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THE POWER OF PRAYER & FASTING part 2
Introduction
OUR STUDY OF PRAYER has emphasized the role of our prayers on earth to invoke the power of our God from heaven. Prayer is powerful because it is human weakness deferring to God’s strength. As James write, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (See James 5:16KJV.)
When the righteous pray fervently, God’s power is released to accomplish much. But, what about those times when the cares of life distract us from seeing our righteous standing before God through Christ and cause us to pray limp prayers that bounce back at us? In such times, our prayers need help. We need a breakthrough in our prayer lives.
A biblical key to a breakthrough in our prayer lives is to join fasting with prayer. We need to plug into the power of prayer and fasting. Jesus told His disciples on one occasion that the reason they could not cast out a particular spirit of infirmity from a demonized lad was because of their unbelief (See: Matthew 17:20-21). A few verses later, He added these words: "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." The point is that prayer and fasting combined can debunk our unbelief and re-empower our prayer lives. When prayer alone doesn’t work, prayer and fasting will bring the breakthrough.
I find that the practical lessons learned from the Bible regarding prayer and fasting can be presented in an orderly fashion by allowing the Bible to address the following question: When should we fast? Scripture answers this question in a variety of ways that are sure to touch each of our lives. Let’s look at them.
When We Feel Estranged From God
We should fast when we feel estranged from God. It is sin that separates us from God and brings upon us the sentence of death. (See Isaiah 59:2and Romans 6:23). But, Scripture teaches that Jesus took the penalty of our sins in His own death and defeated death for us through His resurrection. (See Romans 5:10.) By believing in and accepting this redeeming work of Jesus Christ for us, we are reconciled to God. (See Romans 5:1.) We are no longer estranged.
I don’t believe Christians ever feel estranged from God because of questioning Jesus’ work of redemption for them. I believe it is when they turn the focus upon themselves and question the sincerity of their own humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon. After all, these three responses on our part are the requirement of Scripture for receiving God saving grace.
When we feel that our hearts are growing cold toward God and that we lack sincerity in our humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon, fasting and prayer are instrumental in restoring passion in our relationship with God by bringing renewed depth and sincerity to our responses to Him. Let’s see how this plays out in Scripture.
Fasting signifies humility
The children of Israel were required by God’s decree to fast on the annual Day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 16:29). God’s gift of atonement was to be met by their response of humility. Fasting was the means by which they were to demonstrate their humility.
Saul of the New Testament exemplifies fasting as a response of humility before God. When he encountered the resurrected Christ in a vision on the Damascus Road and was brought to the realization that he had been fighting against God by persecuting the Church, he humbled himself with prayer and fasting for three days. (See Acts 9:9.) It was then that he received the gift of salvation, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and a call to take the gospel to the Gentiles. (See verses 15-18.) He was prepared to receive God’s grace through humility expressed in fasting.
Fasting demonstrates repentance
Joel’s prophesy of judgment upon unfaithful Israel was followed by a divine call to ward off judgment through a fast of repentance. The Lord beckoned, "‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.’" (See Joel 2:12-13.) Similarly, James exhorts New Testament believers with these words: "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (See James 4:8-10.) Fasting demonstrates the brokenness of a heart that is truly repentant for sin.
Fasting appeals to God for forgiveness and pardon
Ahab was a king of Israel described as one who "did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than those before him." (See 1 Kings 16:30). But when God spoke to him through Elijah with a prophecy of impending judgment, we read that he "he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly." (See 1 Kings 21:27.) God saw Ahab’s humility and fasting as repentance and withheld judgment until the next generation. (See verses 28-29.)
What God did for Ahab He will do for his people corporately. This is assured in the Lord’s response to Solomon’s prayer dedicating the temple: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (See 2 Chronicles 7:14.) The humble response of fasting and prayer, God said, would assure pardon and restoration.
A tell-tale sign that we are growing cold toward God is that our relationship with Him lacks heart. Humility, repentance, and acceptance of God’s pardon become more words that we say in prayer than genuine heart attitudes toward God. The principle is there but the passion is missing. In such a condition, if we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit that we feel estranged from God. How do we restore passion to our relationship with Him? The biblical answer is to humble ourselves before him with fasting and prayer.
When We Feel Weak and Vulnerable
We should fast when we feel weak and vulnerable. This may seem to be illogical as fasting weakens one physically. Many use food for psychologically gratification when they feel beat up emotionally. They are saying essentially, "I believe I’ll feel better after I eat." So, why on earth would one prescribe fasting to treat vulnerability?
The logic here is that vulnerability points to our dependence upon God, and prayer and fasting appeals to God to intervene at the point of our need. When we feel vulnerable, we need God to protect us from harm and give us victory over adversity. Scripture confirms that God responds to fasting and prayer by providing protection from harm and victory over the Enemy.
Fasting appeals to God for protection
When Ezra the scribe appealed to the Persian King Artaxerxes to send him and an entourage of devout Jews to Jerusalem to re-establish religious instruction and worship among the newly returned exiles, he called a fast for protection along the way. In his words, "There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions." (See Ezra 8:21) The result? "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer." (See verse 23.) Likewise Nehemiah, troubled by the report of the sad state of affairs among the returned exiles in Jerusalem, "mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (See Nehemiah 1:4.) As a result, God gave him favor with King Artaxerxes to secure the provisions and protection needed to travel to Jerusalem and assist in rebuilding the city.
Fasting appeals to God for victory
Jehoshaphat, a king of Judah, learned the power of prayer and fasting to conquer literal military adversaries. When faced with a military alliance of Ammonites, Moabites, and Meunites, Jehoshaphat called a fast for all the people of Judah. (See 2 Chronicles 20:3.) The result was that God set confusion in the camp of the enemy so that they turned upon themselves and destroyed each other. (See verses 22-23.)
For the prophet Elijah, prayer and fasting brought victory over a powerful demonic principality operating through Queen Jezebel. Elijah was fearless in the face of King Ahab and 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah (see 1 Kings 18:16-40) but ran for his life at the threat of Jezebel because she was empowered by a demonic principality of witchcraft that intimidated him. (See 1 Kings 19:1-3and 2 Kings 9:22.) At the end of a 40 day period of fasting and prayer while in route to Mount Horeb to meet with God, Elijah received a message from God that assured Him of the Lord’s sovereignty over political and spiritual forces. (See 1 Kings 19:15-18.) He was able to return at God’s command with no fear for his security as God had assured victory over his enemies.
Fasting places us in the position to receive from God’s hand protection from harm and victory over the Enemy of our soul. It is not that God withholds these blessings from us but that we have been blindsided by the Enemy into living below our privilege. Fasting and prayer open our eyes to see things in right perspective so that we cast off our insecurity complex and embrace an expectation of continual blessing and favor. To employ computer terminology, the old insecurity program is removed from memory and replaced with a new blessing program.
When We Feel Tension in Our Relationships
We should fast when we feel tension in our relationships. A sign that God’s grace is doing its work in our lives is that we have harmonious relationships with other believers. Walking in the light of God’s truth means that we "have fellowship with one another." (See 1 John 1:7.)
Fellowship implies that we relate to each other as equals. Lack of fellowship means that we either feel we are above others or below them. But, when we are able to accept ourselves and accept others equally, a fellowship is established that paves the way for the glory of God to be revealed. The prophet Isaiah writes, "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (See Isaiah 40:4-5.)
When done as God prescribes, fasting and prayer proves to be a great leveler. It brings the haughty down to size and lifts the oppressed from their valley of despair. This is evident from the description of God’s chosen fast as related in Isaiah 58.
We should fast when we tend to be oppressive towards others
Sometimes our lives become so self-absorbed that we unintentionally develop attitudes that are oppressive towards others. Even our fasting can be self-absorbed as it focuses on what we want from God as a result of our fast. In answer to such, God encouraged the people of Israel not to fast merely as an outward form of humility before God while continuing to exploit their workers and quarrel among themselves. (See Isaiah 58: 3-5.) Rather, their times of fasting were to be combined with setting the oppressed free and providing food for the hungry, clothing for the naked, and shelter for the homeless. (See verses 6-7.) Fasting as God prescribes turns oppressive attitudes into new attitudes that truly liberate others.
We should fast when we feel oppressed by others
The blessings of God promised to those who adhere to his chosen fast apply both to the repentant oppressor and the oppressed one who needs to be lifted from his valley of despair. Those blessings are listed as healing, vindication, revelation, enlightenment, satisfaction, strength, prosperity, productivity, joy, and victory. (See Isaiah 58: 8-14.) These are results of allowing fasting to be practiced in such a way that is becomes a great leveler to our relationships.
When fasting, we should combine the denial of self with the affirmation of others. We humble ourselves before God and commit to offer ourselves as servants to others to lift them from the humiliation of oppression. As we make this two-way commitment, we will find that God’s chosen fast replaces tension in our relationships with harmony among fellow believers.
When We Desire to Draw Closer to God
We should fast when we desire to draw closer to God. Fasting is not just a discipline for bringing problems to God to be fixed. It is also an expression of the heart’s longing for a greater intimacy in our walk with Him. It is to set aside our physical appetites and the time required to prepare meals in order to focus more of our time and attention upon the Lord.
Fasting assures a devotion that lasts
When we have trouble maintaining consistency in our devotion to the Lord, it is usually because it does not come natural to deny ourselves and put God and his interests ahead of our own. A regular practice of fasting and prayer helps assure more consistency in our devotion to God because it develops a lifestyle of self-denial. This is part of the cost of true discipleship. Jesus said, ""If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (See Luke 9:23.)
The prophetess Anna serves as an example of one whose lifestyle of fasting enabled a lasting devotion to God. She became a widow after only seven years of marriage. Thereafter, she was wholly devoted to the Lord into her late eighties. We read, "She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying." (See Luke 2:37.) And the intimacy she had with God was such that she immediately recognized the baby Jesus as the anointed Redeemer when His parents brought Him into the temple. (See verse 38.) Her devotion to the Lord made it easy for her to receive revelation from Him.
Fasting intensifies the worship of God
Another example of fasting being practiced as an aspect of worship is seen among the prophets and teachers of the church in Antioch. (See Acts 13:1-3.) They are described as "worshipping the Lord and fasting." (See verse 2.) Like Anna, their devotion to the Lord made it easy for them to hear from Him, and He spoke to them during their worship to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a missionary work to which they were divinely called. Upon receiving this word, they spent a season of time in fasting in prayer after which they laid hands upon Barnabas and Saul and sent them off on their first missionary journey. (See verse 3.)
Fasting is an exciting venture because it focuses us upon a deeper relationship with God. God is a jealous God who gives Himself most fully to those who give themselves to Him most completely. The discipline of fasting helps us to give ourselves more fully to the Lord by putting the ax to any tendencies we have that would distract our focus from Him. In develops in us a consistency of devotion that draws us into God’s confidence in which He is pleased to walk with us and talk with us.
When We Desire Spiritual Blessing and Insight
We should fast when we desire to experience greater spiritual blessing and understanding. Fasting not only helps us to draw closer to God, develop a consistency in our devotion to Him, and occasionally hear his voice when He speaks to us. It also helps us grow into mature disciples of Jesus Christ whose lives are enriched with an increase of blessing and wisdom. It aids us in getting to know Jesus better "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (See Colossians 2:3.)
Fasting brings divine rewards
In Jesus’ teaching on fasting, He warned that those who fast openly to draw attention to their piety will get that attention, but it will be the full extent of their reward for fasting. (See Matthew 6:16.) On the other hand, those who fast secretly desiring a deeper communion with God will be rewarded openly. (See verse 17-18.)
Jesus did not say just what kind of rewards God would openly bestow upon those who fast in secret. It is easy to surmise, though, that those who desire God’s favor over the applause of men will be blessed by God in every area of their lives. And, that will be hard to hide. When we prosper in our relationships, our labors, our finances, our ministries, and find favor with God and man, we have been rewarded openly. And, those who humbly fast for God’s kingdom alone can handle such blessings because they will desire only to lead others to the same.
Fasting brings divine revelation
We’ve seen that the prophetess Anna and the prophets and teachers in Antioch discovered that a lifestyle of worship and fasting enabled them to hear from God. In both of those cases, though, it was more of a word of knowledge they received rather than any extensive revelation. Two other biblical examples, though, demonstrate how fasting was the precursor to extensive revelations of God’s purposes for the nation of Israel and for the world.
Moses was fasting in the presence of God for forty days and nights at the time that God entrusted him with the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, God dictated them to him, and Moses himself wrote the commandments onto tablets of stone. (See Exodus 34:28.) This was a supernatural fast in which Moses was sustained with neither food nor water, and the presence of God was so great upon him that his face was radiant with God’s glory when he descended the mountain to return to the camp of Israel. (See verse 29.)
Daniel was concluding a twenty-one day fast (see Daniel 9:3; 10:10-13) when the angel Gabriel came to him in "swift flight" and gave him an extensive revelation of what would happen to the people of Israel from that time all the way through to the end of human history. (See Daniel 9-12.) It is significant that Daniel was deeply troubled by the sins of his people and combined his prolong fast with a heartfelt prayer of repentance on behalf of the Jewish exiles with him in Babylon when the angelic visit and extensive revelation occurred. The point is that Daniel’s heart was so one with God’s that God could trust him with a revelation of such great impact.
No doubt every follower of Jesus would say that they desire to be so one with God’s heart that God can trust them with revelation of things to come as He did Daniel. And, this is the promise of Jesus to those who would follow Him. He said to His disciples of the Holy Spirit, "he will tell you what is yet to come." (See John 16:13.) But if we, like Daniel, are to experience that ministry of the Holy Spirit that shows us things to come, we must have a reason to know. For Daniel, the reason was informed intercession. For us, perhaps it is to be both informed intercession and guided evangelism. The point is, though, our heart must be committed to God’s program if He is to share the program with us. Fasting and prayer is a key to deepening our commitment to God and His program and receiving revelation of the same.
When We Want to Be Equipped and to Equip Others
We should fast when we desire to be fully equipped for the ministry God has called us to and to be instrumental in equipping others to fulfill their calling. For effective ministry, we need not only to be able to hear from God in words or knowledge or extensive revelations of things to come. We need to be empowered to advance God’s kingdomand destroy the works of the devil in people’s lives.
Fasting empowers us for spiritual warfare
One Scriptural statement of the purpose of Jesus’ ministry reads as follows: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (See 1 John 3:8.) Our ministry as followers of Jesus is not only to advance the kingdom of God but to enforce the destruction of Satan’s kingdom from people’s lives. This requires not only spiritual revelation but spiritual power.
It was after Jesus empowered His disciples to heal the sick and drive out demons (see Matthew 10:1) that they had difficulties delivering a demonized boy from a spirit of infirmity causing seizures that would throw him into fire or water to destroy him. (See 17:15-16.) Jesus Himself delivered the boy from the demon of infirmity. He explained to His disciples, as we saw earlier, that they could not cast this spirit out because of unbelief but would indeed be able to expel such spirits through prayer and fasting combined. (See verse 21 in the NIV footnote.) As we’ve seen, fasting debunks that unbelief that hinders our prayer lives and thus re-empowers our prayers. In doing so, fasting is instrumental in empowering our ministries.
Fasting enables us in the ministry of impartation
It would be quite self-centered to desire a powerful ministry ourselves but have no interest in helping other believers experience the same. Our desire should be like that of the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Christians in Rome, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong -- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." (See Romans 1:11-12.) Paul wanted to impart spiritual gifts to other believers so that they could all the more powerfully advance God’s kingdom and destroy the works of the devil.
Paul understood the ministry of impartation and the role that fasting played in that ministry. After he and Barnabas had preached in the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch on their first missionary journey, they returned to those cities to appoint anointed leadership over the churches. We read: "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust." (See Acts 14:23.) In a sense, one could say that the fasting, prayer, and anointing of the apostles gave these newly appointed leaders a "jump start" for their ministries. To continue in the same, these leaders would have to prove themselves in fasting, prayer, and servant leadership.
To say that fasting and prayer both empower us for ministry and enables us to empower others for ministry through impartation shows yet again how fasting serves as a great leveler. We are not to build our own ministries but to serve the Body of Christ and evangelize the lost. Whatever fruitfulness we experience in ministry we should desire to help others experience. The goal is for the Body of Christ to work together to see God’s kingdom advanced and the powers of darkness dispelled. The discipline of fasting and prayer helps position us to labor with God toward making that happen.
Conclusion
Fasting and prayer does not change God. It changes us. It is not twisting God’s arm to get him to do our bidding but rather positioning ourselves to receive the grace He freely gives and to do His bidding.
Fasting and prayer combined removes the hindrances to our peace. It ensures the sincerity of our humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon so that we no longer feel estranged from God. It effectively appeals for God’s protection from harm and victory over the enemyof our souls so that we overcome feelings of weakness and vulnerability. It helps us humble ourselves and lift up others who are oppressed so that we vanquish tensions from our relationships.
Fasting and prayer combined also aids us in progressing in our walk with God. It helps us draw closer to him in consistency of devotion and worship. It brings an increase in spiritual blessing and understanding. It empowers us for ministry and enables us to effectively impart spiritual gifts and empowerment to others for fruitful ministry in their lives.
Fasting is a key to a revitalized prayer life and an empowered ministry. I pray that God motivates us to make it a regular discipline in our lives and to appeal to Him during times of prayer and fasting to grant each of these benefits that we find ourselves in need of so that we can experience a more fruitful ministry in His service.
THE POWER OF FASTING part 1
The power of fasting is not taught or emphasized much any more. Because fasting in our day it is unpopular. And Unfortunately, many preachers have the tendency to stay away from preaching and teaching on subjects and issues that are unpopular for fear that it will drive members away from their church or make people think they are to radical. Fasting has become unpopular because people don't want to do anything that will cause them to hurt, sacrifice, or make them uncomfortable whichfasting will do.
Everyone wants to know the Lord in the power of His resurrection. This represents walking in the miracles, signs, and wonders of the power and authority of God.
However, very few of us want to walk in the fellowship of His sufferings. Among many things, the fellowship of His suffering represents some of the painful and uncomfortable things we must do if we want to walk in the power of His resurrection.
Jesus for example had to go through sufferings in order to obtain the prize. In order for a solider to obtain victory, he must suffer the hardships of war, and last time i heard, i heard that we were soldiers in the army of the Lord. So if we want to achieve victory in our Christian walk, we too must learn the suffering of fasting.
Many people are satisfied with the fact that Jesus died for their sins and that they are going to go to heaven. They seem not to care that they are living defeated lives. They have in essence accepted defeat here on earth and look forward to their ultimate rest in heaven. However that's not the kind of life that God desires for us. (John 10:10)
Jesus did not come to sacrifice His life and die on the cross for us to only have eternal life; He sacrificed His life and died on the cross so that we may also be able to live a victorious life here on earth.
Although fasting may not be relative for those who are satisfied with living a defeated life, fasting is a necessity for those who want to live the victorious life in Christ.
Not If, But When Ye Fast
Fasting should be a part of every born again believers life.It may not be required every day, such as in the case of prayer, but fasting still nonetheless should be a part of your life. In a passage of scripture in Matthew when Jesus had been talking about prayer. The scripture says, "When you pray...." The question about prayer should not be "if" we pray, but rather, "when" we pray. Jesus taught that prayer is essential to our spiritual survival. Likewise, in the second passage, Jesus starts off the same way withfasting by saying, "when yefast...." Jesus was making the same point with fasting as He was making with prayer. Again it's not a question of "if" we fast, but "when" wefast.
I have heard many people tell me that fasting is not essential. They tell me thatfasting is only for church leaders. The devil is liar! Satan will attack your life no matter who you are. So regardless of whether you are a bishop, pastor, minister, or simply a lay member, you need to fast.
Saying that fasting is not essential or necessary for our spiritual lives is like saying that proper eating, dieting, exercises, and rest is not necessary for the physical body. Although you can live a life without proper eating, dieting, exercises, and rest, this kind of lifestyle will leave you prone to stress, sickness, disease, an unhealthy body and may even shorten your life. So yes, you can live your life without having any caution in these things, but you will have a poorer standard of life.
In the same manner you don't have to really fast but living your life withoutfasting can hinder your spiritual life and results in your being susceptible to the control and domination of satan rather than by the Holy Spirit.
Now i know some of you are saying it's hard to fast. Why is it so hard? To understand why it's so hard to fast, you must first understand that we are made up of spirit, soul, and body. The spirit part of you is eager to pray, fast, seek the face of God, and anything else that will draw you closer to God and give you victory in your life. However your flesh gets absolutely nothing out of spiritual things, and therefore does not want to fast. (Matthew 26:41)
If you are born again, your spirit has been awakened from death and has come alive to Christ. It is therefore willing to do whatever pleases God or draws you closer to Him. However, your flesh is weak and is vulnerable to the temptations and seductions of satan.Your flesh is what satan uses to gain control of your soul.
The soul is like a child. Unless a child is both taught and disciplined, it will be hard to get that child to do things they do not like to do. One must constantly train and discipline a child. Likewise in the spirit realm, one must constantly train and discipline your soul if you expect to win the fight against sin, unrighteousness, and carnality.
The Older Shall Serve the Younger
Fastingis a war of the soul. Your spirit is supposed to have dominance over your soul and flesh. In the passage of scripture in Genesis 25:21-23 you will see an example of what I'm talking about.
Genesis 25:21-23, "And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and said, If it be so, why am i thus? And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in the womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
In this passage, Rebecca (Isaac's wife) was pregnant with twins. She had an extremely difficult time carrying the twins and sought the face of the Lord as to why she was having such a difficult time. The Lord revealed to her that her twins represented two nations of people that would struggle against each other. The Lord also revealed to her that one nation would be stronger than the other nation and that the elder would serve the younger.
She eventually gave birth to two sons. The name of her first son was Esau, and the name of her second son was Jacob. Esau represents the flesh, and Jacob represents the spirit. In Romans 9:13, God said, "....Jacob have i loved, but Esau have i hated." God was not talking about hating Esau and loving Jacob more as a person, He was talking about what they represented. Esau represents the person who is dominated, controlled and led by the lust and desires of their flesh, while Jacob represents a person who is dominated, controlled and led by the Spirit Of God. In essence, God was saying that He loves those that walk after the spirit, and He hates the sinful nature of those who walk after the lust and desires of their flesh.
Our flesh should be submitted and subjected to the control and directives of your spirit. As a born again Christian, we have two birth dates. You have the day you were born physically, and you also have the day that you were born spiritually. Our natural, physical man is much older than our spiritual man. So what God is saying is that our older man-the natural, physical man, should be subjected to the control and dominance of the younger, our spirit-man.
Unfortunately, many Christians are controlled by Esau (their carnal mind, flesh, and inert desires) rather than by Jacob (The Holy Spirit within them). Instead of Jacob being in control, Esau is in control. Instead of the older (the flesh) serving (being subjected to) the younger (the spirit), the younger is dominated and subjected to the control of the elder. If you are led by Esau, you will sell out and compromise with the devil.
You see,fasting helps to strengthen the spirit-man, while weakening the control, strongholds and yokes of the flesh-allowing your spirit to be in control and dominate instead. Unfortunately there are way to many born-again Christian who because of a lack offasting andpraying live defeated lives, and live in all kinds of bondage to the flesh.
If satan has told you that you cannot have victory in any area of your life, he has lied to you. He is liar and the father of lies. If you have accepted defeat in any area of your life, you have accepted his lie. But if you will begin to pray and fast you will begin to experience victory and liberty in Christ instead of defeat.
Fasting Gives You Keys To The Kingdom
Fasting gives you keys to the kingdom, and the keys to the kingdom represent the power and authority that God has given to us and made available to us. We are in a spiritual warfare. When a person becomes born again, God gives them weapons by which to fight, but it is up to us to utilize our weapons.
Matthew 16:19 "And i will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"
Notice in the above passage, the word "keys" is plural-meaning that there is more than one key that we can use in binding and loosening the devil. Some people say that they have been praying for a particular thing, and it seems that their prayers are not answered.This use to happen a lot to me, until i learned that you have to use all that God has gave you! So "how many keys have you tried?" This could be the reason why your prayers haven't been answered.
For example, there are different weapons a soldier can use to destroy his enemy on the physical battlefield, there are also different weapons (keys) we can use to destroy our enemy-the devil. You have the key of prayer, reading and studying the Word, confession of the Word, worship and praise, and the awesome key of fasting.
You see God has given us the "keys" to bind, loose, and destroy the works of Satan in your life and in the lives of others. So if the key of prayer is not working for you, don't give up; use the key offasting and prayer and unlock the door to your deliverance.
Fasting and Prayer
In the book of Matthew, chapter 6, beginning at verse 6, Jesus begins a teaching on prayer. Many think He ends teaching with verse 13. However, He actually ends His teaching on prayer with verse 18 talking aboutfasting.
Fastingis a key part of prayer because together, fasting and prayer gives you the power you need to overcome the enemy, as well as his attempts to deceive, hinder, bind, or destroy you.
You can have prayer without fasting, but you cannot have fasting without prayer. There is nowhere in the Bible where you can find someone obtaining victory from fasting without combining it with prayer. When you fast and do not pray, you are only dieting. Although there are some health benefits to fasting alone, without prayer, it has no spiritual benefit.
When You Pray
When we pray, God does not sit in heaven playing games with us waiting to see how hard or long we will pray, but when we pray according to the Word of God, He dispatches His angels with the answers to our prayers. Matthew 7:7-11
So if this is true, then what happens to our prayers when we pray? To understand you must take a look atDaniel 10:12. The passage clearly describes what happens to our prayers that have (seemingly) gone unanswered. Daniel had been praying and fasting for 21 days; finally on the 21st day the angel arrived with Daniel's deliverance and answer to his prayers. The angel informed Daniel that God had heard him and released the answer to his prayer the first time he prayed. Likewise, you must understand that when you pray according to the Word of God, the Lord also releases the answer to your prayers the very first day you pray. The thing that holds up or hinders our prayers is the same thing that hindered Daniel's prayer.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"Ephesians 6:12
This passage above shows us the different levels of principalities and demonic powers we fight against. When you pray, God releases the answers to your prayers. Once they are released, they must get through several levels of spiritual demonic resistance before they arrive to us.
Depending on satan's strategy and attack against your life, your prayers are sometimes met with serious resistance by demonic principalities and powers in high places. Daniel angel was hindered by principalities that was assigned over that nation. *NOTE* There are demonic spirits assigned to every person, home, church, city, state, nation, and continent.
The higher the level, the stronger the demonic opposition. Daniel's prayer was hindered by one of the highest demonic oppositions.
What was it that caused Daniel's angel to finally break through with the answer to his prayers? It was the fact that Daniel's angel received help from a hierarchy warrior angel. You see, you have some angels that are messengers and some that are warriors. Example, Gabriel is a messenger angel. Whenever you find Gabriel in the Bible, he is always delivering a message. Michael is a warrior angel. Whenever you find Michael, he is always warring.
When you pray and confess the Word of God, God releases the answers to your prayers to the messenger angels. If it seems that your prayers have not been answered,the problem is not that God has not sent the answer, the problem is that your prayers have been held up by demonic resistance. In this case, you need more than the key of prayer; you need the key offasting and prayer.
I think we can safely assume that Daniel prayed before he began fasting and praying. We are to do the same thing. We pray and stand on God's Word; but when there is resistance, we initiate a fast along with our prayers.
When you pray, God not only sends out the messenger angels with the answer to your prayers, He also assigns the warrior angels to stand ready in case the messenger angels come up against strong resistance. Daniel's initial prayer released the messenger angels, but when he beganprayer and fasting, it released the warrior angels to also stand ready.
it's the same with us. When you fast along with your prayer, God assigns warrior angels that are able to (with your continued fasting and prayer) break through even the toughest lines of demonic hindrances and resistance, and bring your deliverance and answers to your prayers.
FEBRUARY FASTING COVENANT PRAYER POINTS
THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD
COVENANT PRAYER POINTS
FOR FEBRUARY 2012
"Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." 2 Kings 7:1
The sounds of abundance of rain were echoed at the very beginning when this year was just about an hour old. These words of gladness, spoken and sent to us from our Father in Heaven through his anointed, daddy E.A. Adeboye, have created a kind of hope for "NEW THINGS" that this very year 2012 is known for. We believe that like the days of Elisha, the prophecies for this year will experience a very rapid fulfillment in Jesus Name.
THE PRAYER POINTS
Prayers of THANKSGIVING will be our focus in the first week this February.
Each day of Second, third and last week would be dedicated to special prayers for Daddy E.A. Adeboye as Daddy clocks 70 in March.
Also in the last three weeks, we shall pray this year's prophecies into fulfillment. Each week contains the one for the week.
As we pray this month, we strongly believe that our God will make us "...to hear joy and gladness..."Psalms 51:8. He would rebuke the wind and there will be"... a great calm" Mark4:39
WEEK ONE FEBRAURY 1-5
THANKSGIVING
RCCG
1. Thank God for His mercy on RCCG. Rom. 9: 15-16
2. Thank God for not allowing the enemy to have none of his ways on RCCG Ps. 124
3. Thank God for His awesome moves in RCCG. Ps 136
4. Thank God for what He has done for you and every individual in RCCG. Ps 138
5. Thank God for Daddy and Mummy G.O and for His mercy on them Exod. 33:19.
NIGERIA
1. Let us thank God for what He is doing in Nigeria
2. Let us thank God for not allowing perpetual civil war to exist in Nigeria
3. Let us bless the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the growth of Christianity in Nigeria
4. Let us thank God for helping Nigeria to remain a United Nation
DADDY G. O
1. Thank God for calling and backing up Daddy and Mummy GO in the ministry.
2. Let us thank God for mercy on the family of Daddy GO.
3. Let us thank God for divine health in the family of Daddy G.O
4. Let us bless the name of the Lord for backing Daddy G. O up in the ministry
5. Let us thank God for all the souls won through Daddy G.O‘s ministry.
PERSONAL
1. Thank God for not allowing the enemy to cage you and yours.
2. Thank God for providing for you
3. Thank God for you are still alive to praise, His Holy name
4. Bless the name of the Lord for His mercies over your life.
WEEK TWO FEBRUARY 6-12
Year 2012 prophecy for Individuals:
Pray fervently for the fulfillment of these prophecies
1. He said many considered to be absolutely barren will be fruitful.
2. He said family histories will be rewritten, including an end to premature death.
3. He said desperate prayers will get quick reply this year.
4. He said some will experience massive transfer of wealth from the wicked to the just.
PRAYER FOR DADDY G.O
1. Pray for more physical and spiritual strength for Daddy GO as he
clocks 70
2. Let us pray that the hand of the lord will be upon Daddy G.O as he celebrates his 70th birthday.
3. Let us pray that every cloud of darkness that may be gathering around the ministerial assignment of Daddy and Mummy G.O should disappear for the light to prevail.
4. Let us pray that God will surround Daddy G.O with His special grace as mountains surround Jerusalem. Ps.125:2
5. Let's pray that all the great visions and promises from God be fulfilled without delay in daddy G.O's life time.
6. Pray that God would raise additional great men and women who will continually lift up daddy G.O's hands in every aspect of his ministerial pursuit.
7. Pray for the entire biological family of Daddy for God's special grace upon their lives.
PRAYER FOR NIGERIA
1. Let us ask God to be merciful to us in Nigeria especially the children of God Exod. 20:6
2. Let us ask God to visit Nigeria with mercy Romans 9:16
3. Let us use the blood of Jesus to cancel the covenant of death and destruction of lives in Nigeria.
4. Let us send the spirit of confusion of language into camps of the enemy of the enemies of Nigeria, where intimidations, killings, burning down of churches and destructions of properties that belong to children of God is originating from. Gen.11:1-9
5. Let us decree that every gathering to kill and destroy be frustrated by the Blood of Jesus. Isa. 54:15
6. Let us pray against civil war
7. Let us pray that the terrorists and all other related sect from today should begin to attack and destroy each other continually forever. Isa 49:24-26, Gen.11:1-9
WEEK THREE FEBRUARY 13-19
PRAYER FOR DADDY G.O (see week two)
Make use of these prophecies to pray for Nigeria:
1. God says He has surprises both for His own and for the enemies of the church.
2. He said before this year ends, it will be said of Nigeria; all is well that ends well.
3, He said we are to pray more for prominent Nigerians, so that those who see this year may see the next.
PRAYER FOR THE FORTH COMING SPECIAL HOLY GHOST SERVICE IN MARCH
1. Let us ask God to deliver every captive of the mighty.Isa.49:24-26.
2. Let us pray for full restoration of His people Ps.126:1-6.
3. Let us thank God for all the past Special Holy Ghost Services. Ps. 127:1-3
4. Let us pray that God will confirm the word of Daddy G.O concerning his request for seventy thousand children to mark his 70th birthday this year
5. Let us thank God for all the unusual miracles He is going to do this time around Deut. 11:3; Jn.6:2
6. Let us pray that God will be merciful and remember the barren and those suffering from secondary infertility in this program as Daddy has asked God for seventy thousand children from God. 1Sam. 1:16-20.
7. Let us plead the Blood of Jesus to frustrate every programme of evil causing accidents and traffic jam on Lagos – Ibadan express way and other highways every in Nigeria that weekend.
8. Let us pray that God will use Daddy G.O like never before during the programme, to use the word of God to reshape every altered Destiny in the life of the children of God.
9. Let us pray that God will anoint all the participants to fulfill their destinies.
10. Pray for more strength for Daddy G O and all the Pastors, Ministers and workers, that God will use them mightily during this special Holy Ghost service Deut.33:25; Josh.14:11; 1Chron.29:12; Josh. 14:9.
WEEK FOUR FEBRUARY 20-26
PRAYER FOR DADDY G.O. (see week two and three)
Make use of these prophecies to pray for the world at large
International:
1. Daddy says there will be a lot of power transfer.
2. He said new phenomenon will startle scientists.
3. He said we are to pray against earth quakes of record magnitude, tsunamis of record proportion and massive hurricanes. if we pray they will be subdued.
4. The civil unrest that started last year will begin to end this year.
SOME OTHER STRATEGIC PRAYERS
Pray specially and specifically for the Engineering department, Choir, Ushers, Prayer Warriors and other workers that will work during the special Holy Ghost service.
Pray against terrorists, kidnappers, ritual killers and robbers during the programme. Ps.124:6 Prov. 15:30.
THE LAST THREE DAYS (Feb. 27-28)
PERSONAL RETREAT, WAITING, DEDICATION AND WORSHIP
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isa. 40:29-31
1. Confession of sin. Zech.3:1, 3. Ex. 20:1-5
2. Repentance. Zech.3.7
3. Pleading for mercy. Ex. 20:6, Rom. 9:15-16
4. Ask God to rebuke Satan on your behalf. Zech. 3:2.
5. Ask God to remove every filthy garment, you may be wearing. Zech. 3:4
6. Ask God for a new garment. Zech. 3:5
GOD BLESS YOU.
FROM THE DIRECTORATE OF PRAYER
BIBLICAL FASTING
Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline which was encouraged by Jesus, Himself, while He was on earth. When questioned as to why the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist fasted while Jesus disciples did not, Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15).
Jesus was indicating that fasting would become a necessity when, the bridegroom (Jesus) was taken away. While Jesus, who was God manifested in human form, was still on earth, His followers enjoyed a close fellowship and friendship with Him. Jesus bestowed power and authority on them to the extent that they had limited power to preach, heal the sick, and cast out devils. Similarly, when Jesus sent them out to minister to the populace, He instructed them to take few provisions. “Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one’” (Luke 22:35-36).
Jesus was teaching that after His departure, the entire dynamic would change and the disciples would need a different type of preparation and provision. Fasting was to be a vital part of this new preparation. The new covenant is based on the truth that we have received everything in Christ, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
Nevertheless, we cooperate with the Spirit in the working out of our salvation with much prayer, meditation, and the study of God’s Word. In addition to all these spiritual practices, Christians should also employ the humbling discipline of fasting.
Is there a proper method to fasting?
Biblical fasting, unlike fasting for medical or health reasons, must be done with an attitude of seriousness and sincerity. When we fast, we willingly deprive the body of nourishment and the pleasurable taste of food. The body requires food for sustenance; therefore our hearts and minds must be totally focused and directed towards God so that He may be the full source of our strength during our period of fasting.
Fasting must also be done in an attitude of humility. It is not necessary for others to know we are fasting; it is directed towards God. “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18).
In addition to our attitudes towards God and our stance before man, our motives must also be correct. We should fast in order to further the building up of God’s kingdom by seeking to minister to others. The prophet Isaiah received from the Lord the acceptable motives for our fasts: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).
Fasts may last for varying lengths of time -- one day, three days, seven days, and more. We should prayerfully seek the Lord about the length of our fast. Fasting should have an object in mind; we should have a clear idea of the need and purpose. One of the most pressing reasons for Christian fasting may be revival -- “Will you not revive us again. . .” (Psalm 85:6).
What are the benefits of Christian fasting?
Biblical fasting brings us into a closer union with God. While our bodies are being deprived for the purpose of drawing near to God, He has promised in return to draw near to us. This is a spiritual certainty. As we decrease, the Spirit increases. As individuals we are strengthened and renewed. “. . .Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
While this verse applies to our eternal destiny, the principle applies to our daily sojourn; as we humble and deprive our bodies through fasting, our spiritual man is made stronger and our senses more acute. This principle served the apostles well during the early church days. Their decisions were made through fasting and prayer; God gave them instructions and directions. “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3).
Wicked kings, destined for destruction, received mercy from humbling themselves and fasting (1 Kings 21:29). The entire city of Nineveh, including animals, fasted upon hearing the pronouncement of judgment from the prophet Jonah -- and God spared them (Jonah 3:10). Jesus received divine preparation for His earthly ministry while fasting and enduring temptation. Moses waited upon God forty days and received the divine revelation of God’s commandments.
While we await the return of the bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ, fasting exemplifies our attitude of spiritual hunger -- the promise is that we will be satisfied. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
Therefore, through this February fasting, be rest assured that the Lord will do a new thing in your life.The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Don’t get discouraged and carried away by people’s opinion, get committed for those who wait on the LORD surely have renewal of strength.
STAY BLESSED.
A NEW ALTAR
Let’s lift our voices unto Him and worship the Almighty God, the One who is, Greater than the greatest, who is better than the best, who is Higher than the highest.
Bless the Almighty God, give Him all glory, give Him all honor, give Him all adoration, bless His holy name, He is worthy to be praised.
There is no one like Him, He is the Almighty God, He is our help in ages past; He is our hope for years to come, He is the Almighty.
Give Him glory, give Him honor, give Him adoration, and bless Him. Thank you for last year Lord, thank you for bringing us to a brand new year, Thank you Father... In Jesus mighty name we worship
Now as an individual, you want to thank God for all he did for you last year; for keeping you alive, eyes to see, ears to ear, mouth that can still shout, hands that can still clap, legs that can still dance. Go ahead bless the name of the Lord as an individual for what He has done for you in the past one year.
Give Him glory, give Him honor, and give Him adoration. He is worthy to be praised. Bless His holy name… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Now lift your voice to Him and say Father, please let this year be absolutely glorious for me, go ahead and talk to the Almighty God… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Now lift your voice to Him and say Father, I have started this year well, let me end it well… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
With all your heart, lift your voice to the Almighty God and say Father, arise for Nigeria, take absolute control… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Father, Higher than the highest, you are Greater than the greatest, Better than the best, Older than the oldest, Stronger than the strongest, Wiser than the wisest, glory be to your holy name. Father glory be to your holy name. Thank you for what you did last year, thank you for what you did during the congress, thank you for what you did at the end of the year. Thank you for what you did since the year began, accept our worship in Jesus name.
Today is the first Holy Ghost service in the year 2012, do something new in our lives, do something new in our homes, do something new in our business, do something new in your churches.
Father, take control of Nigeria, arise for this nation, arise speedily for this nation, Father let all be well, let all be well very soon. We have started this year well, please Lord let us end well. Answer all our prayers tonight… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Let someone shout halleluiah!
I want to say happy New Year to all of you!
I want to also quickly tell you a little story before I go on. Some of you know what is called bed bugs, in the old days when people sleeps on wooden beds and mats, bed bugs will also be doing a good job.
One day a man took out his wooden bed and because bed bugs hid in the woods and corners of the bed; he poured very hot water on the bed and the baby bugs began to shout and scream. The mother bugs said to the children bugs “take is easy, there is nothing hot that will not become cold”.
If you receive that let me hear you shout halleluiah!
SPECIAL PRAYERS:
Children born in the month of January stand up and let me pray for you. Father, I want to bless you for the children born in the month of January, this children born in the very first month of the year must be very special to you, in all areas of their lives, let them come first, let them be leaders. Give them unique miracles, give them new joy, new blessings, new promotions, let this year be a very successful year for them and let them serve you like never before, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
The number twelve is a very important number; there are twelve tribes of Israel, there are twelve apostles, there are twelve gates to Jerusalem, when Jesus was twelve year old; He began to show professor, that twelve years old can do something special.
So all children who are here today who are twelve year old, stand on your feet I want to pray for you.
Father, I commit all these special children into your hands, even as they become twelve, all the blessings of adulthood release unto them in Jesus name. The kind of wisdom that Jesus had at the age of twelve; release to them now in Jesus now. Let them be outstanding, let them be special and use them mightily for your glory… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
February Holy Ghost service is going to be very special; it is going to be one Holy Ghost service we are going to be making some special decrees. The theme for that Holy Ghost service is “LIFT UP YOUR HEAD OH YE GATE”. So you know the reason why you shouldn’t miss that for anything.
For those of us who are covenant partners as well as all members in The Redeemed Christian church of God, Iam sure you know our fasting begins from the first of February, the Almighty God who has been using that period to bless us, will bless us again this year like never before.
TOPIC: A NEW ALTAR
1 kings 18 v 30 – 39 And Elijah said unto all the people, come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood and said, fill four barrels with water and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran around about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be know this day that thou art God in Israel and that I am thy servant and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me; o Lord hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God and that thou turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said. The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.
An altar is the meeting place between the physical and the spiritual. Everybody knows; Christians, non Christians, those who believe in God and those who does not believe in God, they know that the spiritual control the physical. That is why those who do not have Jesus Christ result to contacting forces of darkness for one thing or the other. So they bath themselves with special soap, rob themselves with special ointment in an attempt to woe the spiritual to come to their aid.
And the Christians know that it is the blessings of the Lord that makes rich and added no sorrow to it.
I pray tonight that that blessing of the Lord, that makes rich, without adding any sorrow, will be your portion in Jesus name.
Many at times I have heard of people who go to certain “prophets” and they come back saying they receive miracles. I always ask them the question; at what cost? And we are not talking about material cost; we are talking about spiritual cost.
I want you to pay a special attention tonight, this is not an ordinary night, I believe that the destinies of several people will be changed for the better tonight.
A sister was barren for years. We prayed for her, we did everything we knew and we left everything in the hand of God. She felt that we didn’t try enough, so she visited a “prophet” and came back within three months; “look at me I am pregnant”. I said congratulation. All we have being praying for is that you become pregnant. One pass, two years, three years, four year, five years.
That kind of miracle they would then become a sorrow to you, you will never get it in Jesus name.
The altar is where the physical contacts the spiritual that is the place where human beings goes to contact either God or demons. But the altar we are talking about tonight the emphasis is on the word NEW ALTAR. Building a new altar to God. Because whether it is God or demons that you want to contact, if it is God, God expects you to build the Altar. That you prepare a place, where the two of you can meet. If it is the devil, he expects you to build a altar. The building of the altar is your own responsibility.
There are two possibilities, either you destroy the altars that existed before and then build a new one for God, like it happened in Judges 6 v 25 – 27 the angel told Gideon, pull down the altar of Ball that is in your father’s house and build a new altar to God.
The old must go, if the new is to stay. Why? Matthew 9 v 16 -17 the Bible says you do not mend an old cloth by putting new one. We don’t put new wine in an old wine bottle. If you want to build a new altar to God, the first thing you must do is to remove the altar to the devil. The two cannot co exit. 2 Corinthians 5 v 5-17 He said therefore if any man being in Christ he is a new creature, old thing are passed away, behold all things are become new.
The altars that you have built to the devil before, they must go tonight, for new altar to God to take his place. The idols you have been worshipping in your family up till tonight; I know many of you will say but I don’t go there to bow down, I only send them money every year, for them to buy the necessary animal for the sacrifice. That must stop tonight. A servant cannot serve two masters. This is a very special year; you need to break with the past because God wants to do new things. When you do that, when you destroy the altars of Satan, and you build a new one to God, you can expect the following things.
- •1. You will get deliverance from your enemies’ Judges 6 v 28-32. When Gideon pull down the altar of Biel in his father house, the worshippers of Biel rose up against him but the almighty God delivered him from them all. Proverbs 16 v 7 the Bible says when a man’s way pleases God, He will cause his enemies to be at peace with him. And like I told those of you who came to the Holy Communion last night. In the name that is above every other name, all the problems that plagued you in the last year, not one will follow you into this New Year.
- •2. When you destroy the altar of Satan and you build the Altar of God, you will get deliverance from God Psalm 118 v 17 He said I will live I will not die and I will declares the works of the Lord. They wanted to kill Gideon, but Gideon lived. Anyone who is waiting for your funeral, you will attend their burial. You follow the story of Gideon; by the time you get to Judges 7 v 19 – 23 you will discover that Gideon had outstanding victories with just a handful of people. It was in the life of Gideon that it was first established that one man defeated a thousand.
I have good news for somebody here today, that if you will destroy the altars of Satan and build an altar to God, from this moment onward, you will have victory without a fight.
The second way to build a new altar to God is the text we read at the beginning. You first of all repair the altar of God that was broken down. Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. Thank God there are some of us, who do not worship idols anymore, for a long time we have separated from all the idols, but then we say we belong to the Lord; and now we are neither hot nor cold. The altar of God that is in our life had gone into disrepair.
We now serve God when it is convenient for us, we don’t want to make any sacrifice to serve God, that must changed. We must repair the altar of God that has gone into disrepair in our lives, because for a new altar to be built to God, obedience must be total.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said before this year ends, it will be evident that you are a child of destiny.
Deuteronomy 28 v 1-2God said if you will hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all that he commands you, it is then that he says blessings will pursue you and overtake you. God hates half obedience; God will prefer that you are hundred percent an idol worshipper, than that you will be one leg inside, one leg outside. He said if you are lukewarm; he will spool you out of his mouth.
The reason is simple; when you are not on the side of the Lord, if anything happen to you, nobody will blame God, but when people think you belong to God but yet half of you belong to the devil. When something happens to you, they blame God; they will say where is your God and God will say this fellow is o not on my side.
On more than one occasion, we have prayed and prayed for some people and nothing happened and in desperation I will talk to God. God what is happening? I have done everything you taught me to do, why is something not happening. On more than one occasion God has said to me, ask the fellow, ask the fellow you are laboring for. This fellow claimed to be on my side but he is not on my side. He comes to church, he sings, he shouts, when he leaves the church, what does he do?
Some of you know this story, most of you who are old in the church, a very prominent chief was sick, in a town not too far from here and they invited me to pray for him, when I get there as usual, I preached the gospel to him, he said “ I am a Christian” I said I am talking about being born again. He said “I have been born again a long time. I said then you will be healed. So I prayed for him and came back the following week to check, no change at all. So I said I know what I will do: I will send my prayer warriors, my two personal prayer warriors. I told them, I want you to go and stay with this chief, fast for seven days and night, even the water you are going to drink, take it from home. They were there day seven days and seven nights. They fasted they prayed nothing happened. So I went there and I said I know what I will do; I will do the fasting and I will pray myself and I will do it for 21days and night. God spoke to me and said “son if you want to fast it is good, but not for this fellow, done waste your energy”.
But I said why not, he is one of your children, God says he is not, God says ask him seven questions. One of the questions is “how many secret society does he belong to?” I won’t bother you with the remaining six. When I finished the seven questions, you know what he said to me? He said, don’t come again.
That altar of Satan that is in your life will be destroyed tonight. The altar of God that has fallen into disrepair in your life shall be repaired tonight.
Many of you know how you use to pray, many of you knows how you use to study the word of God, many of you know what you will sacrifice just for God, but now things are different and yet God wants to do a new things. He will include you in Jesus name.
When you repair the altar of the Lord and build a new one like Elijah did, you can expect the followings:
- •1. Instants answer to your prayer Psalm 50 v 14 -15 he said you come to God with thanksgiving, pay all your vows to him, he said then you call on me in the days of trouble and I will answer you. When you have repaired his altar, when your obedience to all his laws is complete, he said you call on me in the day of trouble and I will answer you. I am believing God for every one of you tonight, those of you who are listening on Radio, Television and Internet all your prayers this year will be answered by fire.
- •2. When you have repaired d the altar of God and built a new one, then your offering shall be accepted of the Lord.
The Lord said there is a lady here, he ask me just to tell you, you will not lose the pregnancy.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said this year, I will enlarge your coast speedily and rapidly.
In Genesis 4 v 3 -5 two people brought offerings to God; Cain and Abel. God accepted the offering of one and rejected the offering of another.
May the Almighty God not reject your offering in Jesus name.
- •3. When you have repaired the altar of the Lord and built a new one, then your potentials shall be activated. When the fire fell on Mount Carmel, it was an answer to prayer. He picked up the offering and took it to offering and then he consumed the fire wood. He turned wood to fire. Every wood has the potential of becoming fire; every wood has the potential of becoming a blessing. A blessing in cooking, in warming people who are cold and so on as so forth. Inside you is a potential, there is something God put in you when he created you, God didn’t send you into this world to just come and eat and wear some dress, he wanted you to become a blessings to your generation and that will begin from now in the name of Jesus.
- •4. When you have repaired the altar of the Lord and you built a new one to him, hardship will come to an end in your life. When the fire fell on mount Carmel, it was not only the fire wood that he consumes, it consumes the rock; the symbol of hardship was removed.
I prophecy to someone tonight, this year you will never know hardship at all.
Then not only that, the fire licked up the water; that means if you do what we are asking you to do, if you build this new altar to God, you will never have cause to sorrow again.
Remember the Bible says weeping may endure for a night; joy cometh in the morning. I know you have been quoting that passage for years.
But as the Lord lives, as you repair his altar and build a new one, by the time the sun rises tomorrow, your joy would have arrived.
Not only that, the fire also consumed the dust that was on the ground. And we have explained to you before that the dust stands for the flesh. When you do what God asked you to do, when you build this new altar to God, the grace to overcome lust of the flesh will be released. Romans 6 v 16 – 18
The Lord said there is someone one here tonight, he said everyone in your family is sick, the Lord ask me to tell you, I will heal every one of them.
The Lord said every year has its dry season and raining reason, he said but there is someone here tonight, he said this year will be an exception because it will be raining season all the time.
Romans 16 v 8 says sins shall no longer have dominion over you, the Almighty God will give you the grace to live above the lust of the flesh and then when this fire fell, everybody fell on their faces and said the Lord is God. In a single a moment, God turned a whole nation to God.
Do you know that winning souls will become easy for you if you build a new altar to God, the reason why many members of your family are yet to accept Christ, is because they are confused, the look at you and know that you are neither in nor out and they are wondering “should we become like this or stay as we are?”
I am praying for someone here tonight every member of your family will be saved before the end of this month.
When you build a new altar to God, it is then you begin to hear the sound of abundance, it was after Elijah build a new altar to God that he said to Ahab I have heard the abundant of rain, and shortly after hearing the sound of abundant of rain, there were showers.
I have good news for somebody here today, even as God has spoken, this will be your own year of showers of blessings.
The Lord said there is a family here, he said I have scattered the forces causing stagnation in your family.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said as far as you are concern, laboring in vain ends with last year.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight he said do what my son is telling you and in this one year, you will achieve more than you have done in the last ten years.
Ephesians 3 v 20says God is able to do exceedingly; abundantly what you can ask or think. If you build a new altar to God, even before you pray he will answer, and not only will He answer you, He will do more than you can dream possible.
I have told you the story before, it may sounds little to you but it was significant to me then. We were going a-fishing, myself and my last two boys with the driver, years ago. We got to some where we saw a sign board; Turkey for sale. It was Christmas period, and I just said to myself, since I was born, I never had turkey for Christmas. I just said that one and we went on our go and fishing. By the time we came home, three turkeys were waiting for me.
And then I went to church in Ebute-Metta the following Sunday, I said look at what happened. I didn’t pray for turkey, three came and I said to them jokingly, I said that is not an invitation to launch, I am not asking you to come and eat my turkey. Before I got home, seven others turkey had arrived.
Now turkey may not mean anything to some of you who eat cows for Christmas. But the point I am making is this, is if you are pleasing God hundred percent, you don’t even need to ask God for one thing before he gives you ten.
I am praying for someone here today, this year as you build a new altar to God, when you knock at one door, ten will be opened unto you.
Now this altar that you want to build to God must be a very special altar.
- •1. It must be an altar of faith. Stop doubting God, Hebrew 11 v 6 says those who come to God must believe that he exist and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I have told you before, four times in the bible, God said the just shall live by faith. Why do you call yourself a Christian if you don’t believe him, when he makes a promise, it will come to pass. You must behave as if you know what God says he will do, will be done. You must have the faith of a child.
I have told you this one before, I was praying one day when God said, son, one day President will come to the camp to worship. I said Amen, by that time there is no possibility, but Daddy said. If He said it, as far as I am concern it is done.
So I told my people, God says presidents are coming, we don’t want to wait till they come before we build where they will stay. So quickly I say let’s begin to build, we build the place called presidential lodge, it was the biggest building in the camp then. One year, two year, three year, no president came. Then my senior pastors held a meeting “you don’t understand what this man is saying, he wanted to live in a big house and he doesn’t know how to tell us, he has finished building now, he doesn’t know how to move in”.
So they came to me and said you are our president, move in!
The Just shall live by faith! I said no. That is not my house. That is for the president. The president is coming. Have they been coming now?
Every promise of God concerning you shall be fulfilled.
Listen to this very carefully, The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said people will weep with you this year, but it will be tears of joy.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said before the end of this month there will be a new episode of dancing in your family.
An altar of faith, stop being doubters. God does not like those who doubt him. I can tell you several stories to encourage you to have faith in God; I know because of several things that have happened, some of you, your faith has been shaken. You don’t know all the stories; you don’t know what the people that something happened to that you didn’t see.
If you don’t have any reason to believe God, just look at me, just look at me and believe that there is God.
I told you I was in Mushin, living in a room when I said to God, father even if it is a boys quarter, build one for me and he said son, “don’t ask me for a house, I have decided to build you a city”. That was in 1981. How could you believe that if you have only one room in Mushin, but look at us today and God says, son, this is still a camp, the city is yet to come.
I am saying to someone here today, every promise of God for you will come to pass.
Stop doubting him! Build an altar of faith. If God says it, it will come to pass. It doesn’t matter how impossible it may appear.
- •2. The altar you build must be an altar of praise. Psalm 65 v 1 says praise waits for you in Zion. You should be able to say God, come to my house you will find praise there. When God comes to some houses all he will get is murmuring, complaining, Queries; God why have you done this, why have you done that, that is what he get in some houses, that is why he doesn’t come. If God knows that in your home, in your heart, there will be constant praise, he will draw near.
One of the elders here, we started building this camp together, he was the first engineering here and he discovered by associating with me that it doesn’t matter what is happening, am always forming a song or praising God or one thing or the other. So I decided I wanted to pay him a visit and I told him, I will be there for only about five minute. Before I arrived, he has put in a tape of beautiful hymns and songs, I didn’t know when I spend one hour, because I was enjoying the music, I forgot time. Can you imagine God visiting you, hearing praises, songs, adorations, He will stay!
You must make up your mind this year, it doesn’t matter what is happening, I will praise the Lord. Everywhere I go, I know they have given me a nick name they say: let somebody shout halleluiah! I said that is a very good nickname, and I am going to say it again, let somebody shout halleluiah!
Altar of praise!
- •3. Let it be an altar of thanksgiving, learn to thank him; thank him for what he has done, because he has done something for you, you know! The fact that you are even here listening to him means you have something to thank God for. Your ears is still hearing, by the grace of God, your eyes are still seeing, your mouth can still speak, I think with that mouth you should shout a big halleluiah!
The Lord says there is someone here tonight; he said the one seeking your downfall will soon lose its sight.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said progress wise; two years ago you were walking, last year; you were running, this year; you will fly. (The Lord said this is nothing we should gloss over; let’s give him big a round of applause)
Psalm 103 v 1- 5said bless the Lord oh my soul, forget not all his benefits, but then he began to list the benefits. Many of us complain that God hasn’t done much for us. I told you of the time when I visited Egypt for the first time in Cairo, there is a city called the city of the dead, where people sleep on the slab that is on the grave of those who died in the world war.
No matter how bad things are you are not sleeping in the grave yard. You may not have a house of your own yet, but you are not sleeping in the grave yard.
I visited one of the hospitals not too long ago, to go and pray for a woman who was dying of cancer of the breast and I was trying to console her before I pray for her. And she said no! Can’t you see all these people? And I saw one who has cancer of the eye. One eye has become almost as big as the head and several other horrible things. She said if God healed me, fine, if not I am going to heaven, look at this ones, they have no hope, she said at least I thank God, I know Jesus Christ.
How many of you know that when you die you are going to heaven? Is that not enough to shout halleluiah?
- •4. Build an altar of worship, a place where you can tell the Almighty God, how great thou hart. I like David, he knows how to worship God, in Psalm 18 v 1- 2 when you worship him and you begin to call Him His name He will rise for you. One of the apostle who came to the Congress, I think he came from South Africa, he said I think I have discovered what I came for, I said what is it? He said I have discovered the secret of your success, I said I see what is it? He said when you go to the altar unlike the rest of us who calls ourselves bishop and apostle, when we get to the altar; we open the bible and begin to talk. If we think we are good at all, we pray for few minute, he said but you, you go before him and begin to call him names, Almighty God, king of glory, ancient of days, lion of the tribe of Judah, the unchangeable changer,. He said I know your secret, I said son, go and practice it and you will see the result. Is there anybody here today who will say from now on I will worship God? Build an altar of worship.
- •5. Let it be an altar of prayer
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said stop doubting, I have already heard your cry.
The altar of God must be an altar of prayer, he promises to answer prayer. In Jeremiah 33 v 3 he said call on me and I will answer you, not I may, I will. In John 14 v 14, he said if you ask anything in the name of Jesus, it will be done. Believe him, you will get result, you will get result
- •6. Make it an altar of sacrifice. The one who have spoken before me have told you, that the altar is not an altar until a sacrifice is place there. When you read Genesis 22 v 1- 13 God said to Abraham, I know you love your son Isaac but I want him, go and build an altar place him there and sacrifice him to me. God doesn’t eat children, this is just a test, at the beginning, it says God wanted to test. In 2 chronicle 1 v 6-12 the bible says Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings to God. People say Solomon was already rich, but even standing there while they kill one animal after another that is another sacrifice on its own.
Let me tell you the truth from my own experience, it is the rich people who are more stingy when it comes to giving to God. Not all of them but majority of them. When we say let’s make pledges, I always ask the ushers please just list those one thousand, ten thousand I know those ones will pay. Then those who says one million, ten million, I always smile. I based my calculation on those who says one thousand, ten thousand I know they will pay somehow. Somehow the rich, I think they just find it difficult to sacrifice. They think they are already great so why bothered? Forgetting that God can make the great, greater. That he can take somebody who is already in the moon all the way to the sun.
I pray for all of you who are great here tonight, before the end of this year, you will know the true meaning of greatness.
David said in 2 Samuel 24 v 18 – 25 he said I would not offer God something that doesn’t cost me. When I give a sacrifice to God, I must feel the pinch. The offerings that God had graciously accepted from me in the past that marked turning points in my ministry are offerings that touched me deeply.
I’ll give you one or two example; I told you this is a special night and am sure many of you know your life will not remain the same after tonight.
When I became general overseer, I had to sell my Toyota crown, so at least I can have some money to manage for some time. We were rich in those days, and then somehow, somebody bought me a Pajero. Oh mine! I loved that Pajero, we went everywhere together for four years. It never gave me a problem; not once.
Then one day I was praying for one particular special Holy Ghost services and God said give me your Pajero, I said ah! And I didn’t have any other car. I am telling you it was difficult, if you want to know how close I have become to that Pajero; the day the fellow God said I should give, came to collect it, my driver wept; it was as if a member of the family died. But the first service after I gave after that car; fourteen thousand people were healed in a single night.
- •7. Sacrifice! You must build an altar of sacrifice. When you learn to sacrifice to God, get ready for envy; because when God begins to respond, those who didn’t know your sacrifice, they are going to be envious of you. You must be ready for that, because there are some of you tonight, where God will take you after tonight, your friends who didn’t hear what you are hearing now, there are going to ask, is she the only one worshipping God?. If you receive that let me hear you say amen.
I have told you the story I am telling you because it is a prophecy to someone
One of my sons came to visit and he began to tell me all that God was doing, God did this for me, God did this for me and I was praise the Lord Halleluiah! After some time he said Daddy, am the only one talking; you are just saying praise God, you didn’t say what God is doing for you. I said my son if I tell you all that God is doing for me, you will say God is partial. That will be your testimony!
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said you will regain your championship this year.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said very soon, they will describe you as the quiet millionaire. (It is one thing ot be a millionaire, it is another thing to be silent about it.)
- •8. Make it an altar of dedication and consecration. Roman 12 v 1 said you are to offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Many of us are ready to sacrifice money; ready to give anything. As long as it does not take us out our comfort zone, many of us if we have the opportunity we can build a church for God;
Provided the pastor did not talk about using our house as a fellowship centre. Don’t come for house fellowship in my house, I will rent a place for you outside. Until you yourself become a living sacrifice, then that altar is not yet built.
Am sure you know the testimonies, we were building our church in Ilesha, several years ago. I was a lecturer in the university and I was there with them, and we were fixing concrete and so on. and then my good friend chief Ogedengbe came; he was the richest man in our church then. He is a big chief in the town. He came in his agbada to supervise the work. Then suddenly something strange happened, he removed his agbada and asked for a head pan. Ah chief! No! You gave the money for the cement; leave it for we small boys. He said I heard God saying “unless you join this people in what they are doing, your offering amounts to nothing.” He heard God; no pastor was big enough to tell him to do that.
Make yourself a living sacrifice! If you are too big to be a sacrifice on the altar of God, then you are definitely too big!
I’m about to close but this is a defining moment in your life.
When we were building the church in Ebute- Metta, because there was no land so we had to carry sawdust from nearby to push the lagoon away. I was full of joy that at long last I was saved, I was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, but I was going to hell before Jesus found me. At long last I have an opportunity to say thank you to God for saving my soul.
So I got a big basket and I was using it to carry saw dust. and then there was a go –slow in Lagos and one of my former student of the university of Lagos was coming in his car, I think he saw a car going into the church compound, he thought it is a short-cut out of the go-slow so he followed, as he entered the church compound, he saw me with my big basket of saw dust on my head. He said ha oga! I said which oga? Who is your oga? I am not oga before Jesus Christ.
I give you another example, because you are going to build a new altar to God tonight and your life will never be the same again.
As a lecturer in the University of Lagos, after Jesus saved my soul. We gathered some youth together and we started what we used to call Christ Redeemer’s congress. We will go to any secondary school with boarding house facility, we will invite everybody to come, we will say we will give you food. We didn’t have much money; but everything that I have I will place it down and this little boys whatever they can contribute, they will contribute. People will come, we’ll give them two meals a day, if there is any food left for us we will eat and if there is none, no problem, in my own case I will be fasting anyway. But we will always go ahead before people will arrive to go and clean up the place.
I am always the first to arrive with my wife and I went to inspect this particular school in Oshogbo, when I got to the toilet, oh God. When my young ones came, (we call them bible study leaders in those days). When they come like that we will divide ourselves into groups; you go and clean the toilet, you go and fetch fire wood and so on. When they arrived I told them the toilet this time requires only volunteers. I told them I will lead the team and I need five other people to join me. We got a big bottle of Izal, got handkerchief to tie round our mouth and nose. By the time we finished we finish with that toilet, you could sit down and do bible study, if I didn’t lead the boys am sure when they go to the door and found out that the whole things is full to the door. Only God knows what report they would come and give me
Hands that can’t do manual labor for God cannot heal the sick. Hands that can’t sweep the house of God, that can’t clean the toilet that cannot be a sacrifice on the altar of God cannot be use of God to perform miracles. And I am believing God for you that this year is going to be different from other years, that whatever you touch this year is going to prosper, but you must be a sacrifice on the altar of God.
When were build the first auditorium, we were digging water here, somewhere down at night and one day I was carrying two buckets of water; I called it balancing equation. One on the right one on the left, one of the boys said daddy let me help me with one, I said no, go and get your own bucket. How many of you want to be a living sacrifice to the Almighty God, let me assure you, the Lord who has promoted me, he will promote you this year.
A NEW THING
A NEW THING
Let’s lift our voice to the Almighty God and begin to bless his Holy name, He is worthy of our praise. Give Him glory, give Him honor, and adoration. Bless Him, bless His Holy name, He is worthy to be praised; He is worthy to be adored. Give Him glory, give Him honor, bless His holy name. Thank you father, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
I want you to lift your voice to the Almighty God and say Father, let me have an encounter with you tonight…in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
You are the mighty God, the great I am, halleluiah, halleluiah! (Worship)
You are the mighty God, the great I am, halleluiah, halleluiah!
You are the mighty God, the great I am, halleluiah, halleluiah!
You are the mighty God, the great I am, halleluiah, halleluiah!
Eternal Rock of ages we bless Your holy name. Almighty God, Higher than the highest, Greater the greatest, Better than the best, Holier than the holiest, Older than the oldest, Wiser than the wisest, glory be to Your holy name. You are the Rock of ages, You are the ancient of days, You are the lion of the tribe of Judah, You are the holy one of Israel, Your name is Wonderful, you are Counselor, You are the kind Father, You are the Everlasting Father, You are the Prince of peace, You are the Alpha , You are the Omega, you are the Beginning, You are the Ending. You are the One who is, You are the One who was, the One to come. You are the Almighty, glory be to Your holy name.
Thank you for what you did on Monday, thank you for what you did on Tuesday, thank you for what you did on Wednesday, thank you for what you did yesterday, thank you for what you are going to do tonight, accept out worship in Jesus name. Father thank you for January, thank you for February, thank you for March, thank you for April, thank you for May, and thank you for June, thank you for July, thank you for August, thank you for September, thank you for October, thank you for November, Father thank you for December. Glory be to your holy name.
Accept our worship in Jesus name, Father tonight, in the life of every one of us, do something new. Do something wonderful, do something mighty, do something miraculous, save souls tonight, heal tonight, deliver tonight, set the captives free tonight, let everyone of us go home with testimonies, at the end of it all let every one of us go home with testimonies, in Jesus Christ name we have prayed.
Let someone shout halleluiah!
Some years ago, a young man came to me and said “Daddy, I am about to attend the most important interview of my life”, I said “ok, you want me to pray for you?” he said “NO! I want you to speak a word into my life that is all I want”. So I said ok, it will be well with you! He said amen and he left. The second day, he came back excited, Daddy, I got to the place of interview, I sat before this great me, who formed the interview panel, fully prepared for all questions. And they said to me, what is your name? I told them. What post do you say you want? I told them Deputy Managing director; they say when can you start? I said anytime you set. They say come tomorrow.
He said Daddy, speak another one. So I looked at him and I said the God who has started a good work in you will perfect it. He said amen and he left, second day he came back, excited! Daddy, I reported at the place of work this morning, they asked me to go into the broad room again, I met the same people and they said to me, young man after you left yesterday, our managing director resigned, will you be able to cope as managing director? He said Daddy, speak another word. Why am I telling you this story?
Early this morning, as I woke up, my father said to me, that he has giving me full liberty to speak a word to the life of anybody who wants it tonight. So if you want me to speak a word to your life; stand on your feet, and because he has given full liberty to do so, all of you who are listening by television, all of you who are listening by the internet all over the world stand on your feet also. And I say to you in the name that is above every other name, number one, it will be well with you. Number two, God who has started a good work in you will perfect it. Number three, you will succeed beyond your imagination. Number four, whoever God has to move for you to reach your goal, that fellow will be moved tonight. Number five, when you ask for one favor, the Almighty God will give you three. If you receive that put your hands together for the Almighty God.
Open your bible to Mark 10 v 46- 52
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the high way side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: he cried the more a great deal, thou son of David, have mercy on me. and Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man saying unto him, be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he casting away his garment rose and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.
In the life of Bartimeus, certain new things happened. Incidentally this sermon am about to preach to you is not a sermon, it is a message from God. The Lord ask me to tell someone here, that even a as I am going along, you should see this sermon as a message from Him to you. The bible says Bartimeus sat by the road side begging, he heard that somebody is passing by who is special. And he began to cry to him for help. People there asked him to shut up, he refused to be silenced.
Finally Jesus heard him! And God is going to hear someone here tonight and the first new thing that happened in the life of Bartimeus that day was that God stood still. Never before that day has God ever stood still for any person. The sun and the moon has stood still before as we read in Joshua 10 v 12 -14. But for the Almighty God to stand still because of anyone, had never happened before. For God the sovereign God. The one who says I will work who will hinder? The one who will say to any door, lift up your head ye door, be lifted up everlasting doors. The one will speak and it is thus. The Lord of host himself stood still. I have good news for somebody here tonight, because of you; the Almighty God is going to stand still.
Several years ago, when my last son was very small, I have a prayer closet next to my bedroom. very little closet, once am there nobody comes to bother me at all, all except this one; I will be flat on my face praying for nations, and he will come in and say daddy I want cookies. Don’t bother me go and ask your mother, No! Daddy I want cookies. The more I tried to push him off the louder becomes, so I learnt from experience, that whenever he come in, I must suspend my prayers, attend to him before I continue. I am saying to someone here today, whatever the Almighty God is doing right now, he will stop until he has solved your problems.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said the doctors are worried about a growth in your anus, the Lord asked me to tell you, he has taken it away.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight; he said my grace that has made you great will be extended to your children.
The second new thing that happened to Bartimeus, which is about to happen to someone here today, is that the Almighty God changed his enemies to be his servant. The very people who were saying to him, you will die blind, the people who was saying God is not going to answerer your prayers. The very people who say you are going to die a beggar. They were the same people God sent to bring him his get his miracle. I have good news for somebody here tonight; all those who say God will not answer your prayer will come and congratulate you. it was a new thing. When you go through the scripture before that day, God has dealt with enemies in various ways. In Exodus 14 he drowned the enemies of Israel. In Number 16, he buried the enemies of Moses Alive. But to turn an enemy to a servant, it was the first time, it was a new thing, am believing God for someone here today, that before the sun rises, all your enemies will become your servants.
The third thing that Bartimeus got that day was a creative miracle.
Thank you father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said because you are now on my side, you will never be grounded again.
In John 9 v 32, one man who was born blind, who receives his sight said, since the world began, it has never been heard that somebody opened the eyes of someone who was born blind, it was a first time miracle.
I have good news for someone here today, the kind of miracle you have never received before, you will get your own today in Jesus name. A young man was born blind came to one program, where the man of God was speaking on spare part, and how God can give you spare part. God can perform creative miracle for you. The young man said God I received two new eyes. He left nothing happened. He was still as blind as before. The following morning, when he woke up and he was wiping his hands across his face, he discovered that the place where eyes is to be which used to be very cold, is suddenly warm, by the third day, he saw that the place was swelling. I think it was on the seven day when he heard the voice of God, loud and clear; open your eyes, and he opened and he had two brand new eyes.
Some of you prayed here on Tuesday for creative miracles and you are already hearing testimonies. In the name that is above every other name, even before you get home, your own testimonies will come.
The Fourth thing he got that he got that day is uncommon promotion. God had promoted a shepherd boy turned him to a king before in 1 Samuel 16 v 11 -13…
The Lord said there is a woman here tonight, they call you barren, he ask me to tell you two great people will be kicking inside of you very soon.
The Almighty God said there is someone here tonight, those who said you have reached your limit, will soon be surprised.
Almighty God has turned a farm boy to a king before, the bible has said that the almighty God can pick up a beggar among dunghill and promote him till he become someone sitting among princes. But to pick a beggar, by the road side and transform him to centre of attraction the first day, it was the first time. I have good news for someone here tonight, up till this moment, nobody knows you, but by the time you are coming for next year congress, everybody will treat you special. How? I don’t know, but I am talking about the Almighty God and he has said, I will do a new thing.
The number five thing that he got; is that he got a new garment; somebody is going to get a new garment tonight.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said that which you are believing him for, has been released since yesterday.
The Lord asked me to tell you a story because there is a prophecy coming after that. Some years ago, I went for a prayer walk at night and because some people were also praying in the camp, they were very loud. I decided to walk into the bush so I can have some silence; I had this modern touch light that is rechargeable with me. So when I was walking into the bush, the battery was working, the torchlight was bright. After I have gone very far, suddenly the touch light packed up and it was a very dark night. And the road I took was a very narrow bush road. I said God what am I going to do, how do I get back to the camp?
And I remember that they taught us that if you close your eyes in a darkroom, when you open it might be a little light. So I closed my eyes and I just said God help me. When I open my eyes, there was a big moon out there in the sky on top of me. There was no moon when I was going into the bush, I said maybe I didn’t notice, Lord thank you. And I came back to where there was light, as soon as I got to where there was electricity, and I looked up there was no moon. Father! What has happened? He said I have given you a miracle personally for you.
The Lord asked me to tell someone here tonight, a miracle designed for you only will be given to you tonight.
You know there are some testimonies difficult to share, because nobody will believe you, am in total agreement with someone here tonight, a testimony so big that nobody will believe you, will be giving to you tonight in Jesus name.
I was saying in 2Kings 5 v 1 -14 Naaman got a new garment physically; his skin came back to him like that of a new born baby. In 2Kings 4 v 1-7 the widow of the son of the prophet, got a new garment, a new garment of prosperity. In 2Kings 4 v 8-17, a woman got a new garment of Joy.
but in the case of Bartimeus he got all of them together, a new garment physically, a new garment financially, a new garment of Joy, all of them rolled together and given to one man. And since Daddy has given me full liberty to speak into the life of some one, I here by decree, every garment of Shame will be taken away from you. Every garment of suffering will be taken away from you, and the Almighty God will give you a garment of Joy.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said in the New Year, expect at least seven major miracles.
The sixth thing that happened to Bartimeus was that discouragement led to break through; he was suppose to be discouraged by those who were saying shut up. He was a beggar, he should have said I better don’t offend this people because they are the one feeding me, but instead of discouragement, robbing him of his miracle, he pushed him into his breakthrough.
There have been cases where people was discouraged before but they still ultimately got there miracle, but on that day he was discouraged but he got his miracle immediately.
Tonight, all of you who had prayed again and again for something and you didn’t get an answer and you are now beginning to wonder, is God really alive. As the Lord lives, you will sing a new song.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said very soon, when people begin to say, God has done all things well, they will use you as an example.
The Lord says the Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said there is a joy that cannot be hidden; he said you will have a taste of that joy soon.
The number seven thing that happened; it is the summary of the whole story, which was that he got a very pleasant surprise. When he woke up in the morning, he didn’t know anything great will happen, he just woke up and, find his way to the road side where he normally beg, but before the day was over, so many things have happened in his life; he got his healing, he was no longer going to beg for the rest of his life, he didn’t even know that he had a destiny, that he was destined to be a follower of the Almighty God. He didn’t know that two thousand years after he died, people will still be talking about him. He didn’t even know that he was born to be great but in a single day, everything changed. And changed so thoroughly, that they were never ever able to be reversed.
In that name that is above every other name, I decree to someone here today; that the every miracle God will do for you tonight will never be reversed.
Bartimeus asked for mercy, why did he ask for mercy? He realized he didn’t deserve divine attention. Why should God bother himself answering a beggar by the road side? Why will God wants to answer a sinner? Why would God want to do a new thing in the life of many of us who are here? Considering the kind of life that we have lived before. Is it somebody before you now, who should be standing before you, but for the mercy of God? But he said I will be merciful unto whom I will be merciful, I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. The bible says it is not of him that wills, not of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.
Many of us know that but for the grace of God, we should even be died by now but he kept us alive. Particularly till this moment, when he wants to do a new thing and the new thing had already started, and he included you among those people out of mercy. That is why Bartimeus didn’t say you must do this, he ask for mercy.
Believe me honestly there are things that the Almighty God says he will do tonight, that even me I am amazed. Within the next one hour you will see for yourself.
But in order that nobody will be left out, I want to an opportunity to those who have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. Whether you are here or you are listening to me all over the world, by television or by internet or by radio, this is a moment of decision, surrender your life to him Jesus today. Throw yourself at his mercy, and his blood will wipe away all your sins.
For those of you who are here tonight, come to the front those who wants to give their lives to God and since some of you are kilometers away, we have arrange some altars in the auditorium, you will find flags on them, find the one that is closest to you, go there and it will be as good as if you are standing before me here. There will be pastors to attend to you there in a moment. And as you come, begin to cry for mercy, ask him to save your soul, ask him to forgive you all your sins. Promise him that from now on you will serve him for the rest of your life, that you will do His will.
…In Jesus mighty name we have prayed, savior, I want to bless your holy name, I want to thank you for the salvation of the souls of people. You said in your word that whosoever will come unto you, you will not cast out; these people have come, please receive them in Jesus name, forgive all their sins in Jesus name. Cleanse them in your blood in Jesus name. Even as you are saving their souls today, write their names in the book of life in Jesus name and from now on when they call on you, answer them in Jesus name. And the new things that you want to do in all our lives, please Lord include them in Jesus name. Don’t let them go back into the world, let them serve you till the end.
PRYER POINTS
- 1. Father, let your wind blow in my favor
- 2. Father, open mighty doors unto me
- 3. Father, make a new way for me, where there was no way before
- 4. Father, all those who are plotting my downfall, paralyze them.
- 5. Father, every problem in my generation; generational curses, evil covenant, sicknesses that runs in the family, father end them tonight.
- 6. Father, give me total freedom; physically, materially, martially tonight.
- 7. Father, from now on, let me sing a new song of victory, of triumph, of deliverance.
- 8. Ask God for a Christmas present from God
- 9. Personal prayers
… In Jesus mighty name we have prayed. The wind of God will blow in you favor tonight. The Almighty will open new doors unto you tonight, he will make a way for you, where there was no way before, he will make a way for you. All those who are plotting who are plotting your destructions, the Almighty God will paralyze them, mentally he will paralyze them, financially them, spiritually he will paralyze them, and physically he will paralyze them. Every evil that have been in your family till tonight, you will not hear of them again. Every curse in your generation is destroyed right now in Jesus name. Every evil associated with your family. Failures, sickness, sorrow, never do well; will end tonight in Jesus name. From tonight onward you will be free and free indeed in Jesus name. You will be free from sickness, you will be free from pain, you will be free from failure, you will be free from poverty and in the Mighty name of Jesus, and you will be free from sorrow. From now on you will sing a new song. A new song of victory, a new song of joy, a new song of promotion, so shall it be. In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Let me hear someone shout halleluiah!
FINISH STRONG
Finishing Strong
Winston Churchill said, “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”
It has been said that it matters less where you begin in life than where you end up. I believe this statement has merit.
Life can be likened to a race or a game with a definite beginning, a definite end and a whole lot of time in the middle where people jockey for position. As long as you are still in the race, there’s a chance you will win. But, take yourself out of the game and it’s certain you lose.
One significant difference between life and any other game or race, is that in life we only compete against ourselves. Even though others may be involved, each person’s life is judged by no greater criteria than how they did when measured against their own individual potential.
Life offers us opportunities both to fail and to succeed and these always come wrapped together in the same package.
We cannot always determine what we go through but we can determine how we will go through it.
There is a song from the 80’s or 90’s which says,
I am determined to be invincible
Till He has finished His purpose in me
Nothing can shake me and He’ll never forsake me
I am determined to live for the King!
Determination is often the ingredient that holds us true to course even in the midst of winds which blow contrary to our chosen path. Determination turns our potential into reality.
Most stories about people in the Bible contain some element of a hardship they faced and details how they handled these situations.
This morning, as we approach the end of this year, we are going to take a critical look the lives of three people in the Bible. These three people face situations in life which gives them opportunity to fail or succeed, depending on how they choose to handle these situations.
The first person we are going to look at is Joseph, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. You can find his story beginning in the 30th chapter of Genesis.
Joseph
* Born eleventh of the twelve sons of Jacob, the first son of Jacob’s favored wife Rachael, who had been barren for many, many years.
* As Rachael’s son, Joseph became the favorite son. This disparity created a great sibling rivalry between Joseph and his brothers.
* One day Joseph was sold into slavery to foreigners by his ten older brothers who hated him with a jealous hatred.
* Joseph spent years in slavery and prison in a foreign land.
* But Joseph never forgot his loyalty and his commitment to Jehovah, the covenant God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
* Although his hardships increased and lasted near twenty years, Joseph won the battles within himself and kept his faith.
* In the end Joseph became second ruler over all of the land of Egypt and saved his family from starvation and became a key player in the plan of God for the whole world.
* We remember Joseph best of all from his life scripture when he faced his brothers and had power over them to punish them for what they had done to him. He could have taken revenge but …
* Joseph saw a bigger picture than his painful past and said:
Genesis 45:5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
* Joseph realized that he had been chosen by God and that the things which had happened to him were for a greater purpose.
* We too have been chosen … Jesus said it this way:
John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
* Neither the world nor the devil holds ultimate authority or power over your life. When standing trial before Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, Pilate told Jesus, “Don’t you know who I am? I have the power to crucify you or set you free!”
John 19:11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." (Allow me to tell you who is really in trouble here.)
After it was all said and done, Joseph, and Jesus, finished strong.
The second person we are going to look at today is Esther, Queen of the Persian Empire
Esther
* Esther lived in Persia, modern Iran, about the year 479BC.
* Esther was a Jewish girl who lost both of her parents at an early age and began being cared for by her older cousin, Mordecai.
* Most likely still a teenager, Esther was forced to enter a contest to become Queen of Persia … the rules were very strict and required Esther to enter the harem of the King Xerxes … in the course of time, Esther won the King’s favor and was crowned Queen.
* However, Esther was not always welcomed in court, as the law stated that if anyone came to see the King without first being summoned, they would be summarily executed.
* This was also true for even the Queen. The only escape from this certain death sentence was for the King to grant an immediate pardon and this was very, very rare.
* There came a time when the King signed a law that allowed Jews to be stolen from, and even murdered without penalty. At this time the King was unaware that his Queen, Esther, was a Jew.
* Mordecai knew that Esther was the only person who could possibly help. He asked Esther to go to the King on behalf of her people.
* Initially Esther refused out of fear for her life but later realized that perhaps this was the very reason why she had been blessed to become Queen in the first place. Maybe this was all a part of God’s bigger plan.
* We remember Esther best of all from her life scripture as she faced the most difficult decision of her life: Should she risk her life and position to speak up for others who were being mistreated?
* She put her trust in God and said:
Esther 4:16b “I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
* Esther went unannounced before the King, received his immediate favor and pardon, artfully pled her case strategically guided by the Holy Spirit, and won a great victory.
Now that is finishing strong.
* You see, the Bible says:
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
* God really is in control and He is working all things together for the good of them who love Him and for those who are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28)
So far we have looked at two very common and ordinary people in their day, Joseph and Esther. You may be more familiar with the next person.
The third person we are going to review is actually a work in progress … the third person is you.
You
* I do not know all it took God to get you to this place or what He has planned for your life which, at this moment, you are completely unaware of. However, what I do know is that God is much more involved in your life than you can imagine and that He is presently working to perfect those things which concern you.
* Just like Joseph, Esther and even the Apostle Paul along with so many others in the Bible, for the rest of your life you will continue to be a work in progress. Each day and in every way the encounters life affords you will present you with opportunities to fail and opportunities to succeed … it all depends on how you handle life.
* You have been chosen by God and are presently being prepared to serve His plan in your greatest capacity.
* Do not fear the pressures, problems and/or the uncertainties of life. Our God is able and with Him all things are possible … even your success.
* What will your life scripture be? What will you say in the end when you have faced the giant like David, been swallowed up by a great fish like Jonah, found yourself in a new place where you have no family or friends like Ruth, are asked to believe something impossible like Mary or given some great tasks to fulfill like the Apostles were given by Jesus when He ascended into heaven?
* What will your last words be? How will others remember you?
* With each decision you are writing the story others will one day tell about you. What will be your legacy?
The Apostle Paul penned his when he said to Timothy:
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Joseph finished strong, Esther finished strong and I have confidence that you can too.
Decide right now that you are going to begin a new chapter in your life. Why wait until January 1st to make your resolution? Make your declaration today and choose to finish 2011 strong.
Victory and success begin with a decision and they gain daily strength through the daily declaration of our faith in God’s future for our life.
The Bible is a book of true life stories in which people, despite the hardships of life, finish strong because of their faith in God.
You can be one of God’s success stories … ask Him to help you and He will.
Get on God’s side and finish strong.
SEASON GREETINGS
We want to wish our viewers, readers and fans Merry Christmas. Its year’s end, 2011 is just about over and another time to reflect on the essence of Christmas. A King is born in a manger to the humble family of Mary and Joseph. How unlikely would this ordinarily be? The King of the world is born to a young unknown virgin and an ordinary carpenter. Herod the king of Israel looked in the likeliest places, probably looking in the homes of the rich and famous, the politicians and great industrialists of their time, missing out on a manger in a stable, the lowliest of all. Who could have thought it, that a supernatural God would come through the home of natural man. Christ was born among the ordinary to place the seed of the extra-ordinary in the ordinary!
God is still in the business of making great destinies out of nothing. Mary became a woman most honoured and favoured among women because of one visit by God. The bible has no record of Mary having pre-knowledge of what God was going to do through her, and even when she did, she was so overwhelmed she asked the angel how it would happen. And the Angel said to her; “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” – Luke 1:35.
The Highest power that is beyond every destiny resisting power will overshadow you and call you by a new name. He will birth a new vision in you; He will feed your vision and empower it. You will begin a new course in the destiny of generations of your family. Jesus came to let you and I know it is possible to break the limits of poverty, ignorance and illiteracy.
Excellence was birthed out of seeming mediocrity. Light came out of gross darkness.
It is another time to reflect on the excellent person you can be. The bright, unique star led the shepherds and the men from the East to the unattractive, unappealing stable in Bethlehem. Men will be led to the brightness of your glory. You can be the bright star that will lead men to your village. Make a demand upon the word of God, set standards of excellence for yourself; Jesus made it from a point of nothing by the power of God and by living a life of Godliness. He has set out a clear path to follow in His word.
As you celebrate Christmas, remember! The power of the Highest is here to help you realize your dream. He only requires you to be willing to use the power available to you. Read on and find your dream, you are one more step closer to your shining.
SHALOM!
RCCG DECEMBER 2011 HGS COVENANT PRAYER POINTS
COVENANT PRAYER POINTS (Isa 59:19)
“….. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
Prophetically, we started this Year with a divine message “All will be well.” This is the core message sent to us by God through our General Overseer, Daddy E. A. Adeboye, to serve as an anchor in the mist of the raging storms across the globe, Nigeria inclusive. This powerful statement of faith stands out as a standard weapon used in destabilizing the moves of the enemies of our soul and fate.
In Job 5:27 the Bible says “Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.” We have seen God’s supernatural moves in the past. These moves, of course, have been our courage and confidence in facing more frightful situations around us like David in the days of Goliath.
Our God, who had been our Help in ages past, remains our Hope for the years to come.In view of the 2011 Holy Ghost Congress (Theme: “A New Thing”) and the 2011 December Let’s Go-A-Fishing (Theme: “The Coming of Joy”) programmes forthcoming, one after the other, we should take our time to praise Him for all that He has done and to commit everything to His Hands in prayer, viz:
I) GENERAL THANKSGIVING
•1) Thank God for all the fulfilled prophecies and answered prayers from January till date. Ps 89:34; Matt. 7:7-8.
•2) Thank God for miracle of sleeping and waking up. Ps 4:8.
•3) Thank God for His goodness, favour and mercy on every member of the R.C.C.G.
•4) Thank God for all Departments, Regions, Provinces, etc. arms of the Mission and what God is using them for.
•5) Thank God for His wonderful provisions for all the Redemption Camp projects. Phil. 4:19
•6) Thank God for His special love for the R.C.C.G. Mission globally. Acts 17:26
•7) Thank God for your own life, being a partner in the fulfilment of His covenants for the church.
II) 2011 HOLY GHOST CONGRESS
•1) Thank God for all the past Holy Ghost Congresses and for preserving our lives to witness the 2011 edition. Ps 136:24. Ps. 127:1-3
•2) Thank God for all the unusual miracles He is going to do this time around. Deut. 11:3 ; Jn.6:2
•3) Ask for God’s mercy on behalf of every member of the RCCG and all would-be participants at this year Congress.
•4) Pray that God will remember the barren and those suffering from secondary infertility in this programme. 1Sam. 1:16-20.
•5) Pray that God will favour all our over age spinsters and brothers with peaceful marriages this year, in the name of Jesus. Eccl.9:11.
•6) Plead the Blood of Jesus to frustrate every programmed evil, including accident and traffic jam especially on Lagos–Ibadan Express Way and on every road in Nigeria, against the programme.
•7) Commit the Technical departments, Choir, Ushers, Prayer Warriors and other Workers in the church into the Hands of God for excellence performances in this programme.
•8) Pray that God will use Daddy G.O during the programme like never before, to use the Word of God to reshape every altered destiny of children that will be in the programme.
•9) Ask God to prepare all the officiating ministers for the supernatural in this programme.
•10) Pray for the salvation of souls of the yet unsaved and that none shall go back home empty handed.
III) 2011 DECEMBER LET’S GO-A-FISHING.
•1) Give all the glory to God for the reality of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ to save the world.
•2) Thank God for using this programme to populate His kingdom. Acts. 2:37-47.
•3) Pray for more strength for Daddy G.O. and all the Pastors, Ministers and Workers, that God will use them mightily this December Lets Go-A-Fishing. Deut.33:25; Josh.14:11; 1Chron.29:12; Josh. 14:9.
•4) Pray for divine visitation during this December Lets Go-A-Fishing all over the world. Ps.111:9; Ps.113:9-10; Jer.20:113; Gen.49:25.
•5) Pray for the purpose of God to be established in the lives of God’s children in this programme.Eccl.8:6; Rom.9:1; Eph.1:11.
•6) Ask God to deliver every captive of the mighty. Isa.49:24-26.
•7) Pray for full restoration of lost grounds during this December programme. Ps.126:1-6.
IV) PRAYER FOR NIGERIA
•1) Thank God for being on our side in Nigeria. Ps 124.
•2) Ask God for a great and terrible shaking that will uproot all the enemies of Nigeria.
•3) Speak confusion of language and fight to finish into the camp of the troublers of Nigeria.
•4) Decree permanent dryness into the finances of those sponsoring religious riots and political bombings in Nigeria.
•5) Ask God to reign and do a new thing in all the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Pr 14:34,Ps 122:6
•6) Ask God to intervene and prevail over the President, State Governors, Local Government Chairpersons, Parliamentarians and others in govenance, in directing the affairs of the nation.
•7) Pray that no secret of the enemy shall be hidden in this country. Pray against the kidnappers, ritual killers, political bombers and armed robbers in the country. Ps.124:6 Prov. 15:30.
V. PRAYER FOR DADDY AND MUMMY G.O
•1) Thank God for His grace, power and protection upon our General Overseer, Daddy E. A. Adeboye and our Mother in Israel. Ps 104:4, Isa. 26:3
•2) Ask God for more anointing, strength and grace for grace upon their lives. Isa 52:13; Jn. 1:16.
•3) Ask God to show mercy and open new doors of His favour for Daddy G.O and the RCCG all over the world. Eccl. 9:11, Ps. 102:13, Rom. 9:15-16
•4) Pray that God would continue to support and establish each step they take towards the expansion of God’s Kingdom globally. Josh. 1:5
•5) Pray for special protection over their lives and family members.
•6) Pray that God would continue to uphold them as a mirror to other people and to this Nation. 2Co 3:18
•7) Pray that the purpose of God for their lives will be fully realized. Ecc.3:1, Ro 9:1, 2Ti 1:9, 2Ti 4:7
PRAY FOR YOUR PROVINCE, PASTORS, MINISTERS, WORKERS AND YOURSELF
NB: - The above prayer points are by no means exhaustive. Therefore, please trust in the unfailing Help of the Holy Spirit to stir you to pray and pray aright. As we seek the face of the LORD together in the last month of the Year 2011, may we all be richly blessed in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
WITH WINGS LIKA AN EAGLE
Bless His holy name, let’s give Him glory, let’s give Him honour, lets bless His holy name, praise Him, He is worthy to praised; He is worthy to be adore. Magnify His holy name, praise the King of kings, praise the Lord of Lords, bless the ancient of day, worship now, He is the almighty God, bless His holy name. Give Him glory, give Him honor, give Him adoration. He is worthy, He is worthy to be praised, bless His holy name now.
Thank you Father, thank you Almighty God… in Jesus mighty name we worship.
I want you to lift your voice to God, and say Father, please let tonight mark a major turning point in my life. Let’s talk to the Almighty God… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
You are the mighty God, the great I am, Halleluiah! 2ce
You are the mighty God, the great I am, Halleluiah! 2ce
You are the king of kings, the Lord of lords Halleluiah!
You are the mighty God, the great I am, Halleluiah! 2ce
Eternal Rock of ages, King of kings and Lord or lords, the Ancient of days, the I am that I am, the Rock of ages, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Holy one of Israel, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the One who is the One who was and the One who is to come. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. You are greater than the greatest, You are older than the oldest, You are better than the best, You are wiser than the wisest, You are richer than the richest, You are the Almighty God, glory be to Your holy name, accept out worship in Jesus name.
Tonight in your own wonderful way, visit your children, like never before, visit all your children. Meet all needs tonight, let our joy overflow tonight, at the end of everything, let your name be glorified.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Let somebody shout halleluiah!
Isaiah 40 v 28- 31 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
There are seven categories of motion; there are seven ways of making progress.
Number one is total stagnation, no motion at all, in Mark 2 v 1 – 12 we have the story of a man who was paralytic; he is paralyzed from his neck down, he couldn’t move, he couldn’t do anything for himself unless he was helped. Somebody like that is in what we call total stagnation state.
Next to that is crawling; in John 9 v 1-7 the Bible tells us the story of a man who was born blind, Jesus saw him, spat on the ground, made some mud out of it and anointed where his eyes were suppose to be and told him to go to the pool Siloam and wash. He washed and came back seeing. When a blind man has to go somewhere, he cannot move fast. This blind man one way or the other managed to find his way to the pool. Crawling means there is motion but very slow and very limited.
The third stage is walking and walking means you are moving now, your progress is not really hindered, it is just that you are better than the one crawling, but you are not doing too well either. When we where little child, when we want to begin to make motion; we start by crawling, and then later on we come on to walking.
Majority of people are in this level of motion. They move but very, very slowly. They go from month to months just managing to exist. For those of you who are listening to me tonight who are in that category things are about to change for the best.
The next stage is leaping; when you leap, it means a short outburst of energy, you go up but then you come down. It is like that of a business man who gets a contract maybe once in three years. In Act 3 v 1 -8 the Bible tells us of the lame man who was healed, he started by walking and the he moved on to leaping. Leaping even though it’s just a short upward motion and then coming down, it is still far better than ordinary walking. I know at least somebody here today who will go home leaping for joy.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; He said the cloud that is covering your vision is being removed.
Thank you Father, the Lord said there is a man here today He said your potency is being restored.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; He said you are afraid that you may lose your miracle, He asked me to tell you this one will be permanent.
Stage number five in motion is running, now running means you are making steady speedy progress. In Genesis 26 v 12 -14 the Bible tells us the story of Isaac, who sowed in the land of Gerar and that year he reaped a hundred fold return.
The Lord blessed him and the Bible say and the man waxed great and grew and moved forward until he became very great. That is an example of running, steady progress, speedy progress, continuous progress,
and I am prophesying to someone here today; beginning from now, your business will begin to run, your ministry will begin to run. In every sphere of your life, there will be steady progress.
And then next to running is flying, when we talk about flying we are talking about total unhindered motion. The journey from here to Abuja by road, if you are to run, for a very strong man, would take you at least two days but when you fly, it takes less than one hour.
Those of you who are already running before tomorrow morning you will be flying.
We have several examples here but maybe one or two will do.
The Almighty God said there is somebody here today; He said I will put your enemy to sleep until you escape.
The Lord asked me to tell someone, He said before the end of this month the storm will be over.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said some powerful people are about to take some decision concerning you, He asked me to tell you not to worry that He is the God of all flesh.
Daddy says there are some people here you need spare parts; some needs new eyes, some need new brains, some needs new wombs. The Lord ask me to tell you just lift up your hands and receive your own now, just say Lord I thank you, thank you for my new spare parts, go ahead and tell him, because very soon you are going to testify. New hands, new eyes, new legs, new lungs, new liver, new spare parts, new kidneys.
Let me hear somebody shout halleluiah!
So in 1 Samuel 16 v 11- 13 we see the story of David he woke up a shepherd boy before the evening he was a king. Now that is flying, that is speedy progress, far, far beyond ordinary running.
Tell your neighbor, from now on I will fly.
Again there is a stage seven, you see when the bird flies, it spent its own energy to fly. Stage seven is to be carried in a plane and then fly. In that case you make no effort you just sat down and you keep flying. Those who have travelled by the plane will tell you, no sweating, you seat down, you are eating, you are drinking, and before you know it you have arrived.
There is somebody here today that the Almighty God will carry on His eagle’s wing and without any efforts on your side, He will take you to your goals.
He has done it before in Exodus 19 v 3 -4 when they brought the children of Israel out of bondage, He carries them on eagle wings, all their effort could not have freed them from Pharaoh but God intervened and because God intervened, they were able to not just to leave bondage; God placed them where the enemy could no longer touch them.
In the name that is above every other name, that level where the enemy will no longer be able to touch you, God will take you there tonight. That level where you will no longer need to beg for anything, the Almighty God will take you there.
Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said you will not need medical attention for a long, long time.
Now when the bird is flying, if he is carrying his food or anything with it, he has to carry that along, but when you are flying in a plane, the plane that is carrying you is also carrying your load.
And when you read Isaiah 53 v 4 – 5 it tells you that the Almighty God is not only able to carry you, He is able to carry your burdens too.
I can assure somebody here tonight, because you came; all your burdens shall be carried by the Almighty God.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; He said I have a surprise package for you that will dazzle you. A surprise package so big, that long after you get it, you will still think you a dreaming.
Now very briefly, we need to understand that a bird fly with two wings; when a bird has only one wing it cannot fly. You need the two wings of the eagle and this is where I want to spend a few minute so that we will understand fully what the Almighty God wants to do for us.
When you read 1Corinthians 1 v 22- 24 it tells you about the two wings that you need if you want to enjoy this wonderful flight. He said the Jews require a sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom. The Jews they want miracle signs and wonders, the Greeks; wisdom. But then he said you need both, and both are to be found in Jesus. He said Jesus is the wisdom of God and the power of God. The power gives the miracles; the wisdom gives the other wing.
We are very used to signs and wonders. in The Redeemed Christian church of God we see it every day, we’ve heard testimonies tonight, we have heard of the sister who was paralyzed, who said to the husband just get me a picture of daddy, got the picture and became whole immediately.
Daddy has nothing to do with that, I didn’t know what was happening, that is a sign that is a miracle.
We have heard of someone who took a handkerchief that we bless to her son that the doctor said there is nothing more we can do for this kidney fellow and he got a brand new kidney; that is a sign.
You heard about the man whose wife’s kidney fail, liver fail, wife was in a comma. He took an handkerchief to her, she walk out of the hospital with brand new kidney and brand new liver - that is a sign.
Every miracle you need, every sign from God, you will get it tonight in the mighty name of Jesus.
The area where many of us are deficient is the area of wisdom, we want benefits without responsibilities. Your bird cannot fly with one wing, Isaiah 1 v 19 says if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land. The good of the land is available; it’s your own benefits. Your responsibility is you must be willing and obedient.
When we go through the scriptures, we see responsibility and benefit balancing out, some of us want the power of God, Act 1 v 8 says you will receive power provided you are willing to evangelize. You will receive power and be my witness. Some of us want anointing, we want to be able to just wave our hands and the blind will begin to see, we hear testimony that shake us and we say we want that anointing too.
We just had an Holy Ghost night in Dublin before we came for the convention and one of the testimonies that got everybody jumping and climbing was that of a woman, she has been barren for a very long time and have heard the testimony of people who said they were barren and they sat on the chair we sat on and then they became pregnant. So one day, when we finished the program, everybody was rushing to go and seat on the chair and then one man took the chair away, the woman was sad. But then she had a brain wave and said the pulpit is there, he was at the pulpit, so she went to the pulpit and begin to rub her stomach against the pulpit, that month she became pregnant and when she was testifying she showed us three children two boys and a girl. As we were rejoicing, I looked at the eyes of one of the pastors who was deep in prayer, and I could read what was going on in his mind; “God give me that kind of anointing!”
How many of you want that kind of anointing? May you receive it tonight in Jesus name,
But it is conditional Hebrew 1 v 9, He said because you love righteousness and you hate iniquity that is why God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
You want an anointing, you must balance it with holiness, anointing without holiness is like a machine gun in the hand of a mad man, Samson has anointing but he lack holiness, and it destroyed him.
The blessing that will destroy you, you will never get it in Jesus name.
Some people wants victory but they don’t want to pay the price. Victory is available, the Almighty God wants you to be victorious but if you read James 4 v 7 the Bible said it clearly if you want victory over Satan, you must first of all submit to God.
Submission must go hand in hand with victory, submit yourself first to God, then resist the devil and he will flee from you, many of us don’t want to submit to authority and yet we want to and expect Him to heal - it is not going to happen, because a bird doesn’t fly with one wing. Submission must come hand in hand with victory. Many of us wants breakthroughs but we know Malachi 3 v 10 He said you want a breakthrough? He said bring all the tithes to my house, we don’t want to tithe but we want God to open the windows of heaven, and bring in just one breakthrough - it is not going to happen, because a bird does not fly with one wing.
You meet the conditions of God; He will meet the other side. Promotion must work hand in hand with diligence.
The Lord said there is someone where tonight, he said I will replace your entire digestive system.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said what people are saying about you now is that the sun of your family is set. God asked me to tell you as the sun is rising tomorrow morning, the sun of your family will rise again.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said you will understand when I tell you, He said the flow stopped because you drifted away from Him, He asked me to tell you, because you have decided to come back to Him, the flow will begin again.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said I assure you; from now on you will enjoy my peace.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said at long last, the spring that is in you will begin to produce a big river.
Promotion will go ahead with diligence Proverb 22 v 29 seeth thou a man diligent in his business, he will stand before kings and not before mean men. Many of us wants to prosper, we want to become great but we don’t want to work, it is not going to happen.
God is not a magician, He is a miracle worker, He is a rewarder of those who are diligent. Hebrew 11 v 6 God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. You want to make first class but you don’t want to study, it is not going to happen. You must learn to work hard.
You are the one delaying the blessings God has for you, because you are too lazy, God almighty want you to wake up, if you wake up now and decide that from now on you will begin to work hard, by the time we come again next year, you will know that the God we serve is the Almighty.
He opened a door for you and he expect you to finish that assignment for one month, you are still on it for one year, how is he going to give you another one. And yet there are doors that the Almighty God wants to open.
I gave someone an assignment; get me a little fish pound and they’ve been on it for months. I went to them one day and say I know you will finish within one year, they replied no sir, we will finish within nine month, the work of two weeks!
How many of you want to reach the top? How many of us will stop being lazy, Jesus Christ said, my father work hitherto and I work, the Almighty God is still working till now, so what excuse are you going to give for not working?
Anyone who is going to because an excellent person, someone who will excel, according to 1Corthinas 9v 24-27 anyone who is going to excel must be self disciplined. You must keep your body under. If you are going to excel, you must be self disciplined, don’t let us deceive ourselves; greatness is available, there is plenty of room at the top, the problem is, are you willing to do the work that will qualify you for the top?
Some of you will say Daddy, what is happening tonight.
I will tell you what is happening tonight is going to mark a new beginning for somebody.
God has given me a little glimpse to the future, He is about to raise up some great people and I want you too to be one of them. How many of you want to be great? Are you really ready to be great? Nobody else will tell you the truth if I don’t tell you, I don’t want to be popular, so if you don’t like me anymore it doesn’t matter but you must reach the top.
Anyone who wants to be pre-eminent, anyone who wants to mount with wings like eagle cannot be lazy, Isaiah 40 v 31 says it is they that wait upon the Lord that will renewed their strength, they are the one who will mount with wings as eagles.
I told you the highest level of motion is to be carried, the one who will carry you on the flight is Jesus Christ, he said in John 15 v 5, He said without me you can do nothing. If I don’t carry you, you won’t get there.
In Philippians 4 v 13 He said I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, the aircraft that will carry you is Christ. He will be the one who will do the work, but He expects you to do only one thing: wait on him.
We don’t want to pray and we want miracles, we want signs and wonders, it’s not going to happen, you pray for five minutes and you say that is enough, God is not your house boy, He is the King of kings, He is the Lord of lords, you must learn to wait on Him.
I remembered one occasion; the president said he wanted to see me, not the present one. He gave me an appointment for 11am, I arrived at 10am, he didn’t see me until 1pm… suppose am the one who needed to see Him… and he saw me at 1pm because I threatened to leave, I got up and told the secretary, tell Mr. President, I have been here for three hours, there are sick people waiting for me, I am going. Now I could only say that because I wasn’t the one who needed help, he was the one who need my help at that time. If I was the one who need his help even if he saw me by 9pm I will wait.
How many of you know that the almighty God is greater than any president, one miracle from Him that is all, but you don’t want to wait on Him, you pray for two minutes and you think that is enough.
I have told you the story before, we had a convention, I have finished everything, very tired, I told my wife, I don’t want to be disturbed, I want to rest. I was so tired, I got to the bed and I was almost fast asleep immediately. Soon as I left for my room, a woman came from the north, asked my children, is papa in? And since they can’t lie they said yes, but he said he is not seeing anybody. The woman said is he in? he said fine, I will seat down here until he comes out. They said to her he is not coming out today, the woman said who said today? I said is he in? she said that’s all. They told my wife, they gave her food, thinking after that she will go, she sat down there, finally my wife came and said I know you are tired, but you better add this to your tiredness, because this woman said she is not going anywhere, I had to come out in my pajamas to come and attend to her.
God is not on a journey, but how many of you are ready to tell God, am not going anywhere until you solve my problem. Because time is gone we will not do what we have been doing since Monday, we are not going to ask you to pray for one hour, but at least twenty minutes, you are going to stand on your feet, if you like you can sleep, nobody is going to stop you, if you want you can kneel, but for the next twenty minutes,
You are going to lift your voice to the Almighty God, and say father, I am going to stay with you until my joy is full, … and then begin to tell him all the things you want God to do for you. I am giving you just twenty minute… ask everything you can continue your prayer…
in Jesus mighty name we have prayed,
God will answer you tonight, He will open the windows of heaven to you tonight, that which you have been asking for all these years; you will receive it tonight in Jesus name.
And your testimony shall be great. So shall it be, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
In the mighty name of Jesus, I fly over every mountain, every mountain of sorrow, over mountain of failure, over every mountain of fruitless effort, over every mountain blocking my way…
and so shall it be in the name of Jesus,
Will you please lay the handkerchief on your own head, and remember The Just shall live by faith.
Tonight and whatever you say tonight, it is established forever. Talk now to the Almighty God.
Let Somebody Shout Alleluia
WEEP NOT (November'11 Holy Ghost Service Message)
Thank you father, I know there is someone here tonight, who will never weep again!
Someone says the legs that dance for God never goes lame, the hands that clapped for Jesus never withers and the mouth that will praise God, will never go dumb. So I want you to praise him, clap for him, dance for him, just go ahead and magnify his holy name.
He is worthy to be praised, give Him glory, give Him honor, give Him adoration. He is worthy to be praised. He is worthy to be magnified. He is worthy to be lifted high, there is no one like Him; He is the Almighty God, bless His holy name, give Him glory, sing unto Him, shout unto Him. Clap unto Him, dance for Him, there is no one like Him, bless His holy name. He is worthy.
Now lift your voice to Him loud and clear and say Father, this year is going to an end, remember me tonight… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Lift your voice to Him and say Father, let me hear from You tonight; send your word to me, speak to me directly Lord. … In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Lift your voice to Him and say Father, all your children in higher institution all over the world, protect them, bless them, let it be well with them, let them succeed, stand by them oh Lord; prosper them; use them for your glory. … In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Lift your voice to Him and say Father, this month in particular oh Lord, do something special in my life this month … in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Join your hands with your neighbor, pray for him or her and say Father, wipe away all tears from the eyes of this your child. … In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Now Stretch your hands towards me and say Father lay your hands mightily on your son and use him mightily for me tonight… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Singing:
You are the mighty God, that great I am, halleluiah!2ce
You are the mighty God, the great I am, halleluiah!2ce
You are the mighty God, that great I am, halleluiah!2ce
You are the mighty God, the great I am, halleluiah!2ce
Eternal Rock of ages we bless your name, King of glory we adore you, Unchangeable changer, Unmovable mover, the Source of all joy, glory be to your holy name. The holy one of Israel, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Rock of ages, the Ancient of days, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace, glory be to your holy name. Accept our worship in Jesus name.
Tonight in the eyes of all your children, wipe away all tears. Father wipe away tears, Almighty God wipe away all tears and let all be well, we thank you for all you have done. Thank you for January, thank you for February, thank you for March, thank you for April, thank you for May, thank you for June, thank you for July, Thank you for July, thank you for August, thank you for September, thank you for October, thank you now for November. And Lord thank you in advance for December, glory be to your holy name.
Tonight, save souls, heal the sick, set the captives free, bless beyond measure tonight, let there be mighty testimonies tonight. Let there be mighty break troughs tonight, do what you alone can do tonight and at the end of it all, let your name be glorified. Bless Nigeria oh Lord, In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Let someone shout halleluiah!
Luke 7 v 11 – 15And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
The Lord is going to have compassion on somebody here tonight.
Here is a story of a widow; who had an only son and the devil went to the house of the person with an only son and killed that one son. That is why the devil is such a bad devil.
And as they were going to bury the only son, so many things were going on in the mind of the widow; who did I offend to this extent? They killed my husband and the only son I have, they killed him also! How many enemies have I anyway? Why is my life so full of bitterness? Am I the only one in town? Why is everything so hard for me? Why am I reduced to zero? Because I have no one else now; husband gone, son gone. Why is all my way blocked, how come I don’t even have an open way for me to walk in?
Why has death constituted himself to a giant blocking my way? And very soon all these sympathizers will be gone. And I will be left alone! In a moment, I will be alone with my sorrow. When will the mountain of my life move? When will the storm barraging me stop? When will I ever come out from the valley of sorrow?
You can imagine thousands of questions going on in the mind of this widow.
Suddenly the procession stopped. Because someone had come on the scene and said to her, am not sympathizing with you, am commanding you, stop weeping! Am sure she must have looked at him and said sir, are you alright? With all these my problems… You asked me to stop weeping?, but she said nothing, she just looked at him, as if to say well, you don’t know what is going on here, but in the next moment, something happened!
There is someone here tonight, in the next moment, something will happen in your life.
The Almighty God is walking through this ground right now and he is going to stop beside someone and say to him or her, stop weeping. Who is that fellow? If you are the one let me hear you shout halleluiah!
Maybe you too have many enemies, but remember what God said to the children of Israel, by the mouth of Moses; in Exodus 14 when they looked back and they saw so many enemies matching after them, enemies that have been enemies for more than 400 years. Those who were enemies of their fathers and grand fathers. God spoke through the mouth of Moses and said to the children of Israel, he said look at them very well, because the enemies you see tonight, you will never see them again.
And my Daddy is speaking through me tonight and he is saying to someone here tonight, all the enemies that have been pursuing you all these years, you will never see them again.
Why? Because God will arise for you!
Psalm 68 v 1 – 3says let God arise and his enemies will scatter, in the name that is above every other name, God will arise for you.
Maybe your own life too is full of bitterness, there is a God, a God who turned Mara waters to sweet, that God is still on his throne. In John 5 v 2 – 9 the bible tells us the story of a man, who had a history of sorrow. For thirty eight years, it was one sorrowful year after another, but one day, Jesus came on the scene and the history of sorrow ended.
I have good news for someone here today, every year that has passed, had been full of sorrows for you and it looks as if this year is going to end like that, but because there is a God in heaven, who speaks and it is done, from tonight onward you shall weep no more.
In2 king 2 v 19 -22 for years, for generations, Jericho was under a curse, there was no more death, no more bareness, because God spoke through his servant and tonight, the same God is speaking through one of his servant.
And tonight through one of his sons and I am saying to you right now, every curse that has been in your generation, that has been causing you sorrow, will end tonight in Jesus name.
Maybe for you things are hard, like the woman would have said things are hard “things are hard” everybody knows what it is to be poor, it can be very difficult to be happy when you are poor, but there is a God who brought water out of the rock; that God is still on his throne. The earth is his own and the fullness thereof, silver belongs to him, Gold belongs to him according to Haggai 2 v 8. And the Almighty said in Philippians 4 v 19 but my God shall supply your needs, according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.
I know there might be some people here who will be saying, Christmas is coming, when everybody will be celebrating, but what do I have to celebrate with?
In the Might name of Jesus Christ, between now and the end of the year, your breakthrough will come.
This woman said, I am down to zero, I have lost everything. Everything that meant anything to me, I have lost them all. I have good news for you; the woman didn’t know help was on the way. Like the widow of Zarephath in 1king 17 v 8 -16 she said I am going to eat my last meal and me and my son will go ahead and die, but while she was getting ready to die, help was on the way.
I decree in the name that is above every other name, that even before you get home in the morning, God will send help to you. Help is on the way!
Bartimeus didn’t even know help was coming, he woke up and he thought he will die a beggar, but help was on the way.
In the name that is above every other name, you will not miss your own help.
Or maybe your ways are totally blocked, you don’t even know where to turn now; you turn right; it is blocked, you turned left; it is blocked, you look forward it is blocked, you can’t even go back because the back is blocked.
There is someone coming who is called the Way. Jesus Christ said I am the way.
I have good news for you, ways will open unto you.
Thank you father, the Lord asked me to tell someone here tonight, he said before this month is over, you will discover that God does not make mistake.
Daddy says there is a student here tonight; he said I am going to move you, from below average to above brilliant.
Daddy says there is someone here tonight; he said I will touch you twice tonight.
Daddy says there is someone here tonight, he said in spite of every efforts, he said you have always be a failure, Daddy asked me to tell you, things will change from tonight.
Daddy says there is someone here tonight, he asked me to tell you to get ready for a major transformation.
So your ways is totally blocked, maybe all you need is not tears but praise, because in Joshua 6 v 20 when the wall of Jericho blocked the way of Joshua, they didn’t weep; himself and the children of Israel, they didn’t weep, all they did was praise God. In 2chronicle 20 v 20 – 25 when some mighty Kings gathered against Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat didn’t weep, he praised God and the enemies destroy themselves. Do you know one of the reasons why you won’t weep again; is that all your enemies will finish themselves off?
In Act 16 v 25 – 34 when the enemies thought they have got Paul and Silas, not only were they in prison, they put them in chains, they didn’t weep but they praise God. When they praised Him, doors were opened.
Maybe I should give you two minute, just to praise God, like you have never done before, maybe we will see something happen. Just praise him…in Jesus mighty name we worshipped.
Together lets shout one big halleluiah
The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said you are fully aware of some people who are determined to terminate your life. The Lord asked me to tell you, i will terminate them all.
Maybe right now, there is a giant blocking your way, maybe there is somebody in authority who said ”I am not going to allow you to succeed.”
But you remember the story of David and Goliath, when David saw Goliath, he didn’t weep, he challenged him in the name of the Lord.
And for every one of you here tonight, every Goliath blocking your way, before the sun rises, shall be dead in Jesus name. And if he didn’t die, according to Psalm 23 v 5 the Lord that prepared a table before you in the presence of your enemies, will shame all those who says you will not succeed in Jesus name.
Thank you father, daddy asked me to tell you a story, true story. Several years ago, my two last sons were in command school Ibadan. So on their open day, we went to see them, myself and my wife, we went with food; pounded yam, the kind we know they don’t eat in Command. We got there, all parents were there, the children were there running up and down, enjoying themselves. And I noticed a boy; he stood alone, looking towards the gate. Am sure he was expecting his parents, looking and looking and looking and nobody came. So I went to the boy, “you are expecting your parent?” he said “yes sir”. “Do you think they are coming?” he said “I am not sure sir,” so I said come, I took him to join my children, he eat with them, when we were leaving we gave him some money.
The reason God asked me to tell you the story, he said there is someone here tonight; all those you thought will help you, have not shown up, the Lord asked me to tell you “I will help you”.
That widow needed an urgent miracle, because if Jesus had not been there on time to raise that dead young man, very soon the boy would have been buried and that would have been the end of it all.
There might be somebody here tonight, who needs an urgent miracle, like in 2 kings 4 v 1 – 7 the creditors came. Woman, if you don’t pay our debt, by tomorrow we will sell your children, that widow needed an urgent miracle, in less than 24 hours, the solution came.
I know there be somebody here who needed a miracle urgently, I believe God with you that before the sun rises tomorrow, and your tears will be changed to laughter.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, who is in the secret society, in a cult and your heart is saying to you, get out but another section of the heart is saying, you know if you get out they will kill you. Daddy asked me to tell you whoever you are, that if you run out to the altar now, he will guarantee not only your freedom but your safety. You want to get out, but you are afraid, daddy says if you come out now, he will not only guarantee your freedom, he will guarantee your safety. I will count from one to seven, by the time I say seven., if you are not already out, I know you don’t want to come, I will continue with the programs, am counting now …one, two, three…..seven
If you are here tonight and you have not given you life to God, come now. Brethren, stretch your hands towards these people and ask that the Almighty God will arise for them, and set them free from every yoke of bondage, that God will cancel every evil covenants in their lives and grant them special protection from now on, pray that God will make them free, absolutely free from now on. Thank you deliver, deliver them oh Lord from every shackles of Satan...
… In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Lord of host, you have never lost a battle, these your children wants to get out of the company of darkness, father set them free in Jesus name. The power that is in your blood, the blood that conquers Satan, let it conquer for them in Jesus name. Lord God Almighty, I pray tonight, that you will build a fire around them and the enemy will never be able come to them again, let them remain free for ever, let them be save forever, let them remain secure forever, let them spend the remaining part of their lives serving you. In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Let somebody shout halleluiah! go in freedom, it will be well with you now, just keep going and keep rejoicing, let’s give God a big round of applause.
So if you need an urgent miracle, the Almighty God is more than sufficient, he has done it before, he will do it again, maybe there is a big mountain blocking your way in Psalm 90 v 1 -2 the Bible says before the mountain were brought forth, he is God, before the problem started in your life, God was there and the one who knew the foundation of your problem, also knows how to uproot the mountain. In Zachariah 4 v 6 – 7 he says it is not by power or by might, he says it is by my spirit, says the Lord of host. He says who are thou oh mountain, before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.
I decree tonight, in the name that is above every other name, every mountain blocking your way shall become plain in Jesus name.
Maybe you are in a storm and the storm is beaten very hard, don’t forget there is a God, whose name is prince of peace. All he asked to do is say peace and the storm will cease. In Mark 4 v 35 – 41, you know the story very well, Jesus was in the boat sleeping and there was a storm and the disciple thought maybe he didn’t even know we are about to sink, but when they woke him up, he spoke one word, peace be still and suddenly the storm went to sleep.
I know there might be some people here tonight the storms are raging, physically, financially, maritally Or even spiritually because Jesus is alive forever, I speak to those storms and I say storms, be still in Jesus name. After all the bib le says that at the mention of the name of Jesus all kneels must bow, your storm will bow, to the name of Jesus now.
And so when he said to that woman, weep not, it was because he knew he was going to remove the source of sorrow. He wasn’t ridiculing the woman, he wasn’t joking, when he said weep not, it is because he knew that very, very soon, the woman will be shouting for joy.
When the almighty God said to me that the theme for November is WEEP NOT, I was somewhere in the bush praying, when all of a sudden he said the theme for November is weep not. Alone in the bush I began to dance, why? Because I know what that means,
I know that there is somebody here tonight, no doubt about it. Long before the end of November, your problems will be over.
I will just tell you a story then we will go and pray, because I know we just need to seek his face tonight. It is a story some of you have heard before. But there might be one or two people who had not heard it before.
We were in the first auditorium beside the road, we were having programme like this, and I ask everybody to pray, it is time to pray, now when I ask people to pray, I always pray too, because I need prayers. And the way I was taught when I was young, that when you are praying, you close your eyes, not like you people nowadays, who open your eyed when you are praying.
I have even seen some people when they say pray, that is the time they are taking pictures, why - because they have no problems.
So I asked people to pray and I close my eyes and I was praying. Suddenly I asked God saying, Son, open your eyes. I almost said to Him, but daddy I am praying! He asked me to open my eye, so I opened my eye. We were much fewer than this then. And he pointed a woman to me in the congregation, drenched in tears, he said to me, go to her, and tell her, stop weeping.
So I went down from the altar, went to the woman, tap her by the shoulder, because she was gone in prayers. I said sister, God said “stop weeping” and suddenly she brightened up because she knew at last, God has heard.
Is there anyone here tonight, that you can feel it, deep inside you that at long last, God has heard!
God said stop weeping, quickly she wiped away her tears and she cheered up.
I didn’t say more than that because that is all God asked me to say. About a year later, I was at home when the woman came and said, “do you remember me?” I say how many people will I remember? She said I was the woman who was weeping, that God sent you to tell stop weeping.
And she told me her story; she said I have been barren for so long. The relative of my husband says they are going to drive me out. When I was weeping that day, I was weeping in sorrow and now see my baby!
When God says stop weeping, it is because he has made up his mind to remove that which is causing you sorrow. That day it was my turn to weep and I was weeping for joy.
There is somebody here tonight, the next time you weep, it will be weeping for joy.
Daddy says there is someone here tonight, he said before this year runs out, you will sing “All is well!”
Daddy says there is someone here tonight, he said your benefactors is going through a hard time, the Lord asked me to tell you, because you came here tonight, I will intervene.
The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said from now your seed will fall on good soil
Daddy says there is someone here tonight, he said your talent has been hidden for too long, he said now I will bring it to the open.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said from this moment onward, the things you were looking for, will begin to look for you
Psalm 32v 10- 11the Bible says the sorrow of those who runs after other god shall be many, but those who trust in the Lord shall be glad and rejoice.
If you are living in sin, if you are worshipping other gods, there is no way your sorrow can go, God says many will be the sorrows of the wicked. He said only those who put their trust in the Lord, will continue to be glad and will continue to rejoice.
There is no prophecy that can cancel the word of God. Forever oh Lord, your word is settled; the word of God says the sorrow of the wicked shall be multiplied. The sorrow of those who run after other god shall be multiplied.
The sorrows of those who refuse to surrender their live to Jesus Christ shall be multiplied. But those who trust in God shall be glad and they shall rejoice.
If you are here tonight and you have not yet given your life to Jesus , come and do so now, God wants to put an end to your sorrow, but he will not break his word, all his prophecy of tonight are for those who are Gods children and they can become your too if you surrender your life.
So I am going to count from one to ten, if you want to give your life to Jesus, before I say ten come and stand before me here. If you are backslider and you have gone back into sin and you want your joy to be restored, come back to the Almighty God, come now, one, two, three… as you come, begin to ask for mercy, ask him to save your soul. Talk to him now… the rest of us, lets pray for these people, let’s ask God to save their soul, that he should forgive them their sins.
Those of you who are coming, keep coming. I will wait a little for you to come…. Ask him for mercy; ask him to save your souls, ask him to save your soul… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Savior, I just want to bless your name, thank you because your mercy endures forever, thank you for your word, thank you for this your children who have come today, accept our thanks in Jesus name.
Father you promise that who so ever will come to you, you will in no wise cast out, they have come now, receive them in Jesus name, forgive them in Jesus name, save their souls in Jesus name, let your blood wash away their sins in Jesus name, father please write their names in the book of life in Jesus name and from now on, wipe away all tears from their eyes, let them serve you till the end, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Now, I want to rejoice with those of you who have come forward tonight, because from now, till every day of my life, I will be praying for you and very soon, you will be receiving some miracles you didn’t even ask for. So I need your name, your address and your prayer request.
You may want to write down your prayer point because tonight, we really need to spend time with God,
- •1. Praise Him that you are still alive till this moment; it means the devil has lost the battle over your life. So you want to thank God, that you are around for this November Holy Ghost service
- •2. Father, arise for me and no matter how many my enemies may be, scatter them all.
- •3. Father, turn my sorrow to joy tonight, my weeping to laughter, my bitterness to sweetness.
- •4. Father, you brought water out of the rock before, do it again for me
- •5. Father, lift up urgently.
- •6. Father, make a way for me; dismantle every road block on my path.
- •7. Every storm bombarding my life, still them now.
- •8. Remove every source of sorrow, in my family; don’t let me ever weep again.
- •9. Before this year ends, let my testimonies be complete.
- •10. Your own individual request.
You can pray in your own way, you can kneel; you can lie down, for the next one hour cry unto God.
LET SOMEBODY SHOUT ALLELUIA
Handling Fustration
Jesus faced constant frustrations in his life, but he always made time for people. We get so preoccupied with our own things; we forget that people are the priority in life. “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Here are five simple steps for dealing with frustrations in your life.
1. Ask yourself, “Did I cause it?” The Bible says, “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7 NIV).Many things in life frustrate us because we brought them on ourselves. We don't have anybody else to blame.
It’s frustrating to run out of gas on a trip. But if you didn't stop to get gas before you left, or decided to push your luck, who’s to blame?
2. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from it?” Use the irritation as an opportunity to grow in character and become more like Christ.
Howdoes God produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life? He places you in the opposite situation. If God wants to teach you love, He will put you around unlovely people. If God wants to teach you peace, He will put you in a situation of total chaos so you can have inner peace.
Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good” (NIV). There are many bad things in the world, but all things work together and even the negative God can turn into a positive if we will let Him.
3. Thank God in the situation. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks” (NIV). You don't have to be thankful for a bad situation. But you can be thankful in a bad situation. That frustration, that irritation, that inconvenience, that interruption, may be a blessing or an opportunity in disguise.
The Apostle Paul wanted to go to Rome to preach, but God took him to Rome to be in prison and write the letters that formed the New Testament. Paul was frustrated but God saw it as an opportunity to make him sit still long enough to write the Bible.
4. Turn the frustration into a funny, humorous event. The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV). A sense of humor is God's antidote for anger and frustration.
5. Ask God to fill you with His love. Why? Because 1 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Love is not easily angered” (NIV). Love is self-giving, not self-serving. We get irritated because we think everyone and everything has to revolve around us. Love concentrates on the other person.
Jesus faced constant frustrations in his life, but he always made time for people. We get so preoccupied with our own things; we forget that people are the priority in life.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
BIOGRAPHY OF FANNY CROSBY
The name of Fanny Crosby (Mrs. Frances Jane Van Alstyne) is bound up with the evangelism of the last half century. To hear her name is to think of gospel songs and to remember pleasantly the blind poet who wrote "Blessed Assurance," "Rescue the Perishing" and "Saved by Grace." Yet few, even of those who are especially interested in gospel hymnody, realize the extent of her work. Her chief publishers possess five thousand five hundred of her hymns; and inasmuch as she declares that she must have written at least half as many more, she has the astonishing number of eight thousand religious poems to her credit!
"'Hymns rarely have any serious value as poetry," said the late Professor Goldwin Smith. "There is nothing in them on which the creative imagination can be exercised. Hymns can be little more than the incense of a worshiping soul." Most critical readers will agree with Professor Smith; and if his dictum is true of the work of such great figures in Christian hymnody as Isaac Watts, James Montgomery and Charles Wesley, it applies with yet more truth to the prolific effusions of Miss Crosby. Great poetry her work is not. She is not sufficiently gifted to produce it on any theme, apart from the limitations of hymn-writing. A great facility in rhyming and expressing the emotions of the Christian heart in regular rhythm which can be set to music is hers in marked degree. More for herself than this, she does not claim. But hers is "the worshiping soul" and her hymns are "the incense" which she, and countless thousands of devout worshipers with her, offer to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Fanny Crosby was born in the little village of Southeast, Putnam County, New York, [United States], on March 24, 1820. Six weeks later she lost her eyesight. Her eyes became, inflamed; Mr. Crosby called in a local physician who applied hot poultices, with the result that the baby's vision was destroyed. The popular indignation when this malpractice became known flamed so hot that the ill-educated doctor hurriedly left town for parts unknown. Fanny, herself, however, as she grew into girlhood, harbored no trace of resentment against him. She accepted her lot cheerfully, as a part of the will of God for her. Her natural buoyancy of disposition reinforced her Christian faith.
"Blindness," she wrote in later life, "can not keep the sunlight of hope from the trustful soul. One of the easiest resolves that I formed in my young and joyous heart was to leave all care to yesterday, and to believe that the morning would bring forth its own peculiar joy." A wise and fruitful resolve!
Much of this elasticity of nature was doubtless due to her splendid ancestry. Fanny Crosby was well born. She can trace the two lines of her ancestry back to the earliest New England stock. Her mother, who was also a Crosby, was descended from Simon Crosby who came to Boston in 1635 and was one of the founders of Harvard College, from which his son, Thomas, was graduated in 1653. Fanny's great grandfather, Isaac Crosby, was the father of nineteen children. One of them was born while he was serving in the Revolutionary Army; whereupon he asked for a furlough on the ground that he had many children at home and "hadn't ever seen one of them." The furlough was immediately granted. The records do not say whether, on his return to the army, he confessed in what sense his words were true. If he had the sensitive conscience of his descendant, he doubtless did.
Fanny Crosby came naturally therefore by a sense of humor and a playful spirit. She was full of fun, joined the other children in play, and was likely to be deep in any mischief that was going on. Taking the description of natural objects from her young companions, imagination made them as plain to her as sight did to them. She would leap over stone walls, play tag, climb trees with the agility of a cat, and ride the colts bareback across the fields. This vivid imagination was made possible by senses of hearing and touch unusually graphic. Sounds of nature, for instance, were always a "feast" to her.
When a very little girl, a lamb was given to her as a playmate. They soon became inseparable friends. The lamb grew, however, as lambs will, and family necessities were insistent then, as now, though "the high cost of living" was not thought of. One day the lamb was missing; the next, the dinner table supported a savory roast on which the attention of all was ravenously centered. Not so, the little girl; she put two and two together and refused to eat the cannibalistic meat or to receive comfort of her elders. In a day or two her tears were dried; but when a neighbor offered her another lamb for a pet, she refused it. The pain of losing outweighed the joy of possessing. The child had not grown to the wise philosophy:
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
For solace, Fanny turned to the rose garden which she had always loved. She was allowed to pick whatever roses she wanted except from a certain white rose bush "in the midst of the garden." She would probably never have yielded to temptation by herself; but when her companions asked her for a white rose, she picked one for them. Her aunt saw her do it; and later in the day, she called Fanny and asked her if she had picked a white rose. Promptly came the answer, "No," although the child had never told an untruth before. The aunt took down the Bible and read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, without note or comment. But Fanny learned her life-long lesson that day.
At this period of her life, she began to learn Bible verses. Thereby her memory, which throughout life has been remarkable, was trained, and the foundation laid for her knowledge of the Bible, which was of such inestimable advantage to her as a hymn-writer. When there were competitions in reciting Bible verses either at home or at school, she was always victor. Evening after evening at twilight, she would sit on a favorite big brown rock and drink in the sounds of birds, crickets and the near-by waterfall, imagining the hues of the sky and softly repeating to herself all the verses of the Bible that came to her well stocked mind. The scene is a prophecy of the Christian poet that she became.
Although the little girl herself, probably because she did not know the poignancy of contrast, did not fret because of her sightlessness, Mrs. Crosby could not endure the thought of her daughter's blindness, if a cure could be effected. So a journey was planned to New York City to consult the great specialist, Dr. Valentine Mott. It was an adventurous journey to reach the Hudson River; then a trip of several days in the sailboat, where the mother was seasick and little Frances played with the captain and the crew who sang songs and spun "yarns." A young man and his cow were fellow passengers on the boat, the former too full of whiskey and the latter of milk. The drunken owner refused to milk the cow; but the captain ordered it done while the man's attention was diverted, and Mrs. Crosby, now happily recovered from her seasickness, made a custard which all on board pronounced very good!
Thus, after a journey more fraught with incident and excitement than would now-a-days be crowded into a trip across the continent, they arrived in New York; and after a few days' rest, presented themselves to the renowned physician for his examination and verdict. "My child," he said, in tones memorable for their kindness, "you can never be made to see!" The loving mother was grief-stricken, but not so the child. Life had brought her much joy already; would not yet fuller joy come with the years? She could not but look forward with anticipation and courage. In that mood was born her first poem, written when she was eight years old:
Oh! what a happy soul I am!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind
I cannot nor I won't.
If the reader smiles at the expressions, he must admire at least the sentiment.
To gain an education now became her consuming ambition. Her father had died when she was less than a year old, and the family resources were meager. At the age of fifteen, she was admitted to the New York Institute for the Blind and a new chapter in her life was begun. She did all she could to show her appreciation of the opportunities of this school. Because of her flow of spirits and ready companionship she became a favorite among her blind companions. Her skill in versifying seemed remarkable to her mates who nearly succeeded in turning her head with their praise. A wise teacher, seeing this danger, called her to his office and gave her wholesome truth about her poetry and herself. "Fanny, shun a flatterer as you would a viper," he concluded.
Among the chief advantages in this school was the opportunity to meet distinguished people. Visitors from foreign lands and American notables paid visits to the Institute and were introduced to the students. William Cullen Bryant read his poems, Horace Greeley was a frequent visitor, President Polk made a pleasant impression, and Gen. Winfield Scott caused a great flurry of excitement. Miss Crosby particularly liked Henry Clay; his voice was so sonorous and persuasive. For a time, the superintendent had a young assistant whom teachers and pupils learned to admire for his ability and strong sincerity. His name was Grover Cleveland; and as they followed his brilliant career from step to step, no one of them was surprised that he should become the President of the United States.
Less pleasant to record was the breaking out of cholera in the Institute. The epidemic raged fiercely in the city, and the hoarse cry: "Bring out your dead!" sounded grimly in the night hours. Many of the blind caught the infection and died. Miss Crosby herself had the initial symptoms one afternoon. Bravely she kept the news to herself, took the medicine, practiced the precautions which had been enjoined, committed herself to God, — and woke in the morning to find herself perfectly well! Those were dreadful days and left their scar upon the memory of those who passed through them.
After seven years of student life, Miss Crosby was graduated from the Institute, to return to it afterwards as teacher for eleven years, from 1847 to 1858. In 1844, she launched her first volume of verse, under the title, The Blind Girl and Other Poems. Many of these poems were autobiographical. Others were the addresses in poetic form with which she had greeted famous visitors to the Institute. Monterey and Other Poems followed in 1849. On the year of her marriage, 1858, she published A Wreath of Columbia's Flowers.
The most significant occurrence in this period of her life was her conversion. Religious she had been from childhood up, but not until she was thirty-one years of age did she have that vital assurance of Christ's love and God's pardon that she called her conversion. One night in a vivid dream, a warm friend of hers, who seemed to be dying, asked her, "Will you meet me in heaven?" It did not matter to find, on waking, that the friend was in sound health. The question had set her to thinking deeply. Shortly after she and her companions were singing, "Alas! and did my Saviour bleed" and and as they came to the line, "Here, Lord, I give myself away," she definitely offered herself to God and a flood of light and joy ensued. She joined the Old John Street Methodist church. This experience became determinative of her inner life, of her lifework, and of the sentiment of her hymns.
Fanny Crosby was married to Mr. Alexander Van Alstyne in 1858. Like herself, he was blind and had been a teacher in the Institute for the Blind. He was musical, also, and their united lives made harmony for forty-four years, until his death in 1902. At his wish, she continued to write under her maiden name by which she was already becoming widely known.
At the time of her marriage, Fanny Crosby was well started on what proved to be her life-career, that of producing religious verse. In 1851, Mr. George F. Root, important in the development of music in America, wrote an air for which he needed words. She supplied them so acceptably that they collaborated in about sixty songs. All of these had a wide circulation and some became the most successful songs of the period. Among them were "There's music in the air," Hazel Dell, Rosalie, the Prairie Flower, and Bird of the North, all sweet, sentimental songs warmly beloved a generation ago and popular now.
Four years later The Flower Queen was produced by them jointly. One day Mr. Root would tell in prose what he wanted the various flowers to say and hum the melody he had in mind; the next day Miss Crosby would have those sentiments expressed in rhyme, to fit the given melody. The Flower Queen was the first American cantata and was frequently produced in widely separated parts of the country. It gave popularity both to author and composer. Mr. Root's fame was still further enhanced by his war songs and Sunday school music.
Another composer with whom she was early thrown in contact was William B. Bradbury. He was a prolific composer for the Sunday school, a devout man who believed in consecrating his talent to religious uses. Such tunes as Woodworth ("Just as I am"), Rest ("Asleep in Jesus"), "Sweet Hour of Prayer," and "He leadeth me," are a worthy contribution to American hymnology and will preserve his name for many generations. Others like "Jesus, like a Shepherd lead us," "Even me," "The Solid Rock," were immensely popular in their day. Bradbury was a connecting link between the choral style of Greatorex and Lowell Mason on the one hand and the ballad style in sacred music which so soon became popular under the name of gospel songs.
When Mr. Bradbury was introduced to Miss Crosby, he was deeply impressed with her work. "I am surprised beyond measure," he said, "and as long as I have a publishing house, you will always have work." He had long desired such words as Miss Crosby could write. This promise was fulfilled, and her connection with the firm ran for more than forty years. Mr. Bradbury himself, however, did not long survive. When he died, in 1868, his last words to her were, "Take up my life-work where I lay it down." At his funeral there was sung the first hymn they had done together, speeding his spirit to the land—
Where the fields are robed in beauty
And the sunlight never dies.
Though their joint work was so short, she became warmly attached to Mr. Bradbury; and thirty years after his death she said to a name-sake of his: "Of all my friends, I loved him the best. When I get to heaven I am going to ask first for William B. Bradbury."
In these early years, she worked much for Philip Phillips, the singing evangelist, whose songs were collected in The Singing Pilgrim. At one time he gave her a commission for forty hymns. These she did one by one, storing them all in her mind till all the forty were ready; not until then was the amanuensis called in. Not one of them was put on paper until all were done. As a feat of memory, that is truly remarkable, almost incredible. Later she repeated the feat, furnishing him with nearly as many more not one of which was committed to writing until all were finished.
Another of her collaborators was the Reverend Robert Lowry; to his music she wrote one of her most inspired hymns— "All the Way my Saviour leads me." The spirit of trustfulness and joyous resignation in the poem, is aptly conveyed by the music as well.
With Mrs. E. L. Knapp, she has twice collaborated most successfully. "Nearer the Cross, my Heart can say" and the world-famous "Blessed Assurance" are their joint work. The latter was written after Mrs. Knapp had played the melody over several times, asking what it "meant" to Miss Crosby. "It means this!" was the answer; and thus the spirit of the music was caught and put into language. "Blessed Assurance" has been particularly welcome in camp and on the march, although all of Miss Crosby's songs, with their warm sentiment and well-marked rhythm, have been very helpful among soldiers—and sailors, as well. The Soldier's Christian Association of the British Army has made constant use of them. During the South African war, many times when a group of soldiers would pass another, the salutation would be "Four-nine-four, boys," and the response would invariably be, "Six further on! The key to these watchwords is found in the fact that number 494 in Sacred Songs and Solos is "God be with you till we meet again"; and "six further on" is number 500, "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine."
Much work as compelling as that done with Mrs. Knapp, Miss Crosby accomplished in collaboration with William H. Doane. To mention such lines as "Pass me not, O Gentle Saviour," "Rescue the Perishing," "I am Thine, O Lord," "Jesus Keep me near the Cross," "To the Work, to the Work," and "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," is to realize the extent of the popular debt to both of these partners. The composition of the last named hymn is characteristic of Miss Crosby's readiness of achievement. Mr. Doane burst into her room on April 30, 1868, and said, "There are just forty minutes before my train leaves for Cincinnati. Here is a melody. Can you write words for it?" Twenty minutes passed in silence broken only by the ticking of the clock, Mr. Doane waiting, Miss Crosby thinking. Then she turned round to him. "It is all done," she said, and dictated her verses. He caught his train, bearing with him words that were destined to bring comfort to thousands of people.
"Safe in the Arms of Jesus" became popular with great rapidity. That this hymn gave more peace and satisfaction to mothers who had lost their children than any other was the statement made by Dr. John Hall, the pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, New York. It has also been useful in causing repentance and a change of life. This incident, reported to Miss Crosby, is typical: "John," said a dying mother, looking up at him through tearful eyes, "sing to me once more 'Safe in the Arms of Jesus."' The young man choked. "Mother," he said, "I can't sing that song. It would be a lie; I am not safe and I can not sing a lie." It is not surprising to know that that confession of his need led him to Christ.
This was one of the first of the gospel hymns to be transcribed into foreign languages. "Once when laboring in London, I went to Basel, Switzerland, for a few days' rest," said Mr. Ira D. Sankey. "The evening I got there I heard under my window the most beautiful volume of song. I looked out and saw about fifty people, who were singing 'Safe in the Arms of Jesus' in their own language. I recognized the tune and spoke to them through an interpreter. The next evening I held a song service in an old French church in that city. The church was packed with people and many stood outside on the street."
Mr. Sankey figures in another typical incident. In 1894, when Miss Crosby was at Northfield, she was asked to make an address. At first she demurred, but finally consented and closed her remarks with the verses, "Some day the silver cord will break." The audience was much moved; and an English reporter who was present took down her hymn and published it in his London newspaper. Some time later, Mr. Sankey, who himself has successfully set some of her poems to music, saw the paper, cut out the verses and handed them to Mr. George C. Stebbins to be set to music. The inspiration came; and soon the world was singing, "Saved by Grace." A dramatic illustration of the effect of this hymn once surprised the staid worshipers of Christ Episcopal Church, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. In the midst of a Sunday morning service, a quietly dressed young woman of intellectual face arose and proceeded rapidly and eloquently to tell of her conversion. As a little girl, she had attended Sunday school there; had married young and been drawn into a life of vanity, frivolity and worldliness; and had been brought back to God by hearing "Saved by Grace" sung at an out-door meeting. The congregation, at first a bit shocked, was visibly impressed with this narration; and the rector, descending from the chancel, took the speaker's hand, welcoming her return.
Very different from the religious atmosphere of Northfield were the surroundings which gave rise to another of Miss Crosby's great hymns. When Miss Crosby was visiting a mission in one of the worst slums of New York, her sympathies were kindled and the yearning of her heart found expression in "Rescue the Perishing"—a hymn which has become indispensable in rescue work of all sorts. Not only did Mr. Moody find it useful, but also temperance workers like Frances E. Willard and Francis Murphy. A drunken man, unshaven and dirty, staggered into this very mission one stormy night. After the audience had sung "Rescue the Perishing," the leader used illustrations drawn from his life as a soldier. At the meeting's close, this man walked unsteadily up to the front and asked:
"When were you in that company you spoke of?"
"Why, all through the war," said the leader.
"Do you remember the battle of Shiloh?"
"Perfectly."
"Do you remember your captain's name?"
"Yes, his name was Hamilton."
"You are right! I am that man! I was your captain. Look at me to-day and see what a wreck I am. Can you save your old captain?
He was saved that night and was soon helped by some of his former friends to get a respectable position, where his changed life bore eloquent testimony to the power of the gospel.
Of another sort was a man in Sussex, England, who owes equally much to this hymn. "I believe I can attribute my conversion, through the grace of God, to one verse of that precious hymn, 'Rescue the Perishing,'" he says. "I was far away from my Saviour and living without a Christian hope. I was fond, however, of singing hymns, and one day I came across this beautiful piece; and when I had sung the words,
Down in the human heart, crushed by the Tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more,
I fell upon my knees and gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. From that hour I have followed Him who, through this verse, touched my heart and made it vibrate with His praises ever since."
Can work done so rapidly as was Miss Crosby's, and turned out in such profusion be of the highest quality? Undoubtedly not. Most of Fanny Crosby's work is ephemeral. Much of it has already passed into oblivion and much of the remainder will pass away sooner or later. The church hymn-books designed for formal public worship do not contain her verses. She recognized the fact that so large an output would lower the value of her name; and her eight thousand hymns have appeared under a hundred or so different pseudonyms! If the reader comes across the names of Rose Atherton, Florence Booth, Ella Dale, Frances Hope, Ruth Harmon, Victoria Frances, let him pay mental homage to Fanny Crosby; and he will be surprised to learn that the same homage is due when he sees the names of James Apple, James Black, Rian J. Sterling, W. Robert Lindsay, and others. Her achievement, be it noted in passing, is all the greater because she made such a valuable contribution to religious progress with hymns many of which were not of the highest merit.
So large is the progeny of her brain that it is little cause for wonder that the mother can not remember all her children. One morning the congregation at Northfield sang with much gusto, "Hide me, O my Saviour." Miss Crosby, who was sitting on the platform, liked it and turned to Mr. Stebbins to inquire the authorship. But the meeting was breaking up and in the confusion he made no answer. The same hymn was sung in the afternoon and again she asked Mr. Stebbins the author's name. After making sure that she was in earnest, he answered, "You are the guilty one!" For once, the wonderful memory had failed.
The theology of all these hymns is uniformly evangelical. Their author believes humanity to be sinful and in need of salvation; and she magnifies the love of God, the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The beauty of faith and of peace is painted in alluring tints and the glories of heaven described in glowing imagery drawn from Revelation. Every one of her hymns gives one aspect of the ever-fresh gospel. The central truth of her message in song is, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Thus her songs form an appropriate atmosphere for evangelistic preaching: they produce conviction of sin and conversion. Of their far-reaching influence, only eternity can give the details.
Fanny Crosby has "tasted and seen that the Lord is good" and desires others to enjoy the same bountiful feast. Shut in from the distracting sights of the outer world, she has seen deeply into eternal truth and has put that truth into verse that has influenced countless thousands of lives. Over fifty million copies of her gospel songs have been sold. During the last years of her life, Frances Ridley Havergal kept up a correspondence with Fanny Crosby, though they never met.
In these lines of Miss Havergal is admiration of Miss Crosby for her spiritual insight, her resignation and her consecration:
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Sweet blind singer over the sea, |
GOALS: Dreams with a deadline
“Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines.” -Brian Tracy, personal success coach. Whenever I feel my dreams losing steam, I always think of Booker T. Washington. Born a slave in 1858, his childhood years were anything but pleasant. The family’s farm cabin had no glass windows, and any opening to let in light also let in the freezing wind in the winter. The floor of the cabin was dirt. The life of slave was back-breaking work that started before the sun came up and continued long after it went down again. His childhood was also lived out during the Civil War, which created turmoil, fear, and uncertainty in the lives of Southern slaves and added additional pressure to an already hopeless state of affairs. But in spite of that desperate situation, young Booker dreamed of an education.
His goal was learning—real learning. Not just the ability to read a newspaper or dime-store novel, but a desire to learn science, mathematics, history, and more. Years later, working deep in a coal mine, he overheard some of the miners talking about a school five hundred miles away called the Hampton Institute. He immediately decided that one day he would attend the school, in spite of the distance. His dream simply would not die. As a result, he not only attended the school, but was later asked to lead a new program in Alabama called the Tuskegee Institute. He eventually built Tuskegee into a major college campus with more than fifteen hundred students and a faculty of two hundred professors.
There was not one single thing in Booker T. Washington’s life that helped him except the power of a dream. Starting out he had no money, no education, no training, no influence, and no future. He was just another slave among thousands, with no potential other than living out his life working in obscurity on a forgotten Southern farm.
But the power of his dream opened doors, filled him with motivation, and revealed his true promise. Millions of Americans have been directly touched or indirectly inspired by his story, and this nation is a better place because he never gave up on his dream.
If you feel that your situation is hopeless, just remember Booker T. Washington and start dreaming again.
HEARING GOD'S VOICE
What am I going to do with the rest of my life? Where should I go to school? Should I take this job, or is there something better on the horizon? Who should I marry?
Life is a never-ending series of choices. Can we know whether we are making the right decisions? Should we consult our horoscope? Maybe we should call the prophets' hot-line? Do we go with what the experts are saying or rely on our gut-feeling?
God wants to speak to us, and yes, you can 'know' that you hear His voice.
God wants to fellowship and communicate with us. That's two-way communication. Why? Because you can't really have a relationship unless there is true dialogue. How do we get to know a person? By communicating with them. By talking and listening.
It's the same with our relationship with God. He talks, we listen. We talk, He listens.
God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to take our place and to die for us. He did this so that we could once again have fellowship with Him. In the book of Hebrews we see that we can have access to God's very presence, "...having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way..." (Hebrews 10:19-20a).
He also wants us to be fulfilled, blessed and successful in the plan that He has established for our lives -- so that we can be a reflection of His love and blessing in the Earth. In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord makes clear His intentions for you and I, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
We see in Genesis 3:8a, "...they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..." This is how God wants to relate to us today as well. It is God's desire to walk with and to communicate with His children.
He wants to talk to us. And He wants us to listen and talk to Him, too.There is more good news -- we can hear His voice. The Bible, God's love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created to have two-way communication with Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Most times, our question is "How do you know if you are making the right decisions in life?"
That's the question of the ages, isn't it?
But as a child of God we don't have to walk blind. We can have confidence that we will hear His voice. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Conversely, this scripture implies that if we are God's children, if we are born-again, we will be led by His Spirit.
We have further assurance of this promise in Psalm 37:23 and 24, "The steps of a good (righteous, born-again) person are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand." God will order our steps, and even when we blow it, if we are truly trying to do His will, He will lift us up and give us a second chance.
The most difficult part of hearing God is the fact that it takes time to learn to discern God's voice -- and it takes a humble heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
We can't make demands on Almighty God. We can't shake our fist at the sky and say, 'all right God, let me hear you.' But we can ask, seek, and knock, and the Bible promises that God will open the door. God will reveal Himself to those who humbly seek Him.
The writer of Proverbs describes the way that our thoughts and intentions line up with God's will when we submit ourselves fully to the Lord. "Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed" (Proverbs 16:3 Amplified Bible).
The Lord manifests Himself to us and through us as we humbly seek Him. The familiar passage in Proverbs 3 makes it even more plain. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
We must know we can hear God's voice, we need to be alerted to the fact that there are other voices whispering into our ears as well. In fact, there are three voices that we can hear -- the voice of God, the voice of our own fleshly desires, and the voice of the Devil. But Jesus tells us in John 10:4b and 5, "...and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we can train our ear to recognize the voice of God above all the noise. "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). It is by practicing, by reason of use, that we are able to discern whether what we hear is of God, our flesh, or the Devil.
Isaiah 30:21 says, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."
So God will speak, and you can hear His voice, but you must be careful -- especially when you are a young Christian -- that you objectively confirm that you are following the Holy Spirit and not another voice. Our own flesh can scream pretty loud (especially when we are under pressure, or we want something very badly). And the Devil is the father of lies -- he is the great deceiver.
So how can we know whether we're hearing the voice of God? The Bible gives us seven basic keys or filters through which every possible leading should be judged. We are to carefully examine the thoughts and intentions of our hearts -- and the words of godly people who may have influence on us by their words and actions -- through the use of these seven keys:
* Scripture: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17).
* The Holy Spirit speaking to our heart: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'know the Lord,' for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them" (Hebrews 8:10-11).
* The Prophetic (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, personal prophecy): "Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:19-21).
* Godly counsel: "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14).
* Confirmation: "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed" (Matthew 18:16).
* The peace of God: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
* Circumstances/Timing: "After these things he (Paul) left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working; for by trade they were tent-makers" (Acts 18:1-3 -- this relationship between Paul, Aquila and Priscilla -- which happened as a result of circumstances -- became one of the most important strategic partnerships in the book of Acts).
Many times the Lord will confirm His direction to us through three, four or more of these keys -- especially when we are in the process of making an important, life-changing decision.
The bottom line, as Pat Robertson has said for years, is that big decisions take big prayer. In other words, as we humble ourselves before the Lord, seek His guidance in our lives, the Good Shepherd will be faithful to lead us, "…in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).
In the coming weeks we'll look more closely at these seven keys that God has given to help us discern whether what we are sensing is of God, our flesh or the Devil. Because God loves us and wants us to relate to Him, He has given us these clear principles in the Bible to guide us.
The New Testament talks of the early disciples -- people like Paul, Aquila and Priscilla -- as people who heard the voice of God. My friend who wrote the e-mail will be happy to know that this was the report made of them:
"These who have turned the world upside down have come here too" (Acts 17:6b).
Yes, my friend, you can hear and know the voice of God. And because of this the world is changing -- more than perhaps you've heard.
For more counselling contact info@dovevision.tv
FOUNDATION OF RCCG
In July 1909, a son was born into the Akindayomi family of Ondo State of Nigeria. Even though this child grew up surrounded by idol worshippers, he knew there existed a greater power and yearned to know, "The God who created the earth and everyone on it". This pursuit for God led him to the Church Missionary Society where he was baptized in 1927. Still spiritually unfulfilled, he joined the Cherubim and Seraphim church in 1931.
Whilst there, he began to hear a voice within him saying, "You will be my servant." Since this was not his intention, he decided to ignore the voice. This went on for seven years during which all the business ventures that he tried resulted into failure. In debt and without peace of mind, he found himself totally dependent on the grace of God. Here marked the beginning of a definite relationship with God.Totally broken, he yielded saying, "Lord, I will go wherever you want me to go." He asked for signs to confirm that this was indeed God's call. The confirmation came through the Bible passages of Jeremiah 1:4-10, Isaiah 41:10-13 and Romans 8:29-31. The Lord assured him that He would provide for all his needs, as he would not receive any salary from that point on. This proved to be a comforting reminder during the trials in the months ahead. He became married in 1941. He continued to worship with the Cherubim and Seraphim. In 1947, he started to become concerned that the church was departing from the true Word of God in some of its practices. By 1952, he felt totally persuaded to leave the church. He started at Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos a housefellowship called, the Glory of God Fellowship. Initially there were nine members but before long the fellowship rapidly grew as the news of the miracles that occurred in their midst spread.
Pa Akindayomi also had a vision of words that appeared to be written on a blackboard. The words were "The Redeemed Christian Church of God." Amazingly, Pa Akindayomi who could not read or write was supernaturally able to write these words down. In this visitation, God also said to him that this church would go to the ends of the earth and that when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in glory, He would meet the church. The Lord then established a covenant with Pa Akindayomi, synonymous to the Abrahamic covenant in the Bible. He said that He the Lord would meet all the needs of the church in an awesome way if only members would serve Him faithfully and be obedient to His Word. It is upon this covenant that the Redeemed Christian Church of God was built.
Thus, the Redeemed Christian Church of God was born in 1952, destined by the Lord Himself to take the world for Him. The church continued to meet at 9 Willoughby Street until they were able to acquire some land thereby witnessing a relocation to the present site of the Headquarters of the church at 1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos (formerly 1a, Cemetery Street).
Sometime in the early 70s, God had spoken to Pa Akindayomi about his successor. The Lord told him that this man who was not a member of the church then, would be a young educated man. Thus when a young university lecturer joined the church in 1973, Papa was able to recognize him in the Spirit as the one that the Lord had spoken about in the past. This man, Enoch Adejare Adeboye who was then a lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Lagos soon became involved in the church. He became one of the interpreters translating Pa Akindayomi's sermons from Yoruba to English. He was ordained a pastor of the church in 1975.
Papa was preparing to meet his Creator. He sent for Pastor Adeboye and spent several hours sharing with him details of the covenant and the plans of the Lord for the church. Even though a year before this, the Lord had revealed to Pastor Adeboye that he would be Papa's successor, it was still too difficult for him to fully contemplate such an awesome responsibility.
Pa Josiah Akindayomi was 71 years old when he died. Amidst controversy, Pastor Adeboye's appointment was formalized by the reading of Pa Akindayomi's sealed pronouncement after his burial.
Since 1981, an open explosion began with the number of parishes growing in leaps and bounds. At the last count, there are at least about 2000 parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria. On the International scene, the church is present in other African nations including C'ote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Gambia, Cameroon, and South Africa. In Europe the church is spread in England, Germany, and France. In the United States there are parishes in Dallas, Tallahassee, Houston, New York, Washington, and Chicago and also in the Caribbean states of Haiti and Jamaica.
Today, God is still doing marvelous deeds through the Redeemed Christian Church of God, worldwide. One of the well-known programs of the church is the Holy Ghost Service, an all night miracle service that holds on the first Friday of every month at the Redemption Camp at Km. 46, Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The average headcount of those who attend the Service is about 500,000. The Holy Ghost Service now holds in London quarterly.
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