₦airaland Forum

People often cite their environment as the reason why they live a sinful lifestyle, but this is untenable before God. A good number of people who found themselves in ungodly environments still maintain their loyalty to the Holy God, and they testify against such people on the last day.

Indeed, living holy among ungodly people is possible. Joseph is one example of someone who lived a righteous life in the midst of the ungodly. As seen in Genesis 39:7-12, he lived under the same roof with an ungodly person who happened to be his boss, and yet he kept his integrity. Nowadays, some people who profess to be born again easily give in when pressured by their superiors to do ungodly things at work. They do this either to gain a promotion or because they fear losing their job, forgetting that the Holy Spirit said those who will live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2nd Timothy 3:12).

They also ignore His admonition in 1st Timothy 6:6 which says:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Sadly, in spite of what the Lord said in Mark 10:29-30, many people believe that to be born again is to escape a life that will experience persecutions. For such people, living a holy life is not a possibility.

What is holiness?

It is simply obedience to the word of God. When you are obedient to God’s word, you demonstrate faith in him, and your life will be pleasing in His sight. That is what holiness is all about. It was disobedience that took Adam from a position of glory to labouring under a curse. Take a cue from Joseph who in the face of deadly pressure said in Genesis 39:9:

“….how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Daniel is another person whose life showed that living a godly life in the midst of ungodliness is possible. His actions in Daniel 1:8 demonstrate that living a holy life is a matter of personal decision. Some people would not want to join the police force because they believe all policemen are corrupt. This is not true! You can be a police officer and decide not to be corrupt. Some run away from being accountants so that they are not tempted to falsify figures.

How wrong they are! You don’t need to be an accountant before you steal the funds of an organisation. A governor who purposes in his heart not to embezzle public funds will maintain his integrity, whereas a messenger could end up stealing cans of coffee in his or her custody. Irrespective of your location, with Christ in you, you can live a holy life and enjoy the promotion that it brings, just like Joseph and Daniel did.


Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When the Apostle John caught the revelation of who we are in Christ, he was so excited about it. You can feel his excitement in these words he penned in 1st John 3:1:
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
We learn from these words that the children of this world will never understand our ways. They cannot understand us, no matter how hard they try, until they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Therefore, trying to make the children of this world appreciate or accept our lifestyle is an exercise in futility. Some Christians have compromised their faith in an attempt to achieve this impossible feat, because they want to impress the world. In spite of the miracles the Master performed – healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers and other signs and wonders – the children of this world still cried “Crucify Him!” They even preferred the notorious robber, Barabbas, to the Author of life (John 18:39-40). Since they rejected our Master, don’t be shocked that they will also reject our way of life.

As sons of God, we have a birthright which our adoption accords us. Although our minds cannot fully comprehend presently the scope of what this birthright gives, we have the assurance that when we see the Lord in glory, we will understand it all, because we will be exactly like Him (1st Corinthians 2:9, 1st Corinthians 13:12, 1st John 3:2). Why is the Lord giving us this assurance? The reason is that He knows we will face challenges in life which can make us doubt the reality of our heritage as peculiar people chosen by God as our Father. Our Lord also faced this challenge in the wilderness of temptation and on the cross of Calvary (Luke 4:3-12, Mark 15:34). In the wilderness, the devil tried to make Him doubt His status as the Son of the Living God. The devil knew that God would not answer prayers inspired by satanic suggestions or borne out of the desire to satisfy a lust (James 4:3). He also knew that God would not grant a request against His perfect will (Matthew 6:10, Luke 22:42). He was therefore setting Jesus up to have His prayers unanswered when he asked Him to turn a stone into bread to prove His birthright. If Jesus’ prayer were unanswered, the devil would have succeeded in making Him doubt His identity. Beloved, beware of doing things that would amount to selling your birth-right as a child of God. The best way to avoid this is to consciously keep yourself away from worldly corruption and anything that defiles. Never live your life to impress anybody but your Father who is in heaven.
Written by E.A. Adeboye.

Many children of God are losing a lot, either because they do not know the Scriptures enough or fail to apply what they know from it. Like Abraham the father of faith, some of them who are millionaires today would have graduated to the level of being billionaires, but they have not moved to the level because they feel they are already doing enough in the area of giving when compared to what others are giving. They do not know that God’s assessment of giving is different from the way people see it. although 2 Corinthians 9:7 encourages us to be cheerful givers, we should also be conscious of the fact that God is the one who gives commendation for our offerings, and His commendation is not based on how much is given but how much remains after giving! This is clearly seen in Mark 12:41-44. Many well-to-do folks among the brethren would be amazed to discover that in spite of the millions they are giving, though commendable, many brethren who are less endowed are actually out-giving them in the sight of God!

Contrary to the misguided opinion of some people, God is actually interested in what we give. In Mark 12:41, Jesus Christ personally observed the offertory in the synagogue, so much so that He knew how many mites the widow dropped in the offering box! I would like to point out here that not all widows are poor. There are actually multi-millionaire widows in our society. However, we are very sure that the widow referenced in Mark 12:41-44 was poor. We need to get this distinction right because there are certain widows in the Church today who are not supposed to queue up for charity whenever it is being distributed, but they do so. Such charity is meant for the poor among widows. Another lesson we should learn in Mark 12:41-44 is that in spite of all those who gave fat offerings, heaven commended the poor widow’s giving as being the most sacrificial of all. Let those who specialise in taking offerings beware of making uncomplimentary remarks against those who give “tattered notes”, because that might be all that they have!

Beloved, the amount you have left in your storehouse after you have given to God determines your score card in His presence. I pray that you will not only give cheerfully from today but you will also begin to give bountifully, and you will not miss your reward in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
Psalm 35:27
While it is an incontrovertible truth that God wants the righteous to prosper, He does not want them to prosper by any unrighteous means. Unfortunately, in the world today, many people want to get rich quick with minimal effort, and more often than not, they resort to stealing in one form or the other to achieve this. Being a thief himself, the devil aids such people in their enterprise, and some of them become very “prosperous”. When some children of God see this “prosperity”, they are tempted to apply the devil’s methods. This is a slippery slop every child of God must avoid because it leads to destruction (Psalm 73:1-3, Psalm 73:17-18).

Exodus 22:2-3 reveals what God thinks about thieves, and one of His cardinal commandments says, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). God is not only against stealing, He is also against those who support and encourage stealing. Proverbs 29:24 says that whosoever is a partner of thieves hates his own soul. In other words, if you want to prosper in the real sense of the word, don’t be a friend of thieves. There are many thieves in the world today, stealing from their places of work and even from God. I urge you not to align with such people. Jeremiah 17:11 reveals what happens to the prosperity gotten through fraudulent means, saying:
“As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hetcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.”
Prosperity is not meant for liars; nor is it for those who use fake measures or doctored invoices (Proverbs 11:1). Some contractors would be asked to buy 20 bags of cement for a project, and they would either buy 10 out of the 20 purchased for their personal project. In the same vein, prosperity is not for the greedy. According to Proverbs 1:17-19, the greedy can even kill for money, but they do not know that they are troubling their own lives by their greed. Just as declared in Proverbs 15:27, we see several families in the world today devastated by greed. Furthermore, prosperity is not for the lazy (Proverbs 6:6-11). Laziness is an act of unrighteousness, and it makes a person susceptible to sins like stealing (Romans 12:11, Ephesians 4:28). Lastly, prosperity is not for drunkards and gluttons. Neither is it for those who are given to a life of seeking pleasure (Proverbs 23:21, Proverbs 21:17). Beloved, although God wants you to prosper, He wants you to go about it in the right way so that your prosperity does not become a curse to you and your household. Are you seeking prosperity through just means?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“…They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”
Song of Solomon 1:6
The sad scenario outlined in this verse of scripture applies to a lot of Christians who are actively engaged in the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. They get so consumed with service to God and others that they neglect their own families. They preach the gospel to the world but fail to bring up their own families in the ways of God. This was the case with Eli, Samuel and David. They led God’s people but neglected their own house-holds, and the result of their neglected own households, and result of their neglect had tragic consequences for their families (1st Samuel 2:12-36, 1st Samuel 8:1-6, 2nd Samuel 13&15).

It is true that the Lord gave us the Great Commission to reach out to the whole world with the message of the gospel, but He also gave us the method we should apply to execute this mandate, saying in Acts 1:8:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Take note of the order He wants us to follow: first Jerusalem, then Judea, followed by Samaria and finally to the uttermost part of the earth. He further said in Luke 24:47:
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
In other words, you are to begin from your immediate community; that is, those closest to you. When we do not follow divine order, we are bound to run into problems. For those who are saved, your household is your Jerusalem. The Great Commission must begin in our homes. It is disheartening to see children of committed Christians going wayward and doing abominable things like the children of Eli and Samuel. We must work on our children with the message of the gospel from when they are very young, during their formative years. The Holy Spirit did not mince words when He said in Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Learn from Philip’s example in Acts 21:8-9. He was an evangelist who brought up his daughters in the ways of the Lord. I pray that God will help you to do the needful and produce godly seeds in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

For various reasons such as worldliness, the pursuits of pleasure, and the desire for power, wealth, and fame, many Christians all over the world today no longer keep the second coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in focus. This nonchalant attitude towards His return, coupled with unbelief, is largely responsible for the widespread spiritual decadence in the world and even among Christians today. Jesus knew this would happen when He gave us the parable of the king who went to a far country, leaving his servants in charge of his kingdom to occupy till His return (Luke 19:11-27). Although we have waited for so long for His return, I can assure you by the infallibility of God’s word that our King is coming soon as He promised. He is coming to Judge both the living and the dead. Don’t be deceived by the lies of the devil or by current development around the world to conclude that Jesus Christ will not come again. Do not fall for the deceit of those who suggest that He has already come in the Spirit. These are all lies of the devil. The angels who addressed the early disciples after the ascension of the Lord declared in Acts 1:11:
“…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye grazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Regardless of whatever anyone has to say about the rapture or the second coming, the truth remains that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again to put the devil where he belongs: first in the bottomless pit and finally, in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1, Revelation 20:10). The angels who fell with devil after his rebellion, now known as demons, will also share in his destiny (Matthew 25:41). Moreover, our King is coming to give rewards to those who belong to Him, in accordance to their works. He said in Revelation 22:12:
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.!
He also declared in Luke 19:27:
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”
Beloved, this will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. However, you must always remember that the King of kings is coming soon. You must also be mindful of what He is coming to do so that you can fully prepare yourself in readiness for His return. Are you ready?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The abnormal use of a thing is what is referred to as abuse. It is unfortunate that many people abuse themselves in different ways. For example, it is an abnormal use of the body and mind when one works, works and works without taking time to rest, all in bid to maximize earnings or turnover. If you know how precious you are, you will not burn the candle of your life from both ends. Today, in 1st Corinthians 6:15, the Holy Spirit is asking you whether or not you realise that your body is a part of Christ. In other words, even the body we call ours actually belongs to Jesus Christ. This tells you how precious we are in the sight of the Lord. As children of God, we are so unique! That we are joined to God in one spirit should gladden our hearts and make us shun any form of defilement. No wonder the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:14:
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
When we abuse our body, we are actually trampling under our feet a precious pearl the Lord gave us, not only because we are created in His own image but also because He paid a high price to redeem us from the curse of sin and death. We are even much more precious than the first Adam, for we are bought with a price that cannot be valued.

Our Lord has called us out from darkness into the marvellous light of holiness, prosperity and great deliverance from the power of sin and Satan. We must therefore glorify God in our body and in our spirit man. We are like the beloved wife of a king. The queen does not comport herself in ways that would bring ridicule to the royal family, her husband particularly. Moreover, a queen does not tell lies because she has integrity. Sleeping around is a ridiculous thing to do as a Christian. Even if you are not married to any person, you are joined to Jesus Christ, who is the Husband of the Church. Beloved, do you know you are more valuable to God than angels? The Bible says you will even judge angels (1st Corinthians 6:3)! The fact that God has given you His precious Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing you of things to come should tell you how precious you are to Him (2nd Corinthians 5:5). Even the angels are mystified by this great benevolence of God to us and by the fact that He has set us over the world to come (1st Peter 1:12, Hebrews 2:5-. Armed with this knowledge, if I were you, I would jealously guard my salvation, lest I lose my worth and become a castaway (1st Corinthians 9:27
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Forgiveness is a term used to indicate pardon for a fault or mistake committed by someone. It means to end the feeling of animosity towards a person for an offence committed, and signifies the liberation of that person from guilt and its consequences, including punishment. It usually comes as an act of unmerited favour, compassion or love, with the aim of restoring a broken relationship. Forgiveness is synonymous with pardon, and it is also used in reference to the cancellation of debts. In God’s eyes, to forgive is more about the restoration of a broken relationship than just a change of one’s mind or emotions towards a person who committed an offence. Indeed, forgiveness can be costly and painful. Nevertheless, God demands that we forgive because He Himself first forgave us, and He continues to do so today.

God forgives our sin out of love and because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross of Calvary (Acts 13:38-39, 1st John 1:6-9). Having received His forgiveness through faith in the atoning Blood of Jesus, our sins are no longer held against us as children of God (Romans 3:25). The forgiveness we receive is a part of the justification that comes through grace. In pardoning sin, God effectively removes the guilt of sin, absolves the sinner of the condemnation of the law, and liberates the pardoned from eternal damnation. By this act of grace, the sinner is forever freed from the guilt and penalty of sin. This is God’s special prerogative, offered freely to all men through the gospel of Jesus. We access this free gift by confessing our sins unto God, genuinely repenting of them and becoming born again.

As God has shown us unmerited love, mercy and grace in wiping all our sins away with the Blood of Jesus, He commands us to do the same to our fellow men. We are to love our neighbours and keep no record of sin against them. As a matter of fact, God expects forgiveness to form part of our lifestyle, keeping in mind that receiving forgiveness from God is dependent on us forgiving our neighbours (Luke 6:37). Ephesians 4:32 says:
“And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Forgiveness leads to peace, reconciliation, healing, unity, progress, joy, prosperity and answered prayers. Whenever these things are lacking and we find ourselves stricken by our conscience, forgiveness is needed. Let the love of God radiate through you to others, so that you can also become a beneficiary of the Lord’s abundant blessings.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Ingratitude is a character trait that manifest itself as a lack of appreciation or thankfulness due for a favour received. The Bible tells us that it is important for believers in Christ to appreciate and show gratitude to God for the manifold blessings that He gives daily. It is especially important for us to appreciate God for who He is and constantly give Him thanks for the salvation of our souls, the redemption of humanity, the favour He surrounds us with, and for the glorious future that awaits us. In Psalm 136, the Holy Spirit emphasises the importance of gratitude and gives reasons why we should appreciate God. In Psalm 100:4, He also says:
“Enter into his gate with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
1st Thessalonians 5:18 teaches us that giving thanks in all situations is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

If you only praise and worship God whenever you are in a congregation or whenever you are told to do so, then your praise is not overflowing from a heart of gratitude – you are just following orders. Always remember that God does not want people to give Him thanks only because they are told to do so; He wants people whose hearts would rise joyfully and spontaneously everyday with gratitude to Him whenever they remember His numerous benefits in their lives. I pray that God will always ensure you have reasons to praise Him in Jesus’ Name. The Bible contains examples of people who showed ingratitude to God in spite of all the blessings and gifts He bestowed on them. The story in Luke 17:12-19 is one of such examples. Of the ten leapers that Jesus miraculously healed, only one returned to glorify God. The question is, are you among the nine ingrates?

In the beginning, the Lord in His infinite wisdom created man in His image and in His likeness, for the purpose of showing forth His praise. Revelation 4:11 says God created all things, including human beings, for His pleasure. Isaiah 43:21 further says,
“This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”
Ingratitude to God is therefore considered an act of wicked rebellion against Him (Romans 1:21). No wonder it is listed as one of the evil traits that men will manifest in the last days (2nd Timothy 3:2). May the heart of genuine appreciation to God develop in you today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Faith is a spiritual word that is a bit complicated to define. However, Hebrews 11:1 provides the best explanation on the subject of faith by defining it as the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Faith gives a Christian the assurance of things which do not exist, and provides the conviction that what we hope for will happen, not because we have all it takes to make it happen but because God said it will happen. Practically speaking, faith involves taking God at His word and acting according to it, despite the hopelessness of the situation and irrespective of what the odds look like. As children of God, we generally find it easier to apply faith when dealing with simple matters of daily life like sleeping and waking up, but find it difficult to apply the same faith when confronted with difficult life-threatening issues like sickness and death. This should not be so.

In Luke 17:5, the apostles pleaded with Jesus to increase their faith. To better understand how faith works, let us closely examine Jesus’ response to their request. Luke 17:6 says:
“And the Lord said, if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
From the apostles’ request, they obviously thought that they needed much bigger faith to accomplish spiritual tasks. Unfortunately, this is the same mindset a lot of Christians have today. Jesus’ response reveals that the size of faith does not really matter. The smallest faith is enough to accomplish the biggest spiritual assignment, once the required conditions are fulfilled. By the grace of God, I have had my own fair share of dealing practically with the issue of faith, and God has always honoured my faith irrespective of its size.

One area of the new covenant that requires faith is connecting with the power of divine life embedded in Christ’s flesh and blood. Anyone who partakes in the Holy Communion by faith is bound to receive whatever miracle he or she desires. The Holy Communion is the most powerful meal imaginable, but faith is required to activate its hidden power. This divine meal has brought about abundant testimonies of great miracles, such as healing from incurable and life threatening diseases, deliverance from deadly vices and demonic powers, incredible financial breakthroughs, miraculous restoration of broken homes and relationships, and much more. The next time you partake of this miracle meal, apply faith to it, and I assure you that you will experience divine healing and deliverance through its power.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Life is a call to service. At the end of it, God has set a day of reckoning when everyone must appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive the reward of their stewardship, according to what they have done on earth, whether good or bad (2nd Corinthians 5:10). When God created the world, He ordained work as a means of rendering service, in order for man to find fulfilment and obtain reward or praise. He also introduced regular periods of rest for man, just as He rested after creating the world. However, many people are over-stretching the need for rest by misusing and wasting away precious time. Such people forget that time measures life, and so time-wasting is a deadly shortcoming.

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every thing living that moveth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:28
God’s mandate to mankind in this scripture shows that we are called to a life of service. The Holy Spirit further tells us that we only have one opportunity to make good use of the gift that life is. In Hebrews 9:27 He says:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this Judgment:”
Knowing then that we have only one life to live, let us live our lives maximally for the glory of God. The story of David, the shepherd boy who later became king of Israel, serves as a perfect example in this case. As a little boy, David was in the wilderness, busy managing his family’s wealth. He was putting his life at risk while his brothers enjoyed the protective environment of the town with its fun and entertainment. Nevertheless, David carried out his duty without complaining, and he used the opportunity of his time in the wilderness to polish his musical talent and shooting skills. Down the line, his proficiency in music singled him out to play for the king, while his skill with the catapult was harnessed in the destruction of Goliath the blasphemer and enemy of God. Your diligence will single you out for honour in Jesus’ Name. On the other hand, excessive rest leads to idleness, laziness, boredom and a multitude of other sins that rush in to fill the vacuum created by idleness. Quite obviously, it was excessive rest and idleness that paved the way for David’s fall into adultery and murder (2nd Samuel 11:1-5). Furthermore, Ezekiel 16:49 confirms that the “abundance of idleness” played a major role in the sins and eventual destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. How busy are you with the work God has placed in your hands?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The word ‘Shepherd’ is commonly used by Christians to describe pastors, evangelists, missionaries and others who play leadership roles in the Body of Christ. God expects members of the Body of Christ to provide all that is necessary for the health and welfare of Church leaders, as they labour to see to the spiritual wellbeing of the flock of Jesus Christ. Caring for the shepherd can take the form of gifts or voluntary service from individuals or organised groups. Care can also come in the form of wages from the ministry or church through which the shepherd serves God. In this sense, wages can be defined as any form of economic compensation received in exchange for labour or services rendered. This may also include accommodation, provisions and additional benefits in cash or kind. The Holy Spirit revealed God’s mind on this matter, saying in 1st Corinthians 9:13-14:
“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preached the gospel should live of the gospel.”

The Bible clearly teaches the right of pastors and spiritual leaders to receive care and wages in any form considered appropriate by members of the Body of Christ they are serving. Galatians 6:6 says:
“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”
Also, in 1st Timothy 5:17-18, the Bible instructed that the elder who rules well and labours in teaching the word and doctrine should not only be appropriately compensated but should also be counted worthy of double honour. Above all, our Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly hammered on the fact that the workman in God’s vineyard deserves whatever care or wages he or she receives (Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7).

Moreover, caring for shepherds ordained by God is a route to irreversible blessings. Some ignorantly see this as a means of making pastors rich, but the Bible and life experiences speak for themselves: the widow of Zarephath, the woman of Shunem, the words of Jesus in Mark 9:41, and testimonies too numerous to mention all serve as examples to follow in this regard.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A guarantor is someone who voluntarily becomes the legal surety of another person’s debt or responsibility. He or she is a person who undertakes to ensure that an agreed future event takes place. A guarantor also come to the aid of someone else to meet a need at a cost which involves a great deal of personal risk. In Proverbs 17:18 and Proverbs 22:26, the Bible teaches against standing as surety for friends and acquaintances. These passages indicate that anyone who offers himself or herself as surety for debts is a foolish person without understanding. Following common occurrences around the world today, it is only advisable to stand as a guarantor for members of your immediate family. Based on God’s understanding of human nature, the Bible views the role of a guarantor as a form of deadly generosity. God knows that the guarantor will always be left in a vulnerable position and is bound to suffer loss in the long run. God did not take this position only because of His knowledge of human nature, but also because of Christ’s first hand experience as the ultimate guarantor of mankind’s salvation. Hebrews 4:15 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.”
Having suffered so much to obtain our salvation, Jesus knows that it will be difficult for any human being to survive the disappointments and pain that comes with being a surety.

The Old Testament records one incident relating to someone standing surety for another. In it, Judah stood as a guarantor for Benjamin, to save Jacob’s family from starvation (Genesis 43:9, Genesis 44:32). Similarly, Jesus is the only person in the New Testament who stands as a guarantor. Hebrews 7:22 says
Jesus is the mediator of the covenant between God and His people, and He is also its guarantor. God’s promises are all guaranteed in Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 1:20). Knowing the consequences of standing as surety for anyone, Jesus willingly chose to stand for us because of the love He has for us. He paid the price of His life and today He sits in heaven as the One who guarantees the terms of the New Covenant that grants us access to the family of God. How generous He is! Jesus is still offering His extravagant generosity of all today, and it is an offer of love. Accept it today and your life will never be the same again!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God’s promises to His children are great, and their scope cannot be fathomed with the human mind. This is because our God is the Almighty, the beginning and the End of all things, the All-knowing and the All-powerful God. Colossians 1:16 tells us that all things in heaven and earth were made by Him: visible and invisible, thrones and dominions, principalities and powers. All these were created by Him and for Him. Heaven and earth adore Him, and angels bow before Him. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the final authority, and His word is settled in heaven. In 1st Corinthians 2:9, this great God said concerning His promises:
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Anyone who has walked with this great God and has tasted of His goodness will testify that the words of this verse are true. A cursory look at the stories of Abraham, Moses, Esther, Rahab, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Nehemiah, Daniel, Samuel, the nation of Israel, Mary the mother of Jesus, and many other too numerous to mention also confirms this truth. Indeed, God is in the business of doing new things of great proportions in the lives of His children from generation to generation. Just as He did for those in ages past, He will visit you with a record-breaking blessing today in Jesus’ Name.

By the grace of God, I can also testify that I have experienced in my own life and ministry blessings of the proportion that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard; they are far beyond any human imagination. The manifestation of God’s glory being experienced by the Church of Christ in all the nations of the world simultaneously is indeed beyond human comprehension. Therefore, I can boldly say that God’s promise in Isaiah 49:22-26, which says that great leaders and kings shall serve children of God, is not empty promise. It is part of our heritage as beneficiaries of God’s mercy and unmerited favour. Hallelujah! As God used great kings and powerful leaders to favour Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, David and Ezra, He will do the same for you today in Jesus’ Name. Isaiah 60:5, 14 and 16 reiterate that the abundance of the sea shall be at your disposal. Those verses also say unbelievers will labour for your sustenance, kings will become the source of your livelihood, the children of your oppressors shall bow before you, and those who despised you shall be humbled in your presence. So shall it be in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Preaching the gospel is not an optional exercise for Christians; rather, it is a necessity. This is the reason why both the vision and mission statements of The Redeemed Christian Church of God are centred on soul-winning. Winning souls is the heartbeat of God and the preoccupation of Jesus Christ. The Names of Jesus such as Messiah, Saviour, Redeemer and Deliverer all connote salvation or soul winning. Every action Jesus performed during His ministry here on earth was geared towards salvation. His last wishes before ascending into heaven also focused on the propagation of the good news of His gospel to every part of the world. His desire is that even people in the remotest parts of the world will hear about Him and receive the salvation He paid for with His precious Blood.

Soul-winning is the objective of the Lord’s commandment in Matthew 28:19-20, which says:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
This commandment is such a cardinal aspect of what it means to be a Christian. Luke 6:46, the Lord also said:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
The evidence that Jesus is indeed your Lord is doing whatever He commands you to do. In 1st Samuel 15:22, Prophet Samuel told King Saul that to obey is better than sacrifice in the sight of God. All that God requires from you is obedience to His commandments – not partially but totally. We cannot claim to be living holy lives if we are not preaching the gospel. You cannot claim to be holy if you are not evangelising to win souls to God’s kingdom. This is so because when Mark 16:15 tells us to go and preach the gospel, it is a command, not a suggestion. A fellow who is not walking in total obedience to God’s commandments cannot claim to be living a holy life. Preaching the gospel must therefore be a daily affair for us.

Effective soul-winning includes evangelism, follow-up and welfare. You cannot evangelize, win one or two souls and assume that you are ready for heaven; you must also follow-up the souls you have won. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ said to us in John 15:16:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”
Soul winning is a necessity, please take it seriously.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

‘Avenge’, ‘retribution’ and ‘recompense’ are words commonly used in the Bible to mean inflicting deserved or justified punishment on a wrongdoer, either by God Himself or by an authority ordained by Him. In contrast to these, vengeance (i.e. to revenge) is malicious retaliation against a perceived or real offence committed by someone or a group of people. It involves the reciprocation of an injury or insult by an aggrieved person. Whenever evil is deliberately committed against someone, the immediate human instinct is to take revenge, especially if the victim is capable of inflicting a corresponding injury on the offender. However, the lifestyle of God’s kingdom teaches that it is wrong to strike back or return evil for evil, whether by immediate retaliation or by deferred action of vengeance. As a citizens of heaven, we must learn to leave such matters in the hands of the Great Avenger, because the Bible insists that revenge is unacceptable to God (Proverbs 24:29, Romans 12:19).

God’s word offers us some definitive ways of dealing with the carnal desire for vengeance. First of all, we are advised to be slow to anger, because anger is at the root of every drive for revenge. We are to thoughtfully respond to situations that can lead to anger after hearing from the Holy Spirit, who resides in us (Ecclesiastes 7:9). We should also desist from plotting revenge in response to any wrongdoing committed against us. The Almighty God wants us to see the vengeance as His exclusive responsibility (Romans 12:19). He also wants us renounce anger and put it away from our minds completely (Psalm 37:8, Ephesians 4:31). May the Prince of peace send His peace like a river into your life to quench every fire of anger before it graduates into vengeance in Jesus’ Name.

Leaving matter in the hands of God and waiting for His judgement are acts of faith that demonstrate trust in God rather than human ability. That’s why children of God must not consider taking revenge or repaying evil with evil; rather, we must wait for the Lord in all situations. Persecuted and oppressed Christians must never rely on what human strength can do for them. Instead, they must pray earnestly with total reliance on the word of God, as seen in Psalm 94:1-2 and Lamentations 3:64-66. I decree that the Great Avenger will rise on your behalf today and render recompense to those who have oppressed you. God will judge your persecutors according to the work of their hands, and He will give them sorrow of heart until they are completely destroyed in Jesus’ Name. God will not rest until He has avenged you of all your enemies in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
Genesis 2:15
From this verse of scripture, we see that God ordained work to be the normal routine of life for mankind from the very beginning. Therefore, every legitimate human task has fundamental value, and is a potential means of glorifying God, irrespective of how demanding it may seem. This is the reason why working in the service of God’s kingdom is one of the requirements for divine elevation. In addition to being born again, walking in humility and being an addicted worshipper of God, anyone who wishes to receive divine elevation must enlist in the service of God’s kingdom. For example, you can become a soul winner, a teacher of the word or an intercessor. You can also join the counselling, sanitation, ushering, choir or welfare departments of your church. Wherever you find yourself, just get busy doing something useful for God. You are sure to receive divine elevation as a gift from Him in return, for He never forgets His people’s labour of love. Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Daniel, Rahab and David are examples of those who buried themselves in God’s work, and they were all rewarded greatly.

Remembrance means bringing to mind an awareness of someone or something from the past, and it is the opposite of forgetfulness. Though it is not in the nature of God to forget anything as humans do (because He is all-knowing), the words ‘remember’ and ‘not forget’ are used in relation to God in several passages of the Bible. When God remembers someone for good, that person’s situation immediately changes for the better. More importantly, God considers it an act of unrighteousness to forgive someone’s labour of love in His vineyard. I pray that irrespective of what is happening at the moment, your labour of love and contributions to the kingdom of God will be brought to remembrance speedily, and you will be gloriously rewarded in Jesus’ Name. 1st Corinthians 15:58 says:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know what your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Through the immutability of God’s word, be assured that God can never forget your contributions to the progress of His kingdom here on earth. In due season, He will turn things around in your favour and reward your righteous deeds. However, you must not relent or be weary in doing good, because good works and righteous living must continuously be our lifestyle.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Growth and progressive multiplication has been central to God’s purpose and agenda for mankind from the beginning of creation. Through His declarations in Genesis 1:22&28, God coded growth and increase into the fabric of everything He created at the elemental level, such that the propagation and future development of all created things occurs naturally through the process of growth and progressive multiplication. As a vital ingredient necessary for actualizing God’s purpose and agenda in man’s life, God’s grace also has the capacity to grow and multiply. God’s grace is His unmerited favour made known through Jesus Christ, and it is expressed in the redemption and full forgiveness of sinners through faith in Him (Titus 2:11-12). At its basic stage, God’s grace offers to all human beings forgiveness, redemption from sin and adoption into God’s family. After enjoying the benefits of this basic stage of grace, God expects every converted person to grow in grace from one level of glory to another. The spiritual development of believers is a growth of grace that can be likened to the growth of infants into adults. Just as every father wants his baby to grow into the full stature of a man or woman, so does our heavenly Father want us to grow into the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

In 2nd Peter 3:18, the Holy Spirit admonishes us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This establishes the growth of God’s grace in the life of every believer as a rule of Christian living. In Ephesians 4:13, the Holy Spirit further tells us that Christian growth must continue until we become perfect in faith and in the knowledge of God, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Contrary to this expectation, many individuals in the Body of Christ are like sickly plants with very feeble growth, because they are not ready to put in the work or make the sacrifices that are needed to help them grow at the pace that God desires (James 1:25). Lack of spiritual growth in the Body of Christ is also caused by the reduced emphasis on the teaching ministry in churches and a clear departure from the principles and practice of sanctification by Church leaders. The Christian life is not meant to be stagnant; rather, it must be a progressive experience of encounters with God. Through constant Bible study and emphasis on growth in grace, let us daily aim to be perfect in our Christian character (2nd Peter 1:5-. Our love for Christ should wax stronger, even as our will becomes subordinate to the will and purpose of God (Acts 21:14).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

While God operates in the invisible realm of the spirit, man operates in the realm of the physical world. Faith is therefore required for man to interact with God (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, it is absolutely impossible to acknowledge the existence of God or connect with Him in anyway. In Romans 10:17, the Holy Spirit declares that faith comes by hearing the word of God. In other words, faith can only come through God’s word. God essentially designed His word to be the perfect tool that enables us to connect with Him through the stirring up of faith in our spirit man.
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2nd Timothy 3:15-17
Daily interaction with the word of God develops the kind of faith that is focused on salvation and eternity, and it produces character that is thoroughly equipped to yield the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God. Consequently, the word of God should be desired more than our daily food (Job 23:12). Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God (Luke 4:4). He also commanded His disciples to go and teach all nations of the world to do the things in His word, so that everyone can be saved and spend eternity in heaven. In this wise, we must not only listen to God’s word but also put it into practice.

Knowing the importance and power behind God’s word, Satan has set out a grand scheme to counterfeit and adulterate it through so called “higher knowledge”. Children of God should therefore be careful of new revelations and information from extra-biblical sources. Stop listening to false prophets and ungodly suggestions from people of questionable character who have no solid spiritual background (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). Our Lord said we would easily recognise such people by their fruit (Matthew 7:20). After identifying them, I admonish you to discountenance their claims, avoid getting carried away by what they say, and ignore their “prophetic” and “miraculous” propaganda (1st John 4:1). Completely reject anyone who brings any philosophy or teaching that is not found in the Bible (2nd John 1:10). Remember they will not stand for you before God on the day of judgement.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One important thing about God that we must quickly learn as His children is the great power, authority and significance attached to His word. Psalm 138:2 tells us that God even magnifies His word above His Name. The enormity of this statement is amplified when you realize that His Name is above all other names in heaven and on earth, and that at the mention of His Name every knee must bow (Philippians 2:9-11). It is therefore not surprising that God only speaks whenever it is absolutely necessary, and His words are usually few and straight to the point. When God speaks to you, it is better you pay close attention to every minute detail of His words. As partakers of His divine nature, God expects us to be like Him by going straight to the point whenever we have the opportunity of communicating with Him. Jesus manifested this desire in His interaction with people when He was with us here on earth. In John 5:1-9, when Jesus asked the paralyzed man, who had been suffering for thirty-eight years, if he wanted to be healed, He expected an answer that was straight to the point, but what He got was a rambling speech. However, Jesus mercifully healed him.

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us in Matthew 6:7 that prayers are not necessarily answered because of the multitude of words. God answers prayers based on His love for His children. Because of His grace, He gives us things we do not deserve, and He shields us from harmful desires through His mercy. When David was confronted with one of the most distressful situations of his life at Ziklag, he went straight to the point in his prayer to God in 1st Samuel 30:8, which says:
“And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
After his conversation with God, David and his men went ahead to recover all that the enemy had carried away from them. There was not a single thing that was lost. I prophesy into your life that before the end of this year, there shall be a recovery of everything you have lost in Jesus’ Name. Is your health being invaded by sickness? Are you troubled on every side? Is your source of income under such terrible attacks that it has become difficult to make ends meet? Is the ocean of life threatening the survival of your marriage? Are you struggling to maintain your relationship with God because of sinful demands at your place of work? Are you agitated because of the fear of the future? I decree the immediate release of the power of God to deal with all your problems and to give you all-round peace in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Weeping is an expression of deep emotions that move one to shed tears. It is a means of expressing sorrow, sadness, disappointment, misfortune or overwhelming joy. While it is not wrong to weep after experiencing an unpleasant situation, we should realise that such emotions can sometimes block our minds from seeing the door of opportunity that the Lord opens in every situation. There are some adverse circumstances the enemy orchestrates, where the Lord would want us to take action instead of allowing ourselves to be overrun by sorrow and weeping. In such situations, weeping will not do us any good. It might even rob us of the victory that God has prepared for us. If you continue weeping before God when He expects you to act, your weeping will not move Him to act on your behalf. We see an example of this in 1st Samuel 30:3-4, which says:
“So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”
Is it not amazing that David and his men wept until they had no more strength to weep, and yet their situation remained as hopeless as ever? Their weeping did nothing to improve their situation. Things remained stagnant until David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Only after doing this did things begin to brighten up for him and his people.

While weeping is a very good way of attracting the sympathy of others, it often presents us as weak and helpless, which we are not. We have the All-powerful God as our help and strength, and in His word, He repeatedly told people in distress to weep not (Luke 7:13, Luke 8:52). Like David, we must stop seeking sympathy and begin to apply rugged faith. If you will ever overcome adversity and achieve anything tangible in life, you need to apply faith that persistently holds on to God, believing that He can make impossibilities possible against all odds. Hold on to the assurance that there is no situation or circumstance beyond God’s control. Our miracle-working God is able to reverse every irreversible situation. He can bring hope to a person’s life irrespective of the presence of long-running problems. In John 5:1-8, we read the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda who was at the same spot for 38 years. He claimed that the reason he had not been made whole for so long was because he had no one to assist him, but by the time Jesus came on the scene, his problems ceased without the help of any man. No matter how seemingly difficult your problem is, God will terminate it today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The book of remembrance is a divine record of those who fear God and obey His commands. Kept before the throne of God, it documents their righteous deeds. In Malachi 3:16, some godly people were discussing among themselves the challenges they faced in an environment where the ungodly seemed to be prospering while they were not. The Lord took note of their conversation and immediately opened a book of remembrance on their behalf. This tells us that God listens in on our heartfelt discussions, and His attention is always drawn to our good deeds and challenges, so much so that He even documents them. In times of uncertainty and when faced with challenges, you can draw on this truth to call God to remembrance and cause Him to move on your behalf. Nehemiah knew this, and so when he was faced with the challenges of building the walls of Jerusalem in times of uncertainty and adversity, he prayed this prayer in Nehemiah 13:14, saying:
“Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the office thereof.”
I pray that God will bring your righteous deeds into remembrance for due reward today in Jesus’ Name.

Indeed, God rewards the righteous deeds of those who persistently hold on to Him. I am a living testimony of this. The Holy Spirit says in Galatians 6:9
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
This suggests that God can never forget our contributions to the progress of His kingdom. He will ensure that we receive proper recognition and reward for our righteous deeds. Speaking in Hebrews 6:10, the Holy Spirit further says:
“For God is not righteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Any attempt to deny anyone the reward of their labour is an act of unrighteousness before God, and because God cannot be unrighteous, it is part of His nature to call a person’s deeds into remembrance for adequate recompense. He did this with Abraham, Noah, Cornelius, Rachel, Hannah and the nation of Israel. God will therefore remember your contributions to the growth of His kingdom and adequately compensate you in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God is sovereign over all things. He holds supreme power and authority over all creation, yet He is a merciful God. Most importantly, He is love personified. The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3 shows that whenever His children go astray, this loving and merciful Father immediately sets plans in motion to achieve their complete restoration. In spite of mankind’s fall into sin through disobedience, the Father manifested His love by arranging their restoration through the ultimate sacrifice of His only begotten Son. He also provided coats of skins to cover their unclothedness and protect them from the effects of contrary whether (Genesis 3:15 & 21). These acts reveal the true character of the God of complete restoration. What a merciful and loving Father He is!

Restoration is the power of God that returns something or someone to a state that had previously existed, through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. Restoration is said to be complete when the recipient is returned to a perfect condition, like the healing of a wound without leaving a scar. Many people erroneously consider faith and prayer to be the secret of complete restoration. Without a doubt, faith and prayers can lead to restoration; however, thanksgiving is the secret of complete restoration (Luke 17:12-19). Giving testimonies of what God has done and witnessing about Jesus Christ and His works are powerful ways of appreciating God, and they are forms of thanksgiving. Why is thanksgiving so important to complete restoration? It is because complete restoration is a result of undeserved and unmerited favour from God. In the Name that is above every name, as you begin to praise and worship God today, you will experience complete restoration in your health, finances and marriage, and you will also experience it spiritually in the areas of worship, prayer, Bible study and anointing.

In Joel 2:25-27, God showcased His power to do the impossible by declaring to the children of Israel complete restoration of the years lost to fruitflessness, wasted efforts and captivity. This led them into a new era of joy, peace and prosperity that did not come by their labour. Rather, God had blocked every source of losses in their lives. Most importantly, God is a restorer of lost souls, and He does this with so much compassion and completeness for anyone who calls upon His Name. One of the thieves crucified with Jesus received last-minutes grace and was assured a place in Paradise, despite his sordid past (Luke 23:39-43). This can be your own story too. Receive complete restoration now in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Fear expresses itself as an attitude of anxiety or distress caused by concern over threats to a person’s well-being. While speaking about fear, the Lord said in Matthew 10:28:
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
This verse of scripture contains some truths about fear which we should all recognise. One important lesson to learn here is that the emotion expressed as fear is not in itself evil; rather, it is the direction this emotion is channeled to that can make it an evil thing. When Jacob was told that his brother, Esau, was coming to meet him with four hundred men, the Bible says he was greatly afraid and distressed, prompting him to make some critical decisions and to seek the face of God (Genesis 32:7). This is an example of fear being channelled in the right direction. From Matthew 10:28, we understand that God alone is to be feared, and moments of fear should be viewed as opportunities for developing a closer and deeper relationship with Him. What exactly is a snare, and how does fear become a snare? The word ‘snare’ is used in the Bible to describe a trap. In relation to mankind, it is situation in which someone lies in wait to launch a surprise attack against a person, or a trick by which a person is misled into acting against his or her own interest.

In Job 3:25, the Holy Spirit speaks on how fear can become a snare. Fear becomes a snare when it comes in response to anything but God. Job was ensnared by the fear of losing all he had, and that was exactly what happened to him. Whatever you fear has a way of controlling you, and that is why the Holy Spirit says that God is displeased whenever we exhibit fear for mere mortals or creatures created by Him. God infers from such an attitude that we have forgotten His awesomeness and the greatness of His works. God wonders why His children, who acknowledge Him as the Creator of heaven and earth, entertain the fear of mere mortals, irrespective of their status or position! The fear of man is a snare that enslaves a person into living by the dictates of a fellow human, contrary to the will of God. No wonder Proverbs 29:25 says:
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Those who fear and honour God will never have to fear anything again. If you fear God, you need not fear anything else, because God is supreme over all. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

For anyone to succeed in life, he or she needs the assistance of others. No one succeeds in life by being an island. If the assistance of fellow human beings can make a difference in a person’s life, how much more can divine assistance from the unlimited God. Divine assistance is the greatest form of support you can receive to help you fulfil your destiny and reach your goal. Only the Almighty God, who alone is self-sufficient, does not need assistance from any one. Whenever God ask us to partner with Him on any project, He is only trying to give us an opportunity to be blessed. We see this demonstrated when the Lord asked to use Peter’s boat in Luke 5:1-10. One might think that without Peter’s boat, the Lord would have been unable to preach on the lake. This cannot be true, because the one who walked on the sea could have done the same thing in order to preach. The Lord asked for Peter’s boat only because He wanted to make him a famous fisher of men! Just as it happened to Peter, divine assistance is available for whoever has been struggling to make it in life with no results to show for it.

Elijah is one man who experienced divine assistance in no small measure. It’s therefore unsurprising that he was able to do great exploits for God. During a time of great famine, God sent him divine assistance for his sustenance. God said to him in 1st Kings 17:9
“Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”
Here we see that the prophet and the widow had nothing to do with the arrangement: it was divinely ordained. However, the best thing about this story is that the two of them cooperated with God to fulfil His divine will. As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have come to realize one thing: when God wants to bless a minister or his ministry, he or she does not need to collect offerings with long sermons. Moses made a simple pronouncement when the tabernacle was to be built in the wilderness, and the people brought so much that he had to make another pronouncement for them to stop (Exodus 35:4 – Exodus 36:7). Through divine assistance, Moses received more than enough for his assignment, even in the wilderness. Beloved, seek divine help today and you will be settled. When you meditate on Psalm 127:1, you will realise the futility of human efforts without divine assistance. May God grant you understanding of this truth in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 1 Peter 4:15, the Holy Spirit specifically admonishes us to ensure that we do not suffer as evildoers. This implies that God has ordained evildoers to suffer some form of repercussion in this world before ultimately facing His judgement in eternity. Who are those the Holy Spirit refers to as evildoers in 1st Peter 4:15? Simply put, evildoers are people whose works are evil. The Holy Spirit helps us narrow this broad classification down by revealing to us the fountain of all works in James 3:16, which says:
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
We therefore understand from this verse that evildoers are those whose works are borne out of envy and strife. Such people are generally schemers who operate by mischief. Their souls is eaten up by jealously borne out of envy and strife, and this keep them awake at night devising schemes to entrap their victims. No wonder the Holy Spirit further says of them in Micah 2:1:
“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.”
We see an example of such people in Daniel 6:1-24. Out of envy, these evildoers came up with a scheme to entrap Daniel and destroy him completely to their own benefit. Evildoers usually perpetrate their evil works by cleverly disguising their schemes as harmless. Everyone else within the system is usually ignorant of the real purpose and objectives of their actions, except by the help of the Spirit of discernment.

As a child of God, don’t be worried by the activities of evildoers or envious of their accomplishments, because the face of the Almighty is against them. Psalm 37:1-2 says:
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
Indeed, evildoers may sometimes rise to the top in a family, community, nation or even in the Church of God, but they shall be suddenly cut off, as it happened to Daniel’s adversaries. God’s word in Micah 2:1 makes us understand that such people are operating under the curse of God. Their wickedness will therefore be returned upon their own head (1st Samuel 25:39). I decree that the judgement of God will begin to pursue every evildoers troubling your life, family, nation, and the Church of God today in Jesus’ Name. However, examine yourself to ensure you are not suffering under the judgement of God as an evildoer.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Restoration presupposes the loss of something good and valuable. Ezra 9:1-9 tells the story of God’s people who were in need of restoration after returning from the land of captivity. I believe their example contains valuable lessons for those seeking the face of God for restoration in one form or the other. When a people are carried away into a strange land as captives, there is the tendency for them to lose their identity and character as their virtues get influenced by the environment they find themselves in. The Israelites experienced this. After God caused the king of Persia to permit the restoration of God’s worship in Jerusalem through the hand of Ezra, it was discovered that the priests and Levites who were supposed to lead the people in worship could not minister because they had corrupted themselves by marrying idol worshipers. To ignite the fire of revival and initiate the restoration of God’s people to His worship, Ezra 9:5-6 lists some key things Ezra did which cannot be overlooked by anyone seeking restoration. It says:
“And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown unto the heavens.”
Ezra realised that God’s people needed spiritual restoration first, before they could experience any other form of restoration. He therefore went before God in penitence and humility to seek for His forgiveness and restoration. This example shows that spiritual restoration is obtained only when we are repentant and humble before God. Psalm 51:17 says:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
In other words, a remorseful heart is the foundation of genuine repentance, and through genuine repentance, spiritual restoration is received (Acts 3:19). Repentance means making a “U-turn” away from one’s trespasses. Those who repented of their sins in Ezra’s time did not continue in them; they completely relinquished their former lifestyles (Ezra 10:2-17). It is therefore strange that some people claim to have repented of their sins and yet they do not relinquish this sinful lifestyle. Such people are only deceiving themselves (Romans 6:1-2). Beloved, what type of loss have you suffered – spiritual, physical or otherwise? You can be restored if only you genuinely repent of your sins today and come back to your first love for God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Sorrow is feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or misfortune suffered by a person directly or by loved ones. It is the human response to painful and heartbreaking life situations involving loss or other tragic circumstances. Sorrow is characterized by weeping, mourning, bitterness, depression, disappointment, failure, sadness, regret and discouragement. It is indeed an arrow in quiver of Satan and his agents, and their aim is to use it to break men’s spirit and determination to move forward in life. In God’s original plan, sorrow and its attendant problems were not meant to be part of the human experience, and that is why there will be no more sorrow in the new heaven and new earth that God is preparing for His people. Speaking on this truth, Revelation 21:4 says:
“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.”

Sorrow became part and parcel of the human experience because of our descent into sin and the pronouncement of God’s judgement that subsequently followed (Genesis 3:16-20). The consequence of this is laid bare in Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, which says:
“For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”
Today, the devil is still shooting the arrow of sorrow all over the world through sickness, poverty, childlessness, terrorism, natural disaster, calamities of epic proportions, separation and divorce, untimely death, and a much more. However, we thank God that the compassionate Jesus became a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”, so that we can experience the joy of the Lord right here on earth (Isaiah 53:3-4). I therefore decree that sorrow will cease in your life from today in Jesus’ Name. God provides comfort for the sorrowful and promises eternal deliverance from sorrow (Isaiah 35:10). He is mindful of our fame, and that is why He sent us the Holy Spirit to continually comfort and strengthen us (Psalm 103:14, John 15:26). Through His work in our life, Satan’s evil arrow of sorrow is rendered powerless over us. Have you recently suffered any form of loss, disappointment or pain? I encourage you today to yield to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, pick yourself up from the ashes of discouragement and face life with renewed vigour. The devil’s aim is to break your spirit and make you give up on life. Please don’t give in to him, neither should you contemplate suicide. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When you glance through the news headlines these days, you will realize that we live in perilous times where the sanctity of marriage means nothing to a lot of people. We are daily inundated with news of men and women committing adultery on an unprecedented scale. However, as children of God, we should not be surprised, because the Holy Spirit already warned us that this would happen. While teaching on the perilous times that would come in the last days, He said to us in 2nd Timothy 3:6:
“For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts”
The increase in adultery is therefore a pointer to us that we are indeed in the last days. The reason why the Holy Spirit forewarned us of this is not just to keep us informed, but also to keep us in check from falling into the snare of the devil in this area. Speaking on God’s standard on marriage for us, the Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 13:4:
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
Be warned that God’s standard is not the same as the standard of the world, and that what is acceptable to the world is not acceptable to God.

Adultery is the result of character erosion that does not happen in one day. It is the product of hidden lusts in the heart which were not dealt with. No wonder the Lord said in Matthew 5:28:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Adultery always starts as a suggestion from the devil or his agents, which if harboured in the heart of a fellow, snowballs into events with catastrophic consequences. One of the means by which the devil deposits such evil suggestions into the heart of a person is through the eye. This is the reason why 2 Peter 2:14 speaks of having eyes full of adultery, which refers to wearing a look that projects a promiscuous identity. It also means communicating sexual attraction, unholy intention or immoral interest with the eyes or face. It could also mean having a warped mind that reads sensual or erotic desire into members of the opposite sex, no matter how modestly dressed they are. Irrespective of the form it takes, the key thing is that a child of God should never yield to the suggestions of the devil (1st Peter 5:8-9). How are you faring in this regard?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Night is generally identified as a period of darkness between evening and morning. It is a time of rest or cessation from daily activities, which is a good thing. However, because darkness also provides cover for evil activities, the devil and his demons, in collaboration with their human agents, usually commit all manner of evil works against people at night. Exposing their mode of operation, the Lord reveals in Matthew 13:25 that while men slept at night, the enemy came, corrupted their destinies with evil seeds and escaped unnoticed. The night is therefore recognized as the time of peak activity for the powers of darkness, and as the period when evil is easily planned and executed. Indeed, evil flourishes at night, so much so that the nightlife of most cities brims over with alcohol, hard drugs, prostitution, gambling, gangsterism and other terrible vices. This situation is especially rife in places where the spiritual atmosphere is under the control of the rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12). It is this reality that has given the night the sinister image it has. I decree that every problem that entered your life under the cover of darkness be neutralized today in Jesus’ Name.

Notwithstanding the evil characteristic of the night, because God originally created the night to be good, good things can still come out of it. Among other things, the night time provides an ideal opportunity for praise, worship, prayer and in-depth Bible study. More importantly, multiple example from the Bible and from our life experiences show that God is in the business of carrying out powerful deliverance's at night. I therefore pray that your insurmountable problems will pass away with the night, and you will wake up to joy and celebration in Jesus’ Name. In Exodus 14:24, as morning approached, God troubled the camp of the Egyptians so much that they knew God’s hand was against them. All their soldiers perished before dawn, and the Israelite's woke up to joy and celebration. This type of testimony will be your portion in Jesus’ Name. In Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas went to bed as prisoners, but God visited the prison after midnight to deliver them with a foundation-shaking earthquake, and they woke up to celebrate in Jesus’ Name. Lastly, in Acts 12:6-10, Peter was kept in a maximum security prison, but an angel of God visited the prison that night. Peter’s chains were broken and the prison gate opened to him by itself. He walked out of the prison a free man and joined the people of God to celebrate and praise God in the morning. God will give you such a testimony in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The original purpose of the devil’s deceit is to humiliate man and subject him to eternal fear and ridicule. He succeeded in this poly in the Garden of Eden, causing shame and fear to cover our first parents like the waters cover the sea. What brought about this shame upon the first man? Disobedience to the word of God was the cause. The Lord had earlier warned Adam against eating the forbidden fruit to avoid grave consequences, but the devil came and lied to his wife that nothing would happen. After Eve was deceived and Adam succumbed to the sin of disobeying God, they discovered shame and fear that they never knew before, because the glory of God departed from them (Genesis 2:25, Genesis 3:10). Just as he did with Eve, the devil is still deceiving people today that severe consequences will not follow the acts of sin in the life of sinners. Unfortunately, when you look around the world today, you will discover great men and women whom the devil has brought to shame and ridicule by lying to them that there will be no consequences for their evil actions or that their secrets sinful acts will never be found out. Such people would have avoided public ridicule and shame if only they had known and given heed to God’s word in Numbers 32:23, which says:
“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Are you involved in any secret sin and the devil is deceiving you that there will be no consequences? The word of God is coming to you today that your sin will find you out. Are you having an extra-marital affair? Are you stealing public funds at your disposal? Are you oppressing those who God has placed under your leadership? Are you short-changing your place of work in shady deals to your own benefits? Are you visiting pornographic sites in the secret confines of your room? If you are involved in any form of sin, God is saying to you today, “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

Disobedience to God’s word brings untold shame and agony. To avoid or remove the shame that sin brings, we must go back to the word of God and do what it says. As seen in Psalm 119:6, complete obedience to the word of God is the antidote for shame. In Psalm 119:1-8, those who walk in the law of the Lord are described as blessed. They are blessed because those iniquities that bring shame are far away from them due to their adherence to God’s commandments. Shame is the portion of those who do not consider God’s omnipresent nature before committing “hidden” acts. Before travelling to that far-away secluded location for your illicit tryst, remember that God is there. I pray that sin will not put you to shame in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

By the standard of the world, the majority vote opinion is the acceptable way of measuring the correctness or wrongness of an idea or way of life. For example, at a point in history, some societies saw homosexuality and other sexual immoralities as aberrations, but with the majority of their population now in support of such lifestyles, these acts are now being celebrated, so much so that even some who ought to be God’s mouthpiece in these societies are afraid of criticizing them, in order not to lose their appeal before the world. How sad! Irrespective of the prevailing opinion in such societies, God’s position remains steadfast forever, and it is clearly stated in the words of 1st Corinthians 6:9:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind”
The doctrine of the world says the minority may have their say but the majority will have their way. Thank God that we are not of the world, and so we are not bound by their ideology or way of life (John 17:14-16). We are citizens of a kingdom, and our God is our King (Ephesians 2:19)


As citizen of heaven, let us not be terrified into surrendering to the world’s beliefs. Do not let their militant way of enforcing their agenda move you. Don’t be like Aaron who conceded to the evil idea of making a god of gold for the Israelite's because that was the popular opinion of the majority (Exodus 32:1-6). Remember the words of Exodus 23:2a which says to you:
“Thou shall not follow a multitude to do evil;”
Also, don’t forget the words of your heavenly Father, saying in Proverbs 1:10:
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
You need to understand that one with God is majority (Romans 8:31). Always stand for the truth, even in the face of a hostile majority, with the full understanding that with God, you are in the majority. 1st John 4:4 declares that you have overcome the world because the presence of God in you makes you greater than the world. I therefore encourage you to soar on the victory won for us by Jesus Christ to confidently stand for the truth and speak out against all forms of sin and unrighteousness (John 16:33). Let the whole world know that one with God is majority and resist the lie which says that because you are outnumbered, you have to join the world to perpetrate evil, especially those identified as being socially acceptable or politically correct.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.