₦airaland Forum

Submission is a humble attitude wherein authority is duly recognized and obedience is willingly rendered without any resistance whatsoever. God commands submission to Himself, to civil authorities and to appointed leaders in His Church (James 4:7, 1st Peter 2:13, Hebrews 13:17). Submission is also commanded in relationship such as marriage (Colossians 3:18). The crux of the message of our Lord Jesus Christ is submission to the will and purpose of God as revealed in His word. In Matthew 7:24-27, He said those who hear the word of God and submit to its authority in obedience can be likened to a wise person who built his or her house upon the rock, and the house survived a terrible storm. In contrast, He compared those who reject the authority of God’s word to a foolish person who built his or her house on sandy soil without strong foundations, and the house was destroyed by storm. Therefore, not being submissive to the word of God, which manifests itself as disobedience, is very costly indeed. I pray that you will receive the grace to submit totally to the will of God concerning your life today in Jesus’ Name.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of submission. Philippians 2:5-8 reveals the extent He went to in order to submit Himself to His Father. No wonder the Holy Spirit wants us to have the same mind that He had. In John 10:17, Jesus revealed that total submission is the secret of the Father’s love for Him. Hear what He said to the Father in Hebrews 10:7 when He was coming into the world:
“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
Concerning the submission of the Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 5:8 also says:
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”
Jesus learnt to obey God’s instructions even when He knew it would yield personal loss and suffering for Him. Little wonder the Bible says He was obedient unto death. This obedience unto death was demonstrated in Matthew 26:39 when He was faced with the reality of death on the cross, and He made this agonizing prayer to God saying:
“….O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
For Jesus, obedience to God was His primary concern, and every other thing, including His personal interest, was secondary. May the Lord give His Church this same mind-set in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is one thing to be given authority, and it is another thing to exercise the authority delegated. Some Christians are suffering today because they do not exercise the divine authority given to them as children of God. Some children of God are like Moses in Exodus 14:10-16, crying helplessly at the Red Sea with the army of Pharaoh fast approaching. The children of Israel also did not help matters because they murmured against his leadership at this critical point. The perfect storm faced by Moses at the Red Sea made him forget who he was and the enormous power God had vested in him. In Exodus 7:1, God had told him:
“And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.”
Unfortunately, either Moses forgot this or his mind could not grasp the extent of its meaning. Although crying to God is not wrong by itself, there is time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This was not the time for Moses to cry; rather, it was a time for him to exercise the authority given to him by God. Nevertheless, God graciously reminded Moses that the authority to deal with the situation was already at his disposal. In Exodus 14:15-16, God said to him:
"….Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

Beloved, do you know that God has given you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and everything they represent? Jesus Christ has given to us the power and authority to tread on all the powers of the enemy, and He promised that nothing shall by any means hurt us (Luke 10:19). However, to exercise this authority, we must live according to the dictates of the One who delegated His authority to us. A lesson from Exodus 14:10-16 about Moses is that he exercised authority by the instructions of the Almighty God. He was not presumptuous as many would have been. His cry to God could mean “what should I do in this situation?” Another lesson is that although the Lord had equipped him with the rod, he did not know the full extent of its power in solving the problems of the people he was leading. In other words, God has equipped his children with the necessary authority and power not only to defend themselves but also to rescue the perishing. You have the authority to bring change to the chaos in the world around you, but are you putting this to use?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The reason why many children of God are not living a triumphant life daily is because they refuse to submit themselves to the authority and lordship of their Father, the Almighty. Some are like the prodigal son who sought premature freedom and independence from his father (Luke 15:12-13). In Matthew 8:5-13, we see a man who knew what it was to be under authority and the blessings that come along with it. This man is the centurion, whose faith our Lord Jesus Christ described as great. After Jesus had decided to go with him to heal his servant, this centurion did not deem it necessary for Jesus to go to his house, because he was a man under authority and he understood the attendant implications of this. He knew Jesus Christ was under authority and had great authority. He also believed that if Jesus exercised His authority over demons from where He was, they would obey Him. Hear what he said in Matthew 8:8b
“Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”

It is interesting to note the contrast between the proud attitude of Naaman and the humble disposition of this centurion to spiritual authority (2nd Kings 5:11). The Holy Spirit reveals the secret to spiritual authority in James 4:7 where He says,
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
This is where the problem lies with some children of God. First things first: we must submit to the authority of God in His word before we can resist the devil and his attacks. When we follow this order, the devil will definitely flee from us because we are operating under God’s authority in His word. Regardless of who is speaking it, the word of God must be respected and given its rightful place in our lives. You must submit to the authority of God’s word by being a doer of it if you will experience a performance of its purpose in your life (James 1:25). Beloved, are you under the authority of the Almighty God in His word? It is all well and good if you are. However, if you find it difficult to submit to God’s authority in His word, you will experience the frustration of the word not working for you. If you are in this situation, repent today and submit to God’s authority in His word that is forever settled. One more lesson you should learn from Matthew 8:5-13 is that while many shall come from all over the world to benefit from the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the children of the kingdom who refuse to submit to God’s authority would be cast away. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jacob was the second son of Isaac. His early life projected a lifestyle and behavioural pattern that closely matched his name, which can be interpreted as supplanter, impersonator, deceiver or usurper. However, he received mercy from the Lord and had a divine encounter where God decided to change his name. In Genesis 32:28, God said to him:
“….Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…”
The renaming of Jacob as Israel (which means “triumphant with God”) was a spiritual event that had far reaching effects on his physical life and his personality. Immediately after his identity was changed, Jacob stopped exhibiting the characteristics of his old name and began to behave in line with the meaning of his new name. The old things about Jacob passed away and all things became new for him as Israel. I pray for someone reading this devotional that every old symptom of sin, sickness, poverty, bondage and oppression shall pass away from your life today in Jesus’ Name.

It is important to note that what happened to Jacob in the Old Testament is closely related to the regeneration experience seen in the New Testament. Regeneration is the change brought about by the Spirit of God, which makes a person a new creature in Christ Jesus. The salvation that Jesus brought to us is not simply to energize the old creation with new ability and power; rather, it brings about a new creature that has the divine nature of God (2nd Peter 1:4). It also ignites a spiritual process wherein everything working against the regenerated person is thoroughly dealt with (Colossians 2:14). The practical result of this is spiritual regeneration evidenced by radical change in the nature, character, desires and motives of the transformed person. This new creature is so new and different from the old that it even requires a new diet to survive, which is the word of God. That is why Matthew 4:4b says:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Concerning regeneration, the key element is change. God is calling all of mankind to change through the power of His word. However, there is a strong resistance of this change in every human being (Romans 8:7). This resistance comes from the mind and the body, and must be overcome before any real change can manifest. The transformation experience requires serious effort to overcome this resistance (Romans 12:2). Whenever anyone surrenders his or her life to Jesus, God takes hold of the old lifeless creature and fashions it into a new creature that is heaven-bound, full of life and suitable for His use. Have you experienced this transformation indeed?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible documents several declarations of God’s covenant promise and blessings to Abraham, which are intended to overflow to his children (Genesis 17:2, Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 22:16-18). Although God spoke these words to Abraham several thousands of years ago, generations from that period till now have continued to see His pronouncements manifest in very dramatic fashion. Let us consider two of God’s pronouncements on Abraham. In Genesis 12:2-3, He said:
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Also, in Genesis 22:17-18, God said:
“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall posses the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…”
The fulfillment of these words in the lives of Abraham’s direct descendants (the Jews) and in the lives of Christians, who are partakers of these promises by adoption, has resulted in a situation where people from all nations of the world seek to be numbered among Abraham’s children.

However, claiming to be one of Abraham’s children does not confer this status on anyone; only fulfilling the necessary requirements does. Romans 9:6-7 explains that in the sight of God, not even all of those who descended from Abraham biologically are children of Abraham for the purpose of receiving God’s covenant blessings. Being a child of Abraham does not come through genetic connections. Galatians 3:7 tells us what confers this status on a person:
“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
You can therefore see that it is only men and women of faith that are true children of Abraham, and so only they are recipients of Abraham’s blessings. In other words, faith is what qualifies a person to inherit Abraham’s blessings. Are you truly one of Abraham’s children? The word of God in Galatians 3:6-9 tells us that irrespective of whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, rich or poor, male or female, white, black or brown, old and young, you can become one of Abraham’s children and gain access to the blessings promised to them if only you live by faith. Some may ignore or reject this truth because they have no idea what it means to be a child of Abraham, or because they see no value in the awesome blessings promised to Abraham’s children. This attitude is not surprising, because the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the ordinary person (1st Corinthians 2:14). I pray that the Lord will open your eyes to the truth of His word so that you can gain access to all of your inheritance in God in the mighty Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Bible tells us about the reality of both the physical world, which is the natural habitat of human beings, and a spiritual world that is ruled and controlled by the Almighty God. Although God created mankind and granted us access to the spiritual realm for the purpose of fellowshipping with Him, we lost that access when Adam and Eve sinned (John 4:24, Genesis 3:. However, the moment a person becomes born again, that access to the realm of the spirit is immediately restored. Unconverted souls remain permanently disconnected from the heavenly realm. That is why 1st Corinthians 2:14 says
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The spiritual world is very much as real as the physical world, but only those who have access to it can see the sights, hear the sounds and even participate in the activities of heaven. I pray that God will sanctify you and grant you express access to the realm of the Spirit in Jesus’ Name.

Living in the Spirit requires faith. Just as the eye produces conviction about the reality of objects in the physical world, so does faith produce the same conviction about things in the realm of the spirit, which are invisible to the natural eye. Faith manifests itself by producing the assurance that what we hope for will happen. It also provides insight into the reality of things in the unseen spiritual world. These unseen realities from God offer an effective power for daily living to every man and woman of faith. Speaking about the faith of Moses, Hebrews 11:27 says:
“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeking him who is invisible.”
Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and receives the impossible. This is the testimony of every great child of God who has walked on the face of the earth, such as Abraham, Moses, the prophets and the apostles. They all saw things that others could not see and they believed them until they were manifested physically. This is also the testimony of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. My Father in the Lord saw some things through the eyes of faith that were practically impossible to believe at that time, but they have become history today. When I became the General Overseer of the Church, we could only afford a one-bedroom apartment; I therefore started praying to God for a suitable home to accommodate my family. God then spoke to me one day that I should stop praying for a house because He had decided to build me a city. I received it by faith and today, this city has become a reality, and God is not done with us yet. I pray that you will begin to see the invisible from today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Holy Spirit often uses the imagery of running a race or participating in a sporting activity to portray the Christian life. He does this to help us have a better understanding of the nature of the Christian life we are called to live, and to help us develop the right attitude required to be successful in it. 1st Corinthians 9:24-25 He says:
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we are incorruptible.”
Three important points are in focus in this passage. First, there are many participants in a sporting event but only the winner receives the prize. We are therefore encouraged to run the Christian race with a mind-set of striving hard to obtain the reward and not just for the mere purpose of participating, secondly, as athletes struggle to reduce unforced errors in order to achieve expertise in their chosen sports, we are also advised to strive for mastery. Thirdly, just as professional athletes must be disciplined in all things before they can achieve the level of skill required to become champions, so also must we be calm, moderate, self-controlled and disciplined in all things. Christianity is very much like boxing or running a marathon: if your attitude towards training and preparation is lackadaisical, relaxed and carefree, then you must be prepared for a painful defeat or even a knockout on the big stage. I pray that you will never suffer defeat in the hands of your enemies in Jesus’ Name.

God is using this medium to bring to your attention the precaution and diligence that is required to secure victory in the Christian race in these perilous times. He is urging you to give the race you are running all the attention needed to ensure success. He also presents before you the crown of glory which He will award to all those who are faithful to the end of the race (1st Peter 5:4). This crown is not a perishable bunch of flowers or a gold-plated medal of little value, but the glorious crown of everlasting life, which awaits all those who have successfully completed the Christian race. You will be wise to give heed to the words of Hebrews 12:2 by continually looking unto Jesus, who for the reward  that was set before him endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Nothing can be more glorious than making it to heaven and beholding the face of Jesus forever. Will you make it there?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Hospitability is the act of generosity and friendship shown towards strangers, and it includes the responsibility of protecting the interests of those received as guest. God admonishes His children to be hospitable as part of our duty to others and in gratitude for the salvation, favour and mercy we have received from Him (Exodus 22:21). Several passages of Scripture emphasis hospitality as a godly virtue (Romans 12:13, 1st Peter 4:9). Hebrews 13:2 says,
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Furthermore, the Bible mentions hospitality as one of the preconditions for becoming a leader in the Church (1st Timothy 3:2). Hospitality has played a very important role in the Redeemed Christian Church of God right from its very beginning. It forms part of our core beliefs and practices. We teach that you don’t have to be rich to look after visitors. You can entertain four people with a single orange by slicing it into four parts and presenting it nicely on a decent plate with glasses of water. May you receive the true spirit of hospitality today in Jesus’ Name.

The Bible admonishes that since we naturally desire to receive hospitality from others, we should show it to others as well. The Lord in Matthew 7:12 says,
“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Even when describing the type of fast that God find acceptable, the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 58:7a said:
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?”
Deuteronomy 26:12 also speaks about feeding the strangers, the fatherless and the widow. All these verse of Scripture show that we are duty-bound as children of God to provide for the needs of these classes of people regularly. More importantly, Jesus clearly teaches that hospitality is going to be a major criterion that will be used to separate the sheep from the goats on the last day (Matthew 25:33-35). This means that it will be practically impossible for anyone to enter heaven without being hospitable. Jesus expects every Christian to love their neighbour as themselves. He expects us to use hospitability as a tool to spread the love of God and the good news of the gospel all over the world. I pray that you will yield yourself as an instrument of spreading God’s love everywhere through hospitality in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Divine connection simply means the connection of an individual to sources that would help to fast-track the fulfillment of his or her destiny. In Psalm 37:23, the Holy Spirit teaches:
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”
This was the testimony of Abraham’s servant in Genesis 37:15. He was amazed at the way the God of his master answered his simple childlike prayer of faith. Beyond his wildest imagination, things worked out in his favour because God had already sent His angels ahead of him to work everything out. When you are divinely connected, people will think that you are wise or brilliant. Some may even mistake you for a genius! I pray for you today that God will give you divine connections that will confound everyone who hears about it in Jesus’ Name.

When we draw close to God and do His bidding, we earn ourselves divine connections (James 4:. Hebrews 6:10 says,
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Some people complain about following Jesus without anything to show for it. Some people may be in their season of sowing, or they might not have been following Him according to the pattern He has laid down. The Lord is a faithful covenant-keeper who cannot lie. In Matthew 19:29 He said:
“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”
If you have been walking with God with nothing to show for it spiritually and materially, take time to carefully evaluate your walk.

If you need divine connection, you must be faithful to the profession of faith you made when you gave your life to Christ. Our calling, like that of Abraham the father of faith, is a call unto holiness (Genesis 17:1, 1st Thessalonians 4:7). Abraham did not compromise his calling by going back to the world; there is nothing for you there. To be divinely connected, you need to add virtue and brotherly kindness to your faith, because faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Renew your relationship with the Lord and let holiness become your watchword. Endeavour to please Him in all your ways just as the early Church did, and you will then experience divine connection.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Remembrance is the process of recalling the past or being able to bring to the fore of one’s mind an awareness of someone or something. Although it is not in the nature or character of God to forget anything like we humans do (because He is the All-knowing God), the word “remember” is used in relation to God in several passage of the Bible to connote the reception of special attention from Him. When God remembers a person for good, that person’s situation is transformed immediately. This is the reason why several people in the Bible cried to God to remember them. The Lord will hear your cry for remembrance today in Jesus’ Name.

In Judges 16:28, Samson cried “Lord God, remember me”, and the Lord answered him immediately. In Nehemiah 13:14, Nehemiah also cried, “Remember me, O God”. When King Hezekiah was faced with death, He cried to God, “Remember how I walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart” (Isaiah 38:3). Furthermore, Jeremiah cried unto God to remember His covenant with Israel (Jeremiah 14:21). In all these cases of people calling unto God for remembrance, He responded favourably and intervened in their situations. I pray that God will remember you for good and intervene in your situation today in Jesus’ Name.

When God remembers you, He will immediately put an end to everything that is working against your peace, just as He did for Noah when He commanded the flood waters to cease (Genesis 8:1). When God remembers you, He will deliver you from all your troubles as He did for Lot and his family in Genesis 19:29. He will also put an end to barrenness and open your womb for fruitfulness, just as He did for Rachel and Hannah (Genesis 30:22, 1st Samuel 1:19). By the grace of God, we have heard several heart-warming testimonies in the Redeemed Christian Church of God about what happens when God remembers His people for good after years of suffering, sorrow and pain. Barrenness of over twenty years has been terminated, incurable disease has been healed, mental illnesses have been cured, captives have been delivered, generational curses have been cancelled, poverty has been terminated and destinies have been restored. I remember several previously barren women whom God remembered and blessed with twins and triplets. God remembered a certain lady who still used to wet her bed at over thirty years of age, and the bedwetting stopped instantly. Just as Jesus healed the impotent man after 38 years of being at the pool side (John 5), we have heard testimonies of wicked embargoes on marriage being lifted even after attaining 50 years of age. God will remember you for good and give special attention to your case in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The original intention and will of God for mankind is that we would maintain our innocence while still exercising our free will to make decisions in total obedience to His word. His desire is for us to make decisions in conscious and deliberate submission to His authority, not out of ignorance but in innocence. Life involves making decisions at different levels and under various circumstances. To help us navigate our way through life successfully, the Scripture offers us guidance on how we should make decisions, while providing examples of good and bad decisions and their consequences. Relying on the human knowledge of good and evil motivates people to reason things out and arrive at seemingly good decisions that are based on prevailing culture, level of intelligence and personal preferences, without any serious consideration for obedience to the will of God. The truth is, decision-making is the most vital aspect of life because the quality of a person’s decisions determines the level of success or failure he or she attains.

The Bible narrates some classical examples of bad decisions made over the ages and their consequences. The most harmful of these is found in Genesis 3:6:
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof…”
This was the decision that got the whole of humanity into trouble, but thank God for Jesus who redeemed us by His Blood. Another example is Esau who chose to sell his birth right for bread and pottage, and he lost it forever. Samson also made bad choices, including his decision to mingle with strange women, which destroyed his life, made him lose his power and caused him to die in the camp of his enemies (Judges 16:1). Furthermore, in 1st Samuel 13:8-9, King Saul’s decision to offer the required burnt offering in the absence of Prophet Samuel made him lose everything. The Lord will restore everything you have lost today in Jesus’ Name.

The Bible also contains examples of those who made good decisions. Joseph refused the sexual advances of his master’s wife, and God ensured that his dreams came to pass (Genesis 39:7-9). In Ruth 1:15-16, against all odds, Ruth decided to stay with Naomi, her mother-in-law, and the God of Israel settled her. She became the great grandmother of King David, and our Lord Jesus Christ later came out of her lineage. I pray that you will not make the wrong decisions that will change the course of your life for evil in the mighty Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Are you presently at any of life’s crossroads? God expects that your decisions would be the end-result of a process of reflection on the available choices before you, informed and sustained by a concern to please Him. You therefore need guidance from the Holy Spirit before making up your mind on any issue, especially the difficult ones. Our loving Father has provided assistance for our decision-making process through the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, individuals and the natural world around us. In Joshua chapter 24, the All-knowing God knew that the Israelite's would soon have to make the conscious decision of either serving Him or the gods of the nations around them. He therefore presented His case on why they should serve Him by reminding them of how He brought Abraham their father out of his native land, across the river, into the Promised Land. He further recounted how He delivered them from slavery in Egypt and took them through the wilderness with miracles, signs and wonders attending every aspect of their journey. The Lord then announced to them that if they found it difficult to serve Him wholeheartedly after everything He had done for them, they were free to choose whom they would serve. However, Joshua immediately answered for himself that he and his family would serve the Lord.

Why would God give His people the option of serving other gods? The truth of the matter is, our God’s leadership is not authoritarian or forceful. He will tell you His rules and regulations, and make His position on issues very clear. He will also reveal what awaits you in the future based on the choices you make today. You can be sure that He will allow you to have your way, and He will also give you the opportunity to exercise your free will. However, you must be ready to accept the repercussions of your choices and take responsibility for your actions at the end of it all. If you are a good student of the Bible, you will observe that each time anyone acted contrary to God’s word; they always suffered terribly for it. For example, contrary to God’s warning, Israel decided to have a king instead of letting God lead them through His prophets. They turned deaf ears to God’s warning in 1st Samuel 8:18 and they suffered terribly for it in the hands of Solomon and the succeeding kings. Rather than act in defiance to God’s instructions, it is always better to heed His counsel. Be ready to reason with God in His word and through prayers, and you will be rewarded with divine direction that will lead to your breakthrough (Isaiah 1:18).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In the physical realm, sensitivity can be viewed from the perspective of a deep feeling of love and compassion for a person, which usually translates to a commensurate level of understanding for that person’s needs, leading to appropriate actions being taken in that person’s interest. In the spiritual realm however, sensitivity is a quality of life generated by the spirit of God. It the ability to perceive and respond to the call of God or the spiritual demands of the moment. A lack of spiritual sensitivity affects the physical and spiritual wellbeing of God’s children and must be avoided at all costs. Beginning from today, your spiritual antennae will begin to receive heavenly signals in the Name of Jesus. Concerning spiritual sensitivity, 1st Corinthians 2:14 says,
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
From this verse, we understand that spiritual sensitivity is a grace that comes from living under the control of the Holy Spirit. Are you spiritually sensitive?

In Isaiah 11:3b, the Holy Spirit painted a picture of our spiritual nature, which is fashioned after Christ, saying:
“…and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ manifested this nature in John 4:17-19 and in several other passages of the gospels. Because we are fashioned after Him, we ought to walk as He walked.  Spiritual sensitivity was Jesus’ lifestyle, and so, any Christian that is not spiritually sensitive will not walk in the reality of the abundant life that he or she possesses. Without spiritual sensitivity, a person is bound to depend on suspicion, natural intelligence, educational awareness and the natural senses. These are all deficient in receiving the things of God. Without spiritual sensitivity, Abraham would have missed his blessing and the opportunity to save Lot and his family from destruction (Genesis 18:1-33), Samson’s parents would have missed a wonderful chance of a lifetime (Judge 13:3-25), and the great Prophet Samuel would have anointed the wrong person as king over Israel (1st Samuel 16:4-13). When decisions are made based on physical evidence alone, no matter how incontrovertible the evidence may seem, there is still always the possibility of miscarriage of Justice. This has wrongly sent people to prison and even death. I pray that your spiritual sensitivity will become sharpened today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jehovah-Nissi is a name of the Lord that has its roots in Exodus 17:15. After Joshua and the Israelites had defeated the Amalekites at Rephidim, Moses erected an altar to commemorate this victory and He called it “Jehovah-Nissi”, which means “Yahweh is my banner”. In other words, he was saying “the Lord is my banner of victory.” This name is a call to God’s people to rally around God as an army gathers around its banner, because God is the One who leads us to victory. To understand the significance of the name Jehovah-Nissi, we need to remind ourselves that the devil is constantly waging spiritual battles against us. While the forces of darkness vigorously pursue newly converted Christians in order to obstruct their spiritual progress, they are also on the look-out for any opportunity to pull mature Christians down. However, in spite of these aggressive attacks of the enemy, God expects us to rejoice, knowing fully well that although the battle may be fierce, the Lord of hosts and the Captain of our salvation is in our midst leading the charge against the enemy’s camp. In Matthew 28:20 He said:
“…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

As Jehovah-Nissi, God is concerned about the devil’s roars and attempts to harass and intimidate His children (1st Peter 5:. To assure and comfort our hearts, His attitude towards this ploy of the enemy was manifested in Judges 15:14:
“And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him,  and the cords that were upon his arms became as flex that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.”
The enemy’s roars and shouts against us always trigger a response from the Holy Spirit living inside us. No wonder Isaiah 59:19b says,
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
God has zero tolerance for the enemy’s harassments and threats against His children, whom He bought with the precious Blood of His Son, Jesus. With this understanding, you will realise that our God is the greatest ally you can have in the battle of life. The Almighty God is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our Banner, and He is the Lord of hosts. Therefore, the battle is not yours but His. Always be conscious of the reality of the Lord as Jehovah-Nissi in your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“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.”
Ephesians 6:12
The above scripture clearly shows us that Satan and his fallen angels are organised into a well-coordinated army that is skillful in carrying out devastating attacks on their victims. We must therefore be strategic and confront them from a position of knowledge and strength. Our warfare as Christians is a fight of faith that is purely restricted to the spiritual realm. Although our Spiritual warfare is personal, we must not engage in it on the basis of our individual effort or strength. We must continually channel the strength of God and the victory we have through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus against the forces of darkness for as long as we live. Our fight of faith calls for courage to withstand dreadful circumstances, determination to overcome at all costs and persistent prayers. It also calls for loyalty to fight under the banner of Christ, the Lord of hosts, standing in His strength and using the weapons He has provided.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”
2nd Corinthians 10:3-4
The Holy Spirit inspired these verses of scripture to help us have a good understanding of the true nature of spiritual warfare and the potency of our God-ordained weapons, even though they may appear ordinary to many. We are commanded in Ephesians 6:11&13 to “put on” and “take on” the whole armour of God. What makes up the complete armour of God? According to Ephesians 6:10-18, the number one component of this armour is Truth, which refers to Jesus Himself (John 14:6). Next is holiness and righteousness, and then comes the gospel of peace, faith in God, salvation, the word of God, persistent prayers, and finally, watching and perseverance. The Bible assures us that when these weapons are complete, they are effective in pulling down the stronghold of the devil, casting down every imagination of the enemy that is contrary to the purpose of God, and bringing into captivity every thought and device to the obedience of Christ. Our duty is to ensure that we put on the whole armour of God and use it to resist the kingdom of darkness. We know we are victorious because the Lord of hosts Himself has already perfected our victory.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Spiritual warfare is the fight of resistance and enforcement against the forces of evil (John 10:10). Although not discernible to a lot of people, this is a constant on-going occurrence in the realm of the spirit (Luke 10:18). Spiritual warfare has its origin in the rebellion of Satan and his allied angels against God (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:7-9). Satan is the prince of this world, and he leads a coalition of forces against God and anything connected to His purpose on earth. It is therefore important to note that mankind is the target of his attacks, regardless of religious affiliation, academic qualification, gender, age, culture or tribe. For this reason Revelation 12:12 says,
“…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath…”
Many people do not accept this truth, and so they fall prey to the tricks of the enemy to make them oblivious to his activities. When people begin to seek for natural or scientific solutions to a spiritual problem, it is bound to end in total failure. However, all thanks be to God, because the Lord Jesus has defeated and destroyed the devil through His death and resurrection. As a child of God, your responsibility is to enforce the victory won by Christ and utilise the enormous power He has vested in you against the tricks of Satan and his demonic angels (Ephesians 1:18-23).  If you do not recognise who you are as a child of God and enforce your position in Christ against these evil forces, they will end up robbing you of what is rightfully yours.

As Christians, we are involved in a fight of faith to live in the reality of the victory that Christ has won and given to us over the devil, the world system and the flesh (Hebrews 2:14-15, 1st John 5:4, Galatians 5:24). Satan deploys his attacks on Christians from two major fronts. He empowers the world system to attack and work against Christians externally through persecution, deception and seduction. He also attacks us internally by using the weaknesses of the natural body we currently possess to try to frustrate our commitment to serving God fully. The primary focus of the devil’s strategy is to entice us into sin, so as to break our fellowship with God. Jesus is our perfect example. He came into this world to destroy the works of the devil and to show us how to live above sin. He went through trials and temptation like we are facing today and yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He therefore expects us to be determined to resist sin, no matter the cost. Our loving and compassionate Father has perfected the mechanism to assist us to triumph over the wicked attacks of the devil, but He expects us to resist the temptation to sin with everything we have and not to fall prey to the antics of the devil like weaklings (1st Corinthians 10:13).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, we will be concluding our reflection on revival by considering the multiple blessings that it brings. After a people have sincerely repented of their sins, turned from their evil ways to the way of righteousness and humbled themselves in prayer, God always responds by showing mercy and sending revival to them. Revival does not only mean the salvation of souls; there are certain other blessings that always accompany it also. When revival comes, not only will people be converted to Christ, the whole quality of life in the immediate community, surrounding environment or even the nation at large will be improved. As a result of revival, ungodly and unfriendly cultural practices are abandoned and idolatrous cultural practices are forsaken. I have often shared this testimony that before the arrival of our church at the site of the Redemption Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, it used to be the den of armed robbers, members of the occult and dangerous animals. The neighbouring communities were largely traditionalist and exposed to little or no Christian influence. The revival that started when we arrived at this site immediately turned the Redemption Camp to a place of refuge for our immediate neighbours and travelers on the expressway. By the grace of God, the Redemption Camp has now gained worldwide recognition as a place of refuge to all nations of the world. When revival comes, heaven comes down to earth and supernatural things begin to happen among men.

Brethren, the anger of the Lord pending against unrepentant sinners is not endurable (Psalm 85:4-6, Hebrews 10:31).  Only a fool will challenge God to a fight or wait for Him to execute His judgement (Isaiah 45:9). Only revival can restore the genuine joy of salvation that material things of life cannot produce (Revelations 3:17-18). Revival also causes recognition of the need to effect character change for good, a rejection of one’s sinful lifestyle, and a renewed sense of responsibility. A revived soul immediately feels the need to share his or her testimony with others who are still living in sin and are desperately in need of the saving power of the gospel. A truly revived person begins to hunger and thirst for the increase knowledge of God’s word and for fellowship with God in holiness and righteousness (Psalm 42:1-2). True revival is contagious. The new nature of holiness, peace and joy that revival brings spread from individuals to the family, the Church of God, the community and the nation at large. This automatically leads to a great increase in soul-winning, reduced criminal activities, a peaceful society, abolition of ungodly laws, promotion of ideas that lead to real growth and sustained development. True revival turns the average human society to a model of heaven on earth. 
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In the past two days, we have examined what causes the need for revival and the divine template God has established for obtaining revival from heaven. The question we will be considering today is this: Does the Church of the 21st century need revival? I strongly believe the answer to this question is yes. You may wonder why I believe so. When you critically look around you with the eyes of the spirit, you will observe several things that have resulted in the Church falling short of the glory of God in this modern generation. You will also observe that it is increasingly becoming difficult to uphold biblical principles in the public arena in many nations of the world, especially in the western world. The mention of the Bible, reading of any portion of Scripture, and the observance of devotional prayers are outlawed in academic institutions at all levels, in offices, and in other public places in some nations that were previously proud to be identified as Christian nations just few years ago. The Church has consequently toned down the commandments of God and stepped down Bible doctrines in many places whenever it is opposed by the acceptable culture and popular opinion of the people. The church, including some very big denominations, has clearly departed from biblical doctrine on issues relating to salvation, mercy-killing, marriage, divorce, remarriage, abortion, homosexuality and many more issues.

As seen in Ezekiel 3:17, in every generation, God is always seeking for watchmen who will speak His mind to the people, irrespective of the circumstances, warning them against doing things that are contrary to His will. Many Christians, including prominent Christian leaders, have openly abdicated this responsibility in public places because of the fear of losing face. If we will please God, we must stand firm in the sound teaching of His word (Ezekiel 3:17-21). This is where the problem lies: many preachers and teachers of the word are no longer warning the Church against apostasy and wickedness because of the fear of losing “valuable” members. Our Lord Jesus Christ sent messages of warning to the seven Churches in Asia, and we also must do the same today (Revelations 2-3). We must stand firm on genuine repentance as demanded and witnessed in Proverbs 28:13, Acts 3:19, 2nd Samuel 12:13 and Psalm 51:3-4. Note that repentance is not limited to unbelievers alone; every sincere child of God will always engage in self-examination to avoid the presence of unconfessed sins in their lives (1st John 2:1-11). Finally, warring brethren must be reconciled in line with Matthew 5:21-24 and Psalm 133:1-3. As you seek God’s face for revival today, He will answer you by fire in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In yesterday’s devotional, we considered the signs through which the need for revival can be identified. Today, we will be reflecting on how to experience revival. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the benevolent God clearly spells out the actions that are required to bring down revival from heaven. We must first acknowledge God’s love and His willingness to ignite the fire of revival conveyed through this verse of Scripture. The expression “My people, who are called by my name” was beautifully used by God to reveal His faithfulness and determination to identify with His children in all circumstances. Even though He hates sin, He loves His people so much that He cannot deny them, even in their fallen and backslidden state. Because He paid the ultimate price of shedding His precious Blood to purchase and redeem us from destruction, He will always stand by us, whatever it takes. All He requires of us when we err is repentance and a commitment to live holy. He is always willing to ignite His fresh fire in our hearts. What a loving Father we have!

God’s willingness to ignite the fire of revival as soon as we fulfil the necessary conditions is a wonderful blessing to His children. This makes bringing down revival easy. To complete the process of obtaining revival, those who have been chosen to be God’s people must cease from living a life of sin, turn away from their proud self-centeredness, pray to the Lord, and yield their desires in life to His word. Only then will He grant revival from heaven. The specific phrases and words used in 2nd Chronicles 7:14, such as “humble themselves”, “pray”, “seek His face”, “turn from their wicked ways”, all clearly describe the different aspects of heartfelt repentance and prayer required to bring down revival. The Lord said He would send revival (healing their land) only after the two steps of repentance and prayer have been observed. This healing includes physical and spiritual healing, deliverance from drought and pestilence, as well as the return of captives and exiles to their rightful place of rest. Note that revival is not complete without the restoration of God’s people to their true place of fellowship and relationship with God. You can bring down revival when you engage in prayers of penitence as Daniel did in Daniel 9:4-6. Revival comes when instead of blaming God for your own errors, you admit your mistakes and wrongdoings, and express a willingness to change (Daniel 9:7-8, James 1:13-15). Revival will only come when we persist in the place of prayer, asking God for mercy. He will always honour His word and send His revival.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From God’s perspective, revival is a state of restoration of spiritual interest which has suffered setback or has been abandoned by God’s people. It connotes renewal or the return to original status from a state of coma or disuse. Based on the use of this term in some portions of Scripture, it is evident that it also means to literally bring back to life from the dead (1st Kings 17:22, 2nd Kings 13:21). I therefore speak the word of authority to everything that is in a state of coma, and everything that is partially or completely dead in your life: receive complete revival by the power of resurrection in Jesus’ Name. In Revelation chapter 2 and 3, the description of the spiritual state of most of the seven churches in Asia is indicative of spiritual conditions that call for revival. May the Good Lord heal and completely revive everyone reading this that may be in a backslidden state in Jesus’ Name.

The backsliding of a Christian does not just happen in one day. Rather, it is a gradual process that involves progressive character erosion. The end result is what people see, and then they begin to ask, when did this fellow become like this? This will not be your story in Jesus’ Name. For that not to be your story, you need to be familiar with and sensitive to the conditions and circumstances that call for revival, in order to kick-start one whenever necessary. There are many overt signs that make revival necessary in a person’s life. A child of God needs revival whenever he or she begins to experience spiritual dryness. Whenever a child of God finds himself or herself in physical or spiritual servitude, as it happened to the Israelites in Judges 3:12-14, It is time for revival. When sinful acts and wickedness such as those recorded in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 become part of the daily lifestyle of a Christian, he or she urgently needs revival. Whenever you discover that you have lost your peace, joy and divine provision, just as it happened to the Israelites in Judges 6:1-6, revival is desperately needed. Also, whenever a child of God falls into a state of self-doubt or uncertainty and he or she begins to feel insecure, as seen in Numbers 13:26-33, this is an obvious sign that revival is needed. Revival is always preceded by sober reflection and a repentant heart, followed by earnest prayers to God for revival. Do you need revival today? Reach out to God, and He will send His fresh fire into your heart.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our Heavenly Father has access to all the secret things of life, and He may choose to share some of these secrets with any of His children. One reason why He does this is to provide information that will help in the fulfilment of our destinies. He also reveals secrets to help us avert pending calamity. Daniel’s experience in Daniel 9:1-3; 20-22 reveals some of the God-ordained means of accessing hidden secrets that are vital to success in life. In the place of prayer and studying God’s word, Daniel gained access to secrets vital to the liberation of his people. May you receive access to hidden secrets that will accelerate this fulfilment of your destiny today in Jesus’ Name.

A lady once visited me in the office to complain about her inability to attract a suitor in marriage, and she was advancing in age. The Lord immediately revealed the source of her problem to me, and I told her to go and announce to her family members including her mother that anyone behind her problem would die within seven days, if the person refused to repent. A few days later, this lady came back to see me with her mother, who angrily demanded to know why I sent her daughter to pass a death sentence on her. I answered her that I did not pass a death sentence on her or on anyone else for that matter, but that my Daddy clearly said that anyone behind her daughter’s inability to marry would die within seven days unless he or she chose to repent. This elderly woman then asked her daughter to excuse us for a private discussion. She asked me if what I said was the truth, and I told her in clear terms that this person would surely die within seven days unless he or she put an end to the wickedness against this lady. She then confessed to me that her daughter was the only one taking care of her, and so she was afraid that she would be abandoned if her daughter were to get married, which is why she did not want to let her daughter get married. She then immediately promised to let her go. A few weeks later, this lady met a suitor and got married thereafter. I decree that God will release hidden secrets that will accelerate the fulfilment of your destiny today in Jesus’ Name.

There are two main sources of knowledge: sense and revelation. Many people operate at the level of sensual knowledge and are ignorant of the other. Sensual knowledge is available through formal or informal learning. While sensual knowledge is earthly, revelation knowledge is supernatural and comes only from God. Sensual knowledge is limited, sometimes inaccurate and often leads to uncertainty, but revelation knowledge brings assurance, confidence and peace. Do you have access to revelation knowledge?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

God Almighty has called all of mankind to a life of diligence. After He created Adam, He charged him to keep and diligently dress the beautiful garden He bequeathed to him (Genesis 2:15). The Almighty indeed rewards diligence. In Proverbs 10:4, He enlightens us on the reward that awaits diligent people:
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
The Lord Jesus Christ further drove home this point with the story of a diligent servant to whom his master had entrusted five talents to trade with. He was so diligent that these talents yielded five more talents. When his master returned to take stock of his activities, he was commended and handsomely rewarded. Matthew 25:21 says:
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
In this same parable, we also see the direct opposite of diligence and its consequences. The servant with one talent mischievously kept the talent and refused to trade with it. His reward was the loss of his talent and outright rejection from the joy of his lord. On the other hand, the diligent servant who started with five talents gained the talent that was taken away from the indolent servant, and ended up with eleven talents in all.

Beloved, laziness, in whatever guise it may come, is not a Christian virtue. Every child of God must be diligent. In Proverbs 6:6-8, the Lord instructs the lazy to learn from the ants, saying:
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”
As a matter of fact, from Proverbs 6:10-11, we understand the penury is the outcome of laziness:
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
Proverbs 27:23-27 further highlights the rewards of diligence. The Lord promised to bless the work of your hands, not your idleness. Know for sure that faithful is He who has promised you this, and He will fulfil all He has said if you diligently play your own part (Deuteronomy 28:1-5, Hebrew 10:23).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When the Bible says that we should study to show ourselves approved unto God, it means that we should study the successful heroes of faith who have gone ahead of us and learn their ways (2nd Timothy 2:15, 1st Corinthians 10:11). A very good example of someone who experienced steady and progressive prosperity is Isaac. If you want to have steady and progressive prosperity like Isaac did, wisdom demands that you learn his ways. How did Isaac manage to become so prosperous in the time of famine, so much so that the king and natives of the land in which he sojourned envied him?

The first thing Isaac did to experience steady and progressive prosperity was to enquire of the Lord on where to go during an austere time. Genesis 26:2-6 reveals the outcome of Isaac’s enquiry. The Lord told him not to move an inch from Gerar. This is a great lesson to all those who plan to prosper by the hand of the Lord. Some people would say to you, “Follow your heart”, but based on God’s word, that is folly. Jeremiah 17:9 says,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Isaac did not follow his heart; rather he followed God’s command. He stayed in Gerar. Proverbs 3:5-7 also says,
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
What else did Isaac do that earned him steady and progressive prosperity? He sowed in the land (Genesis 26:12). If you don’t engage your hands in something the Lord can multiply, your expectation of steady and progressive prosperity will end in disappointment.

The Almighty God knows the appropriate time for whatever a man puts forth his hand to do. It is counter-intuitive to sow in the time of famine, but God knew this was the best time for Isaac to cash in on the demand created by scarcity. This is the reason why God is telling you to seek His face before you embark on that project at hand. Isaac prospered progressively because God was in his business. Have you invited God into your business as the Senior Partner? Does God call the shots in your business transactions or you don’t even involve him at all? Do you pay your tithes? Do you give offerings? Do you honour God with your first fruits? Learn from the life of Isaac today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There is a phrase commonly used throughout the whole Bible which should serve as comfort to all Christian pilgrims, particularly when they are passing through situations that are not so pleasant. That phrase is the title of today’s devotional – “It came to pass”. To someone reading this devotional today, all your challenges shall pass in Jesus’ Name. The Lord Jesus Christ did not promise us that the Christian walk would be a walk in the park. He actually promised us persecutions and trials as part of the Christian experience (John 16:33, Mark 10:30). He even said in Matthew 10:22 that a time will come when we will be hated of all men. Be aware that this time is fast approaching. What is expected of us is endurance and long-suffering. As God would have it, long-suffering is part of the fruit of the Spirit, which is made manifest in our lives as we daily walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Know for sure that from the inception of the Christian faith, believers in Christ have always faced trials of cruel mocking, scourging, imprisonment and even death. Nevertheless, be encouraged by the words of Apostle Peter to some brethren who were also going through trials and persecutions:
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trials of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
1st Peter 1:6-7
Just as the trying periods of the heroes of faith who have gone ahead of you “came to pass”, yours also will come to pass. Let your gaze be set on the reward that is ahead of you, which the Holy Spirit spoke of in James 1:12, saying;
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
In Revelations 22:12-14, the Lord also spoke of the reward we will receive, having endured unpleasant situations in this world. Beloved, the Lover of your soul, Jesus, will soon appear; be of good cheer therefore because all your trials of faith will soon be over. Just make sure you do not deny the faith. Don’t be like Demas who loved this present world and forsook the Lord (2nd Timothy 4:10). May the Lord keep you holy till His appearing in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The faith of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 can best be described as practical faith. They cried to Jesus for healing and He told them to go and show themselves to the priests to certify their cleansing. These lepers immediately proceeded as Jesus directed, even though the physical manifestation of their cleansing was not apparent. This is a classical demonstration of faith. Whether they came back to say “Thank you” to Jesus or not is another subject of discussion. For you to better understand the practical faith demonstrated by these lepers, you need to read Leviticus chapter 14 which described the painstaking process of certifying the cleansing of lepers. There are other examples of practical faith which can teach us some vital lessons of faith that works. Take for instance the servants of the wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-9). These servants were commanded by Jesus Christ to take the water they had put in water pots by themselves to the master of ceremony as wine to be served to guests. It took practical faith for them to obey this instruction. The fact that they knew all about the water that was poured into the water pots should have denied them the faith that was needed to receive this miracle of supernatural provision. However, they obeyed because they remembered the instruction of Jesus’ mother when she said to them in John 2:5b:
“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”

Beloved, do you desire a miracle? You need to demonstrate the practical faith that exalts the Almighty God. The lepers in today’s story went ahead to show themselves to the priests because the Great Healer told them to do so. What is the Lord telling you to do so that you can have your financial breakthrough? Are you doing it? Are you paying your tithes and offering? Are you honouring God with your first fruits and engaging in other forms of continuous giving (Luke 6:38)? The Bible also says that we should pray without ceasing because it is when we ask that we will demonstrate our faith in God who gave these instructions, and He honours our faith by doing what only He can do in our lives. There are many times the Almighty God would ask me to do things that are very ridiculous by human standards, but I have learnt that unless I keep on doing the ridiculous, there is no way I can experience the miraculous which my knowledge of mathematics can never do for me. This is why I have been living a miraculous life daily, and it shall continue to be so till I see my Master in glory. My prayer is that the practical faith that you need to experience the miraculous will be given to you today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whether you believe it or not, the verdict of God is irrevocable: all men have sinned and come short of His glory (Romans 3:23). To escape the everlasting punishment that is the consequence of the verdict, there is the need to cry to God for mercy, obtain forgiveness and live a life of righteousness. Some may say, “I want to enjoy my life the way I deem fit; don’t upset me with your message of doom.” May I further announce to you that there is a limited amount of time for you to cry to God for mercy on account of your sins and be heard. The Bible speaks of this limitation in Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:”
Your cry for mercy can only be heard while you are still alive on earth. You can only die once, and immediately after you die you will come face to face with God’s judgement. At this point you can no longer cry for mercy, and there will be no second chance. For this reason, the Lord is warning you today against crying for mercy belatedly.

The rich man in Luke 16:19-26 is an example of someone who belatedly cried for mercy. His cries came after he had closed his eyes in death. Hear his plea to Abraham in Luke 16:23-24
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
Alas, it was too late. The rich man’s cries could have been heard if they had been expressed while he was still alive, but he ignored the warnings of God sent through His messengers. On the other hand, the publican in Luke 18:9-14 is a good example of someone who cried for mercy while he could still be heard. The cry for mercy of the thief at Jesus’ side on the cross also came just in the nick of time, before he gave up the ghost. Beloved, 2 Corinthians 6:2 is food for thought that I want you to consider. If you have never asked God to forgive your sins, do it now for the salvation of your soul. I can assure you that it is either you cry for mercy here and obtain salvation, which is timely, or you will cry for mercy in the hereafter, which will be too late.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Life can be very turbulent indeed, but thank God there is a Stiller of Storms, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The wise will therefore anchor their life on Him (Hebrews 6:19). One truth is that at one point or the other in the course of life, everyone will experience a storm. It is therefore wise to prepare for storms by giving heed to what the word of God teaches about them. Here is what the Stiller of Storms says about storms in Matthew 7:24-25:
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
In the above verses of Scripture, the Stiller of Storms likens His teachings to the power that stabilizes a structure battered by storms. A wise man will therefore take these teachings very seriously. Although the word of God is powerful, for it to work for you, you must be a doer of the word. James 1:22 says,
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

The story in Mark 4:35-41 reveals Jesus Christ as the Stiller of Storms. He was travelling in a ship with His disciples when a great storm arose, putting the ship and its occupants in jeopardy. Meanwhile, even in the midst of this storm, Jesus Christ was fast asleep, and the frightened disciples hurriedly woke Him up. When He awoke, He first rebuked the wind and then commanded peace to reign. In obedience to Him, the wind ceased and the Bible reports that there was immediately a great calm (Mark 4:39). After restoring calm, He rebuked His disciples for being fearful and faithless. Hear what the scripture says in Mark 4:41:
“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Beloved, what kind of storm are you currently facing? I am using this opportunity to introduce to you that same Jesus, the Stiller of storms. He can still that storm raging in your life, be it sickness, poverty, failure or disappointment of a great magnitude. Only believe, and you will see the glory of God. I advise you to invite Jesus Christ into your life if you have not done so before. He is eager to still your storms today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Fashion is based on culture, and so people’s taste for fashion differs from one culture to another. Every form of culture and its attendant fashion must be subjected to the light of God’s word because they are all creations of mankind. 1 Corinthians 7:31 reminds us that the fashion of this world is transient. Consider the fact that most things that were in vogue ten or twenty years ago are no longer desired today, and yet some people shipwrecked their faith while pursuing them. As Christian pilgrims, transient things should not enslave us. Every by-product of culture that is not in alignment with the tenets of God’s word is dangerous and should therefore be avoided.

1 John 2:15-17 warns us against being obsessed with fashion. The Christian life is a life of modesty and we must not lose sight of this for anything. Philippians 4:5 says,
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
It is unfortunate that some teachers now teach that moderation is relative. They teach that what is moderation to one person based on his or her level of wealth might not be moderate to some other persons. Such teachers and those seduced by their teachings choose to ignore that when the Holy Spirit said we should be moderate, He added the clause that our moderation should be apparent to all men and not just to those who belong to our class of wealth. The Holy Spirit also teaches us to be content with whatever we have (Hebrews 13:5). Furthermore, the Lord said we should beware of covetousness, because a person’s life does not depend on the abundance or variety of goods he or she possesses (Luke 12:15). Covetousness enslaves people and drives them into being obsessed with fashion. Thankfully, the cure for this is given in 1st Timothy 6:17-18 which says:
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,”
The good thing about the above admonition is that when you have material possessions and you do good with them by distributing to the needy, there is no way these possessions will intoxicate you to the level of abuse. Sister, what are you doing with a thousand pairs of shoes? They should be distributed to those in need, particularly those of the household of faith. If you are a hoarder of things, or you are enslaved to fashion, goodliness with contentment is the panacea prescribed by the Holy Spirit for your deliverance (1st Timothy 6:6-. Willingly submit yourself to His remedy, and you will be free.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

John 1:1 describes the Word of God as God himself. This implies that since God is the Almighty, the Word of God is also Almighty. It is therefore dangerous to trivialize the Word of God. No wonder Psalm 138:2 says,
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
In light of this scripture, and considering the immense power embedded in the Name of Jesus, can you then imagine how powerful the word of God truly is? The power in the word of God was demonstrated at the creation of the world. To therefore understand the power in God’s word, just take a look at the universe around you. The Almighty God spoke the word and the word produced the entire universe. Psalm 148:3-5,
“Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.”

You may want to ask: what can the word do for me? Well, for one thing, the word can heal you. In Matthew 8:5-13, there is the story of a centurion who begged Jesus Christ to heal his servant, and Jesus agreed to go with him to his house to heal his servant. However, the centurion demonstrated his understanding of the power in the spoken word, particularly that of the Almighty God. In Matthew 8:8 He profoundly said,
“…Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”
In responses to this demonstration of faith in the power of God’s word, Jesus Christ released the word and the required healing occurred. Matthew 8:13 says,
“And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”
From this example, it is obvious that space and time are not a limitation to the power in God’s word. It does not matter where you are or how far gone the situation is; the word of God can touch you right where you are. All you need to do is believe (Mark 9:23). I therefore release the word of God to you today: “Be healed of every infirmity that ails you now, because the stripes of Jesus have set you free from that infirmity.” Beloved, believe in the power of God’s word today, and it will make you triumph over every situation of life. It is well with you.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Name of Jesus is infused with so much power that it can deliver from every form of satanic bondage. The devil’s weapon of choice to lead men into bondage is temptation, but the use of the Name of Jesus in the place of prayer is able to deliver from this weapon of the enemy. Since the Lord has given us the go-ahead to pray in His Name for anything we need, deliverance from temptation falls under the category of things we can ask for, and we will surely be delivered if we do (John 14:14). Confirming this truth, our Lord Jesus Christ taught the disciples to pray against temptation (Matthew 6:9-13), Furthermore, at the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord instructed His three closest disciples to put into practice what He had taught them on prayer in order to overcome temptation. In Matthew 26:41, He said to them,
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

There are many lessons we can learn from Matthew 26:37-41, one of which is that temptation is a reality of life. The tempter has been at work right from the Garden of Eden and he has not retired. Another lesson is that the tempter and his temptations are no respecters of any person; they did not even spare Jesus Christ. The Bible in Luke 4:1-2a says
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil.”
It is noteworthy that although Jesus Christ was full of the Holy Ghost, the devil still tempted Him. Thank God He defeated the tempter! I pray that you will not be overcome by the tempter in Jesus’ Name. Every believer in Christ should therefore take the Lord’s injunction to watch and pray against temptations very seriously. We can overcome temptation if we would pray against it in the Name of Jesus. We must be prepared to shield ourselves against the wiles of the tempter. Ordinary church members, workers, ministers and pastors are all targets of the tempter. Learn from the experience of the disciples. Shortly after Jesus Christ instructed them to watch and pray, temptation indeed came. Unfortunately, they were all asleep, and they could not resist the urge to run away after their Master was arrested. One of the only two disciples who managed to follow closely behind even denied the Master (John 18:15-17). Pray that the Lord will give you victory over any temptation that comes your way in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A Adeboye.

A careful study of the miracles recorded in the Bible will reveal some truths to the discerning. Such a study will reveal that miracles are supernatural and that they are an intervention of God in the affairs of men. This study will also reveal that miracles happen only when God deems it necessary. In other words, God divinely intervenes when the ability of man fails and He wants to show His Almightiness. God does not waste His divine intervention wherever He has given man the enablement to act. For example, He stopped sending manna to the children of Israel the moment they got settled in the Promised Land. They had to cultivate and eat from the land, which was flowing with milk and honey. Joshua 5:12 says,
“And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canna that year.”
The truth of the matter is that although God was still capable of sending the manna, He stopped sending it because there was no need for it anymore. He expected His children as His image carriers and co-creators with him to cultivate the land. Also, in Exodus 14:15-16, even though the Lord was willing and ready to intervene for the salvation of Israel at the Red Sea, He told Moses to play his part. If a child of God fails to understand this principle, it can cause him or her untold pain and disappointment due to failure to act where he or she ought to.

Having established these truths, we must also realise that the ability to work miracles is like a stamp or approval given by God to His chosen human vessels. In John 11:39-45, Jesus called for His Father’s intervention in the case of Lazarus who was dead. Why did He call on the Father to intervene? John 11:42 says,
“And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Also, in Hebrews 2:4, “divers’ miracles” is listed as one of those supernatural things God uses to bear witness to the message of His chosen vessels. Without this witness, our message will be like that of mere orators and philosophers. Jesus needed miracles to establish His mission, and so do we. Let us therefore thirst for this gift to glorify the Almighty God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We are mandated in Proverbs 27:23 to diligently look after our flock. The succeeding verses outline the great rewards that accrue from doing this. Proverbs 27:26-27 says,
“The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the Food of thy household and for the maintenance for thy maidens,”
There is something striking about these verses of Scripture. If taking care of animals attracts so much reward, how much more would we be rewarded when we heed God’s commandment to care for our children? Unknown to many people, one of the reasons why God decided to bless Abraham so much was Abraham’s determination to transfer his worship, fear and obedience of the Almighty to his children. Genesis 18:19 says,
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
Abraham was wise enough to see to it that not only his children but all his household servants as well knew the Lord and feared Him.

When we take time to care for our children spiritually and physically, we will be happy for it. The daughter of Pharaoh who adopted Moses made a profound statement, when she handed him over to his mother, which we should take note of. In Exodus 2:9 she said:
“…Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages…”
When we see children as the Lord’s heritage and not as our possessions, we will be careful to train them for God and not for ourselves (Psalm 127:3). When we do this, their original Owner will reward us handsomely. Proverbs 23:24-25 mentions some of these rewards:
“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”
Beloved, only children trained in the fear of the Lord will grow up to be righteous and wise. So, take care of your children by instilling the fear of the Lord in them, and serve as a role model of righteousness of God to them.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.