Indeed, regardless of the challenges we face in life, we are more than conquerors through the love of Jesus (Romans 8:36-37). Obviously, Jesus is the ultimate conqueror and overcomer. He fought for us, and through His conquest, we are more than conquerors, having obtained victory over the devil without having to fight him.

The Bible records many examples of winners and conquerors, but the greatest of them all is our Lord Jesus Christ. He triumphed over the devil in two spectacular ways that are worthy of mention. Firstly, in Matthew 4;1-11, Jesus faced the devil in a most crucial contest of self control, knowledge, wisdom and power, but He overcame, giving the devil a technical knockout through the power of God’s word. Secondly, the devil masterminded the unwarranted arrest, orchestrated the sham trial, and inspired the wicked execution of our Lord, not knowing that Christ would totally destroy him through His subsequent death and resurrection (Hebrews 2:14, 1st Corinthians 2:7). Colossians 2:15 says,
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
When Jesus died, He went to hell, where He captured the devil and freed his captives. He paraded the devil and his cohorts in an open show of shame, confirming His supremacy over the kingdom of darkness. No matter how hopeless your situation may be or the fierceness of the battle against you, I decree that your enemies will be disgraced and you will be victorious, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The greatest challenge confronting most people all over the world today is how to meet daily financial needs. In many cases, the inability to settle essential bills has led to broken homes, stress, sickness, mental illness and even suicide. Poverty seems to have driven a great number of misguided people into vices like gambling, prostitution, gang-sterism, drug peddling, human trafficking and other serious illegal activities. However, God is not unmindful of our financial situations and troubles; rather, He is moved by compassion to prosper His obedient children. God’s desire for His children to enjoy all-round prosperity is revealed to us in 3rd John 1:2, which says:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
I keep telling my children that our Father’s ultimate desire is to see that we are all blessed. God wants us to dwell in His blessings and not live at the mercy of unbelievers. Indeed, the more wealth the Lord releases to us, the more His kingdom on earth will be expanded. Don’t believe those who tell you that you are not supposed to be wealthy as a follower of Christ. This is a false doctrine. God’s word says that you are to lend to nations and not borrow (Deuteronomy 15:6), adding that His blessings make us rich and add no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). The Bible also says in Psalm 35:27b:
“Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”

However, before you can take possession of your divine wealth, you need to use certain keys that will separate you from poverty and bring you to the realm of unprecedented riches in God. Luke 6:38 tells us that giving is the expressway to prosperity and the antidote to poverty, as it deals with poverty in a way that permanently eliminates lack in a person’s life (2nd Corinthians 9:6). Let us establish some key points here. First and foremost, according to Luke 6:38, giving draws blessing to the giver. Secondly, while we are not expected to be frivolous with money, we must not conserve more than necessary, to the extent that it prevents us from fulfilling our obligations to God or helping the poor and needy. Proverbs 11:24 says:
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”
May God reward you abundantly for your past, present, and future labour of love in His vineyard in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Captivity describes the halted and confined state of an individual, community or nation by an external power. This term also denotes the state of people under the bondage of sin and demonic oppression. Only Jesus Christ has the power to set people free from all forms of captivity. Deliverance happens when a person is rescued from forces of bondage or overwhelming circumstances such as danger, suffering and sin. Deliverance focuses on captives, prisoners of war, slaves, debtors, suspected criminals, condemned sinners and the oppressed, who are often treated with great cruelty and indignity. Another focus of deliverance is individuals dominated by forces of darkness. Sadly, many people are suffering because they do not know they are in bondage or see that they need deliverance. Irrespective of the form of deliverance that is needed, the good news is that Jesus Christ was specially anointed for the purpose of setting captives and prisoners free. Isaiah 61:1-3 prophesied it, and we see the manifestation of its fulfilment in Luke 4:18-21.

Living in oppression is especially pathetic because it is practically impossible for anyone in this state to make any progress in life or be delivered through self-help. Stagnation, disappointment, failure, fruitfulness, sickness and misfortune are all possible indications that a person needs deliverance. I prophesy to anyone experiencing such evil conditions that you shall be delivered today in Jesus’ Name.

There is hope for your deliverance because there is a powerful Saviour and Deliverer who is able and willing to deliver you – His name is Jesus. All power in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Everyone and everything is subject to His authority; even demons are powerless before Him. Once He speaks, demons obey, and at the mention of His Name, they flee and people are delivered. Once again, I decree in the Name of Jesus, receive deliverance from every form of bondage now! Do you need deliverance? The first step is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and join a living Church. You must then make every effort to avoid self-destructive acts of immorality and sin. Finally brethren, call upon the Name of Jesus by faith, relying on His word in Romans 10:13, which says:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do this, and you will begin to enjoy the liberty that Christ gives. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
1st Corinthians 1:24
This verse reveals that the wisdom of God is not a thing but a personality; hence He speaks, calls, warns and counsels. Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God, and He is speaking to you directly in Proverbs 1:20-29. The wise will listen to what He has to say and build their lives on the sure foundation of principles that He teaches. In Luke 6:47-48, He says:
“Whosoever cometh to me, and hearth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”
Because of His great love and compassion for all of mankind, He pleads with us to listen to His counsel and asks why we would choose foolishness instead of the wisdom He offers. He wonders why men hate knowledge, which saves us from temporal and eternal calamity when we correctly apply it to our lives. The Wisdom of God even assures us in Proverbs 1:33 that whosoever hearkens to Him and does His bidding will live in safety, free from all evils. If I were you, I would listen to what He has to say, act on His warnings and walk in the counsel that He gives.

Beloved, the Wisdom of God calls to you today from Matthew 11:28-30, saying:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Have you responded positively to this call? You may not know it but answering this call is the best decision you can make in life. In this call lies salvation, prosperity, rest of mind and total freedom from all forms of stress. The burden of sin is unbearable! It is therefore a wise thing to respond to the call of the one who can remove this burden from us. Answering the call of Jesus unto salvation is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:31-32 declares the calamity that will befall those who fail to answer His call. May that not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. Determine to hearken to the voice of God’s Wisdom from today onward.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Watchfulness means to be alert and expectant as you monitor someone or something in your care, or as you await the arrival of someone important or a significant event. To be watchful is to be alert to things around you as you live your daily life. The Bible warns us to be vigilant by closely watching the activities of the devil, mortifying all vulnerabilities to temptation, looking out for the enemy’s wily attacks and being ever prepared for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our watchfulness should begin with the words of Proverbs 4:23, which says:
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
The Holy Spirit refers to this as renewing the mind in Romans 12:2, which is best done by filling our minds with the undiluted word of God (Hebrews 4:12). Having set a watch over the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts, we then need to bridle our tongue in order not to sin with it (James 1:26, 1st Peter 3:10). Finally, 1st Peter 4:7 says:
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
As Christians in these last days, we are called to watch unto prayers more than ever before.

Why do we need to be watchful? The Holy Spirit answers this in 1st Peter 5:8, which says:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Let us follow the example of our Lord, who took the need to be watchful seriously in the last hour before His sufferings began. Knowing what was about to happen to Him, He was so sorrowful and decided to take His disciples to have a private moment at the Garden of Gethsemane. It was at this retreat that Jesus gave His disciples the sure antidote to temptation. He said in Matthew 26:41:
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We are therefore called to be alert to dangers which can erode and shipwreck our faith in Christ such as false teachings, worldliness, love of money, inordinate ambition, sinful pleasure, sexual immorality and all other works of the flesh. Complacency or failure to watch can be very dangerous indeed. It led to the sudden death of Abel, who was killed by a brother who spoke peacefully with him in one minute but rose up to kill him in the next (Genesis 4:. Sanballat and Tobiah, the enemies of the Jews, would have successfully terminated Nehemiah’s building project if not for watchfulness (Nehemiah 4). I pray that God will expose every activity of the enemy in your life and family today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Healing is the restoration of the body, mind or spirit to a state of wholeness and well-being. This restoration may be physical, as in recovering from an illness or injury, or spiritual, as in the forgiveness of sins and justification before God. Ultimately, healing is embodied by Jesus Christ, who is the Great Healer. He healed different sicknesses during His earthly ministry, and secured the ultimate healing for all through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Although most healings experienced in the Bible were instantaneous, God sometimes heals slowly or gradually over a period of time. In such cases, there is visible steady progress toward full health. Even if a person’s healing is gradual, It is still God who does the healing, and He should be given the glory.

Nevertheless, God still carries out instantaneous healing today. Most Christians today should have heard or witnessed at least one story of how God healed a person at once. Although some don’t believe this is possible, I am happy to announce to you that by the grace of God, instantaneous healings occur daily in The Redeemed Christian Church of God. We have witnessed numerous testimonies of how God instantly healed people of different sicknesses and diseases, ranging from simple bacterial infections to reproductive ailments, metal and psychological problems, life threatening sicknesses and terminal diseases. We have even witnessed several cases of the dead being raised back to life and several other seemingly impossible miracles in many of our parishes around the world. Praise God! We are experiencing these great healings because we believe in the power of the Almighty God to perform miracles, signs and wonders today. We are driven by faith in His word in Hebrews 13:8, which says:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
We believe that what Jesus Christ did when He was physically here on earth, He is still able to do today. Indeed, God has the capacity to heal everyone who comes to Him for healing, and He is also able to heal them completely. Testifying to this, Matthew 8:16 says:
“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:”
Divine healing is the inheritance of every child of God, and it is freely accessed by faith. The Bible said it all in Isaiah 53:5- Jesus was wounded for the sins that bring sickness, He was bruised for the iniquities that caused disease, and He wore the chastisement of our peace like a garment so that by His stripes, everyone who believes automatically receives their healing. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The word ‘anointing’ is used in several passages of the Bible with reference to the consecration of prophets, kings, priests and things devoted to the worship of God. By this consecration, these persons or things are set apart and empowered to act in God’s power as His representatives on earth. The anointing therefore refers to the power of God made available through His manifest presence. We see a manifestation of what the anointing is, how it operates and why it is given in Luke 5:17, which says:
“And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there was Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”
It is something special to witness the outpouring of God’s anointing, which is usually accompanied by His manifest power and magnificent presence. Whenever God decides to reveal His power through the operation of His anointing, natural laws become temporarily suspended, and we see miracles, signs and wonders of great magnitude. Consequently, children of God always desire such rare opportunities to experience the supernatural, just as people gathered from far and near in Luke 5:17. However, God’s anointing is a free gift that money cannot buy. Even the most precious jewel on earth cannot be offered in exchange for it. Because our God does not cast His pearls before swine, certain conditions must be met by anyone who desires to operate in His anointing (Matthew 7:6).

1 Kings 18:30-38 shows some deliberate steps Prophet Elijah took to activate the anointing of God. First, when the appointed time of worship came, he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. He did everything orderly and meticulously, following divine instructions. Therefore, he called upon the Name of the Lord in prayer and worship, and God answered by fire. Therefore, if you want to activate God’s anointing in your life, you must first rebuild the altar of God and present yourself before Him as a living sacrifice without any blemish (Romans 12:1). You must be a true worshipper who worships God in spirit and in truth, making sure to adhere strictly to His pattern and instructions as revealed in the Bible. Finally, you must learn to wait patiently for God. There was a waiting period before the fire of the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost (Act 1:4). The anointing makes you a terror to the kingdom of darkness and a notable representative of the Most High God. May the fire of God’s anointing fall mightily upon you today in the Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prophecy is basically the revelation of God’s plans and purpose through inspired and Spirit-filled human beings. It could also mean a message from God about what will happen in the future. Prophecies are of divine origin and always speak authoritatively on things to come. Since the All-knowing God determines future events, He can choose to reveal what will happen in the future of His children beforehand. Prophecy is quite different from predictions or forecasts. While predictions and forecasts may change if the variables used in deriving them changes, prophecies on the other hand are messages from God concerning things which are bound to happen. (Isaiah 55:10-11).

A critical examination of Bible prophecies reveals a systematic fulfilment of what they say, except for a few that remain to be fulfilled in the future. Examples of Bible prophecies that have come to pass includes Isaiah’s captivity in Egypt for 400 years in Genesis 15:13, the birth of King Josiah 300 years after it was prophesied in 1st Kings 13:2, the rise of the Roman and Greek empires prophesied in great detail in Daniel 11, the arrival of John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus Christ spoken of in Isaiah 40:3, the birth of Jesus the Messiah revealed in Isaiah 9:6-7, and the destruction of the temple soon after the death of Jesus in AD 70, which was prophesied in Matthew 24:2.

Prophecy is a wonderful gift of God that is highly desirable for guiding and edifying the Body of Christ. However, it is fast becoming a despised abused ministry for reasons which include people’s unwillingness to hear the truth, increased knowledge and enlightenment, and the proliferation of false prophets and fake prophecies. God’s prophets today are being scorned as fanatics and alarmists for telling the truth and calling the world to repentance. Due to breakthroughs in science and technology, people now despise anything that appears inexplicable or tangible. False prophets and fake prophecies have also done much damage to the ministry of prophecy by sowing doubts in people’s minds. The combination of these factors seems to be casting a shadow on the ministry of prophecy. However, because prophecy is part of Christ’s gifts to the Church, we must value it and pray for the immediate fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit of prophecy upon us in Joel 2:28.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayer is a powerful means of communicating with God. The great thing about prayer in the era of the new covenant in Jesus’ Blood is that there is no need to say prayers in any special location or facing any particular direction for God to hear us. God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth; therefore, the location where prayer is made is of little importance. (John 4:24). A careful consideration of Scripture shows that prayer was offered to God in a variety of places. In Act 3:1, Peter and John went into the temple to pray, while in Acts 1:13-14, prayer took place in the upper room of a house. In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas prayed in prison, and in Acts 16:13, prayers were said at the bank of a river. In Acts 20:36-38, the brethren prayed together at the waterfront. Further still, in 1st Corinthians 1:4 and several other Bible passages, prayer was made through the writing of letters.

Now, even though we often pray outwardly and in public places, prayer is more or less a hidden ministry. A powerful and successful prayer life is born and sustained in the hidden place of the prayer closet. We learn this from Christ’s teachings on prayer and also from observing His prayer life. Although the Bible records Him praying publicly on several occasions, Jesus taught us to pray in the closet, behind closed doors, where confidential matters can be discussed between God and man. In Matthew 6:6, He said:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Jesus also lived by this principle. In Matthew 14:23, He went up alone into the mountain to pray, while in Luke 11:1, He was found praying alone in a “certain place”. In Luke 9:18, even while in the company of His disciples, Jesus was said to be alone praying. This indicates that Jesus entered into His prayer closet despite having people around. He kept the focus of His prayers, i.e. His prayer points, private and confidential. He took His prayer as a secret between Himself and the invisible God, who gives answers to secret prayers in the open. It is therefore necessary and wise for Christians to treat prayer as a hidden ministry. Daniel did exploits through prayer but he kept his prayers behind closed doors and strictly confidential (Daniel 6:10, Daniel 9:3). In essence, prayer champions are usually unnoticed, and the prayers that move mountains are often made privately. Develop your private prayer life today, and you will receive wonderful testimonies that call for celebration.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Speaking in several passages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit makes it clear that anyone who will follow Jesus must possess a single-minded desire, characterized by faith, loyalty, enthusiasm and devotion to God (Luke 9:62, Acts 14:22, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 6:12). In other words, as true disciples of Jesus, we are to be filled with unrestricted and single-minded zeal for God and live our lives completely sold-out to Him. Indeed, God expects us to love Him above everything else in this world (Deuteronomy 6:5). Our Lord says in Mark 8:34b-35:
“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”
This simply means that anyone who will follow Jesus Christ must deny self by refusing to satisfy personal interests or desires. As a child of God, you are expected to deny yourself of personal interests and desires that are in conflict with God’s commandments or ways of His kingdom. God’s will must have priority above all other interests in your life, and His laws should be your yardstick for measuring what is right or wrong. Jesus further warned His followers against working to gain people’s approval, promising that those who run the risk of displeasing men for His sake will end up gaining everything.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38
When we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, we naturally develop great passion and zeal for anything that concerns Him. This kind of zeal propelled the heroes of faith in the Bible to accomplish great things we read about today. Being totally sold out to God, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, David confronted a lion, a bear and Goliath, the three Hebrew boys defied the fiery furnace, and Daniel boldly went into the lion’s den. Driven by pure zeal for God, Stephen faced death with unwavering boldness, and the apostles did great exploits for Him. By the grace of God, Christians are still doing great things for God today, especially in the least expected places. Notwithstanding this, the Bible warns against zeal without knowledge, which breeds religious fanaticism and bigotry. From today onward, be zealous for God, and you will see Him move heaven and earth just for you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was recognised as a great teacher when He was here on earth. He taught so wonderfully that those who heard Him were astonished at His teachings. Mark 1:22 says:
“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”
While teaching His disciples His principles on leadership, He said to them in Matthew 20:28:
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
In this one verse, He addressed issues of leadership, power, authority and human dignity. The power in this verse lies in the fact that it upturns the notion of what greatness really is, by establishing how a leader must first humble himself or herself in providing necessary service to others. Jesus further expanded his teachings on leadership to include the fact that anyone who desires to be a leader must first be a good follower. He also explained that even though the leader of the world might exercise authority and control over their subjects, it must not be so among children of God. In Luke 22:26, He said:
“But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are expected to walk in these principles. Every potential leader in the Body of Christ must first learn to be submissive in service and followership. In Matthew 23:11, Jesus said to His disciples that he who desires to be the greatest among them must first be the servant. He also taught them in Mark 9:35 that if anyone desired to be the leader amongst them, the same fellow must humble himself to take the least position and serve others. To further emphasise the role and importance of service in Christianity, Jesus told His disciples in John 13:13-15:
“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
A disciple cannot be above his Master, neither can a servant ever be above his Lord. We are expected to live a lifestyle that honours God. The leadership principles Jesus taught are firmly built on followership, service, humility, obedience and loyalty. If you want to follow Jesus Christ acceptably, you must align your attitude with His principles on leadership.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayer is a two-way communication with God or a solemn request for help addressed to Him. As a form of intimate communion with God in worship, it usually consists of thanksgiving, adoration, confession, intercession and petition. Based on God’s love for His children, He made prayer available as a means of communicating with Him. God’s grace gives us things we do not deserve, while His mercy shields us from things that are detrimental to our well-being. We connect with His grace and mercy when we pray. As believers in Christ, we are able to relate with God on a personal level in the place of prayer because God manifested himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and He has opened to us the door of access to the throne room of heaven. He desires all men and women created in His image and redeemed by His Blood to call upon His Name in prayer, and He promises that they will receive answers from Him. Through our answered prayers, He proves His existence and ability to do all things. Matthew 6:6 says:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

Prayer is an act of faith because it carries with it the assumption that God is willing and at the same time able to hear and respond to the petitions of His children. When we pray, we acknowledge our weakness, limitation and total helplessness, while declaring total trust and reliance on God’s power to solve whatever problem is presented to Him. Prayer is therefore both a wonderful privilege and a solemn responsibility for God’s children. Speaking on prayer, Jeremiah 29:12 says,
“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”
Furthermore, our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 7:7, says,
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
These passages and many more in the Bible clearly reveal God’s attitude towards prayer. God is a prayer-answering God who is always moved by love and compassion to respond to the prayer requests of His children. Be encouraged therefore to come boldly to the throne of grace with the assurance of obtaining mercy, favour and spiritual empowerment in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The events in Jeremiah 18:1-6 reveal that God speaks to His own at the time He chooses, using a format of His choice. You cannot rush God to speak His mind, and neither can you identify any style in particular as the format He normally follows whenever He wants to speak. In times past He has spoken through the whirlwind, thunder, fire, a donkey and through the works of a potter. If you desire to relate with Him, you need to learn to wait on Him until you hear Him speak, and you also need to open up your heart because He can speak to you through the most unexpected and inconsequential of things. God can even send you to the ants to hear His word, as He did in Proverbs 6:6. It is amazing that God told Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house in order to hear His words there. Why didn’t God just talk to Jeremiah right where he was? The ways of our God are past finding out! Jeremiah met the potter working on a vessel that got distorted in his hands as he worked, and so he moulded it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. After observing this, God then spoke to Jeremiah, saying in Jeremiah 18:6:
“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”
Although all powers in heaven and earth belong to God, it is not in His character to force His will or desire on anyone. He loves to work with pliable materials that willingly yield themselves to His authority. He loves those who give Him the freedom to mould whatever He deems fit with their lives, just like the potter did with the clay. In other words, God want His children to completely surrender their lives to Him so that He can make something absolutely glorious out of them. He considers our resistance to His will as an unwise rejection of His love and beneficial grace. God is asking you today, Will you allow Me remould and reshape your life as the Potter? Be wise and surrender your life to Jesus today. He will make something beautiful out of your life.

The destiny of anyone who continues to resist or strive with God is like a broken vessel or smashed clay jar that is damaged beyond repair (Isaiah 45:9, Jeremiah 19:10-13). Let’s consider the examples of some people who ended up as broken vessels. In 1st Samuel 15:1-35, God rejected Saul as king because of his continued and unrepentant disobedience, rebellion and stubbornness. Also, Gehazi’s situation went beyond redemption in 2nd Kings 5:20-27: he inherited Naaman’s leprosy as a result of untamed greed and covetousness. Judas Iscariot had the good fortune of being with Jesus, like other disciples, but he rejected several warnings the Lord gave and ended up as a broken vessel. You will not end up as a broken vessel in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.