₦airaland Forum

Love can be defined as a strong feeling of deep affection for someone, emanating from a firm decision to love that person. The Bible offers us an understanding of the source, character and value of love based on the nature and actions of God. It teaches that God is the source of love and that His very character is love. If you have ever been so deeply and passionately in love with someone to the point of obsession, you may actually lose your appetite and forget to eat. Your mind may become occupied with nothing else but that person. The object of your love is the last thing you think of when you go to bed and the first thing you think of when you wake up. It is clear from these descriptions that love involves the totality of a person. Love is the central theme of the Bible, and it is a primary characteristic of God’s nature. It is also the fundamental demand that God places on mankind towards Him and towards fellow human beings.

From the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:35-40, it is clear that we are expected to love God first with all our heart, soul and mind. However, we need to experience the love of God in our hearts before we can truly appreciate what true love is, and only then can we demonstrate this love to others. The love of God is revealed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as stated in John 3:16, which says:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whatsoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Out of love, God gave His only begotten Son as the ultimate ransom for the salvation of humanity. He now commands everyone who has partaken of His love to reciprocate it by loving one another. Speaking in John 15:12, the Lord Jesus Christ said:
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

The Bible makes it very clear that love is revealed through action, especially what is done in the interest of others. Children of God should never be identified with envy, hatred, pride, selfishness or any form of wickedness, as all these are contrary to the nature of God they possess. We should naturally show forth gentleness, goodness and kindness to our neighbours. As Christians, let us always radiate the love of God with meekness, patience and joy. Love is greater than all spiritual gifts, as the best of these gifts is useless with love. 1st Corinthians 13:2 says:
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Beloved, are you walking in the love of God?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A person’s words have enormous influence for good or evil and are a sure indicator of the person’s character. The impact of our speech cannot be over emphasised, for the Bible makes it clear that a man’s speech has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21), and is also capable of bringing success or misfortune to the speaker, as shown in Proverbs 12:13-14, which says:
“The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth…”
Job 19:2 reveals that a person’s speech can destroy others, but it also has the capacity to give life to its hearers (Isaiah 50:4). You can easily identify the righteous by their speech. In Isaiah 50:4, this category of people are referred to as “the learned”. ‘Learned’ in this sense does not refer to legal practice, it rather refers to those who are knowledgeable in God’s word. Such people do not speak carelessly. They understand the weight of words and use their words effectively, knowing that someday, they will have to account for every idle word they have spoken. Whenever they open their mouth, a bit of what is stored within them comes forth, in line with Matthew 12:34b, which says:
“for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

For those who are genuinely saved, our speech and actions are controlled by God’s word that is hidden in our hearts. Psalm 37:30-31 says:
“The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”
When God’s word fills your heart, your mouth will open in wisdom. This is why the righteous take out time to hide God’s word in their heart, and their words are like food to the hearers. If you sit by a righteous man for counselling, what you will hear within a few minutes will put you on the right path. Even the foolish hear the words of salvation from them. The sick receive words of healing, while the hopeless receive encouragement from them. You cannot listen to a righteous man or woman and not be impacted. No wonder his mouth is called a well of life (Proverbs 10:11). There is a fountain of goodness in the righteous, so that whenever they open their mouth, living waters flow out of it. The righteous is a source of inspiration, and his words feed the faith of others, directing them to the path of righteousness. You need to be conscious of the manner of speech you produce. As a child of God, please watch your tongue. Wise children of God must learn to use the power in their tongue effectively to pull down the strongholds of the devil in their lives and family. I pray that your tongue will begin to yield fruits of peace and prosperity from this day in the Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Matthew 5:27-29 reveals a unique characteristic of the New Covenant taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. Under the old covenant of the Mosaic Law, a person could not be accused of sexual immorality, such as fornication or adultery, unless he or she was caught in the art by at least two or three witnesses. This was the strong basis on which the scribes and Pharisees called for the execution of the woman caught in the sin of adultery in John 8:2-11. John 8:4-5 says:
“They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”
Those who follow the Lord’s teaching with an open heart will understand His answer to this question posed by the scribes and Pharisees. Indeed, Jesus came not to condemn but to redeem those under the yoke of sin. Nevertheless, His standard says that one can be guilty of sexual immorality even without sleeping with someone other than his or her spouse. In fact, according to Jesus, one need not be caught in the act of immorality before being declared guilty of it. By the Lord’s standard, what is refereed to in common parlance as “mere looking” is enough to be adjudged to have committed sexual immorality! This is food for thought for us in the Body of Christ today. When we promote the lust of the eyes by allowing immoral dressing in the church, we are actually exposing members of the Body of Christ to sexual immorality, even when they don’t engage in the act physically. A member of the choir dressed seductively to lead praise and worship will definitely leave the congregation worse off than before they came to church. This is not a question of legalism but following divine principles established by the Lord Himself.

The sin of sexual immorality and perversion is prevalent in the world we live in today because of the ease of access to the virtual world of the internet, where pornography is common place. Nowadays, people can have a voice or video chat with a member of the opposite sex a world away, committing all manner of immorality with them. In the world today, we even have the perversion called sex dolls of various makes and models meant to further promote a terrible kind of self-delusion. In a nutshell, Satan and his agents have devised various ways of luring people into sexual immorality without having any contact with a real human being. As children of God living in these perilous times, we must not become victims of this evil. As instructed by our Lord in Matthew 5:29, we must be ready to give it all it takes to mortify our bodies to sexual immorality. You need to “pluck out the eye”, represented by internet websites, TV programmes and social gatherings that make you susceptible to sexual immorality internally. May God honour your sincere efforts by giving you strength of character in your inner man in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In these last days, the devil is using every phony argument and deceitful practice in his arsenal to entangle the souls of the simple-minded. We must therefore be on our guard and put in earnest efforts to preserve our faith and gain eternity. The devil has gone to great lengths to rebrand the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life in a most attractive package, embossed with the inscriptions of prosperity all over it. This evil package is now making Christians, even ministers of the gospel; jostle for the kind of lifestyle that is clearly identifiable as worldly, carnal or sensual to those whose spiritual eyes are still open. This is why we must be equipped with the word of God more than ever before, to correctly draw the line between the things of God and worldly desires. Youths are the most affected in this regard. Many of them don’t have a firm resolve to serve God. They have many teachers from the electronic and print media, some of whom are apostates, loading them with unsound doctrines that are not based on the totality of God’s word. Many young people are unwilling to surrender every aspect of their lives to God, preferring to do things their own way. The way many of them live shows that they are not subject to the Spirit of the Lord, who should have control over their lives. Such carnal heart need to see the beauty in living a holy life and loving God genuinely.

One trick the devil is using to enslave youths today is the subtle offer of delicious gifts, appointments and promises of greatness by association rather than through hard work. In many cases, no matter how hard you try, you may not see anything wrong in such an arrangement at first. You might even think it is the result of God’s favour. Under this demonic scheme, a rich and powerful benefactor, acting under the control of demonic forces, tries to use the luxuries he or she can provide to entrap a less wealthy and vulnerable person, so as to make them feel obliged to do their bidding. However, when payback time comes, many bewildered victims have been left disappointed, enslaved and hopeless, and some have even lost their lives, I warn Christian youths that those who are addicted to pleasure, having roving eyes that are always seeking enjoyment and a luxurious lifestyle, are easily sucked in and entrapped by wicked predators. The language they speak follows the pattern of their father’s in Luke 4:6-7. I pray that you will not become a victim of mean deceivers in the mighty Name of Jesus. See to it that you do not fall for any deceptive proposal of the devil. Satan does not give favour away for free. His demands are usually much greater than the initial investment, and you may lose your soul in the process. Do not be carried away by appealing offers not founded on God’s principles, because they are deceitful and poisonous food (Proverbs 23:3). Beware of hugs from bears!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Mark 11:12-14; 20-24 narrates a story that demonstrates faith in action and teaches what faith can do for those who live by it. Having declared to us in Habakkuk 2:4 that “The just shall live by faith,” our Lord’s primary purpose in cursing the fig tree was to show us what living by faith really looks like. That was why the first statement Jesus made after Peter drew His attention to the withered fig tree was, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Jesus further went on to say in Mark 11:23:
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
Living by faith simply means to have faith in God’s power and in His faithfulness to perform whatever He has promised. If we have faith in God, we should have the confidence to ask Him whatever we desire in the place of prayer. The Lord has told us that this is the pathway to receive our heart’s desires (Mark 11:24). If we have faith in God, we should also be confident to make declarations based on His word. We demonstrate our faith by the confessions of our mouths. Psalm 116:10a says:
“I believed therefore have I spoken”
Our Lord expects us to declare what we believe to the mountains that challenge the integrity of His word in our lives, instead of crying to Him about them. That is what living by faith is all about. A lot of us do not want to develop in our walk with God; we just want to remain at the level of babes, who expect everything to be done for them instead of taking charge. No wonder the Lord asked this question in Luke 18:8b, saying:
“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

It is one thing to pray and another thing to believe in practical terms that God will do what you are asking for. The story was told of a priest who called for a prayer meeting one Sunday afternoon concerning the challenge of drought in a particular town. After the congregation had gathered for the prayer meeting, the priest looked around and said, “Brethren, you are not ready to pray.” The parishioners wondered, “What do you mean? That is what we have come to do.” He then asked them, “What have you come to do?” They chorused, “To pray for rain to fall!” He then asked them, “Where are your umbrellas and raincoats? If you believe that God will answer the prayer you have come to say, you should have brought your umbrella and raincoats!” They went back home and brought their umbrellas and raincoats, and God honoured their faith. What a lesson of faith! Beloved, have faith in God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Bodyguards are security personnel specially trained to protect wealthy and powerful individuals. They are usually found around very important personalities and their family members. As a matter of fact, some people are not seen in public without bodyguards because they don’t feel safe without them. Nevertheless, human bodyguards are limited in power, and the cost of having them is beyond the reach of the average person. However, the good news for Christians is that we have bodyguards in this world, of the spiritual kind, who are automatically appointed to every child of God the moment we become born again. Unlimited in power, they are invincible and operate at a speed much faster than the speed of light. The most amazing thing about our bodyguards is that their services have been fully paid for with the Blood of Jesus. That is why Hebrews 1:14 says:
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be hairs of salvation?"
When a child is born, what happens to that child depends on the available support system. The stronger the support system, the more fortified that child is for success in life. Princes and princesses benefit from the services of royal servants. As children of God, our Father has provided angels as part of our support system. Psalm 91:10-13 says it is the duty of our Father’s angels to ensure that no harm befalls us. Angels are therefore our personal bodyguards, who go with us wherever we go. When the children of kings go out, they don’t go alone. When going to school, they are taken in chauffeur-driven cars, whereas the children of ordinary people trek even through the woods or bush paths without any form of protection. From this day onward, be conscious of and utilize the angelic protection you have around you.

A brother shared a testimony about a flight he was on. He said while airborne, the first two engines of their plane suddenly failed. In panic, their pilot told them that the plane would crash if the third engine also shuts down. Not long after, the third engine also failed, and pandemonium broke out on the plane. All the while, this brother was sitting by the window. He turned to his left to look out, and he saw a huge angel who smiled at him and whispered to him that he was carrying the plane. To the surprise of everyone else, the plane safely landed an hour later at the nearest airport. Nobody could explain how they managed to land except this brother. He said if he had told them what happened, they would not believe him. In the Bible, when Daniel was thrown into the den of lions, and angel went ahead of him to shut the lions’ mouths (Daniel 6:22). This season, you also shall receive the full complement of your heavenly Father’s support system, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Gluttony is a trait that manifests itself through eating or drinking more than is needful. Indeed, this applies not only to food but to all material things. This habit is found in people who have given their belly or body free rein over their life, such that they are unable to hold back or restrain themselves whenever food or drink is set before them. For such people, the Holy Spirit says their god is their belly (Philippians 3:19). Gluttony causes a person to develop a deadly appetite for things that can destroy him or her. Food can do and has indeed done great damage to the destinies of many people throughout history. The story of Esau who exchanged his birth right for a meal of red pottage is a case in point (Genesis 25:29-34). No wonder Hebrews 12:16 says:
“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel or meat sold his birthright.”
From Esau’s story, we see that food can sometimes be used as bait covering the hook of the fishermen. An adage in my native language says, “The rodent is eating free bananas and is rejoicing; it does not know that sweet things kills.”

One man who understood the principles enunciated in Proverbs 23:1-8 was Daniel. On arrival in Babylon as a captive, he determined in his heart not to forget his background and heritage, so he did not allow himself get carried away by the king’s delicacies. He and three other Hebrew boys decided to discipline themselves in anticipation of a time when their stand in God would be tested and they would no longer have access to the king’s benefits. Whatever a man gives you, he can also take away from you; this is why the source of your daily bread should be God alone. Whenever someone offers you “free lunch”, try and decipher the motive behind the offer before accepting it. When I was growing up in my father’s house, the attitude and disposition of a person offering us food determined whether we accept it or not. Proverbs 23:6 says:
“Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats.”
Indeed, it takes self-discipline not to be gluttonous, especially in the time of need. As a rule in life, never allow your enemies know when you are ‘hungry’, because they can use your needs to get you down. It is not out of place to assume that Jacob had studied his brother Esau and was only waiting for the perfect opportunity to lure him with food. This is one of the benefits of a life of fasting. The Holy Spirit says in Proverbs 25:16:
“Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.”
A word is enough for the wise.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible teaches that there is a spiritual dimension to every battle of life, even though this is usually not obvious at the onset. Ephesians 6:12 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.”
Although the credentials of our enemy can be intimidating, a Christian need not worry because to us, the enemy and his agents are conquered foes. This is the high standpoint of the Christian faith, and it should be the only ground on which a child of God would confront the devil and his agents. We are the triumphant Church of Christ! Indeed, the resources and abilities of our wicked foes pale into insignificance when compared to the victory our Lord has won for us and the tremendous power and authority this victory makes available to us. When we consider all this, it is only appropriate that we sing songs of victory in praise of the one who made us more than conquerors. Glory, Hallelujah!

The Bible presents music as a spiritual tool that can be used to move God. Whenever God wants to do something really special, He calls for an army of consecrated musical warriors to bombard the strongholds of the enemy with songs of victory. We have the example of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who deployed divine warriors to march into battle with musical instruments in their hands and songs of praise in their mouths. As the army of worshippers praised and exalted God, He arose on their behalf and completely destroyed all their enemies. Describing this great feat, 2nd Chronicles 20:22 says:
“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”
Just as God destroyed the enemies of King Jehoshaphat, so will He destroy all your enemies before you today in Jesus’ Name. Songs of praise are songs of victory. Whenever, you sing songs of victory unto God, He always rises to scatter your enemies. Some thirty years ago, we went to Otukpo for a programme with some students, where I planned to speak on divine healing. It happened that as we began to praise God intensely, the glory of God descended and I forgot every scripture I had written except Luke 1:37. Suddenly, there were clusters of students kneeling and praying in tongues, who had never even heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit before. Other students soon joined them to pray in tongues, and at the end of the day, I could not preach. That is a glimpse of what singing songs of victory can do. God is indeed worthy to be praised!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A lot of Christians are being buffeted daily by the circumstances of life, even though that is not God’s desire for us. From Joshua’s story in Joshua 10:18-14, we see that God’s plan for us is to live as masters over every circumstance that life throws at us in this world. Circumstances are those factors that determine the course of events around us, and they can be natural or spiritual in nature. To live as a master of circumstances is to exercise authority over events or situations of life and the factors which control them.

The Bible emphasises the fact that God is sovereign over all of creation. In other words, He has absolute authority and control over everything in heaven and earth. Yet, He has delegated a limited degree of control over His creation to mankind. Through this delegated authority, man has gained tremendous knowledge of the universe over time and this has given him a greater level of control over situations and circumstances of life. Without a doubt, man has made giant strides and acquired advanced knowledge in several fields of human endeavour. However, because of these achievements, a great part of humanity wrongly assumes that they are masters of the universe and are therefore in charge of things. How wrong they are! Daniel 4:35 says,
“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
From this Bible passage, it is clear that God is unquestionably in charge. He does as He pleases in the distribution of His mercy, blessings and favour. He gives strength, makes great, promotes and gives knowledge and wisdom, all at His pleasure. The Lord controls the hearts of kings, and He also controls times and seasons. He deposes kings and installs others in their place. He is the source of every element in creation, the fountain of life and the fountain of goodness from whom all blessings flow. All hail the true Master of the universe, the Redeemer of mankind and the Saviour of the whole world! Our God can empower anyone He likes to become a master of circumstances of life. He gave His prophets the power to see into the future and control rain from heaven at will; He gave the apostles the power to heal the sick and raise the dead, and He also gave them authority over demonic powers and natural elements of life. This same God is ready to give you power and authority over all circumstances of life today if you are ready to become a willing tool in His hands. Are you ready to surrender your all to Him?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Out of envy and hatred, Joseph’s brothers wickedly plotted evil against him. They even wanted to kill him but God intervened, so they decided instead to sell him to slave merchants who led him to Egypt, where he served Potiphar as a slave for several years before being sent to prison. Jailed for a crime he did not commit, his chances of regaining his freedom became slimmer and slimmer as the days went by. After a period of about fifteen years, God visited Joseph with His mercy and brought him out of prison and slavery with a strong hand. He became second in command to Pharaoh in the whole Egyptian empire; a position that was by all means impossible for a foreigner to occupy, not to mention a slave and ex-convict. Most remarkably however, throughout his experience, Joseph was never bitter, angry or vengeful towards his brothers, because he believed that God’s purpose was being fulfilled through everything he faced. Indeed, the ways of God are past finding out. What Joseph said to His brother in Genesis 45:5-8 is so instructive to us today:
“Now therefore be not grieved, not angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph did not want his brothers to feel sorry for their past wickedness against him, because he did not view what happened to him entirely as an act of hatred but rather as God’s way of strategically positioning him for the fulfilment of His great purpose. Although he did not try to whitewash the evil his brothers did, he was determined to show them that God had a saving purpose in the cruel events of his life, otherwise how else could he have gotten to the position he found himself in Egypt if he had remained with his father in the land of Canaan? This same message is echoed to us by the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:28, which says:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
I therefore pray that God will strategically position you, and that all things will begin to work together for your good and the overall blessing of your entire family in the mighty Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Philippians 3:10-16, Apostle Paul’s example stands as a shining light on the importance of the role that our mind-set plays in determining whether we succeed or fail in life. His persistence and tenacity contributed to his success, coupled with a mind-set that was content but not complacent. Till he went home to be with the Lord, he was ever desirous of attaining new heights in God, regardless of his prior achievements. Like Paul, we should realise that it is not over until it is truly over. Many of us seem to be celebrating the victory we are yet to win, relaxing as if we have arrived. Beloved, I am using this medium to tell you that believers in Christ are a continuous ‘work-in-progress’ in the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, run the Christian race with a mind-set that is never complacent, always remembering the words of the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians 10:12, saying:
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Beware of the spirit of pride and all the subtle ways it manifests itself. If given room to operate, pride will stop you from seeing yourself as a work-in-progress that needs to be examined and re-examined from time to time before the day of delivery and commissioning. Let Jesus remain your Master-builder and allow Him work on you until you see Him in glory.

If we look at our Christian race in the light of sporting activities and apply the lessons learnt to our live, it will give us a fair understanding of how well we are faring in our journey. We should not be athletes who are satisfied to just participate and enjoy the support and encouragement of spectators. Our ultimate goal should be to make heaven and receive the crown of righteousness, and so we must be prepared to undergo rigorous training in the word of God and persevere through the process of sanctification. Like the eagle, we should focus on our flight to heaven and ignore the multitude around us. Our minds must be fixed on the crown of righteousness and the glory that awaits the saints in heaven, so that we can go through our course in this world with joy. Let us submit ourselves to the discipline, control and regimented lifestyle required of us from time to time by our divinely appointed coach, who is the Holy Spirit, and strive to live by the mind-set enunciated in Philippians 3:13-14, which says:
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
God bless you as you do so. Amen.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A person who possesses competency in knowledge and skill has great potential to succeed in life. When such competency is derived from God, it is referred to as divine understanding. Succeeding in life is all about recognising and utilizing the opportunities God brings our way, coupled with making the right choices in life. A person endowed with divine understanding is therefore able to excel in life because he or she has the ability to discern what is true, ethically right and sound, based on God’s word. God alone possesses wisdom and understanding in the absolute sense, and He gives these to these who seek them from Him with a humble heart. In relation to people, divine wisdom refers to the abilities God gives in every area of life, including craftsmanship, knowledge and insight for right decisions. Divine wisdom cannot be received by those whose confidence is based on human cleverness and insight without God’s revelation. This kind of human wisdom may produce temporary success in life, but it often comes to nought in the long run (1st Corinthians 3:19-20).

Understanding is built on the foundation of knowledge and the ability to use it correctly. There are different ways God imparts understanding to a person. For example, understanding can be received in the place of observing how others live or do things (Proverbs 24:30-32). It can also be acquired through studying God’s word and His wondrous works in the universe (Psalm 119:130, Job 37:14-20). Understanding can also come from parental guidance or as a result of practical experiences in life (Proverbs 4:1-5). Above all, it can be received through the impartation of God’s Spirit in the place of prayer, as it happened to Solomon (1st Kings 3, Ephesians 1:15-18).

Worldly wisdom and understanding build pride and false hope in people, who go on to arrogate success in life to themselves and not to the Almighty God. This folly has led to the downfall of many people and kingdoms all over the world, as seen in the example of Babylon in Isaiah 47:10-11. No wonder Proverbs 26:12 says:
“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.”
Furthermore, in Isaiah 29:14, the Bible says worldly wisdom shall perish. The people of this world can never receive the wisdom of God. Divine understanding is only accessible to those who are willing to give up their reliance on human insight in exchange for God’s wisdom (1st Corinthians 2:14-15). May the Lord fill you with divine understanding today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today we live in a world that glorifies things of great proportions, with a special attraction for gigantic projects. Anything that is not massive, huge, tremendous or colossal does not seem to catch the attention of the current generation. In the common parlance of the 21st century, things that turn people’s heads usually start with the word “mega”, like mega-corporations, mega-stores, mega-cities,, mega-churches, and so on. Because society is so obsessed with all things mega, small things have become unattractive and inconsequential to a lot of people. People nowadays despise the days of little beginnings and deride small things. However, as people of God’s kingdom, our culture is different. Zechariah 4:10a states our creed as follows:
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin….” (NLT)
Every great work of God usually starts small, beginning sometimes only as a vision in the mind of a faithful servant of God. In this sense, the mustard seed in Mark 4:30-32 is a perfect example of a small beginning. Although a mustard seed is very small, measuring only about 1 to 2 millimetres, when it is sown, it grows into a tree of about 3 meters high. This is a 3000% increase in size! I prophesy according to the word of the Lord coming to you now, no matter how small your beginning is, your latter end will increase tremendously in the Name of Jesus.

In God’s dealings with man, there have been so many stories of little beginnings becoming great. Usually, in the days of small things, critics are numerous, unleashing vicious condemnation without reservation. The heaven-appointed builder is typically tagged a dreamer and made to face ridicule and mockery. Many times, the voice of critics will ring through repeatedly, saying that the dream being pursued is not achievable. Be careful not to pay attention to their words because there is no truth in them. Their objective is to cause discouragement and make you lose focus. In spite of such pessimistic verbal attacks and threats, Zerubbabel zealously pressed on with the work of rebuilding God’s temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 3-5, Haggi 1-2, Zechariah 4). Be assured that the glorious completion of your assignment will put to shame all those who scorned its small beginning. To the glory of God, The Redeemed Christian Church of God is a good example of how God can make a mustard seed grow to become a tree greater than all herbs with great branches. Just be faithful in the little that God has committed into your hands. Do not despise the days of small beginnings. If you are holy, diligent, and prayerful and focused, the Lord will crown all your efforts with resounding success and make your latter end to increase beyond measure, according to His word.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not impulsively come to earth to die for our sins; He carefully considered all it would cost Him to accomplish this difficult task (Hebrews 10:5-7). He considered the cost of leaving His throne in heaven, with an innumerable company of angels at His beck and call, to live on earth as one having nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58). He considered the agony of rejection He would go through at the hands of those He came to save. He considered the sorrow of having those He healed, cleansed and raised back to life crying “Crucify Him!” Above all, He considered the pain of becoming sin, hanging on a cross and being separated from His Father. Shedding more light on this, the Holy Spirit says in Philippians 2:5-8.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to the equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Having considered the cost of all this and much more, Jesus still chose to go through it all because of the joy of our salvation that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:3). What a wonderful Saviour we have! The Holy Spirit is admonishing us to have the same mind, which counts the cost of a task before undertaking it.

The lives of many Bible characters also reflect the principle of counting the cost. Abraham is one example; he never once thought of going back to his native country after leaving it. He properly understood God’s instructions and followed through without looking back. Also, the four Hebrews boys were well aware of what was at stake the moment they got to Babylon. They quickly counted the cost, and in Daniel 1:8, we are told that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego made a commitment to God that cost them the right to the king’s delicacies. Because they had counted the cost and made a firm commitment to follow through, they dared the fiery furnace and the lion’s den. The good news is that when we make up our minds with a strong commitment to serve the Lord at all costs, it attracts great rewards from heaven. Count the cost of going all the way with Jesus, surrendering all to Him and living holy, ,and then make a firm commitment to serve God, no matter what it takes.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Peter was one person who made several efforts in life but failed. On one occasion, he toiled all night long but did not catch a single fish. However, the day Peter met Jesus was the day his story changed for good, as the yoke of frustration was broken in his life. On that very day, he had thrown his nets into the sea several times and caught nothing, but the moment the Anointed One stepped into his situation, everything changed for him. There are many people who have worked very hard with nothing to show for it. Many have been struggling with their God-given assignment in life, and despite all their best efforts, the results are not impressive. We must realise that outstanding all-round success cannot be achieved by human efforts alone; we need to enter into a partnership with God by launching into the deep at His command. Jesus said in John 15:5:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Launching into the deep does not always mean venturing out into new grounds. It can also mean remaining at your duty post as a believer, doing all that God expects you to do at all times, such as sharing the good news of salvation. God wants us to be passionate about getting the lost to experience the salvation of the cross because He wants everyone to be saved.

Preaching the word of God activates the power in the word. God’s word can be used to create, bless, transform and also to destroy the devil’s activities in people’s lives. It was the spoken word that transformed Peter from being a fisherman to becoming a fisher of men. Peter realised that the Lord’s word was the source of the remarkable change in his life, and so he knew he could not afford to let go of Jesus. After he managed to bring his boat to land, he turned his back on it, forsaking all to follow Jesus. Up until that moment, that boat symbolised the security and livelihood, because fishing was his life. He however chose to put an end to his struggles and pursue after Christ with great passion. What are those things hindering you from preaching God’s word? You would do well to become wise like Peter by holding on to the One who has your interest and permanent security at heart. If you are doing God’s will the way it should be done, you will never have to worry, because He is the Great Provider who will always meet your needs. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We often use the text of Revelation 3:20 to reach out to those who are not saved, but we often forget that our Lord pronounced those words in His letter to His Church! We as Christians need to be conscious that it is possible for us to lock the Lover of our souls out from our hearts. Therefore, it should not surprise you that the Holy Spirit’s message to us today is that Jesus is standing outside and knocking on the door of our hearts, not as a homeless person seeking for help or begging for shelter, but as the Master of the house. The Lord expects an immediate response and a red-carpet reception, and He promises to have an intimate, personal relationship with anyone who would respond with a friendly welcome. On the other hand, the consequences of a delayed response or not responding at all is clear in Song Of Solomon 5:2-7. The Lord would withdraw Himself, as He does not force Himself on anyone. When He withdraws, at the time you seek Him, and that time will surely come, you will not find Him. This has unpleasant ramifications. Song of Solomon 5:6 says:
“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.”
May this not be your testimony in Jesus’ Name. Is the Lord not knocking on the door of your heart today? Are you asleep spiritually and can barely hear Him call out your name? Has He not been knocking on that part of your heart that you have refused to yield to Him after giving your life to Him? Is He not calling out to you concerning that secret sin you have entangled yourself in? How about the assignment He gave you which you have abandoned? The Lord is knocking on the door of your heart concerning these and much more. Will you leave Him in the cold or welcome Him to the warmth of the fire of zeal in your heart? Answer Him today by opening up your heart and submitting to His will.

Whenever God comes visiting, you can be sure you are in for pleasant surprises, because He never visits an individual empty-handed. Revelation 3:21 affirms this, promising great blessings of eternal value to anyone who opens the door of his or her heart unto Jesus. Such a fellow will be granted the authority to sit with Christ on His throne. This means that those who gladly receive Jesus with honour and warmth will receive delegated power and authority to reign with Him in His kingdom here on earth and in heaven. As you open the door of your heart to Jesus today, receive power to reign with Him in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Philip’s action following the request of the Greeks who wanted to see Jesus brings to mind the general restrictive attitude of the disciples whenever anyone sought to have audience with the Lord. The very ones who were supposed to make Jesus accessible to everyone did their best at different times to keep coming close to Him in Luke 18:15, tried to send the hungry crowd away in Luke 9:12, and in Matthew 15:23, they told Jesus to chase away the Syro-Phoenician woman who came to get help for her daughter. Two of His disciples, James and John, even tried to call down fire on those who hindered their way (Luke 9:45). Why were the disciples so protective of Jesus, to the point of being hostile to some of those who wanted to have access to Him? They were obviously very protective of Jesus, probably thinking he was too busy to be disturbed with what they considered to be petty issues. I may not have the exact answer to this question but I can authoritatively tell you one thing: whatever you do, don’t let any “disciple” keep you away from Jesus! Don’t allow anyone prevent you from getting your miracle. Every disciple of Jesus Christ should consciously avoid speech or actions that could keep anyone away from Him.

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, His acceptance and popularity among the people seemed to reach its peak, resulting in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This also caused the plot to murder Him by the Jewish religious leaders to reach its climax. It was against this background that the Greeks who sought Jesus visited Jerusalem for the imminent Passover feast. They must have witnessed Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and would have heard that He was the promised Messiah from the tribe of Judah. They would also have heard the rumours making the rounds that He was to take possession of David’s throne and reign as king of the Jews. The expectation at the time was that something of great importance, not only to the Jewish nation, but the whole world, was about to take place, and they were right. At that time Christ knew He was approaching the consummation of His ministry here on earth. Therefore, when He heard the eager cry of the Greeks saying to Philip, “Sir, we would see Jesus,” He immediately knew in His Spirit that the time had come for Him to be glorified through His death and resurrection. Their enquiry confirmed to Him that His sacrificial offering would bring all those who believed in Him all over the world into perfect harmony with God. God’s kingdom was about to be perfected and extended throughout the whole earth. The desire of these Greeks throughout the whole earth. The desire of these Greeks therefore promoted the commencement of His voluntary self-sacrifice (John 12:27). I pray that your efforts to see Jesus will yield positive results beginning from today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From James 3:6 we understand that the tongue has the ability to destroy a person’s destiny eternally. Why is the tongue so deadly? A study of the tongue’s characteristics will shed light on this. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has explained some of its traits in James 3:1-10. Most notably, the tongue is ambivalent in some of the things it does. It sings the praise of God one moment and the next moment curses a fellow humans being created in the image of God. How then can we handle this thing, which the Bible in James 3:8 describes as “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison?” We thank God because Jesus in Mark 16:18 promises that no poisonous thing can harm us; Hallelujah! Jesus is able and willing to solve every problem of ours, including those created by the tongue, if we surrender our entire lives, including our tongues, to Him. Indeed, every problem of life ends at the cross of Calvary for those who lift their eyes to Jesus Christ and call on His Name for help.

The story was told of a woman who almost destroyed her marriage with her tongue. She did not like what was going on in her marriage, but could not figure out what was wrong, so she consulted a native doctor to help solve her marital issues. The old man knew that the woman’s tongue was her problem; he therefore gave her a smooth stone he had gotten from a nearby river, instructing her to slot it into her mouth and begin to suck on it anytime her husband picked a fight with her. He also strictly warned her not to speak whenever the stone was in her mouth, otherwise the charm would fail. She took the stone from the man and went home. As usual, she did something wrong and her husband corrected her, expecting her to respond in her usual manner. However, to his surprise, this woman kept mute! Unknown to him, she had put the stone in her mouth and was being careful not to speak while it was in there. This continued for many days, and peace returned to their home. Her husband began to love and cherish her for the great change he had seen in her virtues. She ran to the old man to show her gratitude for the effectiveness of the “charm”, only to discover that the stone he had given her was ordinary and powerless. The old man then told her that if she could learn to bridle her tongue, she would enjoy peace with her husband and with everyone else for that matter. Proverbs 16:24 says
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
If a soft answer turns away anger, according to God’s word in Proverbs 15:1, imagine the power of silence!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whenever God calls a person into a spiritual office, it is usually for the purpose of playing a unique role towards the accomplishment of God’s agenda for mankind in a particular generation. God calls people to serve Him, and not to occupy exalted positions or obtain titles. Indeed, we are called to be a source of blessing to many lives; this is why God gives us spiritual gifts through His Holy Spirit. However, it is so obvious today that some recipients of these gifts are not using the spiritual offices they occupy to serve God’s purpose. If you have been called as a pastor, your responsibility is to shepherd the church and care for the spiritual needs of those God has put in your trust as a pastor. Sadly, many pastors are busy in the rat race for wealth, position and fame, leaving members for their flock to wander aimlessly around. Today, many Christians cannot identify their left from their right, simply because Church leaders present opposing views over important matters relating to Bible doctrine. There is no agreement among ministers of God over what the Bible says about tithing, divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, divine healing and miracles. Children of God in general and ministers of God in particular must learn to let Paul plant and let Apollo water. Simply put, we must see ourselves as co-labourers in God’s vineyard (1st Corinthians 3:9). Speaking on this, the Holy Spirit says in Romans 12:4-8:
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

There are various problems in the Body of Christ today because people are not using their spiritual offices for the purpose they were called by the Almighty God. Grace has been given to everyone according to the measure of the gift of Christ, and so people should stop causing divisions within the Body of Christ through their foolish struggle for supremacy. Spiritual offices are meant to complement each other for the edification and perfecting of the saints. The gifts that these offices represent are meant to be used together for the unity of the Church, so that God’s people can come into the full knowledge of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13). I pray that God will help His Church to understand and walk in these trusts in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One virtue that is gradually being eroded from the lives of 21st century Christians is contentment, and because contentment and godliness are actually inseparable twins (1st Timothy 6:6), it is therefore not surprising that there is also a dearth of godliness amongst us. The cure to this deficiency in the Body of Christ is the consistent teaching of God’s word on contentment. I therefore encourage all teachers of God’s word to arm themselves with the sword of the Spirit in this regard and combat this issue in the Church. We can learn a lot on contentment from our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though He created the whole universe, He was content to be born into a family that could only afford a manger as His birth place (Luke 2:7)! He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, yet His earthly parents could only afford to sacrifice two pigeons at the time of His dedication in the temple (Luke 2:22-24, Leviticus 12:. The Holy Spirit also teaches us contentment in Ecclesiastes 5:10-12, which says:
“He that loveth sliver shall not be satisfied with sliver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”
The Holy Spirit is saying here that no matter how rich a person is, there will always be the urge to run after more wealth in an endless vicious circle, unless he or she has contentment from God. He also says that as we labour to accumulate more money, we might actually be labouring for people we do not know, who will consume what we have laboured for and might not even say “thank you” after eating of our sweat. When you consider the rich people in your country, I believe you can point to several hundreds of families who legitimately and illegitimately benefit from their labours and sleepless nights spent in accumulating wealth. What good have those stolen billions done for the bodies of those who loot the treasury of their countries, not to mention their souls? A poor labourer who has contentment will always have an appetite to eat the modest food available and sleep well at night. Conversely, rich people without contentment do not sleep well, because they are always thinking of how to accumulate more riches and how not to lose what they already have to those out to cheat them. For this reason, many of them are always suspicious of the people around them, seeing everyone as cheats. Beloved, seek the Lord today if you want to enjoy life in abundance, and be content with the blessings He bestows on you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In John 10:14, Jesus Christ identifies who He is with respect to His responsibility towards His own. To fully partake of all He has to offer, you need to pay close attention to what He is saying here. In that verse, He does not introduce Himself as any ordinary shepherd but as the Good Shepherd who has intimate knowledge of His sheep on an individual basis. He also says the litmus test to know those who belong to Him is that they are able to recognise His voice, follow His guidance and obey His instructions (John 10:27). He confirms to us through these words that He is personally concerned about those who are His own. He does not deal with us on an impersonal basis or bureaucratically from a distance. This is made clear in Hebrews 4:15, which says:
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Through the parable of the lost sheep, the Lord also assures us that He cares personally about every single member of His flock, so much so that even if one of them is lost, He will search until He finds that one (Luke 15:3-7).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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