₦airaland Forum

The almighty is a God of plan and purpose. By his wisdom, he preordained events and occurrences right from the beginning of creation to the end of time in eternity. From His words to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:1-10, we understand that the purpose for which a person is born is hidden in His divine will. It is reassuring to know that irrespective of human objections or the devil’s opposition, the thoughts of God and His predestined plans for all things shall come to pass [Isaiah 14: 27] .it is also humbling to Note that whatever God has purposed to do in any circumstance will surely be accomplish with or without us . Let me share a strange occurrence that happened to me as I was growing up in my small village, ifewara, in southern Nigeria. I once saw a prophet and laughed at him, as I laughed, the prophet turned to me and said,’’ Keep laughing at me, but one day you also will be a prophet.’’ I laughed the more and sarcastically said, “Not just a prophet, but indeed a prayer warrior.’ ’Obviously, this prophet saw a glimpse of what God had in store for me, but I was completely ignorant of it. I pray that the power of God will bring the purpose for which you were born to pass, even in the face of opposition in Jesus’ name

No one can successfully thwart god’s efforts or frustrate his purpose, especially with respect to predestination. Ephesians 1:11 says:
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being pre-destinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:’’
In light of this scripture, when you cooperate with God in agreement with his divine purpose, you will experience unprecedented success, but when you choose to work against his purpose, the result is bound to be failure. I once told my children that all human beings are only playing their predefined roles in the script written by God before the creation of the world . It is only sensible for wise actors to diligently study the scripture to properly interpret their roles and memorise their lines, so that their performance will run smoothly in sync with other players and in accordance with the overall purpose of production. In this regard, Romans 8:28 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.’’
This means that irrespective of what you are passing through in life, the most important thing is to ensure that your life is in agreement with God’s purpose as revealed in His word. After you do this, you can sit back and watch God crown your efforts in life with success. In order to give you an expected end, He will work everything out in line with His predetermined purpose. What a glorious God we serve! Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our God is the creator of heaven and earth. ‘The All-sufficient one’ is one of his many Names, and it describes an important attribute of His. As a self-existing spirit, he does not need anything outside of himself for sustenance or existence [john 5:26, 1 Timothy 6:16]. It therefore seems strange to think that God has a need. Let us ponder on what the elders in heaven are saying in their worship, as revealed in Revelation 4:11:
‘Thou art worthy, o lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou has created all thing are for thy pleasure they are all were created."
From this statement of adoration, God’s need’ can be understood from the perspective of the purpose for which He created all things. He created all things for his own pleasure, and he specifically created mankind for the purpose of communion or fellowship. This truth is reinforced by the words of our lord in John 14:23. The constant fellowship that God had with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day is also a manifestation of this truth [Genesis 3:8]. Several scripture passages speak of a link between the creation of mankind and acts of devotion such as praise and worship. Isaiah 43:21 says:
‘This people have I formed for myself: They shall show forth my praise.’
God’s desire for fellowship is therefore not a need as we understand ‘need’ but an expression of God’s grace, mercy and love towards humanity [1 Corinthians 1:9].

The essence of the Christian life is to fellowship with God. Everything created before man was not suitable for this purpose because they were not created in his image and so could not relate with him on an interactive level. Genesis 5:22-24 contains the fascinating account of Enoch who walked with God in close fellowship, so much so that God took him away with Him. Similarly, Abraham also fellowshipped with God to the extent that he received the distinction of being called the friend of God [2 chronicles 20:7, James 2:23]. David’s fellowship with God was also exemplary that God testified of him in acts 13: 22, saying:
‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.’
As a result of the finished work of redemption by the lord Jesus Christ, God now makes His permanent abode with us, in the form of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us [john 14:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19]. Therefore, our fellowship with God is established on the spiritual union we have with Jesus, which will be made perfect when we see him face to face [john 14:20-21]. I pray that everything hindering your fellowship with God will be destroyed today in Jesus Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Because God is the creator of all things in heaven and on earth, He holds supreme authority over everything, and He does whatever pleases Him (Psalm 135:6). His desire is that every creature in heaven and on earth should do His will. The will of God is God’s plan and purpose for each entity in His creation at any given time. Only those who have submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can readily do God’s will from their heart (Psalm 40:. There is only one person on earth who knows the will of God at any particular time, and 1 Corinthians 2:1 1 reveals that person:
”For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
Therefore, anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him or her can neither know nor be submissive to the will of God (1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:7). Even if such people attend church meetings and worship services, they will still find the word of God and the lifestyle of His kingdom questionable, burdensome and even offensive.

Whenever an unconverted person is confronted with the will of God as revealed through His word, an antagonistic tension develops in their heart, which the conviction of the Holy Spirit works to douse. Because the corrupt carnal nature of man sees itself as the master of the universe, human beings love to exercise their freewill over everything, including the forces of nature and even God’s divine power. This has led some people to erroneously see the power of the human freewill as being superior to God’s divine authority. However, children of God do not walk in this folly. As children of God, we recognize that the exercise of freewill outside the will of God is false freedom which leads to slavery and captivity to worldly pleasures, addictions, pride, inordinate ambition, immorality, and the like. These are the very same things that Jesus sacrificed so much to deliver us from. Therefore, we submit our freewill to God in the process of discovering and following God’s purpose for our lives. Any exercise of freedom that gives a person the liberty to live recklessly without due consideration for divine purpose and life after death is actually the freedom of fools. God's will for His children is always good and in their best interest (Jeremiah 29:1 1). It is the essence of life and the only way by which we can fulfil our destiny. You can continually know God’s will for your life by discerning it in the place of prayer (Ephesians 5:17, Colossians 1:9). Your Heavenly Father expects you to ensure that His Will is done in your life, family, church and community (Matthew 6:10). Are you doing this?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Prayer was established by God as a means of dialogue between Himself and His covenant people. Our Lord Jesus Christ engaged in prayer in His lifetime and also taught His disciples how to pray (Matthew 14:23, Matthew 6:94 3). As His disciples today, we pray with the assurance of His promise in Matthew 21:22, which says: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
The fact that our Lord engaged in all night prayer shows how significant prayer is Luke 6:12). In Matthew 17:21, He revealed to us that some challenges in life may not be overcome without fervent prayers and fasting. God’s attitude and response to prayer differs based on the identity of the person praying. 1st Peter 3:12 says:
”For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the lord is against them that do evil.”
Based on this verse of Scripture, only those who are in right standing with God should expect answers to their prayers. If you have not received the gift of righteousness which comes from being born again, I implore you to give your life to Jesus today. I pray that every request you make to God as from today shall be answered by fire in Jesus’ name.

Despite the obvious power of prayer and the various examples of answered prayer in the Bible, certain circumstances threaten our very existence and shake the foundations of our faith, causing us to render defeatist prayers to God. A defeatist prayer is the kind of prayer made with an expectation of imminent failure, assumption of hopelessness and a resignation to fate. Defeatist prayers carry a belief that God cannot intervene in the situation at hand. May you never doubt the ability of God to save you in the time of trouble in Jesus’ name. In Job 2:9, Job’s case got so bad that he was given a defeatist option of cursing God and choosing death. Similarly, after great exploits for God, followed by victories and celebrations, Elijah’s life was threatened by a wicked queen called Jezebel. He became so distressed that he prayed this defeatist prayer in 1 Kings 1:4:
”...It is enough; now, 0 LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
In like manner, after the Lord departed from Samson, he lost everything, including his eyesight, and he began to grind corn for his enemies in captivity. This situation forced him to pray a defeatist prayer in Judges 16:30, saying ‘Let me die with my enemies." Irrespective of what you are passing through, l encourage you to never render a defeatist prayer to God. Although it might not be easy, remember that your faith is toughened when it passes through fire. Therefore, have faith in God and hold on to Him. Please don't ever give up on God!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke in very strong terms against offences in Matthew 18:1-7. I therefore believe it is a wise thing for us to understand what they are and try to avoid them. Offence is a biblical term which refers to an obstruction lying on a pathway over which one may stumble. It is anything that hinders and tends to trip one up in the course of living a righteous life. A hindrance in this regard often stands for temptations to sin. One source of offences that was mentioned by the Lord in His sermons is the cravings of our body (Matthew 18:8-9). Another source which He also mentioned are the people we interact with on a day to day basis (Matthew 18:7, Romans 16:17). The Lord made it clear that a life without any obstacle, hindrance, stumbling block or temptation is impossible, but that anyone who places obstacles in other people’s path or who leads others into sin is already cursed by God (Luke 17:1). Jesus declared that great sorrow awaits them, so that it would have been better if they were not even born. All those who are behind 'our problems in life shall run into the wrath of the Almighty God in Jesus’ Name.

Some people have mastered the art of setting traps for others, and they themselves have become a living trap, supporting anything that ensnares or hinders people from pleasing God and deriving satisfaction from causing people to stumble. They ensnare unsuspecting and ignorant people, and mislead innocent and immature Christians into fatal errors that lead to hell. Greedy for money, power and fame, they consciously build an army of loyal followers in order to exert their influence on them. They falsely appear as saints and subtly present another “gospel” that is completely different from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their message is built on human wisdom and understanding but carefully wrapped in a garb of spirituality. They have a warped understanding of the Bible, which they present as new revelations from God or “prophetic preaching”. Their message of easy-going Christianity has led many people into worldly lifestyles and complacency in holy living through their activities, many have missed the high mark of God’s calling. You will notice that some of these offenders are experienced pastors who are knowledgeable in the things of God but deliberately mislead others. Therefore, be warned about the existence of such characters within the Church of God. Watch carefully to prevent yourself from falling into their trap. I pray that the rod of the wicked one shall not fall upon your portion, and you will not be led away from the presence of God in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Any farmer who wants to reap a bountiful harvest knows that sowing is a specialized act. In other words, you don’t expect a great harvest when you sow at a time of your own choosing and in a haphazard manner. After soil preparation sowing is often the next and most important step taken by a farmer in anticipation of harvest. The principles of sowing that govern the physical realm are also applicable in the spiritual realm. Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us that there is a right time, which also is the best time, for sowing. Good farmers know very well that the planting of crops is a major event, and its timing depends on the type of seed to be sown. Some factors that determine the right time to sow include the season or time of the year, sunshine and clouds, length of day and night, rainfall pattern and soil fertility. Sowing in the time of famine, being a time of drought, is a ridiculous thing to do, to say the least. Nevertheless, for lsaac in Genesis 26:12-14, it was the right time, and he experienced the miracle of a hundredfold harvest. His case is a classic example of doing the ridiculous to produce the miraculous. Just as it happened to Isaac, I pray that as you sow into God’s kingdom, you will experience returns in a hundred fold in Jesus’ Name.

When is the best time to sow into God’s kingdom? The best time to sow is when you are born again and living in total obedience to the will of God. It is when the source of your livelihood is clean and your way of life is pure, such that one can lift up holy hands to God in adoration and worship (Psalm 24:3-5). It is when curses have been removed, devourers rebuked, cankerworms destroyed and contrary circumstances have been turned around to work in your favour. If for any reason you have missed it somehow and your life does not fit these descriptions, it is never too late with God. You can retrace your steps back home to God for a new beginning - a new be inning of peace, progress and bountiful harvest. Thankfully, it is still the season for sowing, and there is still time to sow righteousness and obedience now, before you face God’s law of harvest based on your deeds (Romans 2:6). It is yet a sunny day, the weather is favourable, and the timing is right. You can set your life on the right path by sowing righteousness, mercy and favour today. Invest into God’s kingdom today and reap a hundredfold in eternity. The best seed you can sow is the seed of your life. Invest your time, money and energy into soul winning activities today, and watch as things will begin to work in your favour. If you are busy doing God's business, He will also respond by going the extra mile to take care of your famiiy and business.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As mortals, it is natural to look around us for solutions whenever problems arise. Only a few people look to God first during such trying times. When trials and difficulties come our way, we mostly look to our family members or friends for solutions. Imagine how bad God feels whenever you have a problem and He doesn’t even come to your mind first. Because God gave us freewill, He cannot force us to request or accept help from Him. No matter how big, small or strange our problems may be, God has the solution to all of them. When a little child falls and bruises his or her knee, in most cases, the first person that child runs to is the mother. The fact that the child thinks of his or her mother first shows the bond that exists between them. As His children, God expects us to run to Him with whatever problem we have, no matter how small or trivial it may seem. The bond of love that exists between us and Him is what should drive us to think of Him first whenever a problem arises. When we don’t think of Him first at such times, we are saying to Him that this bond of love is not there.

Many times, we undo ourselves by trying to solve our own problems. We don’t even realize the immense abilities our Father has and His undying love for us. If we knew, we won’t be wasting our time and energy looking elsewhere for help. When I was a child, on one eventful day, my father was sitting outside and enjoying the cool breeze while I played football. After playing for a little while, I kicked the ball and it got stuck on the roof of the house. Because I was small, I had to move back some distance from the house in order to see the ball. Whenever I tried to get the ball down with a stick, I failed because I couldn’t see the ball when I got close to the house. I went back and forth like this until I got tired. All the while, my father just sat there as if he didn’t know what was going on. Tired and exhausted, I turned to him for help. His response was surprising. He said he was wondering if I didn’t see him there all the time while I was struggling. He stood up and hit the ball off the roof in one swipe of his hands. God is right beside you, watching as you struggle with your issues. If you don’t call Him to help, it means you don’t need Him. Be wise and hand over your problems to the Lord who made heaven and earth.

However, note that you cannot ask someone to help you if you don’t have a relationship with that fellow, and the probability that he or she will help you depends on how cordial your relationship is. When you have a good relationship with God, the moment you cry out to Him for anything, He will come running to you, and he will answer you according to His perfect will.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Preaching is the act of proclaiming the good news in the word of God. It generally involves the delivery of some truth related to God to an audience for whom the message is prepared. To preach therefore, is to declare a word from or to publicly present the good news. Preaching is expressed through proclamation, prophecy, declaration or teaching. It includes the proclamation of the way of salvation to unbelievers, and the delivery of instructions on faith and spiritual worship to believers. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Holy Spirit indicates that rebuke is an integral part of preaching the good news.

To rebuke or reprove is to make a verbal expression of blame that is usually not easy for an individual to accept or accommodate. However, it is an essential part of the gospel. For this reason, the Holy Spirit said in Proverbs 27:5;
”Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
The word of God gives examples of both divine and human rebuke. Sometimes, God issues rebukes directly, but more often than not, He does so through His servants. Jesus Christ taught His disciples the perfect way to issue rebukes, and He taught His audience how to handle people who commit errors, without condemning them. God has the absolute right to rebuke His children who stray from the path of righteousness. He does this sometimes by speaking directly to such people through dreams and revelations, but at other times, He chooses to speak through His ministers. For instance, God used Prophet Samuel to rebuke King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:1226, He used Prophet Nathan to rebuke King David in 2 Samuel 12:1-12, and Prophet Elijah rebuked Kin Ahab in 1 Kings 18:18. Furthermore, Jesus Christ rebuked Peter, one of His disciples, in Mark 8:33, and He also rebuked demons and their master the devil. Matthew 1 7:1 8 says:
”And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that every hour”
In Galatians 2:11-17, when Apostle Peter and some other Jewish brethren like Barnabas engaged in discrimination and pretence, Paul rebuked them sharply. We should not shy away from rebuke because when it comes from the Spirit, it convicts those who hear it. As children of God, we ought to sharply rebuke and correct visible faults on issues relating to discipline, dressing, punctuality and commitment to duties, interpersonal relationships, sanitation, and our general attitude to worship.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Instantaneous restoration is a miracle that occurs suddenly. Immediate resolutions of human problems and challenges like this are highly desired and sought after. The Bible contains several accounts of divine interventions that resulted in instant miracles, signs and wonders, one of which is the healing of Naaman. Naaman had been a leper for many years, but after he dipped himself into River Jordan seven times, he was cleansed immediately and his skin became like that of a little child (2 Kings 5:14). Similarly, the woman with the issue of blood had suffered for twelve years before she met with Jesus (Mark 5:25-29). As a matter of fact, she had exhausted all she had without any solution. However, immediately she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, her issue of blood ceased. Another example of Instant restoration is seen in 2 Kings 7:1. After about three years of terrible famine, Elisha prophesied that there would be a food surplus in Samaria within 24 hours, and it happened as he said. In Matthew 8:3, the moment locus touched a leprous fellow who had been in that condition for years, the man became cleansed instantly. Also, in john 5:19, once the impotent man who had been at the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years heard the words of Jesus, he was completely made whole. Just as it happened in all these examples, I pray that whatever you are passing through at the moment will receive the immediate attention of heaven, and you will get instant restoration in Jesus’ Name.

Note however that behind every seemingly instantaneous miracle, there has been meticulous obedience, stubborn faith, perseverance, serious fasting and prayers, and sometimes prolonged pain, sorrow and shame. What appeared on the surface as instant restoration did not exactly come easy for Naaman, Joseph, Hannah, the people of Samaria, Zechariah and Elisabeth, and several others. Most of these people paid the price in perseverance, stubborn faith, fasting and prayers, etc. For example, the people of Samaria had to endure a situation where the dung 0f birds became an expensive delicacy and some women actually ate their own children. ln the case of Zechariah and Elisabeth, they waited for so long that they completely lost any hope of bearing a child. The impotent man at the pool of Bethesda had no hope of restoration after thirty-eight years of waiting for an opportunity that kept eluding him. One thing that kept all these people going was perseverance. Perseverance is maintaining your faith in God even in trying times. Every Christian is expected to faithfully endure hardship, persecution and trials. Through consistent prayers, we are expected to remain steadfast in the face of opposition, attack and discouragement. (James 5:13; Ephesians 6:18,) I pray that God will grant you the type of endurance that can weather any of life’s storms without giving up in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Bad habits may initially start as harmless actions or in actions that can be easily overlooked. Nevertheless, don’t be deceived, bad habits can ruin a person's life and prevent him or her from achieving God's plan and purpose over time. Bad habits don’t start suddenly; they become habits after an individual fails to stop them early enough. Over time, they grow into something big and difficult to control, having enough power to destroy the destiny of their victim. Is there a character flaw in you that people are beginning to complain about, or do you find yourself indulging in things that you know are inappropriate? Attack that character flaw now before it destroys you.

In Mark 7:20-23, Jesus made it clear that a person is defiled by what comes from inside him or her; and that evil thoughts originate from within the heart. This is equally true for bad habits. Before a habit is formed, it starts as thoughts and suggestions that seem harmless. If a fellow chooses to accept these thoughts and suggestions, dwells on them and begins to cultivate them in his or her heart, they will soon begin to manifest outwardly in that person’s speech, actions and motives. If the fellow does not quickly notice the character flaw and take steps to change it, it becomes a habit that will end up defining him or her. For example, some people have the habit of going late to meetings. It usually starts with thoughts like ‘‘l’m sure this meeting won’t start at the time stated,” and before long, they will find themselves arriving late to every single meeting. For some people, it is the way they eat. When they are indoors, they say to themselves” Let me eat the way i like; after all, nobody is watching me.” They then become accustomed to eating in an uncultured or unhealthy manner; and they end up embarrassing themselves when they eat like that in public. Habits, small as they may seem, can be very costly if not managed properly. As a young man, I once lost a chance for a commonwealth scholarship abroad because I had poor eating habits.

Lastly, many people look at children of God and make conclusions about God from what they see in their lives. Don’t let your habit give God a bad reputation. Be careful what you do and how you do it. Most times, people don't come and tell u about your bad habits, but they can see it all. This is why you need to watch yourself. Ask for the truth on any bad habits you may have from someone close enough to be sincere and open with you. I pray that you will become so filled with the Holy Spirit that all your words and actions will be directed by Him alone in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Hopelessness or despair is a state marked by great difficulty, doubt, desperation, heaviness and embarrassment, causing one to be confounded, to give up hope or to be at a loss on what to do. Shame is also implied, as hopelessness leads to hanging one’s head low in a daze or confusion. What do you do when life leaves you with no money, no source of livelihood, no food and no place to lay your head? What do you do when there is no way of providing for your family, especially if you have little children? What do you do when you are faced with medical, financial or psychological problems that seem to defy all solution? What do you do when calamity or devastation comes against you unexpectedly and you have exhausted all channels of resolution without respite? Many in such situations have chosen the dark path that eventually leads to death, either by way of murder or suicide. I pray for anyone who may be passing through difficult times at this moment: the Lord will help you, He will make a way for you out of your troubles, and you will live to share your testimony with the world in Jesus’ Name.

So much evil comes forth from situations of hopelessness. ln 1 Samuel 31 :4, after King Saul had been badly wounded, he lost every hope of divine intervention or recovery, and he committed suicide by falling on his sword. Similarly, in 2 Samuel 17:23, the moment Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed. He was filled with shame and embarrassment, so much so that he took his own life. After Judas lscariot had betrayed Jesus, his heart was stricken by guilt, and he hanged himself (Matthew 2723-5). l pray that the type of hopelessness that drove these men to commit suicide will never be your portion in Jesus Name.

Are u confronted by a hopeless situation, or are you stricken on with deep sorrow and pain? I want you to encourage yourself in the Lord your God, just like David did after he lost everything he had ever laboured for (1 Samuel 30:6). The Almighty is our hope, our salvation and our peace. In your deepest sorrow and greatest moments of despair; please avoid the temptation of seeking respite in alcohol, hard drugs or any other mind-bending substances. Always turn to God for help, because you can always count on Him to console you and make a way out of that hopeless situation. l pray that no matter what you are passing through, you will not take any step that will lead to destruction in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As Christians living in these end times, we have to be very careful of the source and nature of what we allow into our minds. In 2 Peter 2:1-3, the Holy Spirit warns us to be wary of false prophets that will arise from among the people, secretly bringing up destructive heresies with the aim of taking the people’s focus away from Christ. Many of the sermons preached in today’s churches are focused on prosperity, faith, grace, deliverance, and so on. l have no problem with these topics; they are essential parts of the Good News. However, many preachers discuss them to such extremes that the resultant effect is a bunch of malnourished souls in the Church today. These preachers are out to satisfy their own motives, and so they twist scriptures to fit their own message, to look good in the sight of people and to get gifts from them. The Holy Spirit spoke about such preachers in Romans 16:1 8, saying:
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

As a Heaven bound child of God, your spiritual nutrition is of utmost importance. If you are not well nourished spiritually in your local assembly, or you notice that your spiritual growth is stunted, then it is time for you to leave that assembly and prayerfully look for another place where your spiritual needs will be met. You must avoid churches where the lifestyle of Christ is not preached. Steer clear of churches where the death and resurrection of Jesus are never preached. Shun sermons that encourage tribalism, and be careful of churches that glorify any individual or individuals other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The early apostles preached nothing but Jesus Christ. Paul himself said in 1 Corinthians 2:2:
”For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
Run away from preachers whose sermons leave you comfortable in your sins. Holy living must be emphasized in whatever church you prayerfully decide to join, and the Bible must be upheld as the foundation of the church’s doctrines. The Holy Spirit must be the one who leads and directs the activities in your chosen church: this is a sign that God is present there. If you are presently under the influence of a destructive preacher, I pray for you today that the Lord will redeem you and connect you with Spirit-led preachers in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I would like to share an important truth with you today. To be effective in your assignment in life, you need both a private and public ministry. In private, you minister to the Lord with prayers and fasting, like Anna and the prophets and teachers in Antioch did (Luke 2:36-37). Many spiritual battles won in public were settled in the place of private spiritual warfare. A good example to show the importance of private ministry is when Moses confronted the Amalekites in the place of private intercession. Moses was still grappling with the grumbling and murmuring of the people he was leading when the Amalekites confronted them with war. Immediately, he activated both a private and public ministry to tackle the Amalekites. He told Joshua to lead the physical battle, while he and his two lieutenants went into private spiritual warfare. Confirming the popular saying that the spiritual controls the physical, Exodus 17:11 says:
“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”
We can safely conclude that there is no success in public ministry without a solid private ministry. This principle is constant and relevant from generation to generation. It also applies to people in business. Even our Lord Jesus Christ combined these two dimensions of ministry, as seen in Matthew 14:23. After public ministration, our Lord would retreat to His private ministry of prayer, where He recharged His spiritual battery.

However, private ministry without public ministry is like a sumptuous meal that is not brought into the banquet hall for consumption. As revealed in Matthew 5:14-16, our light is not meant to be hidden under a bushel. We must be wary of being lopsided as Christians. Some of us even say “I am called to be this and not that,” thereby limiting the extent to which the Lord can use us. There is no reason a prayer warrior cannot witness to the perishing souls around him or her. In the same vain, an evangelist who claims to be called to propagate the gospel may end up frustrated without a private ministry of intercession for the souls he or she is going out for. This is because we are not wrestling with flesh and blood when we go out to fulfil our public ministry (Ephesians 6:12). Beloved, God is speaking to you today so that you can fulfil your assignment in life. You can combine giving, which should be done in private, with witnessing. You can combine your evangelism with serious intercession. Make full proof of your calling by engaging in both private and public ministry. God bless you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is a dangerous thing to be selfishly prosperous, because Proverbs 11:26 says:
“He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.”
This scripture is a warning to those who hoard goods that are meant for sale in order to make inordinate profit. The Bible says such people are under a divine curse. You better desist from such acts if you are one of them. Instead of giving out to the needy, some so-called rich people would rather allow their excess loaves of bread and cans of milk go stale and sour, and end up in the waste dump.

The rich man in Luke 16:19-26 is a typical example of people who are selfishly prosperous. Luke 16:21 tells of how he related with Lazarus, saying:
“And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
If the rich man had been alive to his responsibility as a custodian of God’s blessings, Lazarus would have been fed daily with the excess from his table. Instead, he was not mindful of Lazarus’ sufferings. Apart from the lack of food in the midst of plenty, dogs also came and licked Lazarus’ sores! Why was it dogs attending to Lazarus and not the medical personnel in the service of the rich man? The rich man was indeed selfishly prosperous. Proverbs 19:17 says:
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
No wonder this rich man had to experience begging and agony in the afterlife. Beloved, know that the purpose of God’s blessings upon your life is to be His divine treasurer, and one of your mandate is to help the needy around you. He will bless you the more when you realise this and fulfil your mandate.

The story was told of a rich philanthropist who helped to educate the child of a poor peasant labourer. This child later went on to invent a drug that saved the life of the grandchild of this philanthropist. The philanthropist was rich and generous. This is a very good combination. He would have lost his grandchild but for the drug invented by a child he helped to educate. An adage says “one good turn deserves another.” When you pray for divine prosperity, ensure you know what you are asking for. You may not get it if you will be selfish with God’s provision in your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One characteristic attribute of our Father in heaven is that He remembers details of past, present and future events. For this reason, it is dangerous to be part of bad events which He has noted down for judgment, because He will surely remember (1st Samuel 15:2-3). The good thing is that He will surely remember your good works also. Esther 6:1-12 narrates a classic example of remembrance of good works. On the night before the day when Haman intended to get the king’s permission to hang Mordecai, the God who specialises in remembering and recompensing good deeds took sleep away from the eyes of King Ahasuerus, and he could not sleep no matter how hard he tried. Naturally, when a person cannot sleep, he or she tries to find something to do. The Lord used this to lead Ahasuerus to open the book of records for Mordecai’s sake. The king found in it that Mordecai had been instrumental to foiling an assassination plot against him. He then asked a question, which should serve as food for thought: “What honour and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?” There is one fundamental lesson that every person, especially children of God, must learn here. It is imperative to always remember every good deed people do to us. A proverb in my native language says, “Failure to appreciate good deeds is like daylight robbery.” I pray that your good works of many years shall be remembered this season, and you shall be honoured in Jesus’ Name.

Beloved, learn from the experience of Mordecai that God will always cause people to repay your good deeds. In this regard, the Lord said in Luke 6:38a:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.”
What the Lord is saying here is that God will compel men, even when they are not willing, to bless you for your good deeds. The interesting aspect of Mordecai’s story is that the fellow who wanted to get permission to kill him came into the palace courts just at the nick of time to be used by the king in honouring this same Mordecai. I pray once again that your enemies shall become your stepping stones to glory in Jesus’ Name. I just want to encourage you to be addicted to good works (Romans 12:9). Many children of God block their way to glory and honour because they are bankrupt of good deeds, even though they are born again. Beloved, good deeds are proof of your encounter with the Master who Himself went about doing good (Acts 10:38, James 2:18).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is amazing that something as precious as humanity could come out from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). However, this could only happen because God worked on it. What a great lesson this is to the wise!
Any person who allows God to work on him or her will become a vessel unto honour in God’s hands. The Holy Spirit confirms this truth in 2nd Timothy 2:21, saying:
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Unfortunately, observing the history of mankind has taught us that the mud of the earth often seems to be wiser than majority of the people who ever lived. Why? When the Almighty God wanted to make something precious from the dust, it did not protest against God’s work. In contrast to this, what do we see in mankind? We see stiff resistance whenever God wants to glorify Himself through them. For this reason, many people do not fulfill their destinies on earth.

The Lord took Jeremiah to a potter’s house where the potter was working on a lump of clay. In the process, the clay was marred in the potter’s hands and he made it into another vessel that he liked, according to his pleasure. Not once did the clay protest the potter’s intentions. In Jeremiah 18:6, the Lord then asked this question:
“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”
Although man was made out of dust, he was glorified after the Lord God had worked on him. Along the line however, he became marred through the machinations of the devil. To the glory of God, the Greater Potter is working on us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Beloved, have you been worked upon by the Lord? Are you even allowing God to work on you? If not, today is the day of salvation. You must surrender your life to God through Christ and confess your sins to Him for forgiveness. Isaiah prayed a prayer on behalf of the nation of Israel, which should also be our prayer today. In Isaiah 64:8-9, he said:
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity forever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.”
Learn from the clay in today’s story. If you can pray this prayer today, the Lord will work on your marred life, business, family, job or studies and cause great restoration to take place in them.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I want you to see today’s topic "It Shall Not Stand" as a prophetic word from God coming to you with power. You may be wondering, “What is it that shall not stand?” The counsel of the wicked against you shall not stand in Jesus’ Name. In this regard, there are many lessons to be learnt from Nehemiah and his team of builders. It is amazing that there are people who are opposed to good things in life, but the good news is that for those who know the true God, the counsel of the wicked will never stand. When Nehemiah got to know of the conspiracy hatched by Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians and their other devilish allies like the Ammonites and Ashdodities, he called for prayer. Nehemiah 4:9 says:
“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Beloved, if your suffering must cease and the conspiracies of the wicked against you must no longer stand, you must learn to pray.

Furthermore, observe that Nehemiah set a watch, day and night, against the evil conspirators. Jesus told the disciples in Mark 14:38 to watch and pray. Nehemiah and his team did not watch alone, because they knew that “except the Lord keep the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). At the same time, they did not pray alone; they also watched. Very often, children of God fail in the area of watching. They are carefree, but this is not the will of God for our lives. God wants us to be vigilant, so that together with Him, we will continue to frustrate the counsel of the wicked. In addition, Nehemiah also did something strategic, as seen in Nehemiah 4:16-17:
“And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”
There was precise division of labour, with everyone knowing his or her responsibility. Everyone of them also had their weapon of war ready, even as they engaged in the work of building. To frustrate the counsel of the wicked, we must be sensitive to the Spirit always and be ready to engage in spiritual warfare at all times. Beloved, let us comfort ourselves in such a way that our Father in heaven will know that we mean business, and He will not allow the counsel of the wicked against our destiny and our endeavours to stand in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A major characteristic of every living thing is growth. If a child that was born 5 years ago now looks like a 5 years old child, this is only normal. If an orange tree you planted four years ago is now yielding fruits, this is also normal. You don’t need a miracle to grow, it is just natural. Multiplication on the other hand is a special thing. God did not tell us to grow, He told us to multiply because it is a command from God. You may be wondering, “How can I begin to multiply?” notice that when God told His children to multiply in Genesis 1:28, it was a time when there was no sin and they had constant fellowship with Him. The simple secret to multiplication is to live holy and to have God with you. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His children. If you want God to be with you always, then you should live a lifestyle of giving praise to Him.

Many years ago, I was preparing for a three-day program. While I was in my prayer room, I was praying to God, saying, “Lord heal the sick today, show forth Your power and do mighty miracles.” Suddenly, I heard God respond sharply to me, and He said “Keep quiet! What about all the miracles I have done in the past? Have you thanked Me for them?” My response to Him was “Lord I’m sorry, thank You for all the miracles you have done for us; now today, heal the sick, and perform great miracles..,” He suddenly cut me short again, saying, “Keep quiet” I don’t want to hear any request from you for the next three days; all I want you to do is to praise Me.” This was very difficult for me because my mind was set on having the people that would be attending the program receive their miracles. I struggled with this instruction, but I obeyed. After the program was over, God told me to tell my people to prepare; He said that we had been experiencing increase in our church, but that from that time forward, we would be experiencing multiplication, and that has been our story ever since. Do you want to multiply? Learn to praise God regularly, and avoid sin. Taking Solomon as a case study, when he became king, he feared the Lord and kept away from sin. His only desire was to rule the people according to God’s will. There was even a time he sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep, all just to worship God (2nd Chronicles 7:5). In 2nd Chronicles 2:1, he determined to build a house for Good and spared no expense at all in building this house. All the while, he kept multiplying. He multiplied so much that silver and gold were like stones in his kingdom (2nd Chronicles 1:15). However, the moment his heart turned away from the things of God, the anointing for multiplication dried up, so that by the end of his reign, he was taxing the people heavily just so that he could maintain his lifestyle. Determine today to stay away from sin and stay in the place of worshipping God, and your multiplication will be unending.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The proof of genuine repentance is doing those things you promised God at the altar when you gave your life to Christ. In Luke 15:18, the prodigal son repented of his ways and said:
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,”
The fruit of his repentance is manifested here in Luke 15:20a and 21:
“And he arose, and came to his father….And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
Many times we see people confessing their sins to God and promising Him never to go back to them again, but as soon as they leave the altar of repentance, they begin to live their lives as before. This suggests that their repentance was not genuine. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Beloved, can you sincerely say that old things have passed away in your life? The truth of the matter is that it takes conscious and determined effort to bear the fruits of repentance. 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 and Ephesians 4:24-32 contain some practical guidance for bearing fruits of repentance; please take time out to read through these passages.

When a fellow who was stealing before his confession of faith in Christ stops stealing, we can say he or she is bearing fruits of repentance. An adulterous woman who for the sake of Christ sacks all her sin partners, thereby losing all the “fringe benefits” of her extramarital wanderings, can be said to be bearing fruits of repentance. When an alcoholic scraps the drinking bar in his or her expansive living room to begin hosting Christian gatherings in that space, sharing the word of God over cups of tea, we can say that such a fellow is bearing the fruits of repentance. This indeed was the first thing my friends noticed in me after I became born again. Any time they came to my house and asked for brandy, I offered them soft drinks. They would laugh at me and tell me to admit that I was just broke. I would tell them that although the money was there to buy brandy, my Lord Jesus Christ would not want me to drink alcohol or serve it to others. One by one they stopped visiting my house, which served my best interest as a growing child of God. Beloved, the whole world must recognise that you have actually given your life to Christ when they see undeniable proof of the fruits of repentance in you. A street fighter who is -now a peace-maker in the neighbourhood is the pride of the Master. God bless you as you bear fruits worthy of repentance in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As revealed in Revelation 12:10-11, the devil is the accuser of the brethren”. It is unfortunate that some people ignorantly possess this attribute of the devil. How can a person be an accuser of the brethren without knowing it? The answer is simple: when you refuse to forgive those who wrong you, you are passively accusing him or her as an evil doer. The practical implication of refusing to forgive those who have wronged you is that you become a persecuting witness against a brother or sister. You are therefore on the side of the devil in heaven’s court litigating against your own brethren. It’s therefore court litigating against your own brethren. It’s therefore wise to heed the words of Jesus in Mark 11:25:
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Many professing children of God find it difficult to forgive. One wonders if such people have ever experienced the joy of forgiveness from God or man before. Unfortunately for them, the fellow they are accusing in their hearts may not even know about it, or may even have settled their case with God, thereby obtaining forgiveness and justification through the Blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 12:24). For this reason, Romans 8:34 asks a rhetorical question and answers it, saying:
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
May you not be found guilty of working against Christ’s ministry of intercession through un-forgiveness.

Beloved, who are you directly or indirectly accusing relentlessly? Of course, he or she might have wronged you; nevertheless, the Lord is saying that you should forgive the fellow. Once you do, he or she is no longer an offender to you, and so, no accusation originates from you anymore. The reward for this is revealed in Matthew 5:7 which says:
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
The good news today is that the God who is asking us to forgive and forget has demonstrated the same towards us when He through Christ forgave our sins. Have your sins been forgiven? If you have not experienced the joy of forgiveness, confess yours sins today and you will receive the mercy of God without measure.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our God is a God of order. To walk in godliness, orderliness is very important. As a matter of fact, you cannot be holy if you are not orderly, because it takes obedience to be orderly. Contrary to the opinion of some Pentecostal zealots, God cherishes orderliness. But for the grace and mercy of God, disorderliness would have killed many so-called children of God and ministers of the gospel. Orderliness was so important to God that He instructed Moses on how to conduct His sanctuary in the wilderness, as seen in Exodus 40:1-10. When two of Aaron’s sons, who were priests in their own right, introduced disorderliness in the sanctuary, they both died at the altar of God. Numbers 3:4 say:
“And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.”
Similarly, when King Saul usurped Samuel’s role by offering sacrifice unto the Lord, he was damned for it because he broke divine protocol. According to 1st Samuel 13:10 & 13:
“And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.”

King Saul lost his throne because of his lack of respect for heaven’s order. Beloved, when it comes to spiritual matters, be wary of breaking protocol; it may cost you more than you can ever imagine. I love the spirit in Aaron and Ur, associates of Moses who assisted his intercession during the battle with the Amalekites. Narrating their service, Exodus 17:12 says:
“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”
Aaron and Hur understand divine protocol. They knew that the only hands recognised by heaven in this project were Moses’ hands. Instead of raising their own hands when Moses’ hands became tired, they helped to stay the hands they needed to be raised, and the victory was won. Commit today to respecting and observing orderliness in every area of life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The way some men relate with their wives is unbecoming of a child of God, some husbands deal with their wives like a highhanded boss would deal with an employee. When one beholds such sights, one begins to wonder whether it was love that brought them together in the first place or something else. They talk to their wives as if their wives are nonentities. Husbands who behave in this manner do not understand the essence of a woman in a man’s life. Genesis 2:18 says it all:
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him.”
What led to this divine decision, seen in Genesis 2:20, is equally intriguing:
“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.”
We need to note some points from these two scriptures, first of which is that as fearfully and wonderfully made as Adam was, he needed a helpmate, of which none was found amongst other creatures. God then decided to create a woman customised and tailored to meet this need. Secondly, men do not seek help from an inferior entity; at best, they look in the direction of an associate that is at least equal to their status. Thirdly, if Adam needed help, he required a quality helper to render it, and this was exactly what God provided. Therefore, any man who treats his wife as an inferior being does not know God and cannot appreciate God’s gift in the woman God has given him. This is an unfortunate situation. The word “weaker” used when describing women as vessels should not be taken to mean “inferior vessel”; rather, it is best interpreted as flexible vessels. Indeed, women are flexible, and they must be if they would serve the purpose for which they were created as helpmates of men. It is however unfortunate that some men take advantage of the flexible nature of women to extort and manipulate them. The consequence of this terrible act is seen in Malachi 2:14:
“Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.”
Furthermore, note that God is angry with domestic treachery and unfaithfulness. It has negative effects on your spirit and on the children of your union. If your marriage is experiencing difficulties, may God restore peace to it today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From the beginning, God’s plan for mankind has been that we should live our lives guided by His counsel and direction in the place of fellowship. When we refuse to consult with God before taking decisions, we end up gambling and fumbling. Which more often than not damages a fellow’s destiny irreparably. The reality of this truth is visible in the lives of our first parents and Abraham. It would have been a different story completely if Adam and Eve had told the devil to allow them confirm from God the truth of his counsel. It would have also been a different story if the father of faith had consulted with God before consenting to Sarah’s proposal to have a child through Hagar. The world would have been saved the ordeal of the violent tribe which troubles the nations of the world today (Genesis 16:11-12).

You must be divinely guided in your endeavour if you will not fumble. As revealed in Psalms 25:9, it takes a heart of meekness to receive God’s guidance. The proud will not seek guidance, and even if the guidance is offered freely, the proud will reject it with impunity. For this reason, Proverbs 9:8 says:
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
Beloved, God can only guide the meek because He does not waste His time with those who despise His counsel. In accordance with His principles, when His people despise His counsel, God leaves them alone (Hosea 4:17).

We are told in Psalms 25:8-14 that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him (Psalm 25:14). In other words, the fear of the Lord will also earn us divine guidance, so that we do not gamble with our lives. An example of someone who did not gamble with his life is King David. In 1st Samuel chapter 30, after his camp at Ziklag was raided and he wept with his men for the calamity that had befallen them, David not only encouraged himself in the Lord, he also inquired from Him on the next line of action to take. 1st Samuel 30:8 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.”
This assurance from the Lord motivated him to pursue and recover all. This is praiseworthy because he did not allow the emotions of their great loss to push him into taking a gamble by pursuing the raiders without consulting God first. Beloved, I encourage you to begin to entrust, your life into God’s hands and never pursue a course of action without first seeking divine counsel about it.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is unfortunate that in the Church today, we underestimate the evil effects of nudity and exhibitionism. It has gotten so bad that in some quarters semi-nudity has become a norm. We pretend as if we don’t know or understand the motive behind suggestive dressing and what it triggers in the minds of the opposite sex. It seems a good number of people have lost the understanding of the difference between private and public body parts. Matthew 6:22 says that the light of the body is the eye and that our eye should be single. In other words, our eyes should not carry the abominable weights of sinful sights into our hearts. The question is, how can the eye be single when it is exposed to what should be covered by men and womenfolk alike. Some women expose their contours and we pretend as if we are blind to it or that our body has suddenly become dead wood. Some men, including some pastors, put on trousers that are fitted to the point to being too tight. The reason why many men are caught in the web of extra-marital wanderings is that their ‘eye’ is double or triple. In other words, they carry many satanic images of the opposite sex in their sub-consciousness. What is the consequences of our eye not being single? The Lord said the whole body would be full of darkness. No wonder such people grope in darkness towards eventual destruction and experience a bitter ending after the “honey” they were after turns sour.

Pornographic websites have dealt deadly blows to the gentle souls of several people. As saints unto the Lord, we must not engage in viewing such sites, because it is what you see that you desire. If something has not come into your sub-consciousness, particularly through your eye, you may not crave it. it was after Eve saw the forbidden fruit that she fell in love with it. You will be wise to adopt Job’s principle in Job 31:1, wherein he said:
“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”
Our sisters should make a covenant with their bodies that they would not allow it to become a stumbling block to others, knowing that causing the fall of a saint is grievous in the sight of the Lord. They should also remember that Beersheba’s nudity was what ignited David’s woes; he saw it and his eye ceased from being single (2nd Samuel 11:2). Our brothers should also learn when not to look or stare. Most importantly, they should mortify the deeds of the body because there will always be daughters of Jezebel around to entice them. Romans 8:13 says:
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Isaiah 22:22 is a prophetic message from God the Father to God the Son, speaking of how Jesus would possess the key of the house of David so that He could open easily and shut without any resistance. No wonder doors obeyed Him while He was here on earth. For example, He shut the door of the issue of blood in the life of a woman who had suffered for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34). He also opened the door of sight to a blind man at the gate of Jericho (Luke 18:35-43).

In Matthew 16:13-19, after Peter made a profound confession of faith received by revelation from the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ promised to give him the master key of the kingdom. The Lord could make this promise, because He is the possessor of this key (Revelation 3:7). However, this promise is not only to Peter, but also to everyone who believes and confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord (John 17:20, Mark 13:37). It is amazing therefore to see children of God running helter-skelter in search of the master key, whereas they have access to this key already. Speaking about this key, the Lord said in Matthew 16:19:
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The meaning of this scripture is that God the Father gave Jesus Christ the Son the master key to open and shut, and Jesus in turn handed this key over to those who believe in Him. So, we now are the custodians of the master key. How effectively we use this key is another question altogether. I pray in the mighty Name of Jesus that we will not be wasters of this great grace that can shut the doors of calamity and open the gates of blessings, not only for ourselves but also for those who God has put within the sphere of our influence. Years ago, a young man came to us for prayers because of premature death that had been ravaging his family over the years. We prayed a simple prayer to the Almighty Father, who through His son handed the master key over to us. We shut the door of premature death and opened the door of abundant life in Christ to this young man, and this put an end to the calamity of premature death in his family. In like manner, I shut the door of all forms of calamity against you and open the door of celebration that has been shut against you from today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible declares that our God is love (1st John 4:. He is love because no one else can love like Him. What greater love can a man have for his friends than to lay down his life for them? Our God’s love is incomparable with any other. People may claim to love, but you will find out that when their love is tested, it fails woefully. In contrast to this, God’s love never fails! He loves us so much that He has our names inscribed on His palm (Isaiah 49:16). Irrespective of the number of children He has all over the world, He knows every single one of us by name (Isaiah 43:1). Even every strand of our hair is important to Him, so much so that He numbered each one and not a single strand can fall without Him noticing (Luke 12:7). His love is unconditional, because while we were still living in sin, Christ died for us (Romans 5:. Believe it or not, a breastfeeding mother can forget her child, but our God can never forget us. He loves us even more than our earthly parents do, and nothing can separate us from His love. He will never withhold anything good from us; all we have to do is ask Him.

With man, love comes with conditions. Some people only love people of the same or higher social class, and they treat every other person with contempt. As wealthy and highly placed as our God is, He does not behave this way. He came down from His Kingdom of many mansions and golden streets to be born in a manger, amongst animals, just so that He could associate with us and help us out of condemnation. He does not see you as a liability; rather He sees you as a friend to be treasured. Believe me honestly, God has His eyes on you all the time. He loves you so much that He doesn’t want you to get hurt. You may ask, “Why then am I going through all these troubles?” Our God did not promise that the road would be smooth all through life, but He promised that He would be with us all the time (Isaiah 43:2). His presence with you is assurance that no trouble can consume you, and that you will rejoice at the end of the day. However, have you given your life to Christ? He wants to take away your heavy burden, but He can’t do that if you are not ready to accept His yoke of lordship. In Matthew 11:28-30, He says:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest upon your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Accept God’s offer of love today. Surrender your life to Him and begin to live a new life of great possibilities.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many people don’t know that it is dangerous, if not a curse, to possess the knowledge of evil. To have the knowledge of evil is to know how to do evil. In Genesis 3:5, when the devil told our first parents that their eyes would be open and they would be like God, knowing good and evil, he was literally saying “you will know how to do evil”, even though he did not tell them he was teaching them how to do evil. This is why it is wise for every child of God to understand the source and nature of any knowledge they are acquiring. In James 3:17, the Holy Spirit recommends the type of applied knowledge we should seek after, saying:
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
Do you know that some people acquire knowledge that destroys their entire life? When a young boy learns how to smoke marijuana or other narcotic substances, he becomes emboldened and begins to feel he has “become a man”. What folly this is! When a young girl is introduced to premarital sex, she may be deceived that such carnal knowledge will make her “a real woman”. Although she may be excited about it, the truth is she has only learned how to do evil, and it will destroy her destiny. This is why parents must endeavour to fill their children with godly knowledge before it is too late. God’s wisdom in Proverbs 22:6 says:
“Train up a child in the way he would go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

There are ways the devil introduces his “curriculum” on the knowledge of evil to mankind. In Genesis 3:1-5, he used the deductive method to achieve his goal. He asked: “Did God say you should not eat of every tree of the garden?” He was pretending not to know which of the fruits in the garden was forbidden. Would God have arranged for his children to starve by commanding them not to eat of every tree of the garden? Even today, the devil still uses this style. For example, he may come to you saying, “Did God say you should not drink any wine?” The answer is definitely “No, what God said is that I should not drink alcoholic wine.” He may also say to you, “Yes, I know God would not want you to have sex because it is bad!” The answer is “No, what God said is that I can only have sex with my spouse.” The devil is a liar; please don’t believe his lies.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As a mathematician, when I first gave my life to Christ, the paying of tithes to God was ridiculous to me, and I saw it as a subtle way through which pastors wanted to swindle me of my hard-earned money. Prior to this time, my 100 percent was not enough; by the middle of any month, I had to borrow money from my driver to buy fuel. I then wondered within myself that if 100 percent was not enough, how then could 90 percent be? Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit won this argument, and today, I am a living testimony of the faithfulness of God to every person who pays tithes. Hebrews 11:6 reveals that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith in God enables a person to do the ridiculous. God asked Gideon to go to the battlefield with a “ridiculous” number of soldiers (three hundred) as against the thousands of Midianite soldiers opposing them. As if that was not enough, even the three hundred soldiers were not to carry any weapon of war, but rather an earthen vessel each (Judges 7:7-25)! Gideon complied with these instructions in faith and he got a miraculous victory.

Moreover, concerning the salvation of our souls, it takes believing the “ridiculous” before the miraculous can be experienced. The Bible in John 3:16 says,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible further states that the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1st John 1:7). That scripture says “all sin” and not just a few sins! This truth is what the unbelieving people of this world cannot understand. In fact, nobody can explain it. It belongs to the realm of faith. In addition, many of those who have ever experienced the miracle of healing have a testimony of doing the ridiculous before they got the miraculous. An example of this is the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19). In spite of the fact that leprosy was still visible on their skin, Jesus told them to go and present themselves to the high priest to show that they were healed of their leprosy, because they needed to be certified as being free of leprosy before they could be reintegrated into their communities. They proceeded to show themselves to the high priest. In order to get the miracle of healing, they confronted the risk of being stoned to death for coming out of isolation as lepers. However, they got healed on their way; their “ridiculous” faith earned them miraculous healing! My experiences in my Christian walk and particularly as a minister of the gospel have taught me that unless you agree to do whatever God ask you to do, however ridiculous it may sound, you cannot experience the miraculous. Beloved, as you exercise faith in Jehovah-Rapha today, your healing shall be made manifest in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Proverbs 1:24-33, God, personified as Wisdom, bemoans men’s carefree attitude to His warnings against the day of calamity. God Himself is calling out to mankind like He called unto Adam when he hid himself in the Garden of Eden. Adam seems to be wiser than many inhabitants of the world today, because he came out of his hiding place so that God could cover his unclothedness (Genesis 3:21). God’s message to the world today says “I have waited enough: I have been stretching out My hands of love towards you and you have refused to come.” If this message applies to you, please respond to His call; any further delays is dangerous. The danger in delaying is declared in Proverbs 1:26 & 28:
“I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”
It is a wise thing to have God as your Ally before the day of calamity or overwhelming challenge. For those who do not know God or who have strayed from His way, the day of greatest calamity is the day death comes calling. Why? The day of death is a day of reckoning, when all deeds are brought to judgement (Hebrews 9:27).

The story of the marriage in Cana of Galilee, from where John 2:3 is taken, teaches a couple of relevant lessons on having God as your Ally before the day of calamity comes (John 2:9-10). Firstly, Jesus Christ was invited to the wedding ceremony, ahead of the moment of shame that arose due to insufficient preparation. Shame was averted that day because the Present Help in time of need was involved. Secondly, Jesus’ mother counselled them to do whatever the Miracle Worker asked them to do; they obeyed this and got the miracle of provision. Thirdly, wine symbolizes merriment and joyous events. The presence of wine in a place signals celebration. The truth is that there will always be a time when the wine of your life would run out and you would be confronted by your inadequacies as a mortal being. It will be too bad for you not to have Jesus in your life before that day. Why? His presence guarantees supplies that are far better than what the world can provide, as testified to by the master of ceremony at the marriage of Cana of Galilee (John 2:9-10). Beloved, I am therefore appealing to you today to invite Jesus Christ into your boat before you run out of steam. You must get God involved in all you do because no matter how brief that venture is, you will need him along the way.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When you expound the things of God to the “wise men” of this world, they will consider you to be a fool. When you talk about the resurrection of the dead and the outcome of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they will use their limited knowledge of the natural world to demonstrate your “foolishness”. It is ironic that those who profess themselves to be wise in this world are declared to be fools before God (Romans 1:22). As a believer in Christ, you should therefore not be offended if you are classified as foolish by the “wise men” of this world. Based on the words of 1 Corinthians 1:27, if the world considers you to be foolish because your life is based on the principles of God’s word, you are blessed indeed. Remember that the devil came to our first parents disguised as a loving guidance counsellor. He advised them to follow his diabolical wisdom, and this led them into a state of foolishness. They realised belatedly that the wisdom the devil was introducing them to was actually foolishness in disguise, and ever since then, the wisdom that fills the hearts of men is the perverted wisdom of the devil, otherwise known as craftiness (1st Corinthians 3:19). This manifests as wisdom to cheat and get ahead of a neighbour, wisdom to defraud the government, wisdom to pervert the course of justice and wisdom to do diabolical things. In contrast to this, the wisdom of God cries out in proverbs 8:5-8 saying:
“O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing forward or perverse in them.”
This scripture reveals the nature and character of godly wisdom. You will observe that these characteristics are in direct opposition to what the children of this world consider as wisdom. Any wisdom that does not cut corners is considered foolishness by the children of this world. What they consider to be wisdom leads to both earthly and eternal perdition. A good example of the wisdom of this world is what Absalom exhibited against his father. The Bible says he stole the heart of an entire nation away from his father the king (2nd Samuel 15:6). This is the way of the world. In contrast to such ways, Isaiah 35:4-10 speaks of the highway of holiness, through which the unclean shall not pass. It is equally interesting to read that although those passing through it may be considered fools by the world’s standard, they shall not go wrong in it (Isaiah 35:. They will not err, because their Guide is the Lord of hosts (John 14:6). Beloved, do you seek wisdom? Do you want to be wise in things pertaining to godliness? The way to profitable wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and Jesus Christ is that wisdom that you need.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One page is definitely not enough to praise this great God, neither are all the pages of a book sufficient to extol His Names. This God is greater than the greatest. Think of anything great that anyone has ever done; my God has surely done greater. He perfectly calculated the distance needed between all the elements of the universe and their velocities, so that they move together and are just at the right distances apart to maintain a balance. He is also bigger than the biggest, so much so that He uses the whole earth as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1). For someone’s feet to be so big that He needs a footstool as large as the earth, you can be sure that He is indeed a very big fellow. No other entity is as big as this. In like manner, He is richer than the richest. My God has never gone broke, and He can never be broke. The whole earth and its fullness are His: all the natural resources and precious stones, known and unknown to man, belong to Him. He is the God that has money everywhere, even in the belly of a fish (Matthew 17:24-27). A Bible scholar once explained his take on what Jesus meant when He said He would do whatever we ask in His Name (John 14:13-14). He explained that the literal translation of that scripture of English from Greek is that even if we ask Him for anything that does not exists, He will create it and give it to us. He is so rich that He even possesses things that are not yet in existence! He can therefore never be stranded. He will show Himself through you as the one who is richer than the richest in Jesus’ Name.

My God can do all things. He not only raised the dead, He also raised up dry bones and transformed them into a mighty army (Ezekiel 37:1-10). Psalm 139 says my God knows all things, and nothing is hidden from Him. He is everywhere, and so He sees everything. You can’t run away from His presence. Furthermore, He can heal all sicknesses and diseases. In Matthew 8:3, Jesus touched a man with leprosy. Not only did He not get infected with the disease, the man was also healed instantly. During one of our Holy Ghost Services in Nigeria, God instructed that all those who had incurable diseases should come to the front of the altar, and I should just walk in front of them with my prayer staff. As I did as instructed, they were getting healed. Those whose healing required surgery just fell and slept off while God performed the needed operation on them with invisible hands. After that night, several people testified of getting healed of incurable diseases.

Who is God to you? Is He your doctor or your provider? Is He your helper and your friend? A popular saying goes, “Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.” If you make Jesus your friend, He will also give you the ability to do all that He can do.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A name is not just a label; more importantly, it is an identity. Names are very important to God, and this is why it is important to search the scriptures to discover more about God’s identity through His Names. Those who know His Names and praise Him with these Names are dear to God’s heart. In Revelations 1:8, He Himself revealed some of His Names to us, saying:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Furthermore, in God’s dialogue with Job in Job chapter 38, He asked him some frightening questions which reveal that He truly is the Alpha and Omega. It goes without saying that He is the one who made the mountains, the oceans and all the other big and small things we see in nature. We also understand that He is older than the oldest, because by Him were all things created. He saw the beginning of everything on earth, good and bad, and He will also see their end because He is the Omega. He will end every bad experience in your life as you praise Him today as Alpha and Omega in Jesus’ Name.

In 1st Samuel 1:3, the Almighty is called the Lord of Hosts. In the past, I used to think this meant that He is the Lord of the hosts of heaven, but recently, He let me know that ‘Lord of Hosts’ means the Lord of all hosts, whether in heaven, hell, the earth, the seas, underneath the earth, and even other galaxies in the universe. Nobody can oppress His children because one command from Him can make life so unbearable for even the greatest king on earth. If you don’t believe me, ask Pharaoh (Exodus 5-11). According to Proverbs 21:1, my God has the heart of kings in His hands, and He turns their hearts wherever He pleases. If He has control over the commanders-in-chief of all armed forces, then He can also direct the armed forces of different nations as He pleases.

Isaiah 9:6 calls Him the Prince of Peace. The first thing a person experiences after giving his or her life to Christ is peace, because the Prince of Peace now lives within. My God can calm any storm, and I mean any storm. He calmed several storms when He was here on earth (Mark 4:39, Matthew 14:24-32), and there is no storm in your life that He cannot calm. Some years ago, I was invited to speak at a United Nations Summit, and I told the delegates there that it was a good thing that they were all trying to solve the problems of war around the world. I let them know though that if they really wanted peace, the only way they could get it was if they involved the Prince of Peace. In this world of war and turbulence, you can have peace if you surrender to Him indeed. May the peace of the Lord continually be with you in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.