₦airaland Forum

Delicacies are rich, luxurious or expensive food enjoyed by royals and the wealthy. Satanic delicacies symbolise worldly goodies and pleasures that appeal to the eyes and are deemed good for the body, which Satan and his agents craftily offer in exchange for a man’s soul. Such delicacies could be anything that feeds the ego, such as fame, power and access to wealth. They are labelled ‘satanic’ because the Bible contains several instances of the devil using them as bait while tempting children of God. For example, Adam and Eve fell because the devil convinced them that the forbidden fruit was delicious, beautiful to behold and would inspire knowledge and wisdom (Genesis 3:4-6). In the same way, the devil offered beautiful women to Samson in exchange for his great anointing, and unfortunately he fell for it (Judges 16:18-20). Similarly, the man of God from Judah was tempted to eat bread and drink water, in direct disobedience to God’s directive, and this ended his ministry abruptly (1st Kings 13:11-22). In Luke 4:1-8, the devil offered tantalising delicacies to our Lord Jesus Christ, but glory be to God, He triumphed over the devil by the power in the word of God. I pray that you will not become a victim of satanic delicacies in Jesus’ Name.

Satanic delicacies are often offered in attractive packages to simple minded people. However, full disclosure on the true contents of such packages and the consequences of accepting them are usually withheld. The same scenario plays out in every temptation – a person will only discover the consequences of his or her choices when it is virtually too late. I pray that you will not discover the truth about the satanic delicacies that are set before you when it is too late in Jesus’ Name. The good news is that despite the craftiness and deceptive schemes of the devil, the Bible has provided the means to overcome his wicked devices. Watchfulness, intensive prayer, total submission to God and resisting the devil are all key elements of this provision (Matthew 26:41, James 4:7). Abstaining from all appearances of evil is another effective means of overcoming satanic delicacies (1st Thessalonians 5:22). Satanic delicacies are usually offered to seduce, persuade or cajole gullible people into sin. A Christian should never fall for this old trick or agree with the devil under any circumstance. Proverbs 1:10 says:
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Above all, the Bible tells us that victory is assured because the devil is only fighting a lost battle (1st John 4:4). I pray that you will never lose the victory that Christ has won for you in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Light is the manifestation of God’s creative word. Having been spoken into existence on the first day of creation, light came into being even before the sun and the moon, which were created on the forth day. Light was separated from darkness and declared by God to be good (Genesis 1:4 & 18). Light and darkness are contrasted in several verse of the Bible, and in all cases, light is affirmed as superseding darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:13 equates wisdom with light and foolishness with darkness. Light is declared to be the path of righteousness, while darkness is the path of those who rebel against God (Proverbs 4:18, Job 18:5). I pray that the light of God will disperse every form of darkness in your life today in the mighty Name of Jesus.

At the beginning of creation, the world was filled with gross darkness. This prompted God to create light as a solution to the problem of darkness, which is why He is referred to as the Father of lights (James 1:17). Jesus also declared Himself as the light of world (John 8:12). As light, Christ role throughout His earthly ministry was to destroy the darkness of this world and enable humanity become children of light through faith (John 12:46, John 12:36). He succeeded in His assignment and raised for Himself a people who are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). As His chosen people, our light must shine before all men to provide guidance and leadership in a world full of sin, confusion, hatred, danger and all kinds of wickedness. Jesus lived an exemplary life as the light of the world, and we also must follow in His footsteps. Jesus illuminated the world by preaching the good news of the gospel with love and compassion. Through His own life, He showed us how to live in holiness and righteousness in a world full of sin. He brought joy to the hearts of men by healing the sick, delivering the oppressed and raising the dead. He was a father to the fatherless, husband to the widow and hope to the hopeless. Functioning as light therefore signifies replicating everything that He did while He was here on earth (1st John 2:6). We are to preach the good news of the gospel to all nations and ensure that lost souls are saved and properly made disciples of Christ. Holiness and righteousness should be our watchword and truth should be found in us always. We must be agents of peace and progress in our communities as we show good neighbourliness. Through us, the sick should receive healing and the captives should be set free. We must provide succour to the fatherless, widows and the helpless in our society. We must speak out against sin, violence and wickedness in order to turn sinners to saints. The world must become a better place because of our presence and activities as light.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If good works always yield a good reward, why is the Holy Spirit encouraging us in Galatians 6:9 not to be weary of doing good, and what does it really mean to do good? We will be reflecting on these questions today. Good works can be described as those activities that you are specially endowed by God to do for the betterment of others in obedience to His word. Several factors may discourage or hinder a child of God from continuing to do the good works that he or she is empowered to do. Such factors may arise from the fact that good works sometimes attract envy, opposition or persecution from others. Despite the huge investment of time and resources, good works may be misunderstood, may go unappreciated or even be misinterpreted as eye service.  In John 3:19, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed the reason why good works may be antagonised by some. Saying:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Just as darkness despises the revealing power of light, so do evil people detest the testimony of good works, because it exposes their inadequacies. For this reason, they usually respond to good works with hatred and persecution. Consequently, the Bible admonishes us to endure in the face of opposition or persecution of our good works, and ensure that we continue in well doing.

Are you weary from the opposition you have faced in spite of your good works? You can learn one or two things from Elijah. The Lord performed several great exploits and good works through Elijah, including great miracles of healing, provision and the raising of the dead. The Lord also used him to single-handedly destroy 400 prophets of Baal in a contest, ignite the fire of revival in the hearts of men and call down rain after three years of drought (1st Kings 17 & 18). However, soon after accomplishing these exploits, Elijah experienced the worst discouragement of his life when Jezebel threatened to kill him (1st Kings 19:1-4). He was so discouraged that it took God’s assurance and encouragement for him to continue his life’s journey. Similar attacks and discouragement can come from anywhere; endurance is a necessary component of the Christian life. I therefore pray that no matter what you are passing through right now, the Almighty God will support, encourage and see you through those challenges in Jesus’ Name. You need strength and courage to endure hardness as a good solider of Christ. I pray that God will grant you these in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

While God is not against His people enjoying a comfortable life, He is against us living for pleasure. There is a life of comfort and pleasure that can ultimately lead to spiritual death. After God gave David rest from the life of wandering in the wilderness as a shepherd, fugitive, mercenary and warrior king, he started living in pleasure, so much so that he no longer went to battle. In the course of his life of leisure, pleasure and comfort, he fell into sin that would have destroyed his destiny, but for the mercies of God. He experienced spiritual death and had to cry to God for restoration (Psalm 51). Spiritual death is a condition of alienation from God because of sin. It is the absence of spiritual life. Which means being physically alive without having a relationship with God. Ultimately, it leads to permanent separation from God. By nature, all of mankind is dead spiritually. However, whosoever accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour becomes genuinely born again and experiences transformative change. Such a person is liberated from spiritual death and is made alive by the Holy Spirit.

After experiencing new life in Christ, we are encouraged to take pleasure in everything God has created, but never to allow pleasure in His creation to overshadow our pleasure in the Creator Himself. We live in times when the desire to live a pleasurable life is most paramount on people’s mind. We must not allow ourselves to become overtaken by the wanton desire for pleasure we see all around us. Remember that in the last days, men will become lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2nd Timothy 3:4). In these perilous times, people are craving to satisfy the lust of the flesh through food, drinks, stimulants and sexual gratification. They also strive to satisfy the lust of the eyes through fashion, materialism and the inordinate acquisition of the beautiful things of life. Lastly, they live to satisfy the pride of life through the accumulation of titles, recognition, fame and other achievements. Children of God must not be caught in this snare of the devil. With respect to the pleasures of this world, the Spirit of God recommends restraint and discipline to every child of God. In 1st Corinthians 7:31, He says:
“And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.”
God’s people must have self-control, be generous and have consideration for others. The Bible insists that anyone who places priority on pleasure or invests much time and resources into a pleasure-seeking lifestyle is spiritually dead, even though alive physically. There are so many of such people in the Church of God today (Revelation 3:1)! I pray that God will help such people to recognise their state and move them to cry to Him for restoration.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Persecution is the harassment and suffering that people and institutions inflict upon others for being different in their faith, world view, culture or race, with the intention to intimidate, silence, denounce, convert or even kill them. The story of man outside the Garden of Eden begins with the persecution of the righteous by the unrighteous in Genesis 4:3-8. Abel was killed by Cain simply because God respected Abel’s offering and considered him to be righteous (Hebrews 11:4). Lot’s experience, as narrated in 2nd Peter 2:7-8, illustrates the suffering involved in refusing to conform to popular culture. Daniel was persecuted because he disregarded the king’s decree by praying to the God of heaven. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were persecuted because they refused to worship the image of the king (Daniel 3). Psalm 119:84-87 speaks of the cry of the righteous one who was being persecuted for upholding God’s word. Various prophets of God in the Bible also suffered persecution because they tried to live out the will of God in adverse circumstances. Jesus Himself noted in Luke 11:50-51 that the persecution of God’s people began from the foundation of the world and would continue throughout history.

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”
John 15:20
Based on these words of our Lord, persecution is a hard fact of life to be faced bravely, and a hallmark of genuine children of God. Are your Christian virtues causing you problems with your friends, colleagues, neighbors, family members or boss? Have you been tagged antisocial because of your modest way of dressing, attitude to the opposite sex, refusal to consume alcohol or other stimulants, and rejection of a worldly lifestyle? Have you been told that you may never make it because you have refused to participate in illegal and fraudulent business practices? Have you been told as a woman that you may never get a man to marry you unless you wear skimpy dresses and make up excessively? Are you under any pressure to join a cult or swear allegiance to someone or something in order to make it in life? Are you under any attack because of your constant praises to God, Bible study or witnessing about Jesus? Do not yield to any of these threats or believe their lies. Rejoice because the Lord has pronounced His blessings on everyone who endures persecution to the very end (Matthew 5:10-12). The blessings of the Lord will be permanent in your life in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Yesterday, we started reflecting on the doctrine of eternal security. We considered what this false doctrine teaches and the character of its teachers. Today, we will be looking at the truth of what God’s word says in contrast to this doctrine. If there was no possibility of falling away and losing one’s inheritance in Christ, the Holy Spirit would not have given the counsel we have in 2 Peter 3:17. In fact, the Holy Spirit in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 also warns:
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
Only those who occupy a high position need fear a fall. The “falling away” in this scripture therefore refers to the falling away from grace of those seated with Christ in heavenly places. The possibility of a saved person falling is registered in these scriptures and in several others (Galatians 5:4, Revelation 2:5). Also, in Ezekiel 33:12-20, God Almighty told Prophet Ezekiel the truth which disproves the doctrine of eternal security. The Lord is therefore warning everyone who chooses to live a godly life never to depart from the path of righteousness, or else his or her past righteous deeds will not be remembered on the day he or she departs to do evil.

Some people argue that nobody sends his child away to the lions because he or she sins, and so God will not judge His children for their sin. What such people don’t seem to understand is that you cannot equate the ways of God with that of mere mortal men. They fail to recognise that a person who continues to live in sin after being saved does not have the nature of God and is therefore not a child of God. This is made clear in 1st John 3:8:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
Furthermore, while forewarning us of things to come in Matthew 24:12-13, Jesus Christ said:
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.”
In other words, the global increase in iniquity will not exonerate a backslider on the Day of Judgment. This is a lesson for those who think that because the world is changing, God should also change His standards (2nd Timothy 2:19). Beloved, it would be immoral for God to accept from us what He did not accept from those who ran the Christian race before us. Don’t be deceived; there is no eternal security. The wages of sin is death: this is the truth of God’s word that is forever settled.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One deadly error in some quarters of the Christian faith is the doctrine of eternal security. Those advancing this doctrine use the Scriptures to convince their followers that once you are saved, you are forever saved, irrespective of the type of life you live after receiving salvation. It is therefore not surprising that in circles where this doctrine is taught, a loose lifestyle of sin is the norm. In order to appease the conscience of their followers, some modern day teachers of this doctrine have tried to repackage it by redefining what sin is. Some even teach that a Christian cannot sin. It is unfortunate that some people still fall for this old deception of the devil which resurges from time to time.

When you critically examine the life of those teaching this doctrine, you will observe that they themselves fell into the error of this falsehood because of secret sin in their lives which they could not overcome. Instead of humbly submitting themselves to God in an environment of accountability for their character to be built up, they proudly developed another “gospel” to justify themselves and deaden their conscience. The unfortunate thing is that several innocent souls who genuinely want to serve God end up being destroyed by these teachers. Because they see such teachers exhibiting the gifts of God, they believe that whatever is coming from their mouths is sanctioned by God. These beguiled souls forget that Romans 11:29 says:
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
Based on the principle established by this verse of scripture, a person who received the gifts of God’s Spirit while teaching the truth of the gospel will continue to manifest these gifts after they fall into the error of another “gospel”, even if it’s for a while. It is for this very reason the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:22-23 clearly said:
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
From the words of the Master Himself, it is obvious to any serious student of the Bible that the working of miracles or the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit is not a wholesale stamp of approval by God. Therefore, beware! Any teaching not founded on the totality of the truth in God’s word should not be accepted, irrespective of the charisma of the teacher. When it is all said and done, you will stand alone to give account of your life before God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Is it possible to be meek and militant at the same time? To be meek is to do what other people want without imposing your own opinion. It is having the power to act but refusing to use it to oppress others. Being militant on the other hand means to use force or pressure to achieve your goals. How is it possible for a Christian to be meek and militant at the same time?

Our Lord, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, clearly taught us that it is a blessed thing to be meek (Matthew 5:5). In his letter to the Galatians, Apostle Paul also declared that meekness is a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated meekness when He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hear what He said in Matthew 26:53-54, when He was about to be arrested:
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angles? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”
This same Jesus tells us that there are times when we need to be violent. In Matthew 11:12, He said:
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
Paul further expounded on this truth, telling us the reason why we are in battle and providing the guidelines for how to shield and prepare ourselves for this violent warfare. In Ephesians 6:12, He wrote:
“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.”

The beautiful swan which vigorously paddles away under the water to stay afloat is viewed as one of the most graceful animals on water because it appears calm on the surface. Our Christian life needs to emulate the posture of the swan. In the spirit realm, we need to display all the militancy that is needed to secure us a place in heaven and push the agenda of the kingdom of our God on earth. At the same time, in the physical realm, the fruit of the Spirit – meekness – must be visible in our lives.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is amazing that not only are many leaders guilty of self-abuse by working more than is necessary, they are also guilty of stressing themselves out to the point of exhaustion, thereby leading to their untimely death. When God created man, He created us in His own image and likeness and so we are expected to be like Him in many respects. One area we should resemble Him is in the attribute of delegating responsibility. Genesis 2:15 and 19 reveals how God readily delegated the responsibility of keeping the Garden of Eden and the naming of animals to Adam. There is no monopoly of responsibility in the attributes of God. We need to begin to emulate God by sharing and delegating responsibilities with our colleagues, subordinates and neighbours to avoid burning ourselves out and even killing ourselves.

In Exodus 18:13-27, Moses was taught the art of division of labour by his father-in-law, Jethro. When Jethro came visiting, he observed that Moses hardly had time to rest, because he was ever busy attending to every case brought to him by his people – even minor cases that were domestic in nature. Although the reason Moses gave for this arrangement was genuine and good intentioned, Jethro pointed out the folly of what he was doing to him. In Exodus 18:17b-18, Jethro said:
“The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.”
Jethro then taught him how to delegate his judicial responsibilities to elders who were able and capable. Moses heeded his advice and it worked: judgment was no longer delayed and Moses had time to take care of himself.

Members of the Body of Christ need to be willing to work, and their pastors need to be willing to prepare them to take responsibilities. Nevertheless, responsibilities must not be delegated carelessly. They should not be passed on to those who would destroy the work you have laboured so much for. In delegating responsibility, adhere to what Paul said in 2nd Timothy 2:2:
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
Apply this principle in your church, business and family and you will find rest for your soul.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One reality of life that many people, particularly children of God, find difficult to believe is that a meek person can be offended. People who are meek are assumed to always be calm and saint-like, and hence people around them tend to take them for granted and abuse them in many ways. We all know that meekness is a constituent of the fruit of the Spirit, but Ephesians 4:30 clearly shows that the Holy Spirit can be offended. For this reason, you need to realise that the person carrying the Holy Spirit can also be offended.

Although Numbers 12:3 describes Moses as the meekest among all men on the face of the earth, in Numbers 20:1-12, this same man got so upset that instead of speaking to the rock as God commanded, he struck it with the rod twice, to the Lord’s displeasure. The consequence of this outburst of anger and frustration by Moses was grievous: the Lord rebuked him and denied him entrance into the Promised Land, after forty years of labouring hard to lead all the Israelites from Egypt.

The key lesson we need to learn from Moses’ experience is that our brethren and leaders are all still living in human bodies, and so we need to be sensitive to their humanity and not overstretch them because we believe that as meek people, they will not break. Another lesson is that the meek should not allow themselves to be solely people-driven; they should instead focus on following the instructions given by God.

While we live in this human body, we will always experience offence or provocations from different sources. However, we need to exercise self-control, which is another constituent of the fruit of the Spirit, in all situations. The Bible is clear that only the foolish burst out in anger; you must refuse to be foolish. Proverbs 14:17a says,
“He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:”

Beloved, what are you known for? Are you the kind of person that engages in confrontation with everyone, or are you known to be an example of someone who manifests the fruit of the Spirit?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Every Christian is expected to be a standard for people around to emulate. Standing out for God as a standard has a price tag attached to it. The price of being God’s standard is comprised mainly of antagonism, loneliness and persecution. In John 16:2, our Lord Jesus Christ prepared our minds for what we should expect if we would be His standard in this world, saying:
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whatsoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”
We live in times when these words are being fulfilled right before our very eyes.

To live as God’s standard in this world, you have to be ready to walk on the cold road of loneliness sometimes. God’s standards we celebrate today, such as Elijah and Apostle Paul, all faced this reality (1st Kings 19:14, 2nd Timothy 4:16). When you choose not to follow a multitude to sin, they will confront and antagonise you because you are different. When they realise that they cannot win you over to their side, they will sideline and isolate you. You must be willing to pay this price to avoid the contamination of the world. Always have at the back of your mind that the Christian race you are called to is an individual race that can be lonely. However, be assured that the Lord will be with you always, and so you are never alone. He stood by Paul in his moments of loneliness and He also strengthened Elijah in his time of despair (2nd Timothy 4:17, Acts 27:23-25). You can be sure that what He did for them, He will do for you also.

To live as God’s standard in this generation, you must prepare your mind for it. The secret of not conforming to the standard of this world lies in the continuous renewing of your mind with the word of God. The Holy Spirit revealed this truth to us in Romans 12:2, where He said:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The reason is that what is in your mind determines what you would become and the nature of life you would live in this world. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood out for God and they became standards and reference points in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires. Although they suffered a great deal, their suffering yielded extraordinary promotions (Daniel 3:30, Daniel 6:26-28). Anyone who wants to be a standard of godliness must be ready to suffer all sorts of evil from the enemies of the cross. The good news is that Jesus Christ promised He is with us till the end of the world (Matthew 28:20b). 
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God in His unfathomable wisdom sometimes connects us to our destiny through some strange helpers. Such destiny helpers appear strange to us because they are people we least expect help from. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit teaches in Romans 8:28 that we need to see God’s hand in all things that happen to us. The Holy Spirit also makes it clear that this truth will only work for those who are called according to God’s purpose, walking in line with His precepts and instructions.

A good example of strange destiny helpers is Joseph’s brothers. While they were aiding the fulfilment of Joseph’s destiny, they did not even know it. They thought they were selling him into slavery, but they only helped in transporting him to the land where he was destined to become the prime minister. Joseph had other strange destiny helpers along his way to becoming the prime minister of Egypt, such as Potiphar’s wife, Pharaoh’s cup bear and Pharaoh’s baker. All these different encounters worked together for his good until he became the first prime minister of Egypt. Genesis 41:39-41 tells of the awesome promotion he received in one day through the aid of strange destiny helpers.
“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph’s experience shows that every person you meet in any situation can be one of your destiny helpers. I pray for you today that your destiny helpers will emerge from the places you least expect in Jesus’ Name. Things worked out for Joseph because he was faithful to God and could not imagine sinning against Him. This same attitude is expected of every Christian today. You need to remain faithful and true to God, so that you can be assured of His hand in all that is happening to you. At the end of it all, Joseph also became a destiny helper to the whole of Egypt. An ex-convict and slave ended up saving an entire country from famine. No one is too small to be your destiny helper. Beloved, if you will love God with all your heart, all things will continue to work together for your good in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In the Body of Christ, we often talk about how Noah found grace in the sight of God, but we hardly ever mention what the Bible says about him in Genesis 6:22:
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
Noah was an obedient instrument in the hands of the Most High God, and God cherished him for that. To show the extent to which God cherishes obedience, Prophet Samuel in 1st Samuel 15:22 said:
“…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Naaman’s story teaches that only complete obedience to divine instructions is rewarded. Prophet Elijah had instructed Naaman to go and wash in River Jordan seven times in order to receive healing from his leprosy. When he first heard this, he felt insulted for not being given a dignified reception, as Elisha, did not even grant him face to face audience. He also felt insulted at the simplicity of what he was asked to do and where he was asked to do it. He was instructed to wash seven times in “dirty” River Jordan. His initial response to God’s instructions is captured in 2nd Kings 5:12 as follows:
“Are not Abana and Pharpa, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”
Thank God he had servants who persuaded him to do what the prophet had said. After his servants succeeded in persuading him, the result that followed shows that the pains of complete obedience pale in comparison to its benefits. 2nd Kings 5:14 says,
“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

Beloved, only after Naaman’s obedience was complete did he receive his miracle. The loss would have been great if Naaman had stopped dipping his body in the river after the fifth or sixth attempt, since nothing about his situation had changed. I pray that your obedience to the word of God will be complete, and you will receive your miracle thereafter in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

During a solemn Assembly at the Redemption Camp, Nigeria, the Lord instructed me to teach my children who were present some pairs of “two-legged” divine instructions which every Christian should adhere to. What we see today is that most Christians are obeying only one of these instruction pairs while deliberately ignoring the other. Today, we will be considering the pair of instructions revealed in Hebrews 1:9.

While it is easy for every Christian to love righteousness, hating iniquity is what is beginning to fade away. Christians are beginning to give consideration to and show sympathy for iniquity. Issues that are clearly called out as iniquity in the Bible are being tolerated by Christians and have even become subjects of discussion in the Church of God. Such acts of iniquity include sexual immorality like fornication, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality and the likes. These two passages of scripture reveal the danger of harbouring such disposition:
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do these things which are not convenient;”
Romans 1:32
"Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Romans 1:32

Based on the truth contained in these verses, a lot of Christians have fallen from the position of grace, and God has given them over to a reprobate mind. Although they are usually still able to speak all the right Christian words and phrases, their doctrines and principles are no longer in line with the Scriptures. Some have even gone ahead to start their own congregations where these false doctrines are being taught. The Lord warns us against false prophets in Revelations 2:20. The only way to avoid falling prey to false prophets and ensure you remain on the straight and narrow path is to have a personal relationship with God. You need to study the word of God yourself to know what it says is right and wrong. Your Christian life should not be built on your pastor’s interpretation of Scriptures. I pray that you will grow in your knowledge of God as you study your Bible more.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The narrative in Daniel 3:13-26 highlights one of those instances where we can go against secular and religious authority. This story tells of how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to obey the law of the land. There is time for everything under heaven. There is a time when in order to obey the law of God, you have to disobey the law of the land. These three young men were accused and found guilty of religious anarchism. In simple terms, they were tagged criminals because they were found guilty of breaking the law, and the penalty for this was death by burning. Nevertheless, these young men defied the threat of tortuous death in a fiery furnace. Their attitude made it seem as if they had listened to the teaching of Jesus Christ in Mark 9:45-46, where He said:
“And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt unto life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

As seen in Acts 4:19, a similar act of defiance was exhibited by the early disciples. Peter stood up to the religious leaders of that time, giving them a rhetorical question to ponder on. He asked for their advice on whom to obey: earthly leaders or God. Beloved, you need to be defiant whenever you are asked to go against the law of God. The time to stand up for your faith and values is when you are asked to go against it.

If at the expenses of standing up for God, you melt in the face of threats to your life, comfort or career, you cannot call yourself a Christian. Are you in a situation where you are compromising on the truth? Are you falsifying records in your office or business to make more money? Are you collecting bribes before you do your work? Are you covering up for corrupt colleagues or friends? If you find yourself in such circumstances, you need to search deep within your heart and choose whom you will serve today. Serving God means that every moment of your day, every action that you take and every utterance that you make are viewed as service to Him. Always be conscious of the fact that your actions at your place of work or business counts as service to God. Your attitude towards everyone around you is also service to God. I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict your heart and enable you to stand up for Jesus every day.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is disheartening to note that many hunters have crept into the Body of Christ, disguising themselves as shepherds. How do we distinguish a hunter from a shepherd? A hunter is an opportunist who feeds on the flesh of animals he did not rear. He kills his game indiscriminately without consideration for the wellbeing of the animals he kills. A shepherd, on the other hand, knows even the smallest details about the state of his or her flock. His disposition to the flock is captured beautifully in Psalm 23. Psalm 23:1-3 says,
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake.”

All those occupying the office of the shepherd in the Body of Christ are instructed on God’s expectation of them in 1 Peter 5:1-4. They are expected to feed the flock of God and watch over them without any constraint or covetousness. Unlike a hunter that goes after a kill, the shepherd must nurture, preserve and ensure the safety of the sheep. He pampers the lamps and leads the sheep towards green pastures. The shepherd defends the flock against external aggression of wolves and other carnivores. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of a shepherd. In John 10:11, He said:
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
God expects us to be good shepherds just as our Lord Jesus Christ is. In the Body of Christ today, it is unfortunate that we have unsuspecting sheep who are being led by hunters instead of shepherds. Paul wrote concerning them in Philippians 3:18-19, saying:
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”

Beloved, you need to identify the shepherds and the hunters in the Body of Christ and ensure you are not being led by a hunter. Any pastor whose primary concern is what he or she can get out of you and not how you will be nurtured and built up in Christ is a hunter. I pray that God will open your eyes of understanding and enable you to discern if you are under a hunter or a shepherd.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In a bid to evade the verbal chastisement of the word of God coming from the mouth of fellow believers, some Christians quote these words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-2:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Such Christians conveniently forget the word of 2nd Timothy 4:2, which says,
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
While it is true that some Christians today are quick to judge others for the situation they are passing through, which is an attitude the Lord warned us against, it does not mean that we cannot declare the counsel of God whenever we are so moved by the Spirit of God to do so. The question is what is the difference between having a judgemental attitude and declaring the whole counsel of God through teaching or preaching? Just like vengeance, judgement also is the prerogative of the Almighty God. As demonstrated in the story of the adulterous woman, He alone is the accurate and righteous judge. From the story, we see that man’s judgement can be faulty, because the one judging others may be guilty of the same sin (John 8:7-9). Only God is without sin, therefore He alone is competent enough to pass judgement. Indeed, He has passed judgement through His word, and He will confirm this judgement through the Lord Jesus Christ on a day He has appointed (John 12:48, Romans 2:16).

To be judgmental is to judge wrongly. Many are prone to doing this, and this is the reason why we were warned not to judge. Paul’s experience in Acts 28:1-6 is a typical example of the error of man’s judgement. The Lord had just spared the lives of Paul and those whom he was travelling with on account of Paul’s right standing with Him. While the apostle was gathering sticks to increase the heat of the fire that was keeping them warm, a poisonous snake caught him by the hand. Some of the native people of the land where they were shipwrecked jumped to the conclusion that Paul was evil and that was why nemesis was still after him, even though he had managed to survive a shipwreck (Acts 28:4). How wrong they were! Let us therefore be cautious before drawing connections between events because our knowledge is limited. Let us allow the word of God speak the judgement of God by itself and not insert our own speculations and motives into the fray.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The message from the Holy Spirit to you today is that you must take responsibility for your actions in life. It is important to note that many trials and temptations we encounter in life are neither from God nor from the devil. You may then want to know where temptations emanate from. The Bible is clear on this: we cannot put the blame at God’s doorstep. James 1:13-14 says,
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

It is expedient for us to differentiate between temptation and examination. Examination is intended to yield a positive result. Whereas temptation is intended to yield a negative result. Concerning temptations, if you are unable to overcome, you end up in a worse place or state compared to where you were before being tempted. However, with regard to examinations, you usually get promoted once you successfully complete the examination. We can conveniently say that God examines those He wants to entrust with divine assignments (Genesis 22:1, Deuteronomy 8:2). Conversely, the devil, also referred to as the tempter, takes advantage of a man’s lusts and vulnerabilities to tempt him or her, using the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1st Thessalonians 3:5, 1st John 2:16).

The truth of the matter is that man is responsible for his actions and inactions. However, the problem with us is that while we love to enjoy the freewill divinely bestowed on us, we are often not comfortable with being held responsible for whatever repercussions our actions bring to our lives. We can see a classic example of man denying responsibility in the way Adam responded to God’s query as to why he ate the forbidden fruit. Genesis 3:11-12 says,
“And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
Beloved, you are responsible for your own actions and inactions. Adam misused his freewill and his descendants are still suffering the consequences. Misuse of freedom leads to bondage, so beware! 
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is a wise saying in my native language which says, “If you don’t know how to think of God’s goodness, you are not likely to know how to give Him thanks.” Thinking about God’s goodness is one great attitude we need to learn from Psalm 103:2. In this passage of Scripture, David preached to himself on the need to praise, worship, thank and reverence God. He also outlined some of the reasons why he needed to be thankful. I believe we should emulate David’s attitude and borrow from his list of reasons to be thankful.

On this list of reasons to be thankful, David first considered the forgiveness of his sins. We so often take the blessing of forgiveness of sins for granted, but we need to remember that it is because of the Lord’s graciousness and mercy that He chooses to forgive our sins. It is not difficult to simply say “Lord, I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins.” We also need to remember and be thankful that our Lord Jesus Christ is still engaged in intercessory prayers for us continually (Romans 8:34)

The next thing David mentioned on his list is the blessing of healing. The doctors often use a slogan that reads: “We care, God heals”. Who then besides God should take the glory? David also mentioned deliverance from destruction. We all know that evil pervades the world we live in; it’s only the mercy of God that keeps His children from harm. Do you thank Him for this? What about His loving-kindness: a kindness that is not ordinary but full of love? What about His tender mercies: mercy that is affectionate and adds no sorrow? Do you thank Him for the food you eat? He satisfies your mouth with good things so that you are energised to go about your daily tasks, and He renews your strength like that of the eagle. Do you thank Him for all these?

Beloved, be sincere with yourself today. Do you think you are grateful to this Great Father who has been sustaining you physically and spiritually? You have walked in the valley of the shadow of death several times and He has kept you. You have been tempted severally but you escaped the net of the devil and his agents. Take a look around you and count your blessings; name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. It is expedient for you to spend quality time in God’s presence today to worship Him like never before. However, let this not be a one-off event in your life; ensure you sustain a habit of thanksgiving from today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Queen Esther shows us one example of how to get our requests granted quickly. Although she had prepared a sumptuous banquet for the king and fed him well, she did not dwell on her own needs; neither did she make any request of him on the first banquet night. She prepared another banquet the second night, and after being treated well again by the queen, we see the king himself insisting that Queen Esther ask whatever she wanted. Esther 7:2 says,
“And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.”
At this point, the queen presented her request and it was granted without delay. When you follow Queen Esther’s example in your prayer life, you will get expedited answers to your prayers.

John 15:16 reveals one of the ways of receiving expedited answers to your prayers. It clearly states that if you are fruitful, whatever you ask the Father in the Name of Jesus will be granted. Many people do not realise the blessing that accompany the great assignment of soul-winning. I have taught my children on several occasions that the shortest route to receiving answers to their prayers is through soul-winning. This is a divine truth that cannot be wished away, because it is the word of God. The good thing about this assignment is that you are not the one to win souls: Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit does the job. The Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting the hearts of sinners (John 16:. All Jesus wants of you is to make your mouth, resources and time available for His use.

What happened to Peter when he made his boat available to Jesus at the lake of Gennesaret will happen to you as you yield yourself and your resources to God for soul-winning today in Jesus’ Name (Luke 5:1-7). It is interesting to note that after Peter surrendered his boat for God’s use, Jesus Christ did not wait for Peter to ask for a miracle; He just went ahead and granted Peter what he did not ask or bargain for: a great catch of fish that filled two boats. If He could do it for Peter, He will also do it for you when you table your requests after you have yielded yourself to soul-winning.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Apostle James gave a profound description of the power embedded in the tongue. In James 3:5-6, he wrote:
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
In Numbers 14:20-29, we see in practical terms the evil effect of misusing the tongue. Moses had sent out some men to spy out the Promise Land. Ten out of the twelve spies that were sent out returned with an evil report driven by unbelief. They said many things which showed their lack of confidence in the God of their fathers, despite the fact that He had severally demonstrated His mighty power to them in the course of their journey through the wilderness. They seemed not to know their own worth and hence they described themselves as grasshoppers and the inhabitants of the land as giants (Numbers 13:33). This testimony of the faithless spies angered the Lord and He gave this verdict contained in Numbers 14:28:
“Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you.”
This outcome, caused by the evil report of the ten spies, establishes the truth of Proverbs 18:21, which says:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

We all will be accountable to God for every word that we say. It is therefore crucial that we are conscious of the pronouncements and confessions that proceed from our mouths. Beloved, you need to exercise more caution in times of distress and anger to avoid making negative pronouncements against yourself, your situation, your children and everything that concerns you. When you find yourself in difficult situations, ensure that the words you speak profess your faith in God that He is able to do what He says He will do, in spite of the prevailing circumstances around you. I pray that as you open your mouth today, the Lord will fill it with words that will bring glory to His Name. I pray that you will be able to see the hand of God in every situation around you through the eyes of faith from now in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I have taught my children on several occasions to imbibe the characteristics of the eagle. One of these outstanding characteristics is that eagles fly alone. It is not out of pride or empty feeling of self-sufficiency that they do this; rather, it is because keeping company with other birds during flight is a form of weight and distraction for them. A disciple of Christ must emulate this attribute of the eagle if he or she would safely arrive home in heaven at the end of his or her life.

The problem with many children of God is that they seem to have lost sight of the fact that the path they are following is so narrow that it cannot accommodate a crowd (Matthew 7:14). This is the reason why a disciple of Jesus Christ must possess this characteristic of flying alone. In 2nd Corinthians 6:14-15, Paul clearly admonished that evil communication corrupts good manners:
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
It is disheartening to note that there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing in the Church today, which is why every purposeful believer needs to have the mindset of an eagle.

Another noteworthy characteristic of eagle is that they are selective about what they eat and where they live. Moreover, they never fly against the wind. As a purposeful believer, you also must be selective about what you consume: what you listen to, what you look at and what you expose your mind to. What you regularly feed your spirit, soul and body with will determine what you will draw on in the day of trouble. You must be selective of the company you keep because your companions strongly influence what you are exposed to. Like the eagle that never flies against the wind, the purposeful believer must also be mindful of the move of the Holy Spirit and ensure that he or she is never aligned against His work.

Beloved, I encourage you to choose to be an eagle for Christ from today, and the Lord will renew your strength according to Isaiah 40:31. You cannot fly by your own strength, but the Holy Spirit will help you if only you give yourself completely to Jesus Christ today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

One deadly habit that is very common among the people of God today is the murmuring. Like the Israelites of old, many children of God today engage in it without even realising it! it is indeed a silent destroyer. For this reason, the Holy Spirit warns us against it in 1st Corinthians 10:10, saying:
“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”
Do you know that there are times we think we are praying but we are actually murmuring?

In Exodus 15:22-26, the children of Israel were at Marah, where they found water that was not drinkable because it was bitter. Despite all that God had done for them, they did not consider that He already knew that they would pass through Marah and would have gone ahead of them to make provision for the water they would drink. All they could think of doing was to murmur about the bitter water. The characters at play in the events that occurred at Marah are indicative of the two types of Christians we have in the Church today. The first type behaves like the multitude who murmured, while the second type behaves like Moses who cried to the Lord for a solution. It is interesting to note that the murmuring of the multitude was an exercise in futility because their murmurings did not change the bitterness of the water. The prayer of Moses, on the other hand, yielded positive results because his cry to God moved God into action. God showed him what to do to reverse the situation, and the people’s need for good water was met. This mirrors what is happening with Christians today. We murmur about what we desire and the lack of it, instead of actually asking God and trusting that if He wills, our prayers will be answered.

Beloved, you need to ask yourself today which type of Christian you are between the two types we have considered. I beseech you to examine your prayer life and relationship with God before answering this question. Are you the type of Christian mentioned in James 4:2, just lusting, desiring and fighting for things but yet getting nothing? You need to ask God to reveal to you the truth on where you stand today. May the Almighty God hear your prayer in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It may interest you to know that a great number of Christians and Bible scholars do not understand or refuse to understand the deeper meaning of 2 Corinthians 9:6. What does it mean to sow sparingly? Sowing sparingly is the act of giving only a little back to God from the resources He has blessed you with. How do you quantify “Little”? "Little" means the smallest part of a thing. Sowing sparingly is therefore giving just the smallest part of what you are able to give God. An illustration of how we are expected to give can be seen in Luke 21:3-4:
“And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”
The above scripture can be described as the mathematics of giving from God’s perspective. The quality of your giving is hidden in what remains in your pocket after you have given to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that the rich give unto God out of the abundance of what we have (I align myself with the rich in verse 4 because I want to be numbered among the flourishing); whereas, the poor among us, in spite of their need, give all or almost all that they have. This clearly tells us that those of us who are rich should not compare what we give with what others give because we are not all operating on the same level of prosperity. Do you know that in the parable of the unprofitable servant, if the servant who received five talents had only gained two additional talents, he would have received less commendation than the servant who received two and gained two more (Matthew 25:14-30)? To whom much is given, much is expected. This is the reason why it is dangerous to indulge in self-comparison with others.

The story of the giving widow also shows that it is wrong for us to despise the poor for giving the little that they have. More often than not, they have given a higher percentage of what they have compared to the rich amongst us. Unfortunately, in our churches today, we no longer see the type of outburst of appreciation that Jesus Christ expressed over the action of the poor widow. Sadly, instead of commending, we rather despise those who give out of their poor condition. Beloved, the question is, after you have dropped your offering, how much do you have left for wants (not needs)? I appeal to you to sow bountifully into the work of God’s kingdom when next the opportunity comes your way, and you will reap bountifully in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A Adeboye.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Our Lord Jesus Christ never hid from us the truth concerning the Way we have been called to. In the above verse and in several other passages of Scripture, He did not mince words, informing us of the trials, tribulations and persecutions we will face while walking with Him on the straight and narrow way (Mark 10:30, Matthew 24:9). Because we are aware of this truth, we should therefore courageously stand firm in the face of trials of our faith and tribulations. Proverbs 24:10 says that if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. What do you do when you discover that your strength is small in proportion to the tribulations you are facing? You cry to God to increase your strength just as our Lord cried to the Father for help in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was confronted with the great agony of carrying the weight of the sins of the whole world. The Father heard His cry, and He sent an angel to strengthen Him (Luke 22:41-44). What the Father did for Jesus, He will also do for you.

Let us consider some salient points from Paul’s words of encouragement in 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 to the brethren in Thessalonica who were facing tribulations. First and foremost, he made them know that the Body of Christ understood what they were passing through and appreciated their endurance in the face of tribulations. Secondly, he tried to lift their spirit by reminding them that their endurance of tribulation would earn them a place in the kingdom of God, and so they should not be weary. Thirdly, he taught them that God would not allow those who were persecuting them to go unpunished. The essence of this was to discourage these brethren from seeking to avenge themselves of their persecutors, since vengeance is the Lord’s and He would definitely repay evil men. Furthermore, he reassured them of the prayers of the saints for them. The heat of those prayers would keep them going irrespective of the cold winds of tribulation blowing against them. We must learn from these points not to condemn brethren who are passing through tribulations or trials of faith. There is a tendency for us to always attribute the suffering of the saints to sins they have committed and to condemn them to everlasting “self-examination”. Instead of attributing their tribulations to sin, the Church took glory in the patience of the Thessalonians in the midst of tribulation (2nd Thessalonians 1:4). Beloved, be encouraged that the difficult phase of life you are passing through will come to an end soon. So, don’t give up! Your Master shares in your tribulation. Be of good cheer because He has overcome the world for your sake.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Being endowed with spiritual gifts comes with great responsibility and the need for accountability. Grave consequences are also attached to their misuse. For this reason, every child of God needs to be very careful not to take undue advantage of the gifts of the Holy Spirit deposited in them by God. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew that man was susceptible to abusing the power of God, and so He warned His disciples against merchandising the free gift of God (Matthew 10:. He sternly told them that what they had received freely must also be freely given out. It is a fearful thing to turn the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us into objects of merchandise traded for money, favours or gifts. This is what Simon tried to do when he offered money to Peter to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost operating in Peter’s life. Acts 8:18-19 says:
“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
Knowing the implication of this act, Apostle Peter rebuked him sharply and advised him to desist from such diabolical ways. Unfortunately, this is the attitude of some people concerning the ministry of the gospel today.

2 Kings 5:20-27 speaks about a potentially mighty prophet of God who denied himself the opportunity of receiving multiple portions of Elijah’s anointing, all because he loved material possessions. 2nd Kings 5:20 says,
“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.”
The astonishing part of the above scripture is that Gehazi was not the vessel through whom Naaman was healed! In spite of this fact, he was still hell-bent on getting some form of reward for the miracle Naaman had received. In the same vein, no minister of God can perform any miracle. Jesus is the only miracle-worker, and all Christians are vessels through who these miracles are performed. Therefore, taking advantage of His works through His Spirit in us is fraudulent and diabolic. We must be very careful so that we do not become victims of the grave consequences of such acts of covetousness like Gehazi. The good Lord will bless you in His own way and in His own time as you surrender yourself for His use in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A while ago, I was led to make a statement which some people did not take seriously, because it did not meet with faith in their hearts. The statement was that the use of excessive make-up is a sign of inferiority complex. I went further to say that people only try to “make up” for what is not good enough. I strongly believe that the Almighty God is the most perfect designer, and in His infinite wisdom He has designed you the way He feels is best for His glory. After all, in Revelation 4:11, the Holy Spirit reveals that He created us for His pleasure:
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
If God created you for His pleasure, it means that what any other person says about how your mouth is shaped, your colour, your height, the hair on your head or even your accent is irrelevant! The reason for the inferiority complex a lot of people suffer from can be traced to the fact that the glory of God is absent from their lives. Not only was Adam satisfied with the way God made him before the fall, he also appreciated the looks of his wife and admired her with a passion (Genesis 2:23-25). However, after the fall, he was not only fed up with himself, he also saw fault in the wife God “gave” him (Genesis 3:10-12).

Daniel 1:5-20 narrates the determination of some young Hebrew men who decided to live a consecrated life, in spite of the fact that they were captives in a strange land. This should serve as a lesson to Christians who live outside their homeland and decide to throw decency out of the window because of the prevailing situation in the land of their sojourn. Beloved, I implore you to seek something that is needful today, which is the glory of God upon your life through living a consecrated life. Once the glory of God is upon you, you will be the delight of your generation.

Sin robs man of God’s glory, and when God’s glory is out of a man’s life, his or her life becomes miserable and susceptible to demonic attacks. It was the glory of God upon Daniel that shut the mouths of lions that would have devoured him. It was the glory of God on the young Hebrew men’s lives that made them look fairer and fatter than their peers. May the glory of the Lord come upon you today as you consecrate your life to the Almighty in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The nature and purpose of leadership has been misunderstood by mankind from time immemorial, and this is the reason why most people crave for leadership positions so much. Leadership, when viewed from the right perspective, can be very enslaving, because the frame and popularity that come along with it may take away your sleep and freedom. However, when God puts you in a leadership position, He will also give you the grace to conduct yourself appropriately to meet His expectations. God’s expectation of what leadership should be is explained by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 20:27. It is amazing that even the disciples did not understand God’s principles on leadership. This is evident in the fact that it was their agitation over who among them would occupy the highest position that led Jesus to explain what leadership really means.

From God’s perspective, leadership means to serve. It is no longer news that leadership in the Church today is out of tune with our Lord’s expectation to leaders being servants. Some leaders use their leadership position to oppress those under them. Proverbs 29:2 says:
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
It is dangerous for a leader to oppress his or her subordinates because as they groan and cry unto God under such leaders, heaven will respond and the consequences that follow might be devastating. This has led to the destruction of several people who held leadership positions.

Frankly speaking, From God’s perspective, leadership is synonymous to servitude. It is servitude because a leader is expected to be under God’s absolute control, living a life of total submission that is enslaved to doing God’s  will (Hebrews 10:7). A leader must lay aside personal freedom to take on the yoke of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29). As a leader, taking on the Lord’s yoke means you have relinquished control over the manner of your speech, the places you go to and the things you do. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself had to do all these as our leader (John 5:19, John 8:28, John 12:49). In John 5:30, He said:
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

If you find yourself in a leadership position, you have to be careful of what you do with the privilege of leading God’s heritage, so that you will not be damned in the end (1st Peter 5:1-4).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, we are reflecting on the final two components of the armour of God mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:1-5. These are prayer and supplication, characterized by perseverance. Regardless of the sophisticated weapons available to a soldier, If he or she cannot persevere, these weapons will have little or no effect. Therefore, it is very important to emphasise the attribute of perseverance in the place of prayer and supplication. Imagine what would have become of Daniel’s requests and fasting if He had not persevered in prayers and supplication for 21 days (Daniel 10:2-13).

PRAYER
Prayer is the key with which we unlocks the heavenly armoury in order to access divine weapons for our spiritual battles. Our Lord Jesus Christ said something about prayer that many Christians seem to ignore, particularly in spiritual warfare. At the garden of Gethsemane, He gave us this counsel:
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41
Even the Almighty God who became man admits here that the flesh is weak. Therefore, to overcome temptation, we need to watch and pray. Adam’s victory would have been glorious if he did not fall into the temptation of the devil. Little wonder when the second Adam came, He took the issue of prayer very seriously and also revealed the importance of prayer to us.

SUPPLICATION
To supplicate is to ask with every sense of humility and not in arrogance like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. Arrogance and a sense of entitlement will not allow some children of God to persevere in the place of prayer. They time God in prayer and command Him to “do it now” or they will quit serving Him! Humility means surrendering to the will of God regardless of your desires and expectations. It is coming to God with trust that He will do what is best for you.

Beloved, the sure armour is Jesus Christ. He is the truth, the righteousness of God in us, the Good News of peace, and the Word of God personified. Our faith in Him earns us salvation. In His Name we receive answers to our prayers. Accept Him and put Him on today, and your victory is guaranteed.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The worst time in everyone's life is when he/she goes through a long and terrible wilderness experience; but in disguise, it is actually the best learning, character building, and developmental stage of one's life, which invariably makes it the best and the most refining period of one's life.

Yesterday we examined truth and righteousness as components of the sure armour of God. Today, Ephesians 6:17 introduces two more components of this armour. Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit.

SALVATION
Our complete victory against the enemy begins and ends with the salvation of our souls. Our warfare with the kingdom of darkness started in the Garden of Eden, where the devil stole the mandate to rule over this world from Adam. Eve chose to believe the devil’s lie and Adam disobeyed God by yielding to the devil. Adam sold himself and by extension his descendants to the enemy when he sinned against his Maker. This is the reason why Jesus always addressed the problem of sin first before addressing any other problem confronting those who came to Him. Before Jesus healed the man sick of the palsy in Luke 5:17-26, He said to him:
“Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
    Luke 5:20b
Jesus is still addressing the issue of sin first today. This is the reason why I know that as you surrender your life to Jesus today, the helmet of salvation will be your heritage, and you will have victory over your tormentors in Jesus’ Name.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
The sword of the spirit is the word of God. It is an offensive weapon with which we attack the enemy, and it is powerful through God to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds. Hear what the Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 4:12 about the power that is inherent in God’s word:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Today, people short-change themselves by not taking heed to the Word of God. I assume that people who trivialize the word of God don’t know that it is the powerful attacking piece of our sure armour with which we obtain victory. Note that it is the word of God that you respect that will work for you when you apply it in spiritual warfare. I encourage you therefore to let the word of God dwell in you richly. Meditate on it and make it a part of you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Life is full of complex challenges which can be overwhelming. These challenges have frustrated some people to the extent that they despair of life itself, leading them to take drugs, join the occult or even commit suicide, all in a bid to “escape” the reality of life’s problems. I pray that you will never be overwhelmed by the challenges of life in Jesus’ Name. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not say we would be immune from trials and tribulations in life (John 16:33); rather He provided us with the sure armour with which we can confront and triumph over everything the enemy throws at us. To be victorious in life, you need to first understand that life’s most devastating battles are not physical, but spiritual. Challenges that have their origin in the spirit realm have to be confronted with spiritual tools, which might appear foolish to the natural man. To help us be triumphant, Ephesians 6:14 introduces two important components of our armour: Truth and Righteousness.

A life of truth is a transparent and honest life that is based on the word of God, which Jesus declared to be truth (John 17:17). Living a life of truth is powerful (2nd Corinthians 4:2). Lies of any form are of the devil, and so when you live a lie, the devil will have foothold in your life with which to afflict you (John 8:44). However, if your life is based on the truth of God’s word, the devil will find nothing in your life to use against you. This was the situation with the Lord Jesus on the night He was betrayed. The devil came to examine His life to see if indeed He was without sin before going to the cross of Calvary, so that he could accuse Him of it and destroy the work of salvation before the last lap even started. In John 14:30 the Lord said:
“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
Thank God that Jesus had truth in His armour and there was no lie in Him. Little wonder He declared to Pilate that truth was the purpose of His life (John 18:37).

The breastplate of righteousness is another critical part of our armour. 2nd Corinthians 6:7 says:
“By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”
Righteousness is a gift that puts us in right standing with God and produces a life of uprightness in us (Romans 5:17, Ephesians 4:24). Having received the gift of righteousness, we are empowered to do the works of righteousness (1st Corinthians 15:34, Romans 6:18). Standing upon and walking in Christ’s righteousness defeats every range of the devil against us. Are truth and righteousness part of your armour today?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.