₦airaland Forum

A lazy man is described in Proverbs 10:4 as someone who works with a slack hand. He or she is also described as slothful in Proverbs 12:24. The Holy Spirit warns us against slothfulness in Romans 12:11:
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
Some people are fervent in spirit but slothful in business, whereas some others are diligent in business but not fervent in spirit. These are lopsided Christian lifestyles which are not profitable. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, we are warned against being lazy. Laziness results in some people becoming so poor that they become fraudsters to make ends meet. Defrauding others is a terrible sin that calls for God’s vengeance (1st Thessalonians 4:6). Lazy Christians take advantage of the generosity of the Christian brotherhood to defraud other diligent Christians. Such lazy ones do not want to work with their hands. Instead, they go from house to house and from church to church to defraud the brethren under several pretexts. Interestingly, this is not a new development in the Body of Christ. Under the guise of awaiting the second coming of the Lord, laziness was so rampant in the Church at Thessalonica, so much so that some believers abandoned their trade and businesses to loaf around. For this reason, Apostle Paul, after his initial epistle, further wrote to this same Church in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10, saying:
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

Today, job scarcity makes it difficult for us to know who is actually lazy among the brethren who loaf around other brethren. In actual fact, it is not the lack of jobs that makes people unemployed; rather, it is pride and the unrealistic dreams of white collar jobs. Some would not do any other job than what they were trained to do in school. These group of Christians should learn from people like Apostle Paul, who in spite of his degree in law engaged in tent making to make ends meet (Acts 18:3, Philippians 3:5). Some people are misguided into thinking that doing manual labour would drain their anointing; this is a lie of the devil. The Lord promised to bless the work of our hands, not our idleness (Deuteronomy 28:12). The story was told of how God directed a young but brilliant Christian to start clearing human waste in a modern way, and he became a millionaire through it. if you are naturally lazy, you need supernatural healing, because laziness is a disease that can kill the body and throw the soul into hell. Therefore, detest it with everything in you. 
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The simple and expected response to the thought-provoking question in today’s topic (Choosing To Die With Your Enemy?) is “no”. In practice however, this may not be the case. It is true that the people of this world can be terribly wicked, so much so that one may find it difficult to let go when the opportunity presents itself to pay them back in their own coin. Nevertheless, this is contrary to the nature of God that we bear as Christians. Speaking to us about this in Romans 12:19, the Holy Spirit says:
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord".
The story of Samson is a good example of someone who chose to die with his enemies. Although he was born a Nazarite to God, he had many flaws in his character, the most lethal of which was vindictiveness. When a person is vindictive, such a fellow will be unforgiving, merciless and absolutely cruel. When his enemies bound him in chains and plucked out his eyes, instead of calling on God for the forgiveness of his sins, he chose to pray to God to avenge his eyes. Judges 16:28 says,
“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenge of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

When one listens to the prayers of some people who ordinarily should be on their face asking God for mercy, one cannot but wonder if they are not praying to die with their enemies. Such people ask God to avenge them of their enemies, when they are the ones whose sins empowered the enemy to buffet them. No doubt, God will honour His word to recompense the evildoer. However, what do you stand to gain if your enemies die as a result of the evil they did to you, but you also die in your sins? That is not a wise thing to do. This is the reason why Romans 12:17 warns us that we should not repay any man evil for evil, but rather, we should overcome evil with good. When someone offends you and you decide not to settle with him or her, what you are indirectly saying is that you are ready to die with that enemy. You put the forgiveness of that fellow on hold and yours will not be released to you either. Mark 11:26 says,
“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
We need to forgive those who wrong us for our own sake because the Scripture is clear that unless we do, we are in danger of preferring to die with our enemies instead of saving ourselves from the judgement to come upon this world.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In several portions of Scriptures, the Holy Spirit admonishes us not to forget several things, especially things that relate to God’s commandments (Proverbs 3:1, Hebrews 13:16). In fact, one of the mandates of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to bring to our remembrance all things the Master has told us, so that we don’t forget them (John 14:26). However, in Philippians 3:7-14, the same Holy Spirit encourages us to forget the things that are behind us. Why does He want us to forget those things? The reason is that if we don’t forget some things of the past, they may prevent us from reaching forth to those things ahead of us. Someone once said that ‘good’ is the enemy of ‘better’. When you hold tenaciously to the good, something better may elude you.

Furthermore, when you refuse to forget the days of your terrible past, you may never be able to live in the reality of the new beginning God has given to you. This is another danger of not forgetting the past. Many people still hold themselves hostage to their past life, long after they have been forgiven by God Almighty. They fail to recognise the terms of the New Testament they are operating under. Here is part of what the Holy Spirit says about the new convent in the Blood of Jesus:
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
Hebrews 8:12
An elderly man was brought to us years ago; he was terribly sick. We witnessed to him about Jesus Christ who forgives sins so that he may confess his sins and be forgiven. Surprisingly, he felt that the magnitude of his sins was too big for pardon. We assured him that this was not the case, and thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit eventually convinced him of what we were saying. His problem was tied to his refusal to forget his terrible past. When an old friend of mine came face to face with me after I had become born again and a pastor, she could not believe that God could use me to heal her ailing child. I assured her that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and all things have become new (2nd Corinthians 5:17). She believed, and her sick child was healed. Today, many people find it difficult to forgive others because they refuse to forget the past misdeeds done to them. This is even more dangerous than refusing to forget your own past misdeeds (Mark 11:25-26). Beloved, keeping the record of your ugly past or that of others may rob you of the joy of forgiveness and the peace that emanates from forgetting the past.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:”
                         Ecclesiastes 7:8a
The devil is not bothered about how well we start our Christians journey, but he is concerned about how we end it. His ultimate desire is for us to end badly. From the above passage of scripture, we can see that it is important to ensure that we have a better ending in life. I pray that you will end well and strong in Jesus’ Name. The secrets to ending well in life are contained in Genesis 17:1 and Hebrews 12:1-8. The first secret is to live a perfect life as demanded by the God of Abraham in Genesis 17:1. To live a perfect life is very simple if we can study those who have successfully gone ahead of us. Father Abraham is a typical example of someone who obeyed God. Beginning from leaving his comfort zone in his father’s house to the point of sacrificing his only son, Isaac, Abraham obeyed God all the way (Genesis 12:1; 22:1-14). In other words, simple childlike obedience to God and His word is a secret for finishing well. This was what enabled my father-in-the-Lord, the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, to finish well. Even when he was grievously wronged by the head of another church, God commanded him to make peace and he obeyed.

Another secret for finishing well is to look up to no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrew 12:2). The Almighty God has given Him to us as a better example than father Abraham. He is the Sinless One who suffered shame for the sinful. Some people try to justify themselves on some wrong actions they take by using the wickedness of other men around them as an excuse. Hebrews 12:1-8 is saying that we should follow the perfect example of Jesus Christ, who was falsely accused and subjected to shame but did not retaliate, because He believed that vengeance belonged to His Father. He did not try to defend Himself in order to fulfil His destiny as our Redeemer. The Holy Spirit encourages us to consider Him who endured such opposition of sinners against Himself, lest we become weary and give up (Hebrews 12:3). In addition, we are encouraged to resist the opposition of sin and strive against it to the point of death. May the good Lord strengthen us in this regard in Jesus’ Name. Beloved the key to living a perfect life for the successful ending of your Christian journey lies in your obedience to the word of God (Psalm 119:9). The devil is trying to derail the Christian faith by faulting the word of God, describing it as a moribund treatise of the Jewish religion. Beware of this if you want to finish well and strong.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are many names used to describe God in the Holy Scriptures. While all His names are important in many ways, the name “Abba” is one of the most significant names of God in understanding how He relates with mankind. The word Abba is an Aramaic word that means “Daddy” in common parlance. It is a loving name that young children use to address their father. This name shows the intimate relationship that exists between father and child, and it conveys the absolute trust children have in their fathers.

It is important to recognise that although all those who believe in the Almighty can call Him God, not all of them can call Him Abba. Who then can refer to the Almighty as Abba? Only those who have the boldness to call Him “Daddy”. These are people who believe in Jesus, the Son of the Living God, and in the work of atonement He has accomplished for all mankind (John 1:12-13). Galatians 4:6 says,
“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
Furthermore, only those who honour God as a child honours his or her daddy can call the Almighty Abba. Malachi 1:6a says,
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour?”
Your attitude towards God as a Father will determine whether you can call Him Abba, because Abba is an appellation that confirms your intimate relationship with the Almighty. You may want to ask: How can I honour God as Abba? You honour Him by keeping His commandments. Some so-called children of God erroneously believe that grace means lawlessness. They couldn’t be further from the truth (Romans 6:1-2)! There are many blessings we receive when we are true children of the Great Abba. In Genesis 17:1, Abba Father declared Himself as the Almighty God. Because He is almighty, He grants His children their requests and daily loads them with blessings (Psalm 3:4, Psalm 68:19). Beloved, do you belong to this loving Daddy? I congratulate you if indeed the Almighty God is also your Abba. However, if your attitude towards Him is that of total disregard for His person or blatant disobedience to His commandments, then you need to change your ways today. You stand to lose a whole lot if you don’t have God as your Father.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

It is confounding that most children of God see it as an obligation to speak out against different forms of abuse in the society, but do not deem it necessary to raise their voices against anyone blaspheming the Lord of the universe or His anointed representatives on earth. The Lord did not mince words in 1st Chronicles 16:22 when He commanded “Touch not My anointed!” As it is today, so it was in the time of the Lord Jesus Christ. Several people spoke out against Him, and some even accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons! See the Lord’s response to this outrageous allegation in Matthew 12:36:
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement.”
Speaking against the Lord’s ministers and their spirit-motivated deeds is a typical way of touching the Lord’s anointed. Beloved, it is idle talk when you attribute an act of the Holy Spirit in a man of God to the power of familiar spirits or charms and rituals of the occult, and this is punishable on the Day of judgement. Can you imagine the sin of idle talk waylaying you on the Day of judgement? If you are guilty of this, you must repent and restitute your ways before it is too late. Never join a multitude to say terrible things against a minister of God when you are not very sure that what they are saying about him or her is true. Take heed to these instructions of God in Exodus 23:2:
“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:”
 
Numbers 12:1-15 narrates how Moses’ two siblings. Miriam and Aaron, spoke out against him because of the Ethiopian woman he had married. Even though Moses actually married an Ethiopian woman, what did that have to do with the assignment or role God asked him to play? The truth of the matter is that Miriam and Aaron were just being jealous and mischievous. God saw through their motives, and He decided to put them in their place and punish them. Miriam became leprous! Beloved, it is not until you cast a man of God into prison before you touch him or her in an evil way. Watch your tongue and stop any move that is detrimental to the assignment given to an anointed man or woman of God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A salient truth that everyone, particularly children of God, should not be ignorant of is that God created everything for a purpose. This is why we call the Almighty God the God of plan and purpose. For example, in Genesis 1:26, when man was to be created, God first declared his purpose before creating him, saying:
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
God will not create what He does not need. Whatever you find on earth has a reason for existing. Not knowing the usefulness of an entity in God’s creation does not negate the reason why God created it. It is just unfortunate that more often than not, we abuse, misuse or completely neglect the use of many things created for one divine purpose or the other. In Luke 19:29-35, even the owner of the donkey did not know the eternal purpose God had for his donkey until the Lord’s message got to him, asking him to release it to fulfil the prophecy concerning it (Zechariah 9:9). This donkey looked ordinary to its owner, but to its Maker it was a unique donkey. You therefore need to look at things through the eyes of the Creator to understand their purpose.

Many years ago, I told some ministers who had just answered the divine call into full-time ministry that whatever skills they had acquired should be kept because all such skills would be needed in the running of the church. These days, there is a tendency for an architect to drop his or her skill set when going into ministry. Such people fail to realise that the Church needs architects to design her buildings. Who would do a better job of this than a Spirit-filled architect? In Exodus 36:1-2, God purposely raised Bazaleel and Aholiab for the purpose of the building of His tabernacle, indeed, every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights (James 1:17)

Beloved, the Lord needs that skill, that gift, that memory and that position you have. I appeal to you to use your talents primarily for God and secondarily as your meal ticket. May the Lord bless you as you bless Him with your divine endowments in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Matthew 14:6-11 narrates the sad story of how unbridled merriment can propel a man to do what he would otherwise not have done. The devil is a cunning old serpent. He knows too well that his chances of success are slim whenever he attacks a child of God directly. He therefore deploys trick to attack people when they are in a vulnerable state, such as when the heart is merry and full of happiness. When you are light-hearted, be watchful so that it does not end in sorrow and regret. This is why the wisdom of God in Proverbs 14:13 teaches us that
“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.”

A quick lesson we should learn from the story in Matthew 14:6-11 is that merriment outside of God will always end up in crisis. King Herod was very sorry for making the promise he had made to his daughter, probably under the influence of alcohol, but it was too late for him to take back the oath he had committed himself to in his light-hearted mood. Another lesson we should learn here is that the enemy looks out for moments when you let your guard down, and then he strikes. Examples of such moments are times when you just won a victory and when you are in high spirits. Happiness often has the same effect as alcohol on the reasoning faculties of man, and so you need to watch it.

There is a type of laughter that is derived from pleasurable but sinful acts. The Bible refers to such laughter as the crackling of thorns under a pot (Ecclesiastes 7:6). The Israelites manifested such laughter and merriment when they made a golden calf for themselves as their god. Exodus 32:6 says:
“And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”   
But for Moses’ intercessory prayers, they would have been wiped off the face of the earth by this foolish act. It is commonly said that “He who laughs last, laughs best.” The last and best laughter is the laughter in eternity with our Maker. Speaking about this laughter, Jesus Christ in Luke 6:21b says:
“Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.”
When the Messiah shall return the second time, He shall put an end to all suffering, and there shall be everlasting laughter (Revelation 21:1-7). Ensure you don’t miss it!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Lord’s decision to make us His witnesses is a divine set up for blessings, just like when He asks us to give to Him, in spite of the fact that He owns everything (Psalm 50:9-11). In the same vain, the Lord does not need our publicity, just as the sun does not need to be announced. When the sun rises in the east, it is seen as far away as the west, and we know Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2). It is an honour to be a witness of the Sun of Righteousness, because by virtue of this status, the world will see the grace of God upon our lives. When Elisha agreed to abandon his farming business to become Yahweh’s prophet, little did he know that the king would later refer to him as “my father” (1st Kings 19:19-21, 2nd Kings 13:14).

What are the characteristics and responsibilities of Christ’s witnesses? The Lord hints us on some of these in Mark 16:15-18:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
The primary character of the Lord’s witnesses is that they follow Him sincerely, and their primary responsibility is preaching the gospel. This responsibility is even more serious that what was committed to Jonah, because a very high price has now been paid for the redemption of mankind, which must not be allowed to go to waste. Another responsibility is to cast out devils. If we will take territories for the kingdom of our God, we must be ready to cast out the demons that currently reign over such territories. Speaking in tongues enables every witness of Jesus Christ to be an effective mouthpiece of God with man and mouthpiece of man with God in the place of intercessory prayer. Taking up serpents as referenced in Mark 16:18 could mean dealing with serpents that come in human clothing, deceiving people just like the old serpent did. The Lord’s witnesses must challenge such lies with the Master’s true message. When we do all these as witnesses of Jesus, souls shall be rescued from eternal damnation. This is our joy and goal. Are you an effective witness of Jesus?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There are several ways of dealing with mountains, and today we will be considering seven of these. The first option we will consider is to turn back. You can say that because a mountain is blocking your way to success, you will no longer move forward. This was the negative attitude of the children of Israel in Numbers 14:1-4. The second way is to walk around the mountain, thereby wasting time and effort. For those who are born of God, going round a mountain is not an option. Our Father’s desire for us is to always move forward, in spite of what lies ahead of us. This is why He commanded Moses to charge the children of Israel to move forward, in spite of the Red Sea in front of them (Exodus 14:15). You will move forward today in Jesus’ Name. The third way of dealing with mountains is to climb them. This may require a lot of effort but it is still better than going round in circles, and it is far better than going back. The fourth way you can deal with a mountain is to bore through the mountain or dig a tunnel through it. when Moses lifted up his hands before the Red Sea, God caused the east wind to blow all through the night, and this created a way in the sea for the children of Israel to pass through (Exodus 14:21). Just as the east wind blew to create a road for the children of Israel through the sea, creating a tunnel through a mountain will require the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The fifth way to deal with a mountain is to blast it out of the way. In Joshua 6:20, when the children of Israel came face-to-face with the wall of Jericho, the Lord instructed them to shout. They did, and not only did the wall fall, it was shattered and reduced to nothing. Indeed, God sent dynamite from heaven to blast the whole wall down. The sixth way we can deal with mountains is to relocate them. In Mark 11:22-23, the Lord says that if you have faith in God, you can command a mountain to change its position or get out of your way, and it will obey you.

The seventh way of dealing with mountains is to fly over them. In this scenario, although the mountain is still there, you don’t want to turn back, neither do you want to walk around it, struggle to climb it or dig through it. Maybe you don’t want to blast it because you want to use it as a reference point in future, and you don’t even want to bother relocating it; all you want to do is to fly over it. According to Isaiah 40:31; the condition you need to fulfil for you to experience this great feat is to wait upon the Lord. Are you ready to wait upon the Lord? The good news is that this is the easiest way for you to deal with mountains, and it is at your disposal if only you can wait upon the Lord.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Whenever we talk about mountains, the first thing that comes to mind is a big problem. However, mountains can be useful. Do you realise that mountains can be God’s own way of advertising you? For example, the people of Israel didn’t know who David was until Goliath came on the scene and propelled him into limelight. Mountains, in the form of a big problem, can also be God’s own way of asking you to come closer to Him. A good example of this is found in Acts 12. When King Herod killed James, the Church didn’t do anything about it, but when he grabbed Peter, the Church suddenly realised that if they did not do something about the opposition from the powers that be, they would all be dead soon. As a result, they prayed to God without ceasing until He did something about the situation (Acts 12:5)

A mountain can help you discover your potential. You may never discover your calling or the substance of your character until you are faced with big problems. Philip didn’t know he was to be an evangelist; he thought he was doing just fine as a deacon. However, he discovered his calling as an evangelist after the devil moved Saul of Tarsus to begin to throw Christians into prison and his friend, Stephen, was killed. He fled to Samaria where he served as an evangelist, and he brought great joy to the whole city. You may never know what is in you until you come face to face with a big problem. The most important thing about mountains is that the size of your mountain determines the size of your destiny: the bigger the mountain, the bigger your destiny.

Whenever the annual convention of our church is very close, our parishes send volunteers to clean up the Redemption Camp. One day, I was going round inspecting different parts of the camp from morning till evening. When it was evening, I was very tired and so I called my family together for prayer so that I could retire to bed. I prayed a very short prayer, went to bed and fell asleep immediately. As soon as I fell asleep, my wife came and woke me up, I said to her, “Oh woman, leave me alone; I’m tired!” She replied, “One of the volunteers that came from your village is dead!” Hearing this, all my tiredness disappeared and I got up in a hurry. I quickly gathered the prayer warriors for a serious prayer session. After about an hour God said to me, “I thought you said you were tired?” He then instructed me to dismiss the prayer warriors, because I was the one He wanted to speak with. I released the prayer warriors and continued to pray. As I prayed, the one who was dead came back to life. Hallelujah! Your mountains will bring you to your great destiny, in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The greatest of all the wonders of divine blessings comes from the blessing of salvation. What does it mean to be saved? How can one be saved? What are the blessings that accrue from salvation? All these are pertinent question that we will be considering today. To be saved is to escape eternal damnation which comes as a result of sin. The righteous God of heaven has declared every man born of a woman guilty of sin. He made His verdict known in Romans 3:23 which says,
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Not only his mankind been declared guilty of sin, the punishment that awaits him due to this verdict has also been revealed in Revelation 21:8:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
To be delivered from this declared eternal damnation is nothing short of a wonder of divine blessings. Luke 7:37-48 tells the story of the wonder of divine blessings in the life of a forgiven sinner. A woman considered to be a sinner came to acknowledge the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and she did all she could humanly do to express her gratitude to the Saviour of the world, who came to pay the supreme price. The Pharisees were full of indignation because of the act of this woman. They could not understand what it means to be forgiven or what it means to escape eternal damnation. They could not see through what prompted David to pen Psalm 32. The Lord Jesus Christ tried to open their blind eyes of understanding by giving a voice to the actions of this woman. Luke 7:47 says,
“Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
Beloved, if you desire the wonders of divine blessings, the most profound of them all comes through the blessing of forgiveness. When you give your life to Christ, what the Lord said to the woman in Luke 7:37-48, He will say to you:
“Thy sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48b
Whoever wants to enjoy the wonders of divine blessings that last forever must plug himself or herself into the blessedness of forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Living a healthy life that does not require the attention of physicians is one of the wonders of divine blessings. Although it is commonly said that health is wealth, I am of the opinion that health is much more than wealth because a sickness can drain the entire wealth of a person and lead to penury within six months. I pray that no sickness, big or small, will plague your life or home in Jesus’ Name. A wealthy person who is equally healthy is very wealthy. For such a fellow, we can say that his or her cup is running over (Psalm 23:5). I have often said that while it is a good thing to be healed, to remain healthy is much more wonderful, but beyond these, you are super wealthy when incurable diseases are being brought to you and by the mere laying of your hands on the sick, they get healed. A person walking in this realm is extraordinarily blessed. So, what happens when someone is extraordinarily blessed? Not only will the forces of heaven and earth combine to support such a fellow, he or she will also command these forces to favour those whom he or she wants to be a blessing to. Because I am enjoying the wonders of divine blessings by the grace of God, I decree over your life today: let the forces of heaven and earths begin to cooperate in support of that venture you have embarked upon in Jesus’ Name. In 2nd Kings 20:1-11, Hezekiah was sick and God said he was going to die, but he cried to God that he did not want to die yet, and God granted his request. The Lord prolonged his life with fifteen more years. In other words, he was healed and became wealthy in health. God also caused the shadow of the sun to return backwards by ten degrees as a sign to indicate this wonder. In other words, the sun cooperated with Prophet Isaiah when he decreed that it should go backward to bring to pass the wonder of recapturing fifteen years already spent by Hezekiah. This is an even greater feat than when Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still (Joshua 10:13).

In Genesis 27:1-4, Isaac told Esau to prepare his favourite meal so that his soul might bless him. This shows that divine blessings are provoked. You must do something to attract them into your life. In Malachi 3:10, God said “Bring all the tithes into My house, and I will replace every curse with a blessing,” Elisha had the opportunity of asking Elijah what he wanted because he had been a faithful servant to him. Anyone who wants to be blessed by God and is willing to pay the price would surely be blessed. If you are a sinner, what God requires from you is to give your life to Christ. If you are a child of God, search the scriptures and you will discover that those who were divinely blessed were ardent worshippers and generous givers. Go ahead and follow their examples.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Believe it or not, some people are afraid of blessings! Some prefer to be “average” rather than to be super-rich, because they believe that wealth will either cause them to backslide or make them vulnerable to spiritual and physical attacks. These are wrong mindsets. Many years ago, while pondering on Psalm 23:5, I wondered why the ‘waste’ of blessings by pouring more into a cup that is already full. I heard the Lord say to me, “It is for Me to show My extraordinary sufficiency.” Hallelujah! One of the wonders of divine blessings is that God can use anything or anyone to make His provision available to you if you are His candidate for divine blessings. In 1st Kings 17:4-6, God sent ravens to bring food to Elijah twice a day. One of the astonishing parts of this story is that ravens are known as flesh eaters. The question then is: how come they did not eat up the meat before getting to Elijah? It would have been understandable if sheep were the couriers in this regard. The truth of the matter is that when a person is divinely blessed, both the forces of heaven and earth will combine to assist the fellow. This was the case of the children of Israel in the wilderness. The wind brought them quails to eat and the rock produced water for them to drink (Psalm 105:40-42). I have often taught my children in church that whenever they embark on a venture and they realise that they always have to struggle so much to make ends meet, they should check back with God to know whether He is in that venture.

Matthew 17:24-27 offers a classical example of divine blessing. To pay their taxes, the Lord instructed Peter to go and catch a fish, open its mouth and pick a coin from it, the value of which would be sufficient to offset their tax bill. My firm belief is that there is a river near you with a fish inside it holding the right amount of money that you need in its mouth. This fish is just waiting to be caught by you. The ‘fish’ may be that fellow yearning for salvation, or that person who needs your spiritual help so much. When you win him or her to Christ, everything you need may already be there in their hands, and the Lord will just move them to release it to you. As I studied the wealth of Solomon, I asked myself where his wealth came from. Then I saw in 2nd Chronicles 9:13-14 that his wealth came from all the kings of Arabia and from the governors of other lands. Even the Queen of Sheba joyfully brought her wealth to him (1 Kings 10:1-10). Such is the wonder of divine blessings. I decree upon you today: you will be divinely blessed, and your days of struggling to make ends meet are over in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When the Lord commanded Abraham to get out of his country, away from his kindred and out of his father’s house to go to a land that He was yet to show him, little did Abraham know that he was being set up for divine blessings. God promised him that He would make him a great nation, bless him and make him a blessing. These promises straightaway introduce us to the wonders of divine blessings. How can a man considered barren become a great nation? The answer lies in divine blessings.

When you take a critical look at God’s promises to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, you will discover that when a man is divinely blessed, his friends are also blessed, and conversely, his enemies are in trouble because they will be divinely cursed! Divine blessings will be your portion today in Jesus’ Name. When a fellow is divinely blessed, it means the blessings are not a result of struggling. Those who don’t know this or who have not experienced divine blessings before will always think that unless you struggle to the point of breaking your back, you cannot make it in life. This could not be further from the truth! The notion belongs to the realm of the curse of the first Adam which all children of God through the second Adam, Jesus, have escaped from. There was a brother of ours who received a divine blessing, and when he told others about it, they found it too good to be believed. One of them even said “This is too good to be genuine!” One of the wonders of divine blessings is that it makes people amazed, even to the point of disbelief. How could Abraham who started as a wonderer become so blessed that he could kill a whole calf to entertain a group of casual visitors numbering only three (Genesis 18:7)? Here is the testimony of Abraham’s servant on the extent of his master’s blessing in Genesis 24:35:
“And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herbs, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.”
Heaven will assist a man or a woman that is divinely blessed by sending what he or she needs in due season (Deuteronomy 28:12). I pray for you that whatever represents rain in your life will fall on you today in Jesus’ Name. However, you must be a friend of God like Abraham, walking with God in complete obedience to make this a reality in your life (Genesis 17:1).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I have a challenge with some of my spiritual children, and it has to do with their lack of faith in the infallible word of God. Although they profess to believe in the word of God, their actions and responses to God’s word plainly shows unbelief. After standing on the altar of God to minister powerful words from God for their deliverance, some of them show their doubt and unbelief by insisting on meeting with me face to face in my office to lay my hands on them before they would be delivered. This is disheartening, and I pray that God will make such people understand the power in His word from today onwards. Every word from God is full of power, and even the written word in this devotional is power-packed. Blessed are those who believe this. Many of these children of mine are like Naaman who expected Prophet Elisha to perform spiritual acrobatics on him, just like many “deliverance ministers” are doing today. Beloved, I am telling you this emphatically today: there is healing in the word of God! The Holy Spirit says this so clearly in Psalm 107:20:
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
Note the words that He used: “He sent his word”. He Himself did not leave His throne, He only sent His word and the word did the healing. Praise the Lord! I am sending the word of God to a person in need of it today, saying “Be healed in Jesus’ Name.”

In line with the pattern of the Spirit’s operation in 2 Kings 5:8-12, there is something you must do for the healing word to do the Lord’s bidding in your life: you must wash! You must wash, not in River Jordan seven times, but in the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. Sickness as you well know is an agent of death, and so your sins need to be washed away for you to obtain healing through the word. 1st John 1:8-9 says
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Beloved, the above scripture is the healing word that the Lord is sending to you today, irrespective of the number of years you have spent in your walk with Him. Do you believe it? The healing we are talking of today is not only physical; it is also spiritual, material, financial, martial, intellectual, and all-encompassing. In whatever area you need healing today, by the word of the Lord I say to you, be healed in Jesus’ mighty Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Hiding our identity or deliberately putting ourselves in obscurity does not serve our interest or that of our Father in heaven. Some people misrepresent humility by thinking that being extremely introverted is a Christian virtue. Going by the command in Isaiah 60:1, this is not so. Someone said the reason why the conjunction ‘and’ is not found between the words ‘arise’ and ‘shine’ in Isaiah 60:1 is because the rising and the shinning form a ‘simultaneous equation’. The rising presupposes a prompting to shine at the same time. In other words, there is no time lag between your rising and your shining. A failure to shine while rising has certain implications. When you rise, the Lord knows that your light has come and that He has bestowed His glory upon you. It then follows that if you refuse to shine while the glory of the Lord is arisen upon you and your time passes away, you would have failed God and missed a great opportunity He gave you. May you not miss your opportunity in Jesus’ Name. Our Lord Jesus Christ in John 9:4-5 said:
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can walk. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
This statement should bring to your remembrance that a time will come when Christians will no longer be in this world. Therefore, it is time for us to show our faces. We children of God have been in hiding for too long a time; we must now show ourselves in the areas of education, commerce, politics, the military, transport, agriculture, science, and technology, and in all other sectors of life. God needs His children to serve as lights everywhere. The good thing is that the time He wants us to do this is now. For this reason, I told my children during our annual thanksgiving service at the Redemption Camp that they should become active members of the political associations of their choice.

In 1 Kings 19:1-19, we see how Elijah the prophet exhibited cowardice just after His exploits for God on Mount Carmel. Because he was afraid of Jezebel, the powerful queen, he ran for his life and hid in the wilderness. After encountering God on Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded him to continue his assignment as prophet. 1st King 19:15a says
“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus:”
In other words, he should hide no more. He had to show his face and go to complete his assignment as the prophet of God. Hiding our faces as children of God cannot help this generation. Some of us exhibit cowardice and are reluctant to face up to this challenge. We must show our faces by confronting ungodliness in all spheres of life if we will make meaningful impact in our generation.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Do you know that the glory of the Lord makes the impossible possible? Indeed, the glory of God breaks Satan’s bars of iron and demolishes anything that represents the walls of Jericho in the life of a believer in Christ. One way to attract God’s glory is through worship. If you need any form of breakthrough in life, spend time worshipping God. However, you must learn how to worship God correctly. Before you can worship God, you need to know Him. In Acts 16:25, we read about how God’s glory came down in the prison yard through intense worship rendered by Paul and Silas, two men who knew their God. Instead of being engrossed in self-pity, they sang high praises to God, worshipping Him for counting them worthy to experience the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. No wonder Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10:
“That I my know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death,”
The result was God’s glory coming down into the prison yard, shaking the prison to its very foundations and loosing the chains with which they were bound. When a man or woman carries the glory of God, there is absolutely nothing that will be impossible to him or her, because God’s glory is synonymous with His power.

In 2 Chronicles 5:1-14, it is amazing that in spite of the meticulous setting of all the liturgical materials, and the orderly procession of the Levites and priests, God’s glory did not come down until the Levites who were singers led the congregation of God’s people in intense worship. 2nd Chronicles 5:14 says,
“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters  and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;”
Beloved, I want to encourage you to be an ardent worshipper of God because it is good and blessed to do so. However, I want you to know that when a sinner brings a sacrifice of worship to God, God does not receive it because the sacrifice of a sinner is an abomination to Him (Proverbs 15:. So if you are not yet born again, surrender your life to Jesus today, and this will qualify you to be an acceptable worshipper of the Almighty Father.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The story of Samson in Judges 15:9-15 shows the reality of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:36. Samson had dealt a devastating physical and economic blow against the Philistines, and so seeking revenge, they laid siege on the town he was in. The Israelites asked why the siege and the Philistines told them how Samson had killed so many of them. To save their own necks, they struck an agreement that would see the Israelites bind and hand Samson over to the Philistines! One lesson here is that the damage which external enemies cannot inflict would be an easy task for the enemies within. The men of Judah decided to hand Samson, their kinsman, over to his enemies. Another lesson here is that while all the planning and bargaining to bind Samson was on going on, God said nothing. However, as soon as these plans were carried out, God arose for Samson. When God arose, Samson’s enemies were divinely defeated with the jawbone of an ass. You can see here that the feeble nature of a weapon does not matter when God is at war. I prophesy to you today: the Almighty God will arise and scatter all enemies of His plan and purpose for your life that are within your household in Jesus’ Name.

The enemy within your household may not always be human but could come in other forms, such as a generational sickness that has claimed precious lives in your lineage. Today is the end of that sickness in Jesus’ Name. It might be a successive chain of poverty that has been transferred from one generation to another; that chain is broken today in Jesus’ Name. It could also be barrenness or failed marriage, but because you are representing God in your family, that enemy within your household is destroyed today in Jesus’ Name. However, my advice is that after these household enemies have been destroyed; keep worshipping God so that they do not resurface. Most of the time, these enemies are spiritual entities that relocate from dangerous zones where God’s children are. Here is what the Lord says about this in Matthew 12:43-45:
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walkeht through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first…”
Beloved, ensure you are a child of God who is given to the intense worship of God alone. You will live to see the end of all enemies within your household who have connived to hand you over to external enemies. You will triumph over them all in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The benevolent Creator of all things speaks to mankind using different means and methods, one of which is dreams. King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream which became more worrisome to him when he realised that he could not even remember its details. Indeed the awesome God of heaven and of earth does what pleases Him in the affairs of men. The king thought he had experts who could unravel his mysterious dream, but he was mistaken. His astrologers and stargazers could not reveal the secret things of life to him. Disappointed, he threatened to kill them all. Little did he know of the way God works, outlined in Psalms 25:14. If you will be wise and learn from King Nebuchadnezzar’s experience, you need to first recognise and accept that there are secret things which determine the course of life. The knowledge of such secret things could avert evil, make a person wise in decision making and even lead to unimaginable breakthroughs in life. My prayer for you today is that secrets which will lead to your success will not be hidden from you in Jesus’ Name. In Joseph’s time, it was the revelation of the devil’s secret plan to destroy the whole of Egypt and all other surrounding nations with hunger that saved them from dying during a devastating seven years of famine (Genesis 41). King Nebuchadnezzar would have killed all his so-called wise men out of frustration, but for the God of heaven who intervened through his prophet, Daniel.

When King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree brought the threat of death to the doorsteps of Daniel and his cohorts, they sought the mercies of the God of heaven, and He released His wisdom to them. Beloved, where do you seek wisdom: from God or from men? The wisdom of men will definitely disappoint you, and so you must seek the wisdom you need for overcoming life’s challenges from God. You may be wondering what the basis of my recommendation is. God is rich in mercy and His mercy endures for ever (Ephesians 2:4, 1st Chronicles 16:34). Because He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, He knows the secrets behind all things that are yet to happen (Isaiah 46:10). You would therefore be wise to put your trust in Him. Daniel and his brethren consulted Him and they were not disappointed. Furthermore, learn a vital lesson from their attitude after the secret things of the king’s dream were revealed to them by God: they gave all the glory back to Him immediately (Daniel 2:20-23). This attitude is unlike that of some people who after obtaining just one degree would conclude that there is no God. We know what the Bible calls such people in Psalm 14:1. I pray for you today: the knowledge that would take faith away from your heart will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The value of a man’s life is not dependent on the number of years he spends on earth, and neither is it dependent on the amount of goods that he possesses. The value of a man’s life has to do with what he does with his life in appreciation of the benevolence of his Maker, who is also the Redeemer of his soul. The wisdom of God in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be devil.”
According to the above scripture, the value or quality of a man’s life is based upon the service he renders to his Maker in obedience to His commands. God hates a life of disobedience. He likens disobedience to the sin of idolatry (1st Samuel 15:23). Reading through the Bible, you will discover that idolatry is passionately abhorred by God with a promise of severe punishment to the fourth generation of those found guilty of it (Exodus 20:5)

Some people erroneously think that the amount of material possessions they have determines the value of their life. For this reason, they struggle at all costs to get rich, even to the extent of abandoning the pursuit of the eternal life. Eventually, they end up frustrated and in serious agony. How I wish such people would listen to those words of Jesus in Luke 12:15:
“…Take heed, and beware of coveteousness for man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
The Lord Jesus Christ admonished his audience to labour for things that have eternal value (John 6:27). They in turn asked Him what works they must do in order to do the works of God. Here is His answer to them in John 6:29:
“….This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
This is the only way our labour in life will have value and meaning. Any labour you put up that will not further your cause of having eternal life in God’s kingdom is an exercise in futility. Believing in Jesus Christ and the work of redemption He did for all mankind is a great work of faith that will add value to your life, which transcends this present life. Enoch’s life was so valuable to God that God decided to personally come to take him to Himself. He did not send any of His angels on this assignment because of the value He placed on Enoch. Such a life is worthy of emulation. I encourage you to determine to add value to your life by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and by living a life of obedience to God in truth.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The title of today’s devotional (The Living Faith) presupposes at least two categories of faith: living and dead faith. In James 2:17-26, the Holy Spirit confirms to us that there is indeed faith, and He also teaches us what makes faith have life. My prayer for you is that any aspect of your faith that is dead will come alive today in Jesus’ Name. Is it not amazing that faith, as powerful as it is, cannot stand on its own without works? This is not contestable, because it is the word of God. James 2:18 puts it this way:
“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee faith by my works.”

Faith sees into the invisible and beholds what the Almighty God is capable of doing. While the act of exercising faith can spur God into action, there is also an obligation on the part of the one exercising faith. The obligation is the work of faith which we are talking about today. Without this, faith is seen to be lifeless. Apostle James expounded on this truth with the classical example of the father of faith, Abraham.
“Was not Abraham our Father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
James 2:21-23
Beloved, what would have been left of Abraham’s walk of faith if he had refused when God asked him to offer his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering? Thank God Abraham acted on the demand of God. In response to the demonstration of his faith that had moved from theory to practical, God said to Abraham:
“…Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
Genesis 22:12
After all the time that Abraham had been walking with God, why did God say “It’s now I know you fear Me?” It’s because his works had collided with his faith, which then came alive and became substantial. Beloved, do you have living faith in God?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Our loving Father commanded His prophets and apostles of old to record the words of the Bible so that through these sacred writings, we may live profitable lives to Him, ourselves and to all of humanity in general. The wisdom of God manifested in these writings can make us wise, if we apply our hearts to His teachings. This wisdom speaks to us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 saying,
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
When a man knows the appropriate time to act and not to act, he is considered wise. It is profitable for the children of God to be observant of times and seasons so that they are not found to be labouring against the divine timetable. Psalms 126:6 speaks of the time of sowing, which is often not as pleasant as the time of reaping, even though there is an assurance for the sower that in the time of harvest there shall be rejoicing. In other words, the Bible teaches us to endure in the time of sowing so that there could be a time of harvest. Consequently, if there is no sowing, there will be no reaping. It takes the grace and wisdom of God for us to know the correct time of sowing and the correct time of reaping. It is calamitous for a man to be sleeping when he should be reaping, because his harvest would have been wasted before he wakes up from his slumber. On the other hand, if by the time you ought to be sowing you are sleeping, at the time of harvest you would have nothing to reap.

Timing is so important that there is even a time to speak and a time to be silent. There is a thought provoking message that sounds paradoxical but is perfect in wisdom, found in Proverbs 26:4-5:
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
In other words, although not speaking out during an argument is wise and virtuous, it becomes a vice when there is a need to speak out and you keep your mouth shut. At such times, silence insinuates consent or denial of the truth. Our Lord Jesus Christ kept mute in the face of malicious and unfounded allegations against Him until He was asked if He was the king of the Jews and if He was the Christ (Matthew 27:11, Luke 22:67-70). To these questions, He answered in the affirmative. He could not have denied who He was because that would have contradicted or negated the Scripture. As a born again Christian, do you deny or refuse to affirm who you are in front of friends and colleagues? Ask God for forgiveness and begin to take a stand for your faith.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A belated offering is a worthy present that is offered a little too late. A perfect example of this is found in Mark 16:1:
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”
These women had real love for Jesus. They followed Him everywhere He went as part of His disciples, and they catered to His needs. They were there at His crucifixion and even stayed behind to see where He was buried (Luke 23:55-56). After observing His burial place, they combined resources to invest in preparing sweet spices for the purpose of anointing His body in the grave. Sadly enough, it turned out to be a belated offering: a wasted effort that didn’t serve the intended purpose and a colossal disappointment. Indeed, it was the news of the resurrected Lord that served as their consolation. As children of God, we must avoid coming late to the presence of God or delaying our praise, worship and service to God beyond the appointed time; neither should we offer our vows, first fruits, tithes or special offerings belatedly.

Many years ago, at the inception of the Redemption Camp building project, I told one of my sons of the need to urgently carry out an assignment that God would want Him to handle. He responded that He would go and pray about it over the weekend and then feed me back. As soon as he walked out of my office, God brought someone else who accepted the responsibility and immediately went to work, finishing the assignment in record time. My son came in early the following week to announce his readiness to do the work. He was dazed when I told him that the project had been completed by someone else, and he saw the evidence of this. He learnt his lesson that day and has never allowed such opportunities slip through his hands since then.  I pray that you and your offerings will be acceptable to God in Jesus’ Name. The terrible thing about a belated offering is that it is always an opportunity lost that may never be regained. Esau carelessly lost the opportunity of a lifetime, and although he later sought it carefully with tears, it was impossible to reverse the situation. Hebrews 12:17 says,
“For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
Please don’t let this be your story. God bless you. 
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

What is a timely offering? It is a worthy gift that is offered to God at the right time. People who offer timely offerings are usually inspired or motivated to do so by unseen divine powers. Such people usually tell stories of a strong inner influence encouraging them to do a worthy deed, particularly in the house of God, in support of His work. Matthew 26:6-13 gives us a perfect example of a timely offering. A few days to the very weekend that Jesus was arrested and crucified, a woman was motivated by the Holy Spirit to anoint Him with a very precious ointment. In the presence of the disciples and a few guests, she poured an alabaster box of very precious ointment on His head. The disciples responded with anger because they could not understand the reason for her action, but Jesus explained it to them in Matthew 26:12:
“For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.”
Just as Jesus said, this woman’s precious ointment was the only perfume that He had on His body throughout His three-day sojourn in the grave. After His death, by the time some women arrived in the morning of the third day to anoint His body, it was too late because Jesus had already risen from the grave (Luke 23:55-24:3). The woman who did this good work received her due reward, stated in Matthew 26:13. You will receive your due reward for obedience in Jesus’ Name.

God is not only interested in your obedience; He is also interested in your timely obedience, according to Exodus 22:29. God wants you to render to Him on time the first portion of your produce which has been set aside for Him. He wants you to honour Him with one tenth of your income and bring all your offerings without delay. Delayed offerings are not acceptable to God. In our service to God, He demands our punctuality. Be faithful in attending the teaching and preaching sessions in your church. Arrive on time, appropriately dressed and ready to make meaningful contributions toward the effectiveness of all that is going on. Be faithful in the giving of your time, talents and in rendering other services to God. There is something about rising early to praise and worship God as exemplified by the life of David (Psalm 57:8-9, Psalm 63:1). Whatever you have decided to do for God, do it on time. He is interested in the timing of your actions. Proverbs 8:17 says,
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Abraham, David, Solomon, and other God lovers in the Bible always rendered anything they had to offer to God promptly and without delay, because only a timely offering is acceptable to God.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Although the events that will herald the second coming of Christ are disturbing and could even be frightening, our Lord did not forewarn of these events in order to frighten or terrify us. His purpose was to prepare and empower us with the right attitude and mind-set. Based on yesterday’s study, since it is obvious that we are now in end times, we will be considering the instructions that the Lord gave to us on how we ought to live in these last days. The Lord instructed us to watch out so that we are not deceived by anyone (Matthew 24:4). This warning should be taken seriously as it is increasingly becoming difficult to focus on the message of the gospel. Some false prophets, hiding under the cloak of possessing special revelations, are padding new doctrines that have no foundation in the Bible. Many issues that are clearly stated in the Bible, such as those relating to salvation, sexual orientation, abortion, divorce and remarriage, termination of life on request, tithing and the giving of first fruits are now being presented in ways that are contrary to the word of God. Do not be deceived, but rather hold on to the true word of God in all situations.

As we read about the signs and observe their fulfilment, we should not be alarmed, because they must happen. Having foreknowledge of their occurrence should remove the element of surprise that may affect those who are uninformed. We are to use our knowledge to our advantage by standing firm to the very end. Our knowledge should also motivate us to continue preaching the gospel throughout the world. Warning all men about the reality of the second coming of the Lord and the impending danger of ignoring this warning. We must be well prepared for the persecution that may come in the form of government laws and regulations, or as conditions to be met in order to have access to certain benefits. Our duty is to watch continually for our Lord’s second coming. He repeatedly stressed that His coming, though certain, would happen when people least expect it to. As His bride, we are to continually stir ourselves up to be ready for His coming at any time. Frequent reflections on Christ’s beauty, love, mercy, glory and honour, in addition to a lifestyle of praise and worship will help to cultivate a readiness to meet Jesus in the air. Aggressive evangelism in our families and communities will also help to increase our readiness for Christ’s coming. We must actively strive against worldliness because a worldly mind-set is contrary to a watchful spirit. Finally, we must pray for the coming of the Lord according to Revelation 22:17:
“And the Spirit and bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

While Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him privately to ask what has now become a recurring question: “What shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?” Even scientists today are interested in knowing if and how the world will end. In response to their questions, the Lord took it upon Himself to outline to anyone who will care to listen, the signs and significant historical events that would herald His second coming and that will eventually lead us to the end of the world. A diligent study of Matthew 24:4-38 reveals about thirty signs of the end times, and the most prominent of these are the appearance of deceivers and impostors, wars and rumours of wars, famine, earthquakes and natural disasters, the hatred of Christians around the world leading to persecution and martyrdom, many renouncing their faith in Christ, the love of many waxing cold, the rise of many false prophets performing signs and wonders, the sun and moon getting darkened, and people living a carefree life just as it was in the days of Noah.

In the last few decades, we have witnessed the appearance of deceivers and impostors of the Lord Jesus Christ in different parts of the world. Some famous ones have succeeded in leading people astray, even to the point of committing mass suicide. Civil unrest, rumours of war, terrorism and full-scale wars have been constant news items for years now. The occurrence of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters have been on the increase in the last few years. It is sad to hear of and witness the unbelievable level of persecution and martyrdom of Christians currently going on in several parts of the world. There has been leaked video footage of Christians being lined up and murdered in parts of Africa and the Middle East. Several governments, including those of the Western world, are now making laws that are hostile to the Christian faith. In some countries, Christians are being pressurized to perform activities that are contrary to their faith. Some Christians have even caved in under pressure to renounce their faith. False prophets in various forms are showing up everywhere on the surface of the earth. They all claim to be representing the Lord Jesus. Some of them display the gift of revelation and prophecy, even performing convincing miracles. They usually give themselves off as false prophets because their works and lifestyle are not consistent with the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the abundant evidence that the time of the Lord’s coming is near, most people in the world are still living carefree lives, just as it was in the days of Noah. Unsurprisingly, everything is playing out according to the warning and prophesies of our Lord. Therefore be alert! The trumpet could sound any moment from now. Are you prepared to meet your creator?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In the Jewish culture and tradition, wedding festivities are usually held in the evening and run into the night. Typically, the bridegroom would go to meet his bride in her father’s house with lamps, and the bridal train would proceed from the bride’s father’s house to the groom’s house, where a feast would be provided for the invited guests. It was against this backdrop that the Lord Jesus Christ gave the parable of the ten virgins. In general, the parable speaks of the second coming of our Lord and the judgment that will accompany His return. In this parable, the Lord classified the people His message was targeted at into two groups: the wise and the foolish.

There are various lessons to be learnt from this parable of the ten virgins, especially because it contains a lot of symbolism with deep spiritual meanings. The virgins, lamps, oil, the absence of the bridegroom, slumbering and sleeping, the midnight, the cry, the trimming of lamps, having no oil, asking for oil, the refusal to give oil, entering into the feast, and several other aspects of the story represent different aspects of our Christian race to heaven. However, we will be considering just a few lessons behind some of these metaphors. The virgins represent the Church, while Jesus is the Bridegroom. The message of the parable is therefore for the Church and not for the world. We are warned in this parable that our Bridegroom may delay His coming. He may not come at the time we expect, but He will surely come at midnight, meaning that He will come suddenly and unexpectedly. Note that all the virgins who set out to meet the bridegroom dozed off and slept. The only thing that separated the wise virgins from the foolish ones was the level of their preparedness. The wise virgins took extra oil with them in anticipation of a delay in the bridegroom’s arrival, while the foolish ones failed in this regard. They obviously did not anticipate that the coming of the bridegroom could be so delayed. Their failure to take extra oil made the difference and determined their fate. The Lord will take only those who are ready at His coming into the marriage supper. The door will be shut against those who are not ready after the call has gone out, and it will not be opened to anyone who comes late.

The practical lesson of this parable therefore is the unexpected nature of the Lord’s Coming. We must be ever ready to meet the Lord. The lamps of our faith and Bible study must be kept burning all through the day and night. We must uphold and defend the truth in the word of God. We must not allow modern thinking and liberal theology to water down or pollute our faith. We must keep our focus on the message of the gospel as we continue to follow the footsteps of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

From the beginning, God’s plan has always been to have continuous fellowship with mankind. Looking at God’s interactions with Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3, we see that He normally visited them at a certain time of the day to have fellowship with them. However, in the dispensation of the New Testament, because the Almighty has better things in store for us, He has chosen not to visit, but rather to dwell in us. How privilege and blessed we are! The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul expounded on this truth in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. As a Christian, you need to recognise that your body is the sacred dwelling place of the Almighty. You also need to know that because you have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus, you have been purchased by God at a very high price. You therefore do not have any claim over your body anymore, and consequently, you have no right to pervert, misuse or engage your body in anything that is contrary to the will of God.

God expects us to exercise responsible stewardship over our bodies. He expects us to do everything necessary to glorify Him with our bodies and make them suitable for His worship. 1st Corinthians 3:17 says,
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
This is an important statement with very serious implications. A lot of people in the world today, especially youths, view their body as theirs, and so they believe they can do anything they like with it. They have chosen to tread the path of defiling their bodies, which should be the temple of God, through ungodly lifestyles and association with evil companionship. Obviously, this is the reason why early death is trending upwards in the world today. Those who choose to abuse their bodies with unhealthy food, alcohol, sexual immorality, hard drugs and other dangerous substances usually fall sick and end up dying prematurely. Some develop emotional or psychological problems that eventually lead to instability, loss of sanity, depression and even suicide. Defiling your body has such terrible consequences. You need to trust God on His recommendations for the well-being of our body. Keep your body away from anything that can contaminate or pollute it. Don’t yield to any contrary peer group pressure. Those who keep their bodies pure are directly inviting the presence of God into their lives, and they will receive divine invitation from above. It is a great privilege and honour to embody the presence of the Almighty.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, we will be reflecting on the necessity of holy living to the success of our Christian journey. Looking at this topic through the eyes of the book of Leviticus helps us to better understand God’s mind-set concerning it. The book of Leviticus reveals the holiness of God and His love for His people in a way found nowhere else in the Bible. Today, this book is still calling on God’s people of all ages to embrace holiness as a way of life. In reality, holiness is the only kind of life approved by God. The purpose of Leviticus was to show the Israelites how to live in ritual and moral purity. Whenever they met God’s standard of purity, He approved of them, so much so that He came to live amongst them. However, whenever they forsook the lifestyle of holiness, He would in turn abandon them to the hands of their enemies. From the example of the children of Israel, it is obvious that holy living is necessary for a continuous, unbroken fellowship with the Almighty God.

To understand the necessity for holy living as a Christian, we have much to learn from the instructions on holy living in the book of Leviticus. First, we must understand something about God’s holiness. Leviticus 11:44 and 1st Peter 1:16 both contain the same message from God on holiness: “You have to be holy because I am holy.” Holiness is the nature of God, and because He cannot change, He remains holy forever. Since He cannot behold sin, it is therefore necessary that anyone who will come to Him must live holy (Habakkuk 1:13). Secondly, holy living becomes necessary when we consider the great price paid for our redemption from sin (1st Peter 1:18-19). As a true Christian, when you think about the agony, pain, deep sorrow and emotional trauma of the passion of Christ, you will not want to do anything that would amount to crucifying Him the second time. Thirdly, all Christians have the honourable duty of presenting only their best to God in every situation they find themselves. In light of this, Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. You need to understand that the view of some that the salvation received when we become born again cannot be lost under any circumstance is at variance with the true message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:26 says:
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
Hence, a holy lifestyle is not an option, but rather a necessary condition for a successful Christian life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

John 14:12 focuses on one of the farewell statements of the Lord Jesus Christ that I consider to be of utmost importance to the Body of Christ today. This statement was addressed to anyone who believes in Jesus as the Messiah. Note that the mandate contained in this statement is not directed at the 12 disciples or any special group. It was not directed at bishops, pastors, prophets, evangelists or other “highly spiritual” Christians. Jesus was speaking to anyone who believes in Him, which means all Christians. Although all Christians claim to believe in Jesus, a vast majority are not even aware of this important mandate of the Master, while some others, due to unbelief, argue that it is impossible to walk in the reality of it. The word “works” in this mandate comprises of everything Jesus did during His whole earthly ministry. These include teaching, preaching, discipleship, miracles, signs and wonders. The question then is: are we Christians doing the works that Jesus did? The answer is obvious. May the Lord ignite His fire in His Church and wake us up to our responsibilities in Jesus Name.

Discipleship is the process of following Jesus Christ, serving Him and obeying Him in all things. Jesus encouraged His disciples to strive to become like Him so that they can represent Him in His absence (Mark 9:17-19, Matthew 10:25b). The template of discipleship instituted by the Lord demands that anyone who wants to be a true disciple must first deny himself (Matthew 16:24). Self-denial is all about sacrificing personal interest and preferences to focus on the will of the Master only. The Christian race becomes very easy for anyone who is able to take this very important step. Soon after I gave my life to Christ, the Lord helped me to give up my personal ambition of becoming the youngest occupant of the highest office in the academic world on the African continent. This decision helped me to commit the whole of my time, attention, money, and all other resources at my disposal to the service of God. It paid off, as the Lord took me from my humble beginnings to where I am today. The Lord says no one can serve two masters; every disciple is therefore expected to be totally committed to God and His kingdom business (Matthew 6:24). Doing the works of Jesus entails going out to proclaim the message of the gospel, and demonstrating acts of mercy, love and compassion around the world. We must live in holiness as good examples to the world. Our message must be backed up with the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit in signs, wonders and miracles. We must win souls and disciple them to maturity. Nothing short of these is acceptable as the works of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Almighty God created the sun as the major source of light and heat for the earth. He also appointed the sun as an indicator of time and direction (Genesis 1:14-15). A new day begins with the rising of the sun, and its setting indicates the end of the day. Have you noticed the effect that the sun has on people’s overall mood? People tend to be more active on a bright and sunny day, Ecclesiastes 11:7 says,
“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:”
The sun also serves the vital role of sustaining life on earth by stimulating plants and other organisms to produce food. Deuteronomy 33:14a says.
“And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun,”
As advantageous as the sun is to mankind, God also uses it as a weapon against evildoers and to correct His own disobedient children (Revelations 16:8-9). Jonah 4:8 says,
“And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die,”

When you understand the importance of the sun to mankind, you will then begin to appreciate and better comprehend what the Holy Spirit declares to you in Isaiah 60:20:
“Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”
I therefore pray that in accordance to God’s word, your sun will not go down, and your day will not be turned to night in Jesus’ Name. The devil knows the importance of light and is very familiar with darkness. This is the reason why he attacks people by extinguishing their light and throwing them into utter darkness. If you are experiencing darkness in any way, I am happy to announce to you that Jesus has the power to turn your night to day (John 8:12). Darkness may endure for a night, but be sure that the Sun of Righteousness will rise over your life in the morning. Even though the devil may have succeeded in putting out your light by whatever means, our Lord Jesus Christ is able to make your sun rise again by the power of His word, and He has sent His word to you today. I therefore decree in the Name of Jesus, wherever there is darkness in your life, let there be light now! Receive the light of God for illumination, direction, sustenance, health and joy!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.