₦airaland Forum

A true representative of a good family will do everything possible to protect the name of that family. For this reason, Proverbs 22:1 says,
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
If you are a worthy child of God, you will do all you can to honour God’s Name, and you will never bring it into disrepute. Honouring God’s Name goes beyond lip service; God expects you to prove that you honour Him through your actions. In 1st Samuel 17:1-51, David was angry that an uncircumcised Philistine could boldly insult the God of Israel, and yet nobody could do anything about it. He therefore took up the challenge of defending God’s Name. What have you done to defend or honour God’s Name? In what way has your nation, state, community or even your workplace recognised the Lordship and greatness of God above all other gods because of your presence there? The patriarchs of old were not ashamed to stand for this same God, even at the cost of their lives (Hebrews 11:36-37). But how is it with you today? Are you even ashamed to publicly associate yourself with Jesus Christ, so that your peers and superiors will not look down on you?
If you truly hallow God’s Name, then under no circumstance would you defile that Name. When someone looks at you and say, “How could you do this? And you call yourself a child of God!” Those words will go through you like a hot iron if your conscience is alive. If those words were spoken to you because you truly did err from the faith, you would feel pain in your heart, become miserable and feel ashamed of yourself. If indeed your conscience is alive, in such a moment, you would see yourself as a wretched sinner and immediately run to the cross of Calvary for mercy and forgiveness. If your conscience is however dead, you may not feel a thing and just move on as if nothing ever happened. Is your conscience still alive? Does it warn you before you do any evil? Does it prick you when you sin? In 2nd Samuel 11, David and Bathsheba fell into the sin of adultery. By the time Nathan confronted David over this evil act, he felt horrible. He was broken and in pain. God told him that his actions had brought shame and disgrace to His Name (2nd Samuel 12:14). David genuinely repented, and God forgave him. At what stage do you realise you have sinned, and what is your response to this realisation?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Blessings and curses are two of the most powerful forces on earth, even though they function in opposite ways. When present in any life, either of them can seriously affect the destiny of their recipient. Psalm 37:22 says,
“For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”
What does this mean? It means that if God blesses you, there is nothing you desire that you cannot get. This is why I am amazed whenever I come across some of my children and they say to me, “Daddy, please pray for me”, and when I respond saying “God bless you”, they still ask me to further pray for them. I tell such people that I have already prayed the greatest prayer anyone can pray for them, because if God blesses someone, all his or her problems will be over. As a user of this devotional, I say to you, God bless you!

Proverbs 10:22 reveals the power of the blessings that God gives; it says,
“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
If you are blessed of the Lord, you will definitely inherit the earth. You will have all you want. However, if you are cursed by God, you will find out that when God curses a person, that fellow will sooner or later become desolate. What is a curse? A curse is an invitation to all the forces in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth to combine forces and resources to work against a person, until he or she is completely destroyed. So when an individual is cursed, demons, men, animals and even the elements will work against that fellow. Let us consider the example of Rachael in Genesis 31:31-35. After Jacob served Laban, he finally left to return home. Then came Laban in hot pursuit after Jacob, and he caught up with him. Laban then said to him, “You have taken my two daughters and my cattle, and now you have equally stolen my idols.” Jacob denied stealing the idols and said whoever stole them should die. Unknown to him, his beloved wife Rachel had stolen these idols and sat on them. They checked everywhere but the idols were not found. Jacob thereafter left Laban in annoyance. Later on, in Genesis 35:16-19, shortly after delivering her next child, Rachel died. The curse her husband had pronounced eventually worked against her. May you not use your own mouth to undo yourself or members of your family in Jesus’ Name!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Wisdom is the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations. Wisdom is fundamentally practical in nature. Although God alone possesses wisdom in the absolute sense, as a benevolent God, He is willing to give His wisdom to all those who seek it in humble reverence (James 1:5). We see the wisdom of God manifested in the work of creation and in the provision of redemption from sin through Jesus Christ. Divine wisdom refers to the abilities given by God in every area of life including recognising and applying the provision of salvation through Christ Jesus, craftsmanship, knowledge and insight for right decisions in life, and several others. Divine wisdom cannot be received by those who put their confidence in worldly wisdom, which is based on human cleverness and insight without God’s revelation. God considers this human kind of wisdom to be foolishness. It may produce temporary success in life, but this will come to nothing on the long run. 1st Corinthians 3:19-20 says,
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
Worldly wisdom builds pride and false hope in people, so much so that it makes them arrogate success to themselves to the exclusion of the Almighty God (Proverbs 26:12, Isaiah 47:10). In Isaiah 29:14, God has declared that worldly wisdom shall perish.

Wisdom has its roots in knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to correctly make use of acquired knowledge. Divine wisdom leads to proper conduct because it is built on the fear of God (Job 28:28). One of the dimensions that the Holy Spirit operates in is wisdom (Isaiah 11:2). Those who desire to possess divine wisdom will therefore need to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him (Proverbs 1:20-26). The Holy Spirit can fill a man’s heart with divine wisdom through the diligent study of God’s word (Psalms 19:7). He can also give divine wisdom through revelation. This revelation can come in the place of observing how others live their lives, or through the study of nature. Wisdom may also be received as a result of practical experiences of life and from parental guidance. Divine wisdom can only be received by those who are willing to give up all reliance on their own human insight and understanding. As you seek for divine wisdom by one or a combination of ways mentioned here, God will answer you and fill you up with His divine wisdom in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

We are blessed to have a God that does not desert those who belong to Him. In Hebrews 13:5, God promised never to leave nor forsake His own. The divine presence of the Great Shepherd strengthens His sheep, so much so that they entertain no fear. If you are His sheep, He is always with you; even when you cannot feel Him. Do you know that in those moments when it appears as if God has gone on a journey, He is much more around you than you can imagine? When He promised to be with us always, He was not joking (Matthew 28:20). Are you a sheep of the Great Shepherd? Are you feeling lonely or does it appear that God has forsaken you? He has not. He is right there by your side. He can hear your voice and your whisper. He can even hear your unvoiced wishes, and He will answer you. However, do everything to remain His sheep. Remain within His fold and shun every temptation to stray to the left or to the right.

If Jesus is the Shepherd of your soul, you will not lack comfort because He has promised to comfort you through His rod and staff (Psalm 23:4). No one can make it through this pilgrim’s way without the comfort of the Great Shepherd. One way we receive comfort today, as followers of Jesus Christ, is through the Holy Spirit. Hence, John 14:16 says,
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
When you go through loss or experience some very painful situations, you need the comfort of the Spirit to restore you to a state of peace. The Holy Spirit is so good at this. If however you create a gulf between yourself and the Holy Spirit, how would you then be comforted in the time of need? From experience, the comfort you get from fellow human beings is grossly inadequate. Why? At best, man’s attempt at comforting you may satisfy mainly physical needs, but the comfort of the Holy Spirit can reach out to all areas of need, particularly the realm of the soul. Another way of accessing real soothing comfort is from the word of God. Romans 15:4 says that this kind of comfort does not only deal with the unrest in your heart, but it also gives you hope. This is one reason why you should never be far from the Bible. The word of God inspires hope. If you feel hopeless, check yourself; you may find out that God’s word is scarce in your heart. Are you feeling hopeless or in need of comfort? Reach out for God’s word today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many Christians interpret 1 Peter 2:9 with the notion that God favours some individuals or groups of people over others. This idea eventually developed into doctrine of “Election”, which suggests that some people are predestined for salvation and others for damnation. Consequently, this doctrine of election has raised a lot of difficult questions in the minds of several people. Why should a just and loving God favour certain individuals or groups of people over others? Why should a loving God command the elimination of some people without mercy? A proper and diligent study of the Bible would lay these questions to rest permanently. Even a cursory look at the word of God shows clearly that God is good to all. He is not partial; neither is He a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
The above scripture makes it clear that Jesus was given for all men and women from all nations on the face of the earth, and anyone who believes in Him will obtain salvation. Therefore, those with warped interpretations of Scriptures that present our God in bad light, all in the name of “theology”, are not speaking the mind of God. Through the manifestation of Jesus Christ, the whole world, without exception, stands before God with equal opportunity and access to the grace, mercy, favour and love of God. Romans 10:13 says,
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
No matter who you are, you can come to Jesus with boldness and He will never reject or turn you down. The statement in 1st Peter 2:9 is therefore absolutely correct for everyone who has accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives. If you are one of such people, you can say with certainty that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a member of a holy nation. You are specially chosen to live in holiness and righteousness, to show forth the glory of God in all ramifications of life, and to live in good health, joy and peace. Since you have been chosen for a divine purpose, I pray that you will surely fulfil your destiny in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A builder is a person who is capable of handling the design, planning and construction of a building project. A builder is obligated to execute a building project in compliance with the specifications of the blueprint he or she has been given. Throughout the Bible, terms like building, foundation, house, temple, building block and cornerstones, are used figuratively. For example, the Bible presents God as a Builder in Hebrews 11:10, while 1st Corinthians 3:11 presents the Christian faith as a building which has Jesus Christ as the foundation. Consequently, ministers of the gospel are co-labours with God and also builder (1st Corinthians 3:9). Similarly, the duties and responsibilities of a minister of God can be compared to that of a builder in many ways. A builder should be a wise person who is skilled in the art and science of construction. Likewise, a minister of the gospel should be skilful in the art of building the souls of men. No ignorant preacher should be given this sensitive assignment. A builder takes special care to lay the right foundation and selects the right materials to make the building well suited for the foundation. In like manner, ministers of God must be mindful of the materials they use in building the Church of God. Christ is our Living Foundation who requires the use of living stones for building the Church (1st Peter 2:5-6). Sometimes, a builder must first pull down an old structure and remove the resultant debris before laying a new foundation. Ministers of the gospel must also pull down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and remove the debris of many errors, indiscipline, false doctrines and damnable heresies.

There is an aspect of the building profession that involves creativity and craftsmanship. By these set of skills, much beauty, innovation, artistry, colour and style is achieved in a building project. Similarly, the introduction of creative ideas into various aspects of the work of the gospel has produced enviable results across the world. However, caution must be applied because the Bible views certain creative works as whitewashed sepulchres (Matthew 23:27). The decision to accept or reject any creative work is not driven by the work itself, but is determined by the spirit that motivates the worker. Fine craftsmen can prostitute their talents by producing beautiful idols. The Church of God is a work in progress and every Christian is duty-bound to make their contributions in compliance with the blueprint of Jesus and according to God’s specifications. Let everyone take heed and watch how they build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

While it is important for you to admit your mistakes with a sorrowful heart, it is also important that you learn from these mistakes. Ask yourself: “How did I get here? What did I do wrong? How could I have avoided this outcome?” To live triumphantly in this world, you need to pay very close attention to what the word of God says and follow it to the letter. 1st Peter 5:8-9 says you should steadfastly resist the devil, so if you resist, but do not steadfastly resist, you will surely fall. On the other hand, in 1st Corinthians 6:18, we are commanded to flee fornication. In this case, God does not require resistance from you, but that you should take to your heels! If you then try to resist instead of running, you will surely fall. Similarly, 2nd Timothy 2:22 says,
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Clearly, there is a time to stand and a time to run. If you stand when you should run, you will most likely fall.

Sometime ago, I told male pastors not to have female secretaries, but some of them who thought they were wiser than I, called it gender discrimination. I told them that after they had become casualties of their wrong decisions, they would remember that I had earlier warned them. One of my very good sons, who knew the Bible very well, hired a female secretary. I asked him, “What are you doing? How can you be in the same office with this lady smiling at you? Eventually, you will end up working late with her. Go and ease her out.” He dragged his feet on this. Today, this same person is out of the ministry, out of his home and jobless. If not that he lives in a country where the government provides food for the jobless, he would have starved. Some leaders are still toying with danger. Some piglets once asked the mother pig, “Why are you always grunting? “The mother pig replied, “When you are as old as I am, you will know why.” Avoid any source of temptation! Resist when you should and run when you should. Some people take it as an act of cowardice to run from those they feel sexually attracted to. No! It is not cowardice, it is wisdom! God knows how He wired your body, so if He says you should run in a particular situation, please run for your dear life!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Christianity entails total submission to the will of God as revealed in His word. A Christian must view God as the ultimate owner of everything, who decides to delegate and distribute a certain measure of His resources to each and every person, according to their ability, for the purpose of making profit. In reality, all that we own isn’t really ours; they are blessings that have been graciously bestowed on us by the Lord (John 3:27). For all that God has given to us, there’s an expectation that comes along with them. The word “stewardship” summarises this arrangement. A steward is a special servant employed to oversee and manage the affairs of a household according to the dictates of the owner. He or she is simply a servant who has been entrusted with the authority to make decisions on behalf of his or her master. All purchases pertaining to the running of a household are made by the steward. Even some very important decisions are made by stewards. For example, Abraham entrusted his steward, Eliezer of Damascus, with the crucial responsibility of choosing a wife for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:2-4). A true Christian operates under the same dynamics today. As a steward over the heritage of God, you should be able to operate without supervision. Everything you do should be done as unto the Lord. You should make certain that the resources you are entrusted with are put to proper use for God and not for personal gain. As God’s steward, you should do everything to ensure that the Lord’s resources are carefully deployed to accomplish His agenda. A steward is a trustworthy ambassador that sometimes stands in the place of God to make decisions and take actions that could have far-reaching effects on people's lives. Christian stewardship is therefore an awesome responsibility that should be handled with utmost care. May you never mishandle your responsibility as a representative of the Almighty God in Jesus’ Name.

God has very important assignments He wants to execute in this world, and He has entrusted some of these into your hands. One of such assignments is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). God has chosen you as His primary tool to accomplish this awesome task, and He has appointed and equipped you to carry His message of salvation to those who are lost in sin. You must therefore take up this responsibility and fulfil the heartbeat of God. In conclusion, here in this world, there are innumerable benefits awaiting all obedient servants of God. However, the most important reward for profitable stewardship is to be a guest of Jesus at His marriage supper, and to stand before God’s throne to receive commendation and the crown of life from the Master. You will make it in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

An unprofitable servant is generally identified as a steward that fails to put his or her talents to profitable use for his or her master. He or she is a wasteful person who is pleased to keep the master’s investment from yielding any profit.  Among all the servants mentioned in the Bible, it was only the unprofitable servant that had the disrespectful behaviour of complaining and bringing charges against his lord. He had the audacity to accuse his master to his face of being a difficult and greedy person, wanting to reap where he did not sow! He created the impression that his master had all along been wicked, unfair and insensitive. Although the unprofitable servant tried to portray himself as a humble and obedient servant, he ended up giving himself off as a self-righteous person, who had mastered the art of making excuses to cover up for slothfulness and failure. Trying to justify himself, he falsely argued that he became indolent and unproductive out of fear for his master. He forgot that a master’s commandment is a servant’s duty. As a matter of fact, a servant always owes a debt of service to his or her master (Luke 17:7-10). The unprofitable servant tried so hard to justify himself but he failed woefully. God is not mocked; the excuses you have prepared to use on the Day of Judgment will not stand the rest of His scrutiny.

Brethren, every excuse that we give for failure to obey the commandments of God with regards to the use of our talents is simply evidence of rebellion against God. The excuse that the unprofitable servant gave is the command plea of many Christians today, who complain that the Almighty God has no right to demand for the use of their time, money and ability for the promotion of His kingdom. If you fail to put your God-given talents to profitable use, on the day of reckoning, you will hear the denunciation pronounced against the unprofitable servant: “Take therefore the talent from him!” I pray that you will never receive words of condemnation from God in Jesus’ Name. Many would ask, “What wrong have I done?” Search your heart. Have you fixed your Lord’s money in huge deposits and savings accounts, or tied up his investments in properties, exotic cars, exclusive furniture and an expensive lifestyle, all the while leaving souls to perish in their sins? Do you prefer to bury your talents out of selfishness because you care more about yourself and less about God and the expansion of His kingdom? Have you deliberately refused to put God’s endowments in your life to profitable use; thereby causing the benefits and profits due to God and man to be totally lost? To be commended by the Master, we need to repent of our selfish lifestyle and yield to God in complete obedience.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Church of God is a living entity that thrives upon the life of God. The life of Jesus circulates freely through His Church, just as blood flows through the human body. The Church of God feeds on heavenly food, which is the word of God, breathes the atmosphere of heaven, which are the commandments and principles that guide her operations, and thrives on the life of God that flows through her veins, which is the Holy Spirit. By implication therefore, the primary qualities and attributes of God automatically become the primary characteristics and nature of His Church.

In Isaiah 6:3b, the primary quality and nature of God is announced in this proclamation from Heaven:
Holy, holy holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
For this reason, Ephesians 1:1-4 declares that the Church of God was chosen by God to be holy and without blame before Him in love. Holiness is the moral excellence of God that unifies His attributes and is expressed through His actions. The Bible presents holiness as a nature that includes moral purity, separation from evil and a devotion of God’s glory. God is Holy, His Name is Holy, His words and everything about Him is Holy. As a result, in the Old Testament, the place of worship, the altar, the priests and the people had to be sanctified and made holy before rendering service to God (Exodus 29:44). To be dedicated to God’s service, we also in this new dispensation must be set apart from the sins of this world. Hebrews 10:22 says,
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
God’s holiness provides a pattern for His people to emulate (1st Peter 1:16). Holiness simply means separation from sin and devotion to God (2nd Timothy 2:19). As a child of God, sin should not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). You are expected to make holiness your lifestyle by walking in the fear of God always (2nd Corinthians 7:1). To this end, Colossians 3:5a says,
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;”
This means you should put to death or destroy everything that is carnal in you, using the sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12). It means your heart should continually be cleansed from carnality, using the water of God’s word. Even though you are genuinely born again, your body still has passions, desires and appetites that must not be allowed to break out beyond their legitimate bounds in the Lord. Be holy, and be sanctified!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Church of God is the embodiment of Christ here on earth and for all eternity (Ephesians 1:23). God will continue to inhabit His people, and His people will continue to live in Him and worship His majesty forever (John 14:16). The Church of God on earth is the representation of His personality among men. She is the Body of Christ, filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and so, she renders all honour and adoration to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although the Church is operating in the world, there is no room for the world in the Church (John 17:16)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1
The Church of God is called to live in blameless unity. Unity is a characteristic that distinguishes God’s people. We derived this characteristic from the nature of God in us; therefore, God expects His Church to manifest unity, through commitment to one another. In essence, the Church of God is one, because it is founded on one gospel, united in one Lord and walking in one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6). However, the unity of the Church is constantly under attack because the enemy knows she is unstoppable when she walks in unity. Because it is inherent in our fallen human nature for people to be divisive, unity needs to be continually maintained and actively expressed in fellowship. The fellowship that Christians share as a result of our common union with God through Jesus Christ is expressed as we share the triumphs and challenges of life together. The Bible strongly emphasizes the importance of Christian unity. Act 4:32 says,
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”
God exhorts the Church to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3-16). We as Christians are to preserve the oneness that the Spirit imparts to all who are baptised into the Body of Christ, which is identical to the oneness of the Holy Trinity. The unity of the Church should be evident in our love for one another, in worshipping together and in a practical commitment to one another, which is demonstrated through deep concern for the weak and a readiness to provide for the poor and needy.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Church is a body of saints being prepared as the Bride of Christ to be married to Him at His second coming (Ephesians 5:25-27). It is also a spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the Head (Colossians 1:18). The Church of God is the meeting place of God and man, created as a means of uniting all people with God and with one another. The manifold wisdom of God, His mysteries, His nature, character and His attributes are revealed through His Church. Among all of God’s creatures, He did not find any of them worthy to be His dwelling place. However, He specifically designed and built His Church to be His dwelling place: a place of His rest. God cherishes His Church so much that He showers much care on her, and through her, He spreads Himself across the face of the earth.

In Matthew 16:18, the Lord decreed that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church; consequently, the Church of God is served by the ministry of angels (Hebrews 1:14). It is the only institution on earth that angels pay attention to as a matter of duty. The angels of God dote on His Church and admire her beauty (1st Peter 1:12). It is the only institution on earth which the angels of God take interest in, and every bit of progress that the Church makes in this world brings joy to them and causes them to celebrate (Luke 15:7). If you have not given your life to Christ, you can cause the angels of God to rejoice today by accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, thereby becoming a member of the body of Christ, which is the Church. As a member of the Church of God, you are expected to continually express your love for God in worship and practical service, which includes enduring hardness, afflictions and tribulations for the sake of God’s kingdom. Always remember that Christianity is not bread and butter alone. Despite all the good promises of God to you, Jesus, in John 16:33b, also says to you,
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
God’s attention is focused on His Church, and as a result, the devil can never prevail against you. However, you must learn to endure afflictions, and you must confidently confront evil. You must not be ashamed or afraid of witnessing for Jesus. Always be mindful of the fact that the Holy Spirit is in you and the angels of God are at your service wherever you go.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The response of the Lord Jesus Christ to the question of a Samaritan woman on God’s approved location of acceptable worship, in John 4:20, put an end to the era where God could only be worshipped in specific places. John 4:21& 23 says,
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
Jesus taught her that the time has come when true worshippers of God are not required to visit any physical temple or be present in any particular location in order to worship God acceptably. True worshipper can now worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

Building on this teaching, Apostle Paul expounded that the dwelling of God is no longer in temples made by human hands (Acts 17:24). He further revealed that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, now dwells in the body of those who have yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In 1st Corinthians 6:19 He wrote this:
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
If you are indeed a Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Out of love for you, God gave you a unique body; and He wants you to reciprocate His love by making good use of it. The question is, are you conscious of the fact that God’s Holy Spirit dwells in you? Are you aware that you are not your own, and that you are bought with a price? Are you aware that you are to glorify God in your body (1st Corinthians 6:20)? As a child of God, God has taken ownership of your body. You therefore have no preferences in matters concerning your body. You must commit your body to God as a living sacrifice and consciously conduct yourself as the dwelling place of His Holy Spirit. A Christian cannot therefore make choices about sexual orientation or engage in behaviours on the basis of personal preference. Without any ambiguity, God has made clear the purpose of our body; therefore, any notion about freedom of choice regarding sexuality and sexual acts is essentially incompatible with God’s word. God also warns that He will destroy those who defile His temple, which is our body. Take note of this and be wise!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”
Jeremiah 31:3
Love is a decision of commitment that is expressed as a strong feeling of affection and attraction. Based on God’s nature and actions, the Scripture gives us insight into the source, character and value of love. The Bible teaches that God is the source of love and that His very character is love. If you have ever been deeply in love with someone to the point of obsession, you will discover that you may lose your appetite and forget to eat because of that person (Song of Solomon 5:2-. Your mind will become occupied with nothing else but that person. The object of your love is the last thing you think of when you go to bed and the first thing you think of when you wake up. Love involves the totality of a person’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Love is a central theme of the Christian faith and is a primary characteristic of God’s nature.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38
The first object of our love should be God. We are enjoined to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. Indeed, you need to understand the love of God for you before you can appreciate what true love is. Having received the love of God, God expects you to reciprocate His love by worshipping Him in truth and by showing His love to others. The love of God was manifested on the cross of Calvary. Jesus, with these words, revealed the extent of God’s love for us in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Out of love, God gave His only begotten Son as the ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. He then commanded every one of us that has received His love to reciprocate it by loving one another (1st John 4:7-. The Bible makes it very clear that the proof of love is its expression through actions, especially actions that are taken in the interest of others. Children of God should never be identified with envy, hatred, pride, selfishness, or any form of wickedness. These vices are contrary to God’s nature in us. As Christians, we must always radiate the love of God with meekness, kindness, patience, peace and joy.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

For various reasons, the battle of life has proved to be of tremendous difficulty to mankind in every generation. First and foremost, the enemy is often difficult to identify correctly, coming in different forms and sizes. Sometimes, the enemy comes in the form of human opposition, criticism and antagonism, and other times, in the form of physical challenges and obstacles. The enemy also comes as natural occurrences which one would expect to naturally fade away with time, but down the line, such occurrences metamorphose into serious problems. The battles of life can come to us through a human agent in the most subtle but wicked manner and it can also take the form of a dramatic open challenge. At the onset of every battle of life, its spiritual dimension is not usually obvious. However, the Bible teaches that there is a spiritual dimension to every battle. Ephesians 6:12 says,
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

As a child of God, although the enemy of our soul may look intimidating, don’t be frightened by his visage or his history of destruction. Instead, focus on the truth of God’s word that reveals him as a conquered foe (Hebrews 2:14, Luke 10:18-19). This is the high standpoint of the Christian faith. This is the only ground on which a child of God should meet the devil and his agents. We are overcomers! The element and resources of our victory clearly supersede the resources of our wicked foes. The element of our victory is the Blood of Jesus, and the weapon of our warfare is the word of God. The battle cry in our conflict with the devil should always be the words of Revelation 12:11. You must continuously resist the devil with words of this scripture and believe its declaration in your heart. You cannot confront the devil and his agents with human wisdom, scientific inventions, philosophy, or ethical principles; rather, confront them with the Blood of Jesus Christ, which signifies the seal of our victory in the Lord. Always remember that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. At the beginning of this conflict with devil in the Garden of Eden, it was prophesied that the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the serpent. Jesus is that seed of the woman! Christians must enter the battle of life with confidence that the Lord is fighting for us, and that we are simply following His banner and claiming victory in His Name. Let us praise and worship the Almighty God who has granted us victory through the Blood of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In several passages of Scripture, the Christian life is compared to being engaged in a sporting activity, particularly the analogy of running a race. In other to finish strong like Apostle Paul did, we need to pay close attention to these analogies and apply their lessons to our Christian life. 1st Corinthians 9:24-26 makes it clear that everyone that participates in a race does so for the purpose of winning. It also says that winning requires serious training and perseverance. Furthermore, this passage states that of the many participants in the race, only one person emerges as winner. 2nd Timothy 2:5 reveals that you must play according to the rules and regulations of the game to be declared the winner. From Hebrews 12:1-3, we understand that we must have our minds set on the reward in order to endure the rigours and pains of training. 2nd Timothy 2:4 says athletes must observe a discipline, controlled, and regimented lifestyle like soldiers while preparing for a competition. You need to measure your Christian life by these analogies to know how well you are fairing in the race to Heaven. You should not be satisfied with just being a Christian who enjoys the support and encouragement of the spectators only; your ultimate goal should be to make it to Heaven and receive the crown of righteousness. You should be prepared for rigorous training in the word of God, and persevere through the process of sanctification. Like the eagle, you should take the flight towards Heaven as a personal endeavour and ignore the multitude. You must strictly obey every detail in the word of God without reservation. Your mind must be fixed on the crown of righteousness and the glory that awaits the saints in Heaven, so that you can finish your course in this world with joy. Furthermore, you must submit yourself to the discipline, control and regimented lifestyle described in the word of God and as directed from time to time by your divinely appointed coach: the Holy Spirit.

The crown of righteousness is something of value promised to every Christian that would serve God faithfully in this world and endure the persecutions and tests of faith that comes with following Jesus Christ. This crown is meant for those who would joyfully accept discipline and training in righteousness, those who will remain obedient to the word of God regardless of the dictates of popular culture, and soul winners determined to sacrifice everything in order to make Heaven. I hereby pray for everyone who is earnestly looking forward to eternal life, that you will not lose your crown in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A father is the male personality among the two parents from whom children originate. Parents are uniquely linked to their children by blood, and they are the source of the fundamental and distinctive characteristics of their children. This special connection is responsible for the usual display of filial affection between parents and their children. There is a kind of deep love, compassion, dedication, trust, respect, devotion and loyalty that usually exists in the relationship between parents and their children that may not exist in other forms of relationships. Furthermore, good fathers are known to provide leadership, protection, provision, discipline, spiritual guidance, and emotional stability for members of their family. Obviously, mothers are equally important and their role as parents and leaders in the family cannot be overemphasised. However, under normal circumstances, the balance of a family is usually maintained by its organisation around a father-figure. This is why homes without a father tend to become dysfunctional families. I therefore pray that God will restore all broken homes, support all single parents, and rebuke death in our families in the Name of Jesus.

Meanwhile, there is a Father of fathers that can do far more than any earthly father. He is the ever present one who can never die. He is called the Everlasting Father in Isaiah 9:6. Through this Name, the Holy Spirit is indicating to us that all those who trust in God and yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will never be without a Father. Because Jesus is the Everlasting Father, true Christians can enjoy all the benefits of divine fatherhood unhindered for eternity. When the storms of life rage or when you are overwhelmed by difficult circumstances, you can safely trust in the love and support of the Everlasting Father. When poverty, failure, sickness or death stares you in the face, just call upon the Everlasting Father, and your night will be turned to day. If you are out of tune with your Creator, if you are perpetually living under the influence of any power that is beyond your control, if your life is upside down and you are desperately looking for a way out, then I have good news for you. Jesus is the Everlasting Father with compassion for His children. He pities his children and shelters them with His love (Psalm 103:13). His mercy endures forever and you can anticipate his forgiveness with joy. Above all, these benefits are yours to enjoy for eternity, if only you surrender your life to Him. I decree to every troubled soul that is reading this devotional, receive the intervention of the Everlasting Father now in the Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In the New Testament, there are three instances where the title “King of kings” was used. In each of these three instances, it was used along with the title “Lord of lords”. Obviously, the two titles are linked, but they also have their marked differences. The underlying thought of kingship is the exercise of authority, while that of lordship is the exercise of power. A military junta may have the power to overthrow the government of a nation but it lacks the authority to do so, thereby making it an illegitimate government. On the other hand, a policeman can simply use his upraised hand to stop a heavy truck. He is able to achieve this by the authority vested in him, which is well recognised by the truck driver. Similarly, kingship, authority and submission always go together. Any edict issued by a king must be expressly obeyed. Refusal to comply is interpreted as civil disobedience, anarchy or rebellion. It is important to note here that from eternity past, Jesus has continuously reigned in majestic splendour as the only Potentate, the King of glory and the Lord of all (1st Timothy 6:15)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, angles celebrated and worshipped Him as King (Hebrews 1:6, Luke 2:10-14). He grew up, lived among the people and went about doing good: healing the sick, delivering those oppressed by the devil, and spreading the good news of the kingdom. Yet, at His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, only those who believed in Him cried, “Hosanna, blessed is the king that comes in the Name of the Lord” (John 12:12-13). A day also came that Jesus was presented to His own people by Pontius Pilate saying, “Behold your King!” The people however responded with a great roar, “Away with him, crucify him.” He was therefore crucified with a crown of thorns on His head (John 19). Therefore, He died, rose from the dead and was received into Heaven. Very soon, He is coming back again. This time, He is not coming with a crown of thorns on His head but with many glorious crowns, and He will rule the nations of the earth with rod of iron in His hands. He is returning in power and glory to establish His kingdom on earth, covered with glory and accompanied by the hosts of Heaven’s armies. His title shall be boldly written upon His clothing and on His thigh: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”. While we are waiting for the appearance of the soon-coming King, let us totally submit to His authority and acknowledge His Lordship over our lives. We must worship His majesty and offer Him the sacrifice of praise. Let us bow down before the throne of the everlasting King in total adoration of His royal majesty. All hail the King of glory. Hallelujah!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Faith is a sense of reliance and trust in the Almighty God. It is a guiding belief and also a committed sense of loyalty. Faith is a central emphasis of Christianity, and for this reason, Christians are commonly called “believers”. A commitment to Christianity typically involves a confession of faith. The centrality of faith in Christianity reflects the significance given to it in the Bible. The Bible teaches faith towards God, and also the doctrine of justification by faith (Romans 5:1). Moreover, faith includes belief in the written word of God and also belief in the trustworthiness of God’s ability to keep His promise of reward to his followers (John 14:1-3). The Bible records that the fathers of faith like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others, pleased God through the exhibition of their faith. The Bible also makes it clear that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). The Christian faith embraces the belief that God was made manifest in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ. We belief that He lived to manifest the nature and character of God, and that He died so that we, who were dead in our sins, might receive forgiveness through His Blood that was shed for the atonement of our sins. We believe that the crucifixion of our sinful nature on the Cross through His Body has empowered us to live above sin in this world. We believe that He resurrected so that we can receive a new life in God that is fashioned in the image of His resurrected nature. We believe that anyone can be a partaker of this divine nature when he or she believes in his or her heart all that Jesus Christ has done, confesses his or her sins to God and accepts the Lordship of Jesus Christ over his or her life through confession and action.

Hebrews 11:6 teaches some spiritual truths that touch the spiritual life of every Christian. The passage emphasises the method of pleasing God, the necessity of believing in His existence, and the certainty that He answers prayers. We can only please God by walking with Him in faith. We must trust Him completely and rely on Him totally as our Father and closest friend. We manifest our trust in God when we pray to Him. The existence of God is settled in the mind of anyone who is a true Christian. Therefore, whenever a Christian prays to God, He or she is demonstrating faith in God’s existence. When a Christian repeatedly refuses to pray to God, he or she ignores God. However, God desires that all Christians pray continually. Therefore, we must constantly and earnestly present our requests and supplications to Him in prayers, with full confidence and assurance that He answers the prayers of His children.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The Lord spoke the words of Joshua 1:5 to Joshua at a very crucial time in his life. Moses, the man of God, had just departed and handed over the baton of spiritual and political leadership of Israel to him. Obviously, this was a very scary thing for Joshua. Having been the servant of Moses, he knew the severity of the spiritual assignment ahead. He also had firsthand experience of the several episodes of political intrigue and multiple rebellions against his master. Joshua least expected the leadership mantle to fall on him, since there were (at least) seventy elders ahead of him, most of whom he esteemed to be better suited as political leaders compared to himself. There was also the family of priests, members of which he reckoned to be more experienced for the spiritual leadership of Israel. Nevertheless, although age, experience and maturity may not have favoured him, it still pleased the Lord to appoint him as the replacement of Moses; and knowing Joshua’s fearful state of mind, He therefore spoke those words of assurance to encourage and embolden Him in his new assignment. I pray for you today, you will receive divine support and assurance that will propel you to success in Jesus’ Name.

Today, God is telling you that there shall be no barrier to your promotion, success and breakthrough. God has the power to make such declarations about you because He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. All powers in heaven and on earth belong to Him, and His word is Yea and Amen. Numbers 23:19 says this about Him:
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
We have assurance in the word of God that God is able to bring whatever He says to reality. I therefore encourage you to rely on His promise to you, knowing well that He is the Creator of all things – whether visible or invisible, all things were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). Furthermore, you also have reasons to believe strongly that there shall be no barrier to the fulfilment of your destiny because of His mighty acts both in history and even now. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Holy One of Israel, who delivered the Israelites from 430 years of captivity. He parted the Red Sea and provided manna in the wilderness. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer, who heals, delivers and raises the dead. May His Name be praised forever.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The reason why many people are so helpless in life today is because they are in captivity. Many are in the bondage of sin, sickness, poverty, addiction, demonic possession and other evil conditions. The resultant effects of captivity include loss of freedom, psychological imbalance, and emotional trauma, loss of contact with loved ones, hopelessness and dejection. A captive is a person with a lost identity. Such a person may have been royalty before being captured by the enemy, but he or she has become a slave and must now live at the mercy of his or her new owner. A captive loses dignity and suffers from low self-esteem and emotional trauma from thinking about the situation that led to his or her captivity. A captive is in a worse situation than an ordinary prisoner because a prisoner’s jail term is fixed, but a captive has no hope of being set free. Above all, the situation of a captive is hopelessly filled with regret. The big question is, can a captive find true freedom? The Holy Spirit answers this question in Isaiah 49:24-25
“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
Hallelujah! A captive can indeed be set free. Jesus in Luke 4:18 declared that He came to set the captive free:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

I bring you good news today: no matter how difficult your experience in captivity has been, and no matter how heavy the chain of your affliction is, JESUS is here to set you free! Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, Redeemer and Deliverer, sent to set everyone who will accept Him as the Lord and Saviour of their lives from the bondage of Satan, the world and the flesh. What is your problem? Are you operating under the powerful grip of a secret sin, sexual immorality, a secret society, a blood covenant or any form of addition? Jesus, in John 8:36, has these words for you:
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Jesus came to set the captives free; call on His Name for your deliverance now!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, we are considering another trick of the devil, which is trapping a person through inordinate desires. This tactic often takes the form of a sweet and generous offer used in sugar-coating a poisonous pill. Such offers can come as a gift, an appointment or a promise of greatness. The packaging of such offers is always tasteful, attractive and elegant, but inside lies destruction. The devil tried to play this trick on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in Luke 4:5-8. In many cases, no matter how much you try, you may not see anything wrong with the whole arrangement at the initial stage, but at the end of the day, you will find yourself entrapped to do the bidding of your “benefactor” against your wish. The rich and powerful of this world deploy this trick in getting what they want. They use the luxuries they can provide to entrap the less wealthy and vulnerable, who may feel obligated to do their bidding. Many victims of this scam have been disappointed, enslaved and some have even lost their lives. I enjoin Christian youths to be warned that those who are addicted to pleasure, who always have their eyes roving and seeking for a luxurious lifestyle, will easily be sucked in and entrapped by these wicked predators. The language of Satan and his agents is “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them” (Luke 4:6). I pray that you will not be deceived or fall victim of such mean and wicked deceivers in the mighty Name of Jesus.

For diverse reasons, this particular trick of the devil is especially potent and effective in this generation more than any other time in the history of mankind. We are in a world where instant riches, riotous living, exhibition of immorality and the pursuit of extreme pleasure have become attractive to people. Now, wealth and fame derived from participation in vices (such as corruption, gambling and drug-trafficking) are being celebrated, even among some so-called Christians. Some attributes that used to be highly valued in the society, such as integrity, diligence, moral principle and godliness, have become things of the past and are now looked down on. The younger generation seems to have a warped idea of what success really means. Consequently, predators are using the weapon of deception to entice vulnerable individuals into evil deeds, such as sexual gratification in exchange for favours, drug-related businesses, human trafficking, organised crime, internet fraud, and many others, promising quick money, political appointments, business opportunities, rapid job promotions etc. Is anyone promising you something in exchange for “nothing”? Ensure that you do not fall for any deceptive proposal of the devil. The rich and powerful do not give away their favours for free. They always ask for something in return, and their demand is usually much greater than their initial investment. If care is not taken, you may lose your own soul in the process. Don’t be carried away by any “delicious” offer, because it is really nothing but deceitful food laden with poison. You’ve been warned!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

A trick is a cunning act or scheme intended to deceive or outwit a person. One of the greatest tricks by which the devil deceives men today is to cause their hearts to be lifted up in pride. Through pride, the hearts of mankind have rebelled against the knowledge and authority of God. Pride comes with arrogance, pomp, presumption, conceit, self-satisfaction, boasting, high-mindedness and haughtiness. It is especially dangerous because of its silence and the stealth by which it operates. When pride is well seated in the heart and has taken full charge of a person, it becomes extremely difficult to pin down. However, we thank God because the light of God’s word is bright enough to expose it in all its forms. To understand pride, we need to consider the first entity in whom pride was found: Satan. Isaiah 14:13-14 reveals the thoughts of his heart that made God depose him from his exalted position in Heaven:
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

A careful consideration of the above scripture shows that pride is basically a sin that has its roots in the attitude of the heart. Hence, Proverbs 21:4 speaks of “a haughty look” and “a proud heart” as sin. The first thing to watch out for in a man or woman with pride in their heart is the emphasis on their person in their speech. The speech of such people is normally laden with the personal pronoun ‘I’. In a single short statement, Satan made reference to himself five times: “I will ascend, I will exalt my throne, I will sit, I will ascend above, and I will be like the most High.” Secondly, the proud displays an unwarranted attitude of confidence and inordinate ambition, such as displayed by Satan. He was not satisfied with where God placed him, and he actually wanted to supplant God Himself. He was so confident of himself that he thought he could ascend into Heaven and exercise dominion over all the angels of God, all by himself.

However, pride cannot remain internalised and hidden. It often finds expressions: through speech (such as boasting), through looks and through behaviour, such as acts of impatience and contemptible treatment of others. The Bible highlights the inevitable downfall of a proud person, and we should learn from what happened to Satan (Proverbs 16:18, Ezekiel 28:16-19). The proud will not escape God’s terrible judgement; therefore, be warned!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Weapons of war usually fall under two major categories: offensive and defensive. Body armour can be classified as defensive weapons of war against missiles, projectiles and handheld combat weapons; they work as protective covering, designed to safeguard vital parts of the body. Ephesians 6:10-18 talks about spiritual warfare, revealing how the different parts of physical body armour mirror the spiritual armour available to us as believers in Christ. We have at our disposal invisible weapons of spiritual warfare that are potent against the wicked assault of the enemy. In Ephesians 6:11, our spiritual armour is referred to as the armour of God, which implies that it possesses divine attributes, making it indestructible by the power of the devil. We are invited to “put on the whole armour of God”. However, this armour is inaccessible to those who have not accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives.

Putting on the armour of God is equivalent to putting on Jesus, and He is more than enough to protect us against all evil and temptations we may encounter. Romans 13:14 says,
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Putting on Jesus involves accepting Him as Lord and Saviour, meditating on His word day and night, living a life of holiness, and spreading His gospel. I pray that in the heat of the battles of life, the armour of God will be your strong defence in Jesus’ Name.

The Bible used the imagery of physical warfare to communicate a powerful spiritual message to us in Ephesians 6:10-18. Firstly, we are asked to grid our waist with the sturdy belt of truth. It’s with this same belt that our sword is fastened to our body. In the days of old, a soldier girded in this manner was recognised as being on active duty. We are expected to grid ourselves with truth as the foundation of all our spiritual activities. Next, we are to find our protection in righteousness by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Also, our feet should be ever ready to move with the gospel of peace. We should then arm ourselves with the shield of faith to quench all the fiery arrows of the enemy. To protect our head, the most important part of our body, we must put on the helmet of salvation. The helmet of salvation is required to protect our spiritual destiny. Finally, as soldiers of Christ, we are to wield the “Sword of the Spirit”, which is the spoken word of God. As the only offensive weapon mentioned, this is the soldier’s most important weapon, and it is supplied by the Holy Spirit. I decree that God will fortify you and make you untouchable to the devil in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jehovah Nissi is the third revealed compound Name of God, meaning “The Lord is my Banner”. It was the Name Moses gave the altar he built following Israel’s victory over Amalek in Exodus 17:15. The word “nissi” means banner, standard or flag. A banner is the rallying point for warriors in the time of battle. Moses named the altar “the Lord is my banner” to acknowledge God’s active role in fighting for the nation of Israel, and at the same time, to testify to God’s continued war against the people of Amelek from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16). This altar stood as a witness to the whole world that the God of Israel was behind the victory over the Amalekites. You may recall that this battle with Amalek took place under the upraised hands of Moses, holding the rod of God. Moses therefore named the alter Jehovah Nissi with the consciousness of the role that God played in the battle. Starting from today, the hand of God will be so evident against all your enemies and detractors that you will begin to sing “The Lord is my Banner” in Jesus’ Name.

It is amazing to note that the ordinary rod that Moses used in his years as a shepherd had become the rod of God in Exodus 17:8-16. This shows that anything we surrender to God or commit into His hands in support of His kingdom is made to pass through an unseen divine transformation over time. I therefore pray that as you submit yourself under the mighty hand of God today, He will transform you and your natural gifts into supernatural objects and vessels of honour to achieve great and mighty things for His Name in Jesus’ Name. It is important to note that Amalek came out of the blues and decided to wage war against Israel without any provocation. This provoked the anger of God against them, so much so that He promised to completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from the face of the earth (Exodus 17:14). Therefore, I decree by the word of the Lord that Jehovah Nissi will raise His standard against anyone who is angry with you and plotting evil against you without cause, or fighting against you without any provocation, and they will be completely destroyed in the mighty Name of Jesus. The story in Exodus 17:8-16 is more like a blueprint of how God’s children should deal with anyone or anything that is identified as an enemy of God’s kingdom. The strategic tools deployed here include fervent prayers, knowledge of God’s word, the advocacy of Jesus, the rod of divine judgement, and believers’ unity. We should learn to deploy these tools to spur Jehovah Nissi into action against the enemy on our behalf. 
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Genesis 17:1, for the very first time, God revealed Himself as El-shaddai: the Almighty God. Here, He was reiterating His wonderful promises to Abraham at the age of ninety-nine, particularly that he would bear a son, despite him and Sarah being very advanced in age. Prior to this revelation, God had been identified as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and He had also made Himself known as the God who knows all things. However, this time, He wanted to introduce Himself as the God who has the power to do all things. The eternal power of the Almighty is evident in the work of creation, and at a more personal level, the exceeding greatness of his power is expressed in all believers by the regeneration of our spirit man, through the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Romans 1:20, Ephesians 1:19-20).

Several accounts in the Bible teach us that the unlimited power of the Almighty is always at work in any given situation to make all things go according to His original plan and purpose. For example, in the book Ruth, Naomi was the only survivor of a tragic family decision to sojourn in the land of Moab. After a ten year absence, the Lord brought her back to Bethlehem in His character as Jehovah, the covenant-keeping God. Later on, in His capacity as the Almighty, He exercised His power to implement His purpose in the life of Ruth and Naomi, so much so that the same circumstances that Naomi found to be bitter in Ruth 1:20 went on to bring about great joy and celebration at the end of the day. What a mighty God we serve! I therefore decree into your life, no matter what you are passing through at the moment, the original purpose of God for your life shall be established in the mighty Name of Jesus.

The almightiness of God can be translated to mean that with God, nothing shall be impossible. The Almighty God has proved Himself beyond any reasonable doubt in this regard. The book of Genesis reveals the power of God to bring everything we see in creation today into reality from virtually nothing. Exodus showcases among other things the execution of the ten plagues and the final deliverance of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh in such a miraculous way. Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy highlight the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness with great miracles and wonders attending to them daily. Joshua records how a feeble, worn-out and ill-equipped nation of Israel was assisted by the Almighty God to destroy and inherit the lands of nations consisting of giants. The list is inexhaustible! I therefore decree, that the power of the Almighty God will work in your life today to do the impossible, in the mighty Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The head is the most important part of the body; hence, kings and priests were anointed on their heads and Christ is referred to as the Head of the Church (Ephesians 4:15). Also, more than not, symbols of power, authority and honour are displayed on the head. The body is able to operate efficiently because the head is capable of interpreting data received from the body, and also because the head is able to send out appropriate signals to the various parts of the body. The capacity of the head to intelligently interpret and direct the activities of the whole body makes the existence of the body completely dependent on the head. For this reason, we as the Body of Christ are totally dependent on Him, who is our Head. The Lord has also sent us out as His representatives to be head over every situation around us. Henceforth, you shall be the head and the most important personality within your sphere of influence in Jesus’ Name.

To be the head indeed is not a theoretical concept but a practical reality that must be manifested. A person who is really the head must effectively provide leadership through the coordination of all the abilities at his or her disposal. From a physical point of view, the eyes are there to provide vision, the ears to collect information through sound, the nose for smelling, the tongue for taste and the mouth for verbal communication. The brain has the responsibility of processing the various data gathered by these different parts of the head, either for immediate use or for future application, as the case may be. If any of these organs that form part of the head is impaired, the head will not be able to effectively perform its leadership role in the body. For you to be head indeed, every ability that you need in order to provide leadership, be it spiritual, physical or resource-wise, must not be impaired. I therefore pray that God will protect everything about you, so that you will provide excellent leadership, in the Name of Jesus. Among other things, three factors are necessary for a head to perform effectively: eyes that see, ears that hear and a month that speaks. Physical eyes are required to view things in general, while spiritual eyes are necessary for divine revelation to see beyond the physical realm. Ears that function properly listen to people and also hear from God. Picking up divine communication is absolutely necessary for anyone who will be the head. Also, a functional mouth is necessary for communicating with fellow men and for making declarations in the Name of Jesus. I pray for you that you will receive clear vision, your ears will hear the sound from heaven, your mouth will make irreversible decrees, and you shall be an effective head in the mighty Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The name by which a person is identified is very significant. The Jews and a good number of African cultures attach great importance to the names they give to their children. It is amazing that God Almighty also recognises the influence of names on the lives of their bearers. For example, while entering into a covenant with Abram, God changed his name to Abraham, and He gave reasons for this (Genesis 17:5). Also, at Bethel, God changed Jacobs’s name to Israel (Genesis 32:28). The Lord Jesus and His apostles also gave people new names (Mark 3:16-17, Acts 4:36).

In Luke 1:1-4, we read about a man whose name was Theophilus. ‘Theophilus’ in Greek means “lover of God”. It is amazing that this man loved God so much that he earnestly sought to know about Him and His Christ. His curiosity about God produced two of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament: the gospel according to St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (Luke 1:1-3, Acts 1:1). When you love someone, you would seek to know more about that fellow. This was exactly the attitude of Theophilus towards God. His drive to know God more, led Luke to write his gospel on the life of Jesus. However, his continued thirst made him unsatisfied with just one book about Him, thereby necessitating the need for a second book to be written by Luke, which is now referred to as the Acts of the Apostles.

There are several lessons we can learn from the life and attitude of Theophilus, one of which is that in spite of his highly exalted position, Theophilus still sought to know the truth about Jesus Christ. The Bible says you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32). Whenever you are confronted with an idea, be it religious or philosophical, try and find out the truth embedded in it. Some people completely fall for some religious ideas without first finding out their authenticity; hence, they have been deceived to believe lies. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, yearned to know more of Jesus (Philippians 3:10). If you love Jesus, you would want to know more of Him through regular Bible study and fellowshipping with genuine Christians. The benefits of loving God and His Christ are obvious from Psalm 91:14. When you love God, he will deliver you from erring from the truth (John 10:1-14). He will also promote you because your personal relationship with Him will avail for you. Beloved, do you love God? To what extent do you love Him? Jesus Christ, in John 14:15, said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
By this benchmark, can you say you truly love Him?  
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Being the God who knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end, when the Lord gives us a commandment, it’s because He had already considered the beginning, the present and the end. This consideration applies to the Lord’s commandment in Hebrews 12:14, instructing us to follow peace with all men. This commandment is for our good, both now and in the hereafter. You need to practise good neighbourliness for the sake of the gospel and to bring glory to your Father in Heaven. The story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 demonstrates the blessings that come through good neighbourliness. This widow cried to Elisha because her husband owed a debt he could not pay before he died, and her two sons were to be sold into slavery to settle the debt. The prophet asked her what she had that God could work with, and she mentioned a pot of oil. That was more than enough for the God who brought out something as great as the universe from nothing. So, Elisha asked the widow to go to her neighbours and borrow as many vessels as were available, after which she should lock herself up with her sons for the business of miracle oil-bottling. They did this and the oil began to flow until there were no more empty vessels left. The widow eventually became an oil merchant because the prophet directed her to sell the oil, pay the creditors and use the rest of the money to meet the needs of her family.

There are many lessons we can learn from this story. First, we must value what we have because it is what we have that God will use to meet our needs. Secondly, no matter how much we may have in our possession, it is always more than enough for God to perform His miracles in our lives with. This truth was also demonstrated when Jesus used five loaves and two fishes to feed more than five thousand people (Matthew 14:17-21). Thirdly, without the assistance of the widow’s neighbours, the effect of the miracle would have been limited. We would always need our neighbours and our neighbours would always need us. The absence of good neighbourliness would have denied this widow the use of her neighbours’ vessels. She would not have had the courage to go to her neighbours if she had been fighting them. Beloved, as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, let us add good neighbourliness to our Christian virtue. Matthew 5:16 says,     
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Good neighbourliness produces both spiritual and physical blessings. Therefore, in the Church of God and in our community, let us be agents of peace, unity and friendliness. Through this, unbelievers will see our good works and be drawn to our Heavenly Father.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As discussed yesterday, “Come ye apart” is a call to cease from daily work in order to come before God in a solemn assembly. Such calls by God to a solemn assembly are not mere religious exercises, but a time of settling important issues with Him. Hence, they are sometimes called during times of serious emergencies, as seen in Joel 1:14, where God said:
“Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, And cry unto the Lord,”

While the general purpose of calling a solemn assembly is to gather the people of God together for a special time of worship in a state of purity, we also see God sometimes using terms as “deny yourselves” or “afflict your souls” when He calls for a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:27). These terms refer to fasting or abstinence from food, drink, entertainment, sexual pleasure or other things that delight the flesh. By making a deliberate effort to subjugate our body to the dictates of the spirit at such times, we are able to devote ourselves more fully to worshipping God during these special occasions. It’s in light of such self-denial that the Bible in 2nd Timothy 2:21 says,
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Individually, each of us is only one out of the billions of vessels available for God’s use. However, as vessels, we are each made of different kinds of resources, ranging from precious gems like gold and silver to cheaper materials like wood and clay. Obviously, some vessels are deployed for honourable use, while some others are to dishonour. What is of utmost importance is the fact that the Master will only use the best. The vessel that would be found suitable for the Master’s use must be purged of all errors and purified from all unrighteousness. In the Bible, purging refers to the confession and renunciation of sin, while purification refers to the process of removing impurities that interfere with a disciplined spiritual life. Are you interested in having a divine encounter with the Almighty God? Would you want to be a vessel of honour in the hands of the Master? Are you looking forward to being prepared for every good work? Then, come ye apart in a holy convocation, purge and purify yourself so that you can become a vessel of honour in the hands of the Almighty. As you make effort to separate yourself unto God this season, He will find you suitable as a vessel unto honour and fill you up with His anointing in the Name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

“Come ye apart” is a call for a holy convocation or a coming together of the saints in a solemn assembly. In the Bible, such a meeting was often called to enable the people of God separate themselves unto God. Such special days were devoted to spiritual activities such as praise, worship, celebration, Scripture reading, fasting, prayers and offering of sacrifices. In Mark 6:30-32, the Lord Jesus Christ called for a holy convocation or solemn assembly with His disciples. The disciples had just returned from their very first missionary tour. Although they had many victories and testimonies of healing and casting out of demons, they were also very tired, confused (from seeing strangers casting out demons in the Name of Jesus), and full of several questions they wanted to ask the Master. On getting back to Jesus, they immediately bombarded Him with their reports, but Jesus would not engage them in the presence of the multitude. Instead, He called them apart for a solemn assembly. He said to them, “Come ye apart and rest a while”. Within the atmosphere of peace and quiet, the disciples were able to tell Jesus all about their labour, victories, challenges and ask their questions unhindered. The Lord Jesus in turn was able to properly instruct them, answer all their questions, clear their doubts, and minister to them appropriately.

However, it should be noted that the call for a solemn assembly was intentionally made to exclude the multitude. It was strictly designed for the hardworking disciples, who were exhausted, to come away and rest for some time. A solemn assembly is therefore a time to recharge our spiritual battery, a time of deep reflection and a time to meditate on the word of God. It is meant to be a time of total rest from daily physical work in order to be in the presence of the Lord. It is a time of separation unto God for spiritual worship, fasting and prayers, with high expectations of divine visitation. It is a time of very serious business with God that leaves no room for pettiness, gossip, indiscipline or any form of carnality. That is why the solemn assembly in the Redeemed Christian Church of God is strictly meant for mature ministers and workers of the Church. “Come ye apart” is an open invitation by God to His favoured children as a means of setting them apart for divine blessings. It could be a call to an individual, as was the case with Moses in Exodus 34:2-3, or a call to a group of people, as was the case with Jacob and his family in Genesis 35:1-7. May you receive your own special invitation today in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There was a popular Mexican soap opera on the Nigerian television scene a few years ago titled “The Rich Also Cry”. The title of this drama gives credence to the fact that every human being, no matter how intelligent, wealthy, powerful or highly placed, would at one time or the other in life require assistance to deal with circumstances beyond human capability and control. The situation that renders a person of great means incapacitated is usually the type that money, authority and influence cannot resolve. At such times, a call for supernatural assistance or divine intervention through desperate prayers to the Almighty God is the only option left. I pray that as you call on the Name of the Lord in the day of trouble, He will answer you by fire in Jesus’ Name. However, if you want your prayers to be answered, you have a responsibility to ensure that you are not in the habit of blocking your ears to the petitions of the poor and needy ones around you. Proverbs 21:13 says that a person who heartlessly disregards the needs of the feeble, weak and helpless is wicked. The prayers of such a person will be disregarded in the day of trouble, no matter how desperate their cry for help may be.

It is common knowledge that many African nations and some developing countries around the world have suffered and are still suffering under corrupt, selfish and tyrannical leaders. Officials are known to be crooked, and a bribe is required before any service is rendered. Salary and wages are not paid when due, and they are sometimes delayed for months on end by government and corporate employers. We have also seen some Christian ministers and clerics showing more interest in monetary gain than in serving God and the people. It is time for everyone involved in such evil acts to note that eternal damnation awaits them if they fail to repent. One of the terrible realities of our time is the fact that even the Church is falling short of fulfilling her responsibilities to the poor and needy. The Church must not leave the less-privileged persons in our communities at the mercy of politicians and government officials, irrespective of their promises and political agenda for the poor. This is because God has neither suspended nor revoked our mandate to care for the poor. The Body of Christ must wake up to the responsibilities of a loving and caring Church, if we want our collective prayers to be answered by God. I live my life in total dependence on the Almighty God as the Source of my life and all that I do; I am nothing without Him. I therefore cannot even bear to imagine what my life would be like if God ceased to hear me when I call Him. I decree in the Name that is above all other names that heaven will never ignore your cry for help in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.