WONDERS OF HIS FAVOUR

by PASTOR ENOCH ADEBOYE 15^th May 03:55

 

Esther 5 v 1 -3 Now it came to past on the third day that Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the Kings house, over against the king house and the King sat upon his royal throne in the King’s house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so when the King saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in His sight.

Somebody will obtain favor in the sight of the King of kings tonight.

And the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand, so Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter. Then said the King said unto her, what will thou Queen Esther and what is thy request, it shall be given to thee to the half of the kingdom.

The first thing we noticed there is that the king saw Esther.

 It is my prayer today, that the Almighty God will see you in this crowd.

And just like the preacher before me said; when the time for you to be favored of God comes, the first things is that wherever you are, favor will locate you.

In Genesis 18 v 1 – 5 Abraham was siting in front of his tent, he was at home and favor located him.

In 1 Samuel 16 v 11- 13 David was in the farm looking after hisfather sheep and favor located him there.

In Exodus 3 v 1 – 4 Moses was at the back side of the desert and favor located him there.

In Matthew 9 v 9, Mathew was at the customs; he was collecting customs in the market place and favor located him there.

In Mark 3 v 1-5 there was a man in the synagogue who had a withered hand, he was in the place of worship and favor located Him there.

In Mark 5 v 1-15 the mad man of Gardereans was at the grave yard and favor located him there.

So whether you are at home or in the farm, or in the office, or in the market place, or in the church, the favor of the Almighty God will locate you tonight in Jesus name.

I will tell you a couple of stories quickly, since the preacher before me has done the preaching, maybe I will just tell you true testimonies.

There was a funeral ceremony and there is this sister who had been praying to God for a future partner, and there was this brother who went to attend the funeral and saw this sister whose relative had just died deep in sorrow and looked at her and said;

“If this girl is as beautiful as this when she is sad, how beautiful will she be when she is happy”?

“And said before I leave this place, I must meet this fellow who is going to be my future wife.”

Favor can locate you even at the grave yard.

We went to Haiti to conduct a crusade several years ago and as we were preaching they were broadcasting the sermon over their radio.

And the Lord said as I was preaching “there is someone listening to me now who  is impotent and the Lord asked me to tell you He has restored your potency.”

The man was lying down on his bed from his house far away from where we were, heard that word on the radio and suddenly his manhood jumped to action.

Favor located him at home!

He came running to the crusade ground; we had finished and gone to the hotel room.

Suddenly the door of the hotel burst open and the man ran in. Saying “I am the one!”

 There is someone here tonight; the favor of God will locate you.

The first time I travelled outside Nigeria, outside Africa and I went to Canada for the world conference of applied Mathematician.

 I knew nobody there.

I knew no kind of food I will be eating there. My wife was at home praying. God take care of your son.

And somebody went to see the list of the mathematician … for the conference and as he was reading down the name, he saw a name ENOCH ADEBOYE. 

He said we never can tell it might be a French name.

Some of you know I have gone to some French countries that they call me by various names, some of them call me ADEBOY some call me Adiboye.

So he located the room where I was to be, he said when I get there I will speak in Yoruba if he answered then I know he must be a Nigerian.

He knocked at the door I said who is that he said “emi ni (It's I)” I said “wole” (come in) before the day was out I was eating pounded yam in Canada.

There is somebody here today the favor of God will locate you.

The second thing was that the king didn’t just see Esther; he focused his attention on her.

If you know the king we are talking about here he was a very busy king. Ahasuerus wasn’t an ordinary king, he had dominion over a hundred and twenty nations, he was busy, but when he looked in the direction of Esther, it wasn’t just a passing glance; it was a glance that becomes a focus.

When the day comes for God to favor you, He will not just see you, He will focus on you.

In John9 v 1 the Bible talked about a man who was born blind, this man had been blind for more than forty years, but when his day of favor came; the Bible says Jesus saw him.

It was not an ordinary seeing it was a focusing; it was God directing the attention of the whole universe in one particular spot.

 In John 5v 2-6 the Bible says there was a multitude gathered at the pool of Bethesda and there was a man who been there for 38 years and the Bible say Jesus saw him, it wasn’t an ordinary seeing, it was a focusing.

He was singled out of the multitude for attention. 

Tonight in the name that is above every other name; God will focus His attention on you.

Some of you will probably remember this man and some of you knew him personally; I think he’s had two PhDs and couldn’t get a job for more than six years. 

Then when they brought him for prayers, he was looking almost like a madman, you won’t belief he ever went to school because he had suffered a lot, we introduced him to Jesus, he gave his life to Jesus Christ.

Before he travelled between here and a town called Kishi, the people in his local government had been looking for him to offer him a job.

Suddenly they became interested in this man who had written several applications and never got a reply.

Today am talking to someone; that answer you are expecting will be a good one in Jesus name.

You will remember the story of a sister, I have told this story several times before.

She came to one of the Holy Ghost services and the word of God came and said that there is someone here, there is a girl here, if your mother didn’t allow you to marry, she will die within a week so you can marry.

She said amen. She got home, told the mother and the mother came angrily to my office.

‘You are the people teaching these people wrong things saying that I am going to die.”

I said “when did I say that?

She said “my daughter came home and told me I am going to die”.

I said “daughter, did I mention your name?

 I said don’t mind her mama, that is how they claim what doesn’t belong to them”.

Mama said I didn’t know that is the way it is.

She said alright daughter gets out, so the daughter left and mama turned to me and said

 “Pastor is it true that the mother will die if …?

I said “mama it is not you but what God said will come to pass.

The person concerned not you, the person concerned if she will not let her daughter marry she will die within seven days.

 She said “it is not that I don’t want her to marry but the problem is if she marries, who will take care of me?

She is the one taking care of me now.”

I said mama that is no problem, I will tell her husband that whatever she has been doing for you before she gets married, she can continue to do so, they will look after you.

She said okay “she can marry”.

Within a week this sister who has been in the church only for so many years, within a week the man to marry her suddenly looked in her direction and said this fellow here should be the one I will marry.

Whatever had been blocking the eyes of those who will help you, the Almighty God will remove it today in Jesus name.

Number three when the time comes for God to favor you; you will suddenly see that the King of kings will become involved with your case.

The king saw Esther standing, saw her, he could have said maybe the queen is just have some time but the king decided to suspend all that he was doing so that he can be involved in the affairs of the queen.

You see it is one thing to notice you; it is another thing to go further and decide I want to be involved.

In the story mentioned earlier on in John 9 v 2 -7 Jesus saw this blind man, but He didn’t stop at seeing him, He went further, He got involved; He spat on the ground, made some mud, anointed the eyes of the man, told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

He went and washed and came back seeing.

In the story of John 5 v 6-14, the man who had been sick for thirty eight years. Jesus got involved; He went to him and said will you be made whole?

When the man began to tell the story, Jesus said alright just getup. Jesus got involved!

 In fact Jesus came back again the second time to meet him at the temple and said go and sin no more, so that something worse may not happen to you.

He got involved!

In Act 3 v 1-8 when Peter and John were on their way to the temple and they saw this man who was born lame asking for alms.

If you read that story very well, under normal circumstances Peter should have just gone on, because he had no money to give this man, he said “silver and gold I have none.”

But he decided to get involved; he told the man to rise up and walk, when the man didn’t get up he grabbed him by the hand.

He got involved!

Tonight the Almighty God will get involved with your situation.

Several years ago, I was travelling to Ilorin and I got to the city, my driver was driving and I looked to my right and I saw a girl sobbing, weeping terribly and I was wondering why is this girl weeping.

I could have gone on and say well it’s not none of my business.

But the day to favor the girl has come, so I told my driver please stop let’s reverse, and find out why this girl is crying.

 I pray for someone here today the Almighty God will get involved with your situation.

I beckon to the girl, why are you crying?

She said my mother sent me on an errand and I lost the money,

She said she will kill me today.

How much was the money?

Fifty kobo!

It was none of my business but because God decided to favor her, I put my hand into my pocket and gave her the money and I could see her flying away in Joy.

You see when God gets involved with your situation he wipes tears away from your eye, he replaces your sorrow with joy.

 I prophesy to someone here today before the end of this month you will have something to sing about.

Number four, when the kings saw Esther he raised a scepter towards her.

Now raising the scepter towards here is an invitation

Com’on here my queen.,

He beckoned to her, he is saying come.

You see when the day of favor comes for you the Almighty God will beckon to you and say; my son come here, my daughter come here.

 And when you get a beckoning from the Almighty God, you will know yourself that things are about to change.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said from all indications are that you are cornered; He said I will get you out.

Daddy asked me to tell someone, He said I have told you before and I am telling you again, that abandon project shall resurrect.

In Exodus 3 v 3-4 The Bible said Moses was at the back side of the desert, he has been going there regularly for forty years, looking after the sheep of his father in law.

But on the day that his destiny was going to be turned; a fire was burning and the bush was not consumed then Moses looked at and said what a great site.

I will turn aside and see and the Almighty God called to him andsaid Moses, from that moment onward the history of Moses was never the same again.

In 1 Samuel 16 v 11-13 I could imagine what happened when David was in the bush looking after his father's sheep.

And suddenly somebody came from home and said

David, David.

He said “yes, what is it?”

‘You are wanted at home’.

 “What for?”

‘I don’t know but there is one prophet that came to our house, I don’t know what he has been discussing, but they say I should go and bring you and bring you horridly’.

When your day of favor comes, God gives you a beckoning.

In Mark 10 v 46-52 the bible tells us the story of Bartimeaus the blind beggar.

He has been crying for a while, some of the people asked him to shut up, he heard the good news, be of good cheer he calleth thee.

I am praying for someone here today, in a way that you have not heard from God before, you will hear from him today.

Several years ago, when I was a postgraduate student at the University of Lagos 1969 to be precise.

My friend was doing postgraduate in Geography as I was doing in mathematics.

 And he was doing his research on the coast line of Lagos.

So he was collecting sand samples from all the coastline and he wanted to go to Ebute metta to collect some samples.

Since we were friends and I was free, I decided to escort him.

When we got to Ebute metta, We saw a big signboard in front of a very little church.

The church was made with boardoff.

The signed board was big;

The Redeem Christian Church of God.

I looked at the signboard, I looked at the church. I turned to my friend and said big name kills small dog and we all laughed and we left.

I didn’t know God was already giving me a beckon; four years later when somebody invited me to come to The Redeemed Christian Church of God for the first time,

He said there is a little church in Ebute metta, God is performing miracles there.

 I said “what is the name of the church?”

He said “The Redeemed Christian Church of God”,

I said “I know that church; the church with the big signed board with the boardoff.

He said “yes”.

I said glory be to God.

I will go and see.

You never can tell how God is going to beckon to you, but He is already beckoning that is why you are here tonight.

He is already saying to you your day of favor has come.

I know there is someone here particularly who is coming for the first time, they have been inviting you but you have refused to come.

But all of a sudden, somehow you said I think I will go tonight.

Is anybody like that here?

If you are coming for the first time, wave your hand let me see;

Alright, let me hear you shout halleluiah!

Because you are about to get a first time miracle in Jesus name.

And when God beckons you it is to bring you close to His power.

The scepter that the king stretched towards Esther was the symbol of the king’s power.

And the Bible says Esther went close to the king and touched the scepter.

When you touched the scepter of the King of kings, not only will your own history begin to change, the history of your entire family, the history of your entire people will begin to change.

At the same time, I am believing God because you are hereto night not only will your history as an individual change; the history of your family will change, the history of Nigeria will change and the history of any nation that you represent will change also in Jesus name.

According to Esther 4 v 11 if you go before the king uninvited and he does not lift that scepter towards you, you will die.

The fact that he lifted the scepter to Esther changed death to life for Esther.

And there is someone here tonight, listen to me very carefully; very soon you are going to testify that God disappointed those who thought you are going to die.

I can tell you a story on that God just reminded me; we were in the very first auditorium in a Holy Ghost night like this and the word of God says

There is someone here the plan of the enemy is to kill you but because you came tonight death has been cancelled.

Of course everybody said amen

But nobody knew who we were talking about.

 But there was a woman there; as she was going home there were those people who owe her money.

They owed her a lot of money and they knew they couldn’t pay.

They arranged for her to be kidnapped and killed.

And they grabbed her, bound her, gag her and threw her into the back of a car and began to drive her towards Badagry so that they can go and kill her there.

On the way they came to a police checkpoint.

And of course they knew what is expected so they already got the money ready.

But because God said death had been cancelled, the police man there said

 “No! I don’t want your money; I want to see what is in your booth?”

They increased the amount of money, the police said

 “No, I want to see what is in your booth”

Then they began to run away

And then he opened the booth and found the woman there bound and gagged and they released her.

There is someone here tonight the grave will wait a long time for you in Jesus name.

Let me say it one more time, all those who are expecting your burial shall be disappointed in Jesus name.

In Mark 5 v 35-42 when Jarius came in contact with the scepter of the most high God the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

The sorrow in her family changed to joy.

By the time Jesus arrived the people were wailing.

By the time Jesus entered into that house suddenly weeping became joy.

I pray for someone here today, there will be no gathering for weeping for a long time.

When you come in contact with the scepter of the most high God, dramatic changes will come because the scepter represent the power of God.

In 2 king 2 v 9-22, the city of Jericho had known sorrow, they had known bareness, they are known curses, they had known death, they had known everything that was evil.

Until the Almighty God said well the time to favor has come

And He sent a prophet to them and suddenly the whole nation began to have tremendous joy because they had contact with the power of God.

When I finally found myself in The Redeemed Christian Church of God I was like a fish out of water because all my life I had either worship in the cathedral or the chapel at the university.

That is if ever went to Church, and everything to that point had already been done quietly, decently and in order.

I got to The Redeemed Christian Church of God everything was alright until they began to pray.

When the man who started the prayer said in the name of Jesus, the man next to me said amen so loudly I nearly ran out of the place.

But something timed me and very soon I gave my life to Jesus.

Very soon I began to hear about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, very soon I began to learn about the gift of the Holy Spirit, very soon I began to know more and more about the power of the Most High God and very soon that power began to operate through me.

 I am praying for everybody here tonight, as you leave here, you will go with the power of the Most High God.

When the power of God begins to operate through you, it is not for you alone; it is for your people.

It is for the needy, it is to help others who might need deliverance, who might need healing, who might need all kinds of miracles.

I’ll tell you one or two cases;

I went to Port Harcourt at the invitation of the full gospel business men international and we had a wonderful program.

 I think they asked me to speak on ‘The New Anointing’.

I told them what the anointing can do in the life of a man.

That night they had to smuggle me out of the back door because everybody wanted to touch the man of God.

I managed to get into the car, but as I was driving away there was a woman who was desperate, she ran towards the car, took her handkerchief and rubbed it against the car and took it home and said there is power here now.

 When she got home, she discovered that while she was away one of her sisters had gone mad, completely mad.

 It took six men to hold her down.

When she got there, she said move out of the way, I have power in my hand now;

You know it will be unto you according to your faith

She laid the handkerchief on the girl and immediately she became normal again.

 When you are leaving here, you will not leave empty handed, I say you will leave here with power in your hand.

But it gets more beautiful when Esther got to the king.

The king said Esther,

What is your request?

I thought when you go to a big man, you should be the one who should say please sir, this is what I have come for.

But here we find the king volunteering to help.

When your day of favor comes the Almighty God will volunteer to help you.

Esther, what is your request even to the half of the kingdom.

The king volunteered help.

Like in the case of John 5 v 2-9 that we mentioned earlier on; Jesus went there to that man who was by the pool of Bethesda for thirty eight years and said

Would you be made whole?

It was a volunteered help.

When God decides to help you and you are not even the one asking for help then you will know that your day of joy has come.

The Lord says I should tell someone here tonight; simply, that your sun is about to rise.

In Luke 7 v 11-15 tells us the story of the widow of Nain whose son was dead and they were going towards the burial ground.

They were not praying, they were not asking anybody for help.

 What help do you want to ask for somebody who is already dead?.

But Jesus came and stopped the procession.

The woman didn’t know who was there, but Jesus knew her.

 Jesus said to her weep not.

 I am going to do something about your case;

 Jesus volunteered help and very, very soon after that the boy that was dead was back to life.

The woman who was drowning in sorrow was now leaping for joy because God volunteered help.

You know occasionally you get to a stage in your situation that you don’t even know how to pray anymore.

 I don’t know if there is anybody like that here but I know situations when you have prayed and prayed and you said God over to you.

If you want to do anything do it, if you don’t want it over to you.

And God volunteered help.

I will tell you two stories very quickly at least one of it will be appropriate for someone here tonight.

You have heard the story before, we held a program at Tafa Balewa square and as we were about to round up the Almighty God impressed upon me to ask everybody to ask for something special

And there was this lady there who had been praying for a husband for years until she past the age of child bearing.

So when I said, pray for anything you want.

She said to God I won’t bother you; when I thought if I get a husband it will have any meaning, that time is past, so if you want do anything, if you don’t that’s alright,

I will worship you till I die.

Two weeks later somebody came up and said thus says the Lord you are to be my wife,

She looked at the man and said you better go and pray again

The man said what do you mean?

 The woman said don’t you want children?

The man said what do you mean by that?

She said because she has past child bearing age.

The man said glory be to God you must be the one,

How can it be me?

The man said I am a widower I already got children, I don’t want more children; all I want is somebody who will be a mother to my children, so you must be the one.

 To cut a long story short, they got married, the month they got married, the woman became pregnant; when she was going to deliver she gave birth to a set of twins; two boys.

Because God volunteered help!

There is somebody here today God will volunteer help for you.

In that journey to Canada that I was talking about, after we have had our conference, they decide that we should relax at least, so they took us to government farm, incidentally it was the month of May.

They took us to a government house and there they prepared a banquet for us.

All manners of food were there and there was a section there the grass was very green and we were eating outside.

So I took my food and walked away from the crowd and wanted to sit on the grass.

So I can have a picnic all by myself and as I was moving away one white man followed me, he must have been there when I presented my paper.

As I touched the ground it was very cold so I quickly decided against sitting down,

And the white man said you want to sit down?

I said yes but it is cold,

He removed his jacket spread it on the floor.

And said sit down

I said no sir, and I heard God speak clearly; seat down you are the son of the King of king.

There is somebody here today, the one God will use to make your joy to be full will volunteer help this week.

 I sat on the jacket and I enjoyed my meal because the Almighty God decided that someone should volunteer help.

Number seven, before Esther asked, the king already said the answer is settled.

When God decides to favor you, it guarantees an answer to all your prayers. When the time of favor comes all prayers will be answered.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; He said the anointing that will take you to the next level has been released.

You know in Isaiah 65 v 24 the first time I read this passage, I could hardly believe it.

God said before they call I will answer.

I said this must be big.

Do you know God is saying to someone here tonight that before you pray the answer will come?

And the king did not say I will grant your request, he is saying I will give more than your request, even up to half of my kingdom.

 In 2Cornicle 1 v 6-15 when Solomon found favor with God and God said ask anything you want.

Do you know after Solomon had asked for wisdom and understanding, God said is that all? He said what you didn’t ask for I will add.

In 2 King 4 v 1-7 all that the widow of the son of the prophet asked for was enough money to pay all her debt, but the Almighty God provided so much for her that after she paid her debt she had enough to live on for the rest of her life.

God can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.

When you read 1 Samuel 2 v 21 it will amaze you that all that Hannah asked for was a son.

God gives me a son and I will give him back to you.

But at the end of the day after God gave her Samuel and she handed him back to God.

God gave him five additional children.

She asked for one, she got six.

It doesn’t matter what you asked for tonight, the Almighty God will give you much more than you are asking for.

I have always told this funny story, some years ago we were going A-fishing in December as we normally do.

And on the way we saw a signboard that says Turkey for sale.

And I turned to my children; do you know that your dad never had turkey for Christmas?

And they all laughed,

It was in those days when things were still very beautiful.

Things will get better. And we forgot about it because in those days if you get a chicken for Christmas, that is good enough but Turkey! Where is it coming from?

So we went for Go A fishing, by the time we returned there were three turkeys waiting for me at home, I was amazed!

So when I went to church the following Sunday, I told the congregation the story.

 I said I didn’t pray, I was just saying I never had turkey for Christmas before but now I had three turkeys at home and I told them this is not an invitation to lunch.

 Am not asking you to come home and eat my turkey, before I returned from the church the number of Turkey had increased to seven.

I decree to somebody today, you will knock on one door, seven will open.

Let me conclude, because tonight is a night when God will answer prayer,

So the sermon will not be long so that we can have a long time to pray,

 The kings said I am willing to give you half of my kingdom.

When you find favor with God, He makes the kingdom of heaven available to you.

Ephesians 2 v 5-8 makes it clear it by grace that you are saved.

John 6 v 44 says no man can come to Jesus except God the father draws him.

If you don’t find favor with God, no matter the preaching….

 In John 15 v 16 Jesus Christ said clearly that you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, if you are chosen by God, it is act of favor…..

Mark 22v 40 says many are called but few are chosen.

Do you know that when an altar call is given for salvation and something within you says go forward go and surrender your life to Jesus Christ.

It can only mean one thing; God has decided to favor you.

When I look at my own life for example, by the time I look at my situation when they were making altar calls, I mean I didn’t give my life to Jesus Christ the very first day I was in church.

In fact for quite a while I was just laughing at them;

What did they know, I have a problem, tell me how much I will pay you, pray let the problem be solved and let me go.

But one day the Almighty God spoke to me and said

They are not asking you to surrender to them, they are asking you to surrender to your Maker, with all your degrees, you don’t have what they have and that is true,

 When I looked at the faces of the few of us then I could see peace, I could see the joy of the Lord, they didn’t have money but they had the peace of the Almighty God.

They had the peace of God that passes understanding.

 Something within me said ‘forget your pride go forward, surrender your life to Jesus Christ’.

Today I’m grateful to the Almighty God that He pulled me forward, that He brought me out of my rottenness.

And brought me to Jesus Christ, when I looked back and look at where am I now, I know that I must be favored of the Lord.

When we give the altar call and you say am not coming, maybe you are not one of those that God has chosen to favor, but if He has chosen to favor  you, when you hear the word there is something within you that says go, surrender your life to Jesus.

After all, all the years you have been living in sin what have you achieved?

You may have money but let me tell you the truth; money can buy a bed it can’t buy a sleep.

 If it buys you drug to sleep, it can’t buy you sweet dreams.

 It can buy you a house but the house can be hot so that coming in and going out becomes a nightmare.

 But when you come to Jesus Christ, you have the peace of God that passes all understanding,

Only those who are favored by the Lord are drawn Jesus Christ salvation.

He said no man can come unto me except my father draws Him.

And I know there are some people here tonight that the Almighty God is already drawing

Saying, come give your life to Jesus, come and taste how good he is.

ARROWS OF THE MIGHTY

by Pastor E.A Adeboye 16^th April 04:20

 

Psalm 127 v 3-5 Lo children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward, as arrow are in the hand of a mighty man so are children of the youth. Happy or blessed is the man that has his quiver full of them, he shall not be ashamed but he shall speak to the enemy at the gate.

Tell your neighbor you will never know shame again!

The one who spoke before me had already given you the definition of an arrow.

Simply put an arrow is a weapon; it could be a weapon of defense 1 Samuel 14 v 45- 47 when David was going to kill Goliath, he didn’t get close to Him, he sent what you could call an arrow to go and deal with him.

Because an arrow is a weapon that you stand in one place and you send it on an errand to go and deal with your enemies.

And I am praying that even as you are here tonight, the Almighty God will send all those forces to go and deal with all those forces working against you.

An arrow could also be a weapon of offences; when you need to deal with forces that are coming against you and you need to go ahead and attack them particularly before they can overwhelm you.

In Psalm 8 v2 the Bible says out of the month of babes and suckling Thou art ordained strength, so that you can still your enemies. God ordained strength through the mouth of babes, and as you are going to see later on God uses children as a weapon of his warfare.

Now since we have two major words; Arrows of the Mighty.

Arrow and mighty and you already known when we talk of mighty you know whom we are talking about.

Maybe we should spend some time to talk about weapons generally, because there are categories of weapons; you have arrows, you have spears, you have guns and now you have bombs.

But when we say we want to talk about weapons briefly now, we want to talk about spiritual weapons.

And I will start by talking about weapons that available to all; whether you are a Christian or you are not a Christian, there are weapons that will work for you.  Maybe I will just mention one that is common to everybody. Interestingly it is a weapon many people are reluctant to use.

It is called the law of harvest, the Law of harvest says in Galatians 6 v 7 be not deceived God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows that is what he reaps.

 The law of harvest; you sow you reap.

 It is applicable to everybody, it doesn’t matter where you are a Christian or you are a total unbeliever, if you sow you will reap.

Proverbs 11 v 25 says the liberal soul shall be made fat; he that water shall be watered himself.

Now He didn’t say the liberal holy soul, it doesn’t matter whether he is a sinner or not. The liberal soul shall be made fat. . It is a weapon available to all.  

When God said give and it shall be given, He didn’t add provided you are a Christian, it is a weapon available to all.

But then there are some weapons available to believers only;

Number one: Praising God.

When you praise God; He arises for you Psalm 68 v 1 – 3 says let God arise, and His enemies will be scattered.

You praise God, He will arise for you. That is why Christian who know what they are doing always come before God with praise.

People wonder why do we spend so much time praising God, it’s because it is a weapon.

I have told you before, you’ve never seen me when we are gathered together like this no matter how huge the crowd, you have never heard me say “Devil I bind you”

I don’t want you to interfere with this program. Because every day I hear people say Devil I bind you, at the beginning of the service, Devil I bind you, in the middle of the service I bind you, and at the end Devil I bind you.

Did he get loose so quickly?

But I have discovered that if you want to get the Devil far away from you, just praise God.

That is why I started everything by saying let somebody shout Halleluiah!

But God will not even accept the praise of a wicked, according to Proverbs 15v 8 it says the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God.

But praise in the mouth of a Christian is a weapon.

2Chronicle 20 v 25, you know very well how a king overcame all his enemies just by praising God.

I still remembered a case several years ago, either 1981 or 1982 at the headquarters, we were having a little crusade at the Headquarters. God spoke to me and said tonight, nobody should pray to me, everybody should just praise me; sing dance and praise me and see what I will do, and I announced it.

Shortly after, they brought a woman that had been rejected from the hospital to go home and die. They brought her to the place because she heard that God was performing miracles.

Daddy says the story I am about to tell you is going to be replicated here tonight.

They brought this woman, she was dying, and she came and saw my assistant and said “please pray for me, they said if I get here God will heal me”.

My assistant said “sorry ma; announcement has come from the altar, no prayer tonight, just praise”.

She said “But I am dying”.

My assistant said, If only you will do what they tell you just dance you will be well

She said “but I could not even stand”,

The old man said “sorry I am not going to disobey God”.

So they managed to bring her out of the car, somebody supported her on the right, somebody supported her on the left, she could hardly move.

But as the music was going on, she was moving a little to the right, a little to the left and suddenly the power of God hit her and she pushed the fellow on her right aside, pushed the fellow on her felt aside and was completely whole.

That is going to happen here tonight.

Another weapon available to Christians that some of you might not be aware of is a very simple weapon called shouting.

The Bible says in Psalm 47 v 1 He says clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with a loud voice of triumph.

In Joshua 6 v 20 all that the children of Israel had to do to pull down the wall of Jericho was to shout.

Now let me hear somebody shout halleluiah!

Again I tell you another story, some years ago, they brought a woman to the headquarters and she said for years, that any time she eats anything she will vomit.

The doctors have tried everything just to help her keep down any little food; if she drank water she will vomit it.  And they brought her for prayers.

And just about as we were about praying, we started by saying let everybody shout halleluiah! As she shouted halleluiah! She vomited a worm and as she vomited the worm, the sickness disappeared.

Whatever it is the Devil has planted in you shall be pushed out as you shout another halleluiah!

Weapon number three, that is available to Christians only is the name of Jesus.

Because according to Philippians 2 v 9-11 the Bible says God has given Him a name, that is above every other name; that at the name of Jesus, every kneel should bow; of things in heaven, that includes agents, things that fly, of things on earth and of things underneath the earth.

It doesn’t matter where the demons are hiding they must bow to the name of Jesus.

 In Act 16 v 16-18 the Bible tells us about a girl who was demon possessed and was following Paul and Silas about, disturbing them, the Bible says Paul turned around, commanded the demons to leave and the demon left immediately.

Last night, I was going to minister to my children after the Holy Communion service and as I was about to enter the car, there was these girl who was screaming and screaming and ran towards me.

So I told my boys to leave her alone and see what is happening.

Somebody who brought her said she was on youth service and something happened there and she lost her voice completely.

And she wrote on paper that if only she can get to Daddy G.O the demon who has taken over her voice will go out.

I said “that is a simple matter”,

Father in the mighty name of Jesus…, you know the kind of simple prayer, before I finished praying, she said Amen.

I turned round to enter into my car and she began to shout daddy, daddy.

And my son said she is already speaking, I just smiled.

The Bible says it is written at the name of Jesus Christ every knee must bow.

Do I hear someone shout the name of Jesus?

Another weapon that is available to Christians is the blood of Jesus.

Revelation 12 v 11 says they overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb.

The Bible tells us that God said when I see the blood, I will pass you by, I will make sure that the destroyer won’t come near you when I see the blood.

But if you are not a Christian of course you can’t use the blood.  

I mean if they say they overcame the Devil by the blood of the Lamb and you belong to the Devil according John 8 v 44.  If you belong to the Devil, you cannot overcome the Devil by using the blood.

But in case you don’t know how powerful the blood of Jesus is, I will give you two illustrations very quickly because it is very essential particularly when you are dealing with children who are having nightmares.

Because some of you have problems with children who will just cry out of dreams, it is because forces of darkness are tiring to oppress them, when they are going to bed just cover them in the Blood of Jesus.

Years ago, I think I have shared this with you before. A husband and wife were wondering what is going on because their money was disappearing.

The money of the husband disappeared, the money of the wife disappeared from the house. At first, the husband felt it was the wife who was stealing the money.

The husband said ‘what is wrong with this girl all she needed to do was to ask me for more’.

And the girl was wondering; if He gave me money for housekeeping and he stealing the money then what kind of man is he?’

One day the husband confronted the wife and the wife said “ I thought you are one stealing my money” And then the two of them came and I realized immediately that it was the devil misappropriating their finances.

So I told them from now on anytime you are putting your money anywhere, say I cover you in the blood of Jesus. From that moment onward they never lost anything.

Today I am decreeing that everything that is precious to you be covered in the blood of the Lamb.

I tell you another story just to let you know how powerful the blood is, I think this was 1977 we went to Ilorin for a congress and at that time there was a acute water shortage in the town

And so to get water to bathe, people had to go to one very dirty stream.

 They brought water for me, the water was black, and you don’t have to be a scientist to know that there is danger in the water.

And then they gave me a bottle of Izal. “Sorry sir, this is all the water we have, but if you mix Izal with it, it will be safe for use, I thanked them and took the Izal.  

I was about to pour it when the Lord spoke to me, “son, which is more powerful, Izal or my blood? I said your blood.

 He said because I am going to send you to places in the world where the water will be worse than this and there will be no Izal, cover the water in my blood and take your bath.

 I covered the water in the blood of Jesus and took my bath.

The fact that I am still alive today tells you the blood works.

Everything that could cause you any form of danger the blood will speak against it in Jesus name.

Thank you Father, the Lord says healing has started and He asked me to tell someone specifically that your joint shall be strong again.

Thank you Father, the Lord said there is someone tonight, He said for years now, it has been one story of sorrow after another, He asked me to tell you, for years to come it will be story of glory and promotion.

The Lord said that there is someone here tonight, He said the incident that will begin your upward movement is about to happen.

Another weapon available to Christian is the word of God.

 Because it is written Psalm 119 v 89 forever oh Lord Thy word is settled.

The Almighty God says in Psalm 1 v 1-3 He said if you stay away from sinners, from the ungodly, from scorners and you meditate on the word of God day and night, He said you will be like a tree planted by a rivers of water bringing forth its fruit in due season.

The word of God is a powerful weapon particularly against the devil.

You know very well in Mathew 4 v 1-11 that, that is the weapon Jesus used against the devil.

Each time the devil brings a temptation, Jesus said it is written.

The devil cannot contradict “it is written”, if it is written, it is written.

Do you know that it is written that It shall be well with you?  

If you are a child of God it is written in Isaiah 3 v 10 “Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him”.

So you can tell your neighbor your tomorrow will be alright.

I think it was 1981, I have become General Overseer and I was visiting our churches, kind of familiarization tour and at that time several of the youth were rejoicing because God has put us in position and I remembered we were going towards my village.

Suddenly the devil began to speak to me and said you are very popular now, it is better to die when you are popular than wait till the time when they won’t like you anymore, it is honeymoon time for you, if you go now it will be good.

And I knew it was the devil speaking and the word of God came out to me saying I will live, I will not die and I will declare the works of the Almighty God.

Do you know that less than five minutes after that we nearly had a horrible accident.

If the word of God has not come up to deal with the devil it will have finished me on the road at that time.

At that time the entire congregation of the Redeemed Christian church of God was less than one thousand. Suppose I had died then, look at what the devil saw and he wanted to prevent.

I am saying to every one of you here tonight, none of you will die; you will fulfill the purpose of God for your life.

So there are some weapons exclusive to everyone, sinners, Christian.

There are some weapons available to Christians alone.

And then there are some weapons exclusive to God’s servants.

There are some weapons that are exclusive to God’s servant, maybe I will just mention about two of them tonight.

 One is prophesy:

Amos 3 v 7 says God will not do a thing without revealing it first to his servant the prophet.

1Samuel 3 v 19 says God will not allow the word of his prophet to fall to the ground,

Ezekiel 37 v 1 – 10 when the Almighty God wanted to bring dry bones back to life, He used his prophet.

He said to Ezekiel “can this dry bones live?”, Ezekiel said “Lord only you can tell”.

And God said alright you do the job for me; prophesy and as he prophesied to the dry bones, the dry bones came together, bones to bones, skin covered them but they were still dead.

So God said to Ezekiel, “son of man, prophesy again” and he did.

And suddenly, what used to be dry bones became a mighty army.

Tonight I want to prophesy into the life of someone here, I want to prophesy that it shall be well with you, I want to prophesy to you that God will answer all your prayers. I want to prophesy that your joy will over flow.

Another weapon available to the servant of God is what I called decrees:

You know the Bible says in Job 22 v 21-28, He says if you will satisfy certain conditions, then you will decree a thing and it will be established unto you, but when you go through the scriptures you will find that those who have used that weapon successfully are mainly, and I’m not saying exclusively, are the prophets of God.

For example, in 2 Kings 4 v 1-7 a widow came to Elisha and said, I am heavily in debt what shall I do?

The man of God said what do you have in the house?

She said a bottle of oil.

The man of God say okay go home; borrow empty vessels from your neighbors. Borrow not a few, lock the door on yourself and your son, and begin to pour that little oil you have into the vessel, and whenever one vessels is full, set it aside.

Read the passage when you get home, you will notice that Elisha didn’t even pray, you will notice he didn’t even say thus says the Lord, he simply decree that the oil will keep on multiplying and it kept on multiplying until there was no more vessels to contain it.

 I want to decree to someone here tonight, that kind of blessing that will be more than sufficient, receive it tonight in Jesus name.

Thank you Father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight He said I should reassure you, apparently He has told you that before, but He said I should reassure you that He is your backbone and because He is your backbone, nobody can break your back.

In 2 King 4 v 8-17, The Bible says there was this great woman of Shunem who has been taking care of Elisha.

And one day Elisha said woman “what can I do for you?”

 The woman said I don’t need anything,

And then Elisha made some investigations and discovered that the woman was barren.

And he said to the woman, woman nine months from now you will have a son.

Now he didn’t prophesy, he didn’t say thus say the Lord, he merely issue a decree; woman, you will have a son nine month from now.

The woman said “man of God don’t deceive me,”

If you enjoy my food say thank you, don’t make a promise that cannot be fulfilled.

Because the woman was advanced in age, the husband was old. When you hear a prophesy the fulfillment of a prophesy is anchored on if you have enough faith to receive it, when it is a decree even your doubt is not going to stop it.

That is why I am decreeing tonight to every one of you here, this is the beginning of your greatness.

Maybe I should just leave that alone and move on to the weapons that are exclusive to God.

We have talked about weapons common to everybody, we have talked about weapons available to Christians, we have talked about weapon available to Gods ministers, now we are talking about weapons exclusive to God.

And it will amaze you that the principal one among the weapons available to God exclusively are children.

They are His number one’s weapon, that is why the text we read said children are the heritage of the Lord, the fruit of the womb are His rewards, as arrows in the hands of mighty.

He compares children to an arrow in the hand of the worrrior; He said just as an arrow is in the hand of the warriors, so are children in My hands.

And like in the passage I mentioned earlier, Psalm 8 v 2, He said out of the mouth of babes and suckling Thou hath ordained strength because of your enemies, to still your enemies and your avengers.

Whenever God wants to fight His enemies, His number one weapons are children.

Why?

Because they are surprise weapons.

In 1samuel 17 v 42-51 when Goliath saw David coming, he thought what kind of joke is this.

And God said ‘good, Goliath you are dead’.

If it had been a huge man, a big warrior, coming against Goliath, Goliath would have been more careful, but when he saw a little fellow coming, he said  “this one?”  This one is already dead

And God said good! I will surprise you.

In the Name that is above every other name, God will surprise all your adversaries.

 You know the rest of the story.  But there is something important that you need to take note of.

Mathew 18 v 10 Jesus Christ said.  Be careful, don’t despise any of these little ones, He said because their angels have direct access to God.

Every child has at least one angel guiding him or her, every child.

I don’t know how many of you have seen angels before, I have seen them a couple of time, and I am telling you that angels are fearfully huge, as a matter of fact, if you see a true angel, the first thing he will say to you is fear not.

That is going to be statement number one, because nobody can see an angel for the first time, that will not be terrified, they can be huge.

You ask me how huge?, I give you and illustration; if you have ever seen an airplane, the biggest one before the current one is a 747, an angel can carry a 747 in the palm of his hands.

So if you know a man who can carry a trailer, let’s bring it low. If you know a man so big that he can carry a trailer in the palm of his hands and you see that man suddenly; I can assure you sir, no matter how courageous you are you will be afraid.

Now God says every child has an angel and every angel of each child has direct access to God, it is not because God considers a child to be such a terrific weapon, that is why He attaché an angel to each child.

You mess around with a child, the angel will deal with you and I am telling you don’t want to fight with an angel.

Children are weapons in the hands of God because many at times we older ones are too preoccupied or our hears are already dulled by sin,

So when God wants to speak, we don’t hear, but children their ears are still open, they don’t worry as we do.

So from time to time, God wants to send a message He will send it through a child 1 Samuel 3 v 1-10.

But probably one of the reasons why children are so powerful a weapon in the hands of God is because of their innocence; they have not yet sinned so when they pray nothing hinders their prayer.

Several years ago when my children were still very little, anytime I needed something urgently from God, I ask them to pray for me I tell them what to pray about, I know their prayers will not be hinder the answers will come.

Thank you Father, the Lord says there is someone here tonight; He said the forces pushing you back have been relocated.

Isaiah 59 v 1-2 says the hands of the Lord is not shorten that He cannot saved, neither is His ear heavy that He cannot hear, He said but your sins have separated between you and your God that you won’t hear.

Sins can stop the prayer of the elderly but the children don’t know sin, they are innocent, when it is time to praise Him, they praise Him uninhibited.

They know how to dance before God because they are not looking at anyone and they don’t care who is looking at them. And God is always close to those who praise Him as you know very well.  

When they cry to God, the angel carries the prayers straight to heaven and straight away the answers comes.

That is why the Bible says blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Children are blessing carrier, wherever they go they carry blessings.

You can go through the scriptures Genesis 21 v 1- 6 when Isaac was born; he put an end to the sorrow of the parent.

1samuel 2 v 1 -10, when Samuel was born, the mocker of his mother was silenced. J

Judges 13 v 2-5, when Samson came on the scene, deliverance began to come for the children of Israel.

Genesis 50 v 18 – 20, Joseph was a child in the family that became a preserver, not only of his own nation but of people of the world.

That is why I have a word or two for you parents tonight.

Parents I want you to watch out; because you may not know it, there may be a Joseph already in your life.

In Genesis 37 v 3- 11 the Bible says when Joseph began to have those wonderful dreams, the brothers were angry but the father observed the sayings.

Watch out there may be a Joseph already in the family, watch out there may be a Samson already in the house.

Judges 13 v 24- 25 the Bible says the spirit of God began to move Samson at times, he was still young, but if the parents have been observant they would have noticed that the spirit is already on this child.

I know quite a few among my children and their friends, who had been speaking in tongue from the age of five.

The spirit of God came down when they had one camp meeting here, the spirits of God came down and these children were baptized in the Holy spirits, it was amazing.

The teachers didn’t believe what was happening but when I listen to them I know this is God.

There may be a Samson already in the house, which is why you need to please take extra care of these children, draw them close to God, train they in the way they should go.

Proverbs 22 v 6 train up a child in the way he should go when he is old he won’t be able to depart.

Remember any child that you didn’t not bring up properly in the way of the Lord will cause you sorrow in the future.

Take good care of these children train them in the way of the Lord then in your old age, you will have cause to rejoice.

If you don’t train them in the way of the Lord, if you say you are going to church and you leave your children at home and you said well he is already a youth, he should be able to decide for himself, if you do not bring these people up properly in the way of the Lord you will be asking for trouble.

My prayer is that in your old age your children will be a blessing to you not a curse.

Remember what Joshua said in the book of Joshua 24 v 15, he said as for me and mine house, we shall serve the Lord, not me alone, as for me and my house!

I’m appealing again to all parents, bring these children up in the way of the Lord, it is important. If you allow them to drift, the result will not be pleasant at all.

Now as for your children, just a word for you too.

Exodus 20 v 1 2 says honor your father and your mother that your days may be long.

Do you know the implication of that?

The implication is that if you honor your parent you will live long, it means the children who will not honor his or her parents are likely to die young.

I pray for all children who are here tonight, none of you will die before your time.

Children please listen to me carefully; there will be occasions where your parent will say no to certain things you want to do and you think they are being too hard, they may not tell you all the reasons, it is because of the things they have experienced, it is because of the scars they are bearing, it is because of the things they have done in the past and the repercussion that they are still suffering.

When your parents said, this is the boundary, please don’t go beyond the boundary.

And the Lord will bless you as a result in Jesus name.

Now Ecclesiastes 12 v 1 stated clearly, He said remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.

When is the day to remember your creator?

When is the time to be close to your creator?

In the days of thy youth, when you are young, that is when you should move to creator of heaven and earth, when you are young that is when you should run towards the Almighty God.

There will be friends trying to turn you away from the way of the Lord.

The Bible says when sinners entice you, consent thou not, if they say let’s do it this way tell them no!

“I am a child of God. Am an arrow in the hands of the Almighty God, I know where I am going, and I will arrive, I will reach my goal.”

 So shall it be with all you children in Jesus name.

Like I shared with some of you yesterday Ecclesiastes 11 v 9 says if you don’t want to take the advice of your parent, if you don’t want to live within the limitation of the Christian upbringing, if you want to be free to do whatever you like, the Bible says go ahead; enjoy yourself, fool around, sow your wild oats, do whatever you want, drink, smoke, take drugs, fornicate, do whatever you want in your youth.

 He said but remember you will pay one day.

Any child who says I don’t want to be limited, I want to be free, I want to do whatever I like should remember the Proverb of the elders.

You know in the olden days, chicken in the farm are allowed to roam freely, they called them free range.

The mother hen will say to the little chick, “stay close to me, don’t stray”

And the little chick will say why?

Why do you want to hinder my freedom, let me stray.

The little chick doesn’t know there are eagles overhead looking for chicks for dinner.

I pray that forces of darkness hovering over your life trying to devour you will not succeed in Jesus name.

Children obey your parent, honor them and you will live long, remember your creator now in the day of your youth before you get into trouble, remember your creator.

Don’t join those who say they want unlimited freedom; unlimited freedom will only bring you into casualty.

Take my advice

Do you know you are not an arrow in the hands of God unless you are one of his children?

If you are not a child of God then you are not an arrow.

But there is an opportunity to anyone who wants to become the child of a living God, because according to John 1v 11- 12, the Bible says He came unto his own but His own received Him not, but as many as believe Him to them He gave the power to be sons of God.

If you are willing to receive Jesus Christ tonight, you will become the child of the living God and you will become an arrow in the child of the Almighty Himself.

So what do I need to do to become a child of the living God?

Very simple, you come to Him, you call on Him and say Father I am surrendering my life unto you, please cleanse me in your blood, please wash me in your blood, let your blood wash away all my sins and I will serve you for the rest of my life.

It is as simple as that, the moment you call on Him for salvation He will save your soul.

 So I am going to give an opportunity to anyone tonight who will want to surrender his or her life to Jesus should come and do so.

Please remember if you claim that you are a child of God and you are still living in sin then you are deceiving yourself, because the Bible is clear, he that is born of God does not commit sin.

ACCELERATED PROMOTION

by PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 9^th April 04:51

 

Let someone shout halleluiah!

I want you to shake hand with two or three people and ask them are you expecting signs and wonders. And then you may please be seated.

Tonight is going to be a night you will never forget for the rest of your life; I don't know exactly how the program will go, so whichever way it goes, but one thing I know is that God is visiting His people today.

When I became General Overseer, there were some people who were not sure whether it was God who called me or it was manipulated.  Then God began to give us a sign; anytime we call for a special program, that very day a baby boy will be born. All the time without fail!

 Well tonight God decided to give us a sign, by 8pm tonight, the number of children born here is five and all of them are boys!

No mathematician can arrange that!

 The Almighty God is telling someone here tonight, the night you have been waiting for has come at last.

 Some days ago, I was in Ondo State and at a stage in the program I told them a story after which we prayed.  As I was praying for this program, the Lord told me to extend the blessing of that day to those of you who are going to be partakers of tonight.

We are going to start with that one.

So I’ll tell you the story and we will do what God wants us to do.

I told them the story of one of my daughters who came to me and said Daddy,

“I am pregnant”, I said congratulation! Because she was married. “How old is the pregnancy?” She said three month, I said good.

She said that is not why I have come; I want the baby to be a girl.  I said ah the little I know about science makes it known to me that by the time a baby is seventy two hour old in the womb, everything that child is going to be is  already completed; girl, boy, tall, short, everything done within 72hours.

 So you have been pregnant for more than seventy two hours, so you have been pregnant for three month; the sex is already settled.

 She said daddy, you are the one who thought us that with God all things are possible.

 I said yes but… she said when you were teachings us you didn’t add but.

 I said okay what do you want me to do?

 She said you are not the one to determine the sex, she said all I want you to do is that I want you do is to agree with me.

 I said fine infract why did you want it to be a girl?

 She said so that she will grow up quickly and begin to wear my dress.

 So we agreed, six month later, the baby came and she is a girl.

 Now that my daughter is seating with me somewhere there on the altar now.

 I know some of you will say well maybe she was a girl to start with.

 But then a sister heard the testimony, a medical doctor in Luth.

 She came and said, I have already got four daughters, I am pregnant now for 8 month and the scan has showed that it is a girl.

 But my in law said you don't give us a boy for our son now, we will drive you out of our house.

So I have come that you agree with me that it will be a boy. I said sister you are a medical doctor yourself. 

 She said I have not come to discuss medicine, you agree with that lady, you must agree with me.

 I said no problem. I agree it shall be a boy.

 A month later she delivered and he is a boy!

 Why have I told you the story?

There might be somebody here tonight, who wants me to agree with him/her concerning something.

You will stand on your feet now and tell God what that thing is, that thing that only God can do. Not science, not medicine, not anything human. Something that only God can do. So you talk to God about it now....  In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

My father and my God the Maker of heaven and earth, the One who called me and send me;

Tonight, with all these your children including those who are watching by the internet all over the world,

I am in total agreement with them whatever they have asked for give to them now in Jesus name.

Before the sun rises tomorrow, give them their testimonies in Jesus name.

Thank you because I know it is done.

And I am committing all those who are born in the month of March into your hands, three is the number of the Trinity; God the Father bless them in Jesus name, God the Son bless them in Jesus name, God the Holy spirit, bless them in Jesus name.

Let their blessings come in triples in Jesus name. And let them serve you till the end.

In Jesus mighty name we have prayed amen.

Let someone shout halleluiah!

When I was about to turn seventy, I asked God for seventy thousand children, He send them so quickly, by Last December I increased the number to hundred thousand. Tonight I have asked the Almighty God to increase the number to one seventy one.

If you agree, let me hear you say “we agree!”

But I have asked for something extra.

I have told Him that before this time next year, among those of you who are listening to me right now, I want God to raise seventy one billionaires.

Now I know there are some of you who will say, how can that possibly be?

That is why He is going to be God, all I want to say is if you happened to be one of them, please let me know as soon as possible, because He is going to turn you to a billionaire because we have work to do.

In April as usual, we are going to have a special Holy Ghost service for children.

When I said children that means all of us less than a thousand years old.

But seriously speaking from year’s back we discovered that when the dry season is changing to wet, several children suffer from several manners of attack and many of them die.

And we cry to God and He said we should arrange for our own children to be anointed every April and He said He will take care of the situation.

You see many of us don’t know how powerful our God is until we begin to hear testimonies.

A bullet from AK 47 went through the jacket, went through the shirt, went through the singlet and it got to the body and stopped.

That is my God and that is the One who will take care of all your children.

Make sure no child is left behind next month.

When the devil discovered that way God has been taking care of our children, he began to create a special traffic jam to hinder these children for coming.

But then we learnt our lessons; bring your children as early as possible don’t wait till evening. If they get here by 2pm there is plenty of space to roam around.

In the mighty name of Jesus, you will not bury your children.

And the THEME for next month is ARROWS OF THE MIGHTY.

That is what God called the children.

ACCELERATED PROMOTION

2Kings 2 v 9-15 and it came to pass when they have gone over that Elijah said unto Elisha, ask what I shall do for thee before I be taken away from thee, and Elisha said I pray thee, let the double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

And he said thou has asked a hard thing nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken away from thee it shall be so unto thee, if not, it shall not be so.

And it came to pass as they still went on and talked that behold there appear a chariot of fire and forces of fire and parted them both asunder and Elijah went up to heaven by whirlwind.

And Elisha saw it and he cried my father, my Father the chariot of Israel and the horses thereof and he saw him no more and he took hold of his own cloth and rend them into two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and went to the bank of Jordan.

 And he took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and he smote the waters and he said where is the Lord God of Elijah and when he also has smitten the waters they parted hither and thither and Elisha went over.

And when the son of the prophet which were to view at Jericho saw him and they said the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha and they came to meet him and bow themselves before him.

Promotion or progress can fall into seven basic categories;

Category one is called REGRESSION.

Regression means there are forces beyond you that are progressively pushing you backward.

In Mark 5 v 25-34 the Bible tells us the story of the woman with the issue of blood, she suffered many things of many physician, she spent all she had instead of getting better, she grew worse.

Forces beyond her control kept on pushing her backwards. Physically she grew worse, financially her money depleted until there were nothing left.

Regression!

There might be some people here tonight, when you look at where you are now compared to where you are last year, you saw that things instead of staying where they are have been going backward, whatever hands have been pushing you back, the fire of God will consume tonight in Jesus name.

A second category is called REPRESSION.

Repression means there are forces pushing you down and trying to hold you down, at anytime you tried to lift up there is this force that is saying no! Go back down.

In Judges 6 v 3-6 the Bible tells us that a certain group of people decided to torture the children of Israel.

When they are planting they don’t bother them, they wait till the time of harvest, as soon as they harvested their crops they move in like locust and gather everything and then leave. So these people will have to start again, and they will watched till they began to lift up their head and then they come and crush them.

Several years ago, when I was very tiny, there was a robber in Lagos, very notorious robber, so notorious that the waxed a record after him.

His name was Anikura and the song writer said concerning him; that Anikura won’t ask you not to trade, he won’t ask you not to gain, but he will make sure you don’t take the gain home.

Now that is repression! Now all those forces that have been pushing you down, in the name that is above every other name, the fire of God will consume tonight.

The next stage is called STAGNATION;

No progress at all, no forward movement, no upward movement, just stagnant like a pond.

In spite of all efforts in John 5 v 2 – 9 it tells us the story of a man who was sick for thirty eight years, always waiting for the staring of the pool of Bethesda.

When the angel will come down stirred the water, the first fellow to jump in will be made whole, as soon as the angel comes down, this man will begin towards the pool of water, before he got there somebody else would have jump in and he will have to go back and wait for another year.

There are some of us at the beginning of every year when they are saying happy New Year, you will say yes this must be my year but gradually January had become December and they discovered that there are still in the same place.

When I was at the University of Lagos as a student, there was a student there, I won’t mention his correct name, let’s just call him u dot, it’s very close to the name but that is not the real name.

He has been in the university for eight years, he has never gone beyond year one, he was changing faculties, changing department but he never left year one, went met there we left him there.

That is what is called stagnation. In the name of the One who made heaven and earth whatever force is holding stagnant shall be destroyed tonight in Jesus name.

Now the next stage is called RETARDATION:

Retardation means there is growth but it’s so slow that it becomes embarrassing.

When you see a child who is ten years old behaving like a child who is only three years old, you will say the child is retarded.

The problem with retardation is that they will see a little progress. But the progress is so little it becomes an embarrassment. Another way of talking about retardation is to call it trapped destiny.

 In Genesis 49 v 1-4 the bible tells us that when Jacob was about to die, he called his children together and began to make pronouncement concerning each one.

He said concerning Reuben his first born; he said Reuben even though you are my first born, even though you have energy, you have power, you have everything going for you, he said Reuben you will not excel, from that day onward the destiny of Reuben was trapped.

I’ll give you another illustration; I met a man of God after we’ve met for some five years, I said how are things?

He said “all is well”, how is your church? He said it is good. I said “what is your attendant like now?” he said we are about a hundred and five.

I said but last time I saw you about five years ago, you were about a hundred five years ago, you are about hundred and five after five years!

Even if you are winning a soul per month by now you should have added at least sixty souls. He said pray for me, I think am suffering from the spirit of Retardation.

I am praying for everyone tonight who is suffering from any form of retardation, that spirit of retardation is destroyed in your life in Jesus name.

And then the next one is called the normal promotion; in other words you are making progress, steady regular, as you work hard, progress are coming at least every month they increase your salary, maybe once in five years, they remember you to promote you a little.

You see the problem with normal promotion is that it is normal. For the child of God that is not the plan of God.

In John 10 v 10 Jesus Christ said I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. Let me tell you the problem with normal promotion. I think I have given this illustration sometime before;

When you attend a state function (you must at least be important to a certain extent to have been invited) and then it is time for refreshment and they say all head of state will refresh at such and such a place.

All governors and minister at such and such a place.

Commissioners and so forth at such and such a place and they say all others you will refresh in the stadium.

 I decree tonight that from this moment onward, you will leave the group of all others.

Thank you Father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said Lazarus heard my voice and came out of the grave. He said that project will hear my voice tonight.

The Lord asked me to tell someone here tonight He said Elephant don’t grow smaller for having babies; He said the more souls you win the bigger you become.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; He said none of your children will die small.

After normal promotion comes what we call ASSISTED PROMOTION.

Someone interested in your welfare intervenes and brings you to a level that you have not even qualified for. Yes you still work hard, but this time somebody says let us help this fellow. Let’s move him up higher.

I decree to someone here today; the one who will help you, even if the fellow is sleeping now, God will speak to Him in Jesus name.

One of my children who was preaching and he gave us an example of what I will call assisted promotion; Isaac said to Esau, go and get me food so I can bless you.

While papa was speaking, Mama heard and decided this blessing is not going to be for Esau it is going to be for Jacob. Mama did everything; she maneuvered everything and the blessing that will have been for Esau landed on Jacob.

I don’t know who I am talking to tonight, but from the East help is coming your way, from the west help is coming your way, from the North help is coming your way and even from the south help is coming your way.

I can tell you several stories on that, but there is a lot God wants to do tonight,

So that brings us finally to Accelerated promotion, this is a promotion that is completely unusual; you are at the bottom today, the next moment you are at the top.

A very good example is in 1Samuel 16 v 11- 13 it tells us the story of David who was in the bush looking at after goat and sheep and then suddenly a messenger came ‘David you are wanted at home”, what for?

I don’t know, but I see a man who looks like a prophet, then he came home and as soon as he came, God spoke to the prophet and said this is the person, this is the one we have been waiting for, anoint him, and suddenly they told David to kneel down, he knelt down, by the time he got up, he was already a king.

One moment, he was a shepherd boy the next moment he was a king that is what is called accelerated promotion.

Do you know there is someone here tonight; by the time you get home your promotion is already settled.

Have told some of you before, on the day we were getting married we went to the registry and then we saw something happening, there is a girl who was dressed for wedding but we couldn’t find the bridegroom, the man who said he was going to marry her ran away.

The girl nearly went mad but she survived.

After some time she married a soldier, unknown to her the boy that jilted her also joined the army.

And then God moved.

There was a military coup and then the husband of this girl became a governor.

And the boy who jilted her was assigned to be the Aid the camp for her husband.

So anytime this girl wanted to enter a car, the former husband to be was the one who will open the door.

I decree to someone here today, by the time your promotion is accelerated to the point where God will do it, all those who have been mocking you will be bowing down before you.

Because this is exactly what happened to Elisha.

As Elisha and Elijah were travelling, other sons of prophets they were saying to Elisha, ehn daddy son! Daddy son!

Do you know your water is about to dry behind the fish, your master is going today?

He said I know shut your mouth.

They were watching to see what will happen, but in the twinkling of an eye, the one they were mocking at, all of them came and bow down to him.

Do you know there are some people who are saying when they saw you getting ready, she is going again, Papa Holy Ghost service, Mama Holy Ghost service go well!.

In the Name that is above every other name, because of tonight this same people will come and bow down before you.

Let’s have some practical applications; let’s just take accelerated promotion in one or two practical area of our lives.

Daddy says there is someone here tonight, He asked me to tell you relax I will still your storm.

Daddy asked me to tell someone here tonight, He said you will never go hungry again.

He asked me to tell you there is someone here tonight; He said from now on anyone who tries to block your way shall be trampled to death.

Let’s take the area of health;

Let’s look at the example in Mark 2 v 1-12 there was a man who was completely helpless, paralyzed from neck downwards, the friends had to bath him, they had to cloth him, they had to feed him.

One day they got feed up, they heard that Jesus was near, they carried the man to where Jesus was, there was no room at the door, no room at the window but they were determined they won’t go home with that problem, so they climb the roof, tore the roof and lay the man at the feet of Jesus.

They carried him in, he walked back home. What they used to bring him in, he carried it back home.

There might be one or two people here tonight; that doctors have told you there is nothing they can do for you, in the name that is above every other name, the doctors will get a surprise.

Healings can be in categories, you can be getting gradually better, but God can heal in an instant.

The Almighty God will accelerate your healing tonight in Jesus name.

And then we can look at the area of bondage to forces of darkness.

Take Mark 5 v 1 – 20 the Bible tells us about the mad man of Garderen...

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; He said I will open for you a new season of glorious testimonies.

The mad man of Garderen, didn’t go for ten weeks of deliverance service, he didn’t spend all night with a deliverance minister, he was raving mad in the morning, within an hour, not only was he completely delivered, he became an evangelist for God.

He switched over from under the power of the devil to the mountain top on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Several years ago, a bank manager ran mad; they had to get four hefty police men to grab him. They handcuffed him, they put chain on his feet and they were carrying him to Arrow (asylum), but in his madness he begged them, ‘take me to Redemption camp; I know if I get there I will be alright’.

I was in my first office near the expressway when they brought him and they told me the story and the way he was looking, he was as wild as anybody.

So I told the policemen he said if my feet touched redemption camp I will be free, let him come down. They ah! We knew what went through before we could capture him, pray for him in the car and we take him away.

I say no, bring him down loose him, they said we will hold you responsible, I said no problem, so they removed the chain, removed the handcuffs, he jumped out of the car as he landed, he said praise God!

He became completely normal.

I have good news for someone her today, it doesn’t matter how long the enemy had held you captive simply because you are listening to me now, receive your freedom in Jesus name.

But you know the better part of that story, he said to the policeman, he said I told you and they were all looking surprise, so they said to me sir, pray for us.

I said well if you will give your life to Jesus Christ first, they said with what we have seen we are ready to give our life to Jesus name.

He was a mad man; He was being taking to asylum, because of his experience, he won four souls in a single moment.

Not only are you going to be free, when you leave this place, you will begin to set the captives free.

Then let’s look at the area of material possession, when you read 2King 4 v 1 -7 it tells you the story of a woman who was so heavily in debt that creditors wanted to see her son to recover their money because there was nothing in the house that they could sell.

She cried to the man of God, the man of God prayed and gave instructions; go home do this, do this. By the time she returned not only had her debt been cleared, she had enough money to last her for the rest of her life.

I don’t know who this one is for, but in the name that is above every other names, God is going to accelerate you financially so mightily that poverty will become a stranger to you.

Many of you already know the story; I am telling it for the benefit of those of you who are hearing it for the first time and for the benefit of those of you who are doubting if you can be one of the seventy one billionaire!

Daddy says, “My son, don’t limit me to seventy one billionaire”

Father! As many billionaires as possible!

If you are going to be one of them, let me hear you say I am one of them.

You know the story of the Arab boy; who gave his life to Jesus but because they wanted to kill Him for converting to Christianity they wanted to kill him he ran away from his country, came to London and had no papers.

So he couldn’t get a good job and all he was doing was working in a fast food restaurant. Then one day a wealthy Arab came to London to buy houses but he couldn’t speak English.

So he would see a house that he likes, he would go to the fellow there and said me house I buy” and that fellow will say get away from me, who told you I wanted to sell my house.

After he has been going around for a while, he was hungry and tired and he saw a sign that they were selling food there, he branch there, sat down and was grumbling to himself in Arabic and the Arab boy went to serve him and herd him speaking in Arabic.

And said Sir, what’s the problem, and the man said Ah! You speak my language, the boy said yes. Do you speak English also?

The boy said yes. I want to buy houses, I need interpreter, I want you to come and interpret for me, for three days, the boy said sorry sir, if I go with you for three days, when I come back my job will be given to somebody else.  He said I will pay you well.  The boy said ‘how much?’

The man said ‘one million pounds per day,’ the boy said please don’t go away, he went to the owner of the restaurant, he said bye, bye’.

That one said if you go, if you come back I won’t take you, he said I will never come back.

There is some one here tonight; you are crossing the border of poverty forever.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said those who are trying to catch up with you will soon discover, I made you number one and number one you will remain.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said even big rivers have boundaries, He said but so that people will know that it is me in your life, I will make your blessing without boundaries.

Let’s look at the area of spiritual promotion; the text that we read tonight, in 2king 2 v 9-15 in the morning, Elisha was just a son of a farmer following a prophet around, by the evening he was the father of all sons of the prophets in the land.  

Not only that, by the evening, he had doubled the power that Elijah ever had.

Several years ago at Ebutte metta Head quarters, when we come for workers meeting in the evening, pastors will seat on one side, workers will seat on the other side.

And there was this evening, one Sunday evening, we were doing a little bit of bible study before we pray, so I mentioned a particular passage and I asked everybody to begin to give their interpretation.

All the pastors gave their interpretation; It wasn’t anywhere what I was expecting so I turned to the workers “what do you understand by this passage”?

And one young worker got up and gave an accurate evaluation of the topic. So I said congratulation pastor. Soon as he heard me say that he grabbed his chair and moved to the side of the pastors. The pastors were saying, no, no it’s a mistake.

He said which mistake?

General overseer calls me pastor, what else do I need?

I said my son, anointing with oil will come but from now on you are pastor.

I am saying to somebody here, the anointing service may come later, but your spiritual promotion is done tonight.

Let me round up quickly so that we can do the next thing.

He said before I round up, I should tell someone that celebrations come and go, he said but I will make your  own celebration last forever.

The Lord say there is someone here, He said I will start you with unusual blessing, I will move you on to overwhelming blessing and I will end you up with unimaginable blessing.

You see whether you go up or not depends on actually who is holding your hand; if God is the one holding your hand; the bible says you will go from glory to glory.

Your promotion will be accelerated and then accelerated, then accelerated. But if you decide that it is through satanic means you are going to get your promotion; all you can get ready for is shame.

There is a funny story, the fellow concern is one of the Pastors, maybe you’ve heard him sharing his testimony.  Before he gave his life to Jesus, everybody knows that for you to have unusual promotion, you need a supernatural force.

So he was running around with one false prophet who told him that he must go to the bar beach to wash in the ocean at night. So he went to the bar beach, big man drove his car to the bar beach, removed his clothes, place it on the car and was in the bar beach.

Thank God the wave didn’t wash him away. But one mad man was passing by, saw his clothes and took them away. By the time big man came back, no clothe! So ‘what do I do know, at least I have to go back home, fortunately it was night, so he entered his car and I think his car was also naked with him.

When they got to police check point, when they showed their torch light into the car and saw naked men, the police ran, they thought they were ghost.

One day very soon, you will look back at your years of suffering and laugh.

If you are holding onto God, he will promote you from Glory to glory, if you are holding onto the devil; he will drag you lower and lower.

And if you think you can hold God with one hand with God and hold the devil with the other, you will soon discover what God said, that if you want to be cold be cold, if you want to be hot be hot, he said but if you are Luke warm, he said he will spew you out of his mouth, that is why I am appealing to you tonight, because this is a night you will never, never forget, make up your mind, with whom do you want to go?

Is it with God or with the devil? If you want to go with the devil, take my advice go all the way; do everything evil, make money by any method, so that when you get to hell, you will tell the devil, at least I tried.

If you want to belong to God, go with him all the way.

This ideal of being a Christian and then behaving like the child of the devil must stop. If you want to belong to Christ, let the whole world know you belong to Christ and then Christ will show himself mighty on your behalf.

Now I know some of you have given your life to Jesus Christ tonight, but some of you came later, So if you are not ere when the first altar call was made and now you want to surrender your life to Jesus, I want you to come quickly now, come and give your life to Jesus.

WONDERFUL

by Pastor E.A Adeboye 20^th February 07:22

 

 

Isaiah 9 v 6 for unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called; Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.

Wonderful as we know by now is a combination of two words, wonder and full.

So wonderful actually means full of wonders.

Now when you read Act 2 v 22 the Bible talks about how God approved Jesus of Nazareth as a result of miracles, wonders and signs that He performed among the people.

Now when you read the way it is written, miracle, wonders and signs, they are written in order of superiority, in other words wonders are superior to miracle.

So I am telling someone here tonight, that something more than miraculous is going to happen in your life in Jesus name.

Wonders are a higher category of miracles.

And when you talk about Jesus Christ you will found that everything about Him is wonderful.

His name is wonderful according to Philippians 2 v 9 -11 God has given Him a name that is above every other names. That at the mention of His name, every knee should bow of things in heaven, of things underneath the earth.

His name is the only one that is recognized in three realms; in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth.

Wonderful name!

His love is wonderful, John 15 v 13 He says greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.

His love is so wonderful.  You can’t get a greater love than the love of Jesus.

His peace is wonderful. He said peace I give unto you not as the world gives, give I unto you.

The Bible says in Philippians 4 v 7 He says His peace passes all understanding.

His power is wonderful.

In Matthew 28 v 18 He said all power in heaven and on earth has been given unto Me.

His power is wonderful.  And I can go on and on.  

I can tell you His grace is wonderful, His joy is wonderful, His strength is wonderful and on and on.

But because I told you that miracles are of a lesser degree than wonders that wonders is a higher level of miracles. We want to take some quick look at some illustrative examples from the scriptures.

I will be as quick as possible because we really want to pray, because one of the things about the name of JESUS being wonderful is that it guarantees the answer to prayer.

And I’m sure by the grace of God, every prayer we pray here tonight will be answered wonderfully.

Now healing is a great act of God, when God heals, it is something that we thank God for.

For example in Matthew 8 v 14 -15 the Bible tells us that Jesus came into the house of Peter and found the mother in law sick of fever, He merely touched her head and instantly she was healed.

Now that is a miracle that is beautiful healing. But then somebody may say what is in fever, just take two three tablets and off goes the fever.

So while healing is great, curing the incurable is greater.  You know there are occasions where the doctors will tell you that “I’m sorry there is nothing more we can do”,

If they have told you that one, very soon when you stand before them again they are going to say wonderful.

In Mark 5 v 25- 34, the Bible tells us about the woman with the issue of blood.  The Bible said she went to many physicians, spent all her money and rather than getting better, she grew worst.  

Because the physicians were dealing with situation they couldn’t handle. But when she came in contact with Jesus Christ, in an instant the incurable became cured.

In the name of Jesus Christ any incurable disease, that is here today, will perish today in the name of Jesus.

Someone was pointing an article to me in one of the news papers recently, when a “clever reporter” was making a joke of the miracles God has performed in my life.

He said “Daddy what is your comment?”

I said I have no comment.

 Those who make fun of miracle always ending up needing one; one day when the doctors says there is nothing more we can do, suddenly they will remembered there is the God of miracles.

In the Name that is above every other name, from this moment on you will enjoy the miracles of God.

But while we are talking about healing, while healing is great, curing the incurable is greater.

When healing involves creative miracle, then we call it wonderful.

For example in 2Kings 5 v 1 – 14 the Bible tells us about Naaman, who had leprosy.

When at the instruction of the man of God, he dipped himself seven times in Jordan, he was not only cleansed of his leprosy, it wasn’t that he was just cured, the Bible said he came out of the river with a brand new skin, the skin like that of a new born baby.

In John 9 v 1- 7 the Bible tells us the story of a man who was born blind.

It wasn’t that he had bad eye sight; it wasn’t that after he was born, his eyes became bad, he was born without eyes.

But Jesus spit on the ground made some mud out of the clay anointed his eyes, told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam and the Bible says he had a brand new eye.

He came back with two brand new eyes. When you have a healing that involve creative miracle, we call that one wonderful!

If there is any part of your body that is already damaged beyond repairs, my Father will recreate it tonight in Jesus name.

There was this young man who came to a crusade and at the crusade, something happened!

When he was small, he had only one testicle and the one testicle did not even descend.  

So the parent took him to an herbalist who in an attempt to cause the one testicle to descend destroyed it.

So the boy ended up without a testicle at all and yet he went ahead and got married.

Of course you know the result of such a marriage; nothing!

Then he came to the crusade which we held in Row park Yaba in the early 80’s and as the word of God was going on, he noticed that something was happening in his body.

To cut the long story short before the program ended he already got two testicles.

Later on he came into my office, some month later with his wife, by that time his wife is now pregnant and he was sharing the testimony again and in his excitement he said daddy may I show you the testicles? I said there is no need I can see the evidence.

Every one of you needing a spare partner tonight, you will get one is Jesus name.

Now a financial breakthrough is great, in Luke 5 v 1 -7  Peter  fished all night caught nothing.

Jesus came into his boat, told him where to fish and he got enough to fill two boats.

That happened once then, the second time it happened was several years later.

So one financial breakthrough like that is good, to win a big contract is beautiful, but one massive breakthrough, I’m talking of the kind of breakthrough that will wipe out all your debt that is better.

For example in 2 kings 4 v1 -7 the Bible tells us of a widow who was so indebted that the creditors wanted to sell her sons to pay the debt, she cried to the man of God and the man of God told her what to do.

And the bottle of oil that she had in the house multiplied. So much that when she sold it, the man of God told her payoff your debt and live on the rest, you and your sons.

That is a bigger breakthrough, the one that clears all debts and there is a lot left over.

But when you have an unending, successful, successive breakthroughs, then that is what we call wonderful.

In 1Kings 17 v 8-16 the Bible tells us of the widow of Zareffat; you know the story, she had only one meal left then the man of God came on the scene and from that day onward the pot of oil is never dry, the vessel of flour was always full every day, she will wake up to discover that everything is full everyday; breakthrough upon breakthroughs.

I’m sure if you ask the son of that woman, what were you saying each time you woke up in the morning and you look at the barrel of oil is full, the vessel containing flour was full, what do you think the boy will be saying?  Wonderful!

Do you know there is someone here today that before the end of this year, when you look at your account from month to month, what are you going to say? Wonderful!

I have told you the story of a man before, he might be in the congregation right now, he said to me, he said daddy, there is nothing I can do now to stop money from coming in.

I said I think you better explain because I have not heard that one before.  Then he mentioned a particular city and he said the whole street, from beginning to end and it is a very long street, he said every house on that street belongs to him, everybody living there is his tenant, so there is nothing he can do to stop them from paying rent.

I decree to somebody here that very soon you will testify that there is nothing you can do to stop money from rolling in.

Now when a barren woman gives birth to a child, that is great, that is good news, that calls for rejoicing particularly if the fellow is someone that people have written off.

Like in Genesis 21 v 1 – 6 Sarah said who would have thought that Sarah will give Abraham a child, who would believe that at my age, I will still give birth to a child, so when she got one she named the child laughter and I can understand.

But it is better to get two instead of one, like in the case of Rachel in Genesis 30 v 20 -24 when she got her first child she said  I know God will give me a second one and by the time we get to Genesis 35 v 16- 18 the second one came.

So to have one is good, to have two is much better, but then when you were barren and people have been mocking you and they have been saying what is the use of a tree without fruit?

And they say stop eating the food of our sons and get out of here and all of a sudden you end up with six children, now what do you call that? Wonderful!

Now that is what happened in 1 Samuel 2 v 21 tells us that Hannah, ended up with six children, she started with Samuel then God gave her additional boys and additional girls, she ended up with six, that is what we call wonderful.

One of my pastors who has been waiting on God for 26 years phoned us towards the end of last year with excitement; daddy, mummy finally God has answered your prayers and He has given me three children at a go.

So we asked her, what names have you given to them; she said the first one is called Miracles, the second one is called Signs, and the third one is calledWonders.

I saw the children last week and I said that God I am looking at Miracles, Signs and Wonders.

All  of you who are believing God for the fruit of the womb, before the end of this year you will come forward rejoicing with your miracles with your signs, with your wonder, if you believe God let me hear you shout halleluiah!

The Lord says there is someone here tonight; He said you know it will take special miracles to solve your problems, He asked me to tell you that the anointing to set you free has been released.

Now let’s talk about deliverance.

Deliverance from an unclean spirit is great.

Mark 1 v 23-26 tells us the story of a man with an unclean spirit. A single demon inhabiting a man can be a terrible situation.

But thank God that the Almighty God has the power to set the captives free. He came in contact with the Lord Jesus Christ and he was free.

But when someone has seven demons inhabiting him/her alone, that is serious.

In Luke 8 v 10-3 the Bible tells us about Mary Magdalene she had seven demons inhabiting her. A woman with one single demon would be consider a witch, a woman with seven demons will  be a chief among witches; when the witches are holding their meeting, they will probably tell her to chair their meeting.

But when a man is delivered from a legion as we read in Mark 5 v 1-15 when a man had a legion and Bible scholars mean a legion mean at least six thousand demons, when a man is delivered from six thousand demons at a go that is wonderful!

That is why I have goodness for someone tonight, it doesn’t matter how many demons are troubling you, in the Name that is above every other names you are going to be free tonight.

I have told you the story before of a man highly educated but for one reason or the other, certain demons decided to take him over.

The day they brought him I thought they have brought a mad man, the way he was looking, everything thing about him was evidence of seriously possessed person.

And then he began to tell his story, if he scratched his head cockroach will come out, if he out his hand into his ear butterfly can come out, and he wasn’t a magician.

He said just look at it any part of the body I scratch an insect will come out. I told him that I know some somebody who can set a man free from legion it doesn’t matter how many they are.

At the name of Jesus Christ every knee must bow.

He left, in those days I used to visit my mother every two, two weeks in Ilesha. Two weeks later he came back, I couldn’t recognize him; he had been completely transformed.

I am telling someone here today, all those forces who thought they had already capture, by the time you get home tomorrow morning, they will see you and say wonderful.

Thank you father, the Lord says there is someone here today He said you have become well known because of your many problems. The Lord asks me to tell you that you will become well known for your many testimonies.

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said your breakthrough will come without previous notice.

Raising the one who has just died takes a miracle like in Mark 5 v 35 -42 Jarius daughter, the girl has just died but Jesus said the girl is sleeping; the people laughed Him to scorn.  Jesus drove them out and He said little girl I say unto you arise. 

And then people said well the girl wasn’t dead, she was sleeping that was what He said.  So raising someone who is about to be buried will take a bigger miracle,

So in Luke 7 v 11-16 there was this widow who had an only son and the only son died.

Not just died, he was about to be buried when Jesus came on the scene and brought him back to life.

Brethren, raising someone who has been died and buried for four days, that one is wonderful.

That is why you see on out poster, the picture of Lazarus coming out from the tomb, all the people there must have been saying wonderful!

You will find that in John 11 v 39- 45 the sister said by now he is stinking. Not just dead, not just buried, he is rotten now.

But there is a God who can reverse the irreversible, and that God is here to attend to your case tonight.

Which reminds me of the testimony of one our sister, the baby in her womb died and she went to the hospital. The doctor said this child has been dead four days, but the woman went to the hospital when the child stops moving.

So they told the husband, we need to evacuate quickly so that it doesn’t become a problem for this woman.

But it was some days to the Congress and the woman said to the husband, “let me go to the Congress first, if after the Congress God doesn’t do anything we can come and evacuate”

The doctor said no!

This thing is already rotten inside you; the baby is dead and decaying.

Somehow the woman convinced her husband because the doctor said she herself will die if we don’t do something.

She said don’t worry let me come.

Monday she came nothing happened,

Tuesday nothing happened.

And then on Wednesday, the power of God came down.

The power of God came mightily that I couldn’t stand up.

How many of you will remember that night?

I asked them to get me a chair.

And the word of God came and said there is a woman here the baby inside of you has been dead for days but the baby is coming back to life. And the woman jumped and shouted, immediately the baby jumped back to life.

I am prophesying to someone here tonight, everything good in your life that have died will resurrect to life in Jesus name.

Thank you Father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said the one who sent sorrow to your home, will come back to pick it up.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, He said this year even your doubt will not stop your sun from rising.

So raising the dead by prayer is a great act of God, no doubt about that like in 1Kings 17 v 17-24 when the son of the widow of Zarephath died.

Elijah threw himself on the child, prayed, went up and down, returned and pray again and at the third time the baby came back to life, that was a miracle no doubt about that.

But when your dead bones begin to raise the dead that is a greater miracle!  That happened in 2Kings 13 v 20 – 21 that is the story of Elisha now, he was already dead and was buried and they were about to bury a young man and saw some enemies coming so they threw his body into the cave of Elisha, and as the dead body touched the bones of Elisha, the dead body came back to life.

That is a greater miracle!

But when you consider what happened in Ezekiel 37 v 1- 10 when Ezekiel found himself in a valley surrounded by dry bones and God asked him “son of man can these bones lives?”

The man of God with all his faith said. “God this is beyond my faith only you can tell”

And then the Lord said don’t pray, don’t touch the dry bones, just prophesy to the dry bones.

 ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord begin to come together’.

I want you to put yourself in the position of Ezekiel as soon as he spoke and am sure he must have been grateful to God that there is no one there to hear him.

Because he must have sounded very stupid even to him.

“Dry bones hear the word of the Lord, come together”.

And suddenly the Bible said there was shaken.

Bones began to come together to join themselves to bones.

If you were Ezekiel what would you be saying?

Wonderful!

Let me hear you say it loud and clear.

And then as he was watching, flesh began to cover the bones, skin began to cover the bones,

I’m sure he must have been saying wonderful, but they were still dead, and God said son of man prophecy a little more.

Prophesy to the wind; say wind, I hope you are listening to me?

I mean when he was talking to dry bones he could see dry bones but when he was talking to the wind he could not see anything so he said alright wind blow and the wind blew and suddenly a whole army arose.

I am going to prophesy tonight, I know you are not dead, and you are not dry bones but there might be situations in your life that might beyond hope that looks hopeless.

In the Name that is above every other name, every dry bone in your life should come back to life.

In every situation that the wind of the Holy Spirit must blow so that your hopeless situation might become hopeful again, the wind will blow tonight in Jesus name.  

And before this night is over, you will shout WONDERFUL!!

Somebody said that it is what you call that will answer, that if you don’t call a man by his name, he has no reason to answer you.

That what you don’t call, you don’t have any reason to experience.  So when ask you to say wonderful and you don’t call wonderful...

I have told you the story before, there must be a reason why the Holy Spirit is reminding me now of a young man who came when I moved to the University of Ilorin.

They gave me accommodation and he came to help me fix the electrical situation there, he put everything in order.  

And when he was about to leave he said Daddy pray for me.

I said how much do I pay? He said no, I don’t have to pay, he is my son I should just pray for him but things are so bad financially I will have to give him money for transport back.

So I gave him the money and he said pray for me, I said you don’t need prayer now God bless you. 

Thing so bad he didn’t have the money for transport fare, two weeks later he bought his first brand new car.

I prophesy to every business that is already dry bodes, dry bones you shall live again.

The Lord wants me to tell you another story.

I think there might something to this one also.

It is a story also you know.

One of my daughters came to me and said Daddy I am in serious trouble.

I said what is the problem?

She said my husband left me with four children and as moved in with a woman with five children and the five children by five father.

She said daddy, I have done everything I could, I have fought this battle but am totally defeated my husband is gone.

And I just hear the spirit of God saying

Tell her don’t worry.

Tell her your husband is coming back to beg.

She said I am not asking him to come and beg, I just want him to come back because this witch has taken over.

I don’t know what she did to my husband.

I said don’t worry the Almighty God will start a quarrel between him and the strange woman that nobody can settle.

Some days latter there was a misunderstanding between the strange woman and the man.

And the strange woman said unto him.

Don’t you know that your head is not correct?

If your head is correct, how can you leave your wife with your children and come and stay with me and none of these children is yours, don’t you know your head is not correct?

When God uses the devil to solve your problem what do you call that one?

The man said that is true oh,

And he packed his load came to his wife.

When he knocked at the door and the wife opened the door, he prostrated and said please take me back.

I am prophesying to every family here tonight, every evil that has come into your home to cause any kind of problem shall be up rooted in Jesus name.

Now killing a lion with bare hands takes a miracle.

And David did that and you know what a lion means.

A lion is an animal that wants to jump on you choke you and devour you.

Lion represent big bosses who want to crush those who are lower than them.

Killing a bear is a greater miracle because a bear represents an enemy who is pretending to be a friend.

Because the bear hugs his victim to death that is where you get bear hug.

When someone is pretending to be your friend, “I love you”, when he is actually planning to kill you,

To be able to represent that wolf in sheep clothing, to be able to destroy that one is a greater miracle still.

And in the Name that is above every other name, enemies that is pretending to be your friends, they will be exposed this month and they will be dealt with this month.

But then killing a goliath takes something called wonderful.

1Ssamuel 17 v 4- 9 the Bible tells us what Goliath said.

He said to the children of Israel why are you gathered together as an army?’

Give me one man let me fight him, if he can defeat me we all become your slaves, if I defeat him you all become our slaves. 

What is he saying?

The devil knew David has been anointed to become king.

Goliath is saying I want to take over that kingdom even before this boy can get on the throne.

So what does Goliath represents?

Goliath represents somebody who wants to stand between you and your destiny.

And in the mighty name of Jesus just as goliath fell, just as goliath lost his head, anyone who wants to stand between you and your destiny will fall this month.

I give you an example.

In one of the nations of the world I won’t mention because this program is being aired all over the world,

We built a Church at a great expense and then we want to dedicate the Church and according to the laws of that land; you have to get approvals of all the neighbors that you are welcome.

And there was this very powerful man, high up in government.

He said I checked in the internet, I read about your general overseer.

That he said he wanted to plant church in five walking distance.

Well! Go and tell him, as long as I am alive his Church will not stay here.

And he is a very powerful man.

And so my children phoned me and said Daddy we have a problem.

What are we going to do?

We have already build the church. If we have not build the church, we will go and look for land elsewhere but the church is already built.

As a matter of fact they were already asking me to come and do the dedication.

I said what is the problem?, why are you worried?

The battle is not yours, it is between him and the Owner of the Church.

If he is bigger than the Owner of the Church well let’s wait and see.

They say so what do we do Daddy?

I said fix the date for the dedication.

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said the date for your celebration has been fixed.

So they fix the date for the dedication.

A week to the date, and this man is still saying you are joking, without approval it can’t be done.

The man woke up in the morning, he wanted to go to work and as he was putting on his trouser.

His leg got caught in the trouser and he fell forward and hit his head on the floor and that was the end of the story.

Anyone who says you will not reach your goal this month in particular, the Almighty God will uproot him.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight; the Lord said I will sustain your joy.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said just like the wall of Jericho fell, all your opponents will crumble one by one.

Now changing your destiny for the better is great.

In 1King 19 v 19-21 the destiny of Elisha was changed.

He was to be a farmer all the days of his life, but God changed it, so that instead of living and dying a farmer, he became one of the greatest prophets that ever lived.

That was great!

Restoring your destiny is greater.

That happened to Exodus 3 v 1 – 15

Moses knew that he was to be a deliverer but something went wrong and he ended up forty years in the backside of the desert until the Almighty God said let’s restore Him.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, the Lord said the relationship between Him and you has not been the way it ought to be for a long time, He ask me to tell you, I will start afresh with you.

Occasionally you find someone whose destiny has been totally truncated, destroy beyond repair.

When God then looks down from heaven at a man with a truncated destiny and He transformed that destiny we can only call it wonderful.

And I give you an example one, just one will do.

In Genesis 49 v 1-7 we have the story of Jacob about to die and he called his children together.

When a man is about to die, whatever he says it is a decree.

He said my children come I am about to die let me tell you what is going to happen to you.

And he began to talk to them one by one.

He told his first born, he said I know you are the first born but because of the things you did you will never excel and that settles that one.

He began to talk and talk then he came to one fellow called Levi, he said Levi, because of your terrible anger he said you are going to be scattered in Israel.

Terrible things coming from a father about to die and he finished saying all these things and died.

So there was no room for anybody to beg him and say father change your mind, it was something that was sealed.

And then suddenly God looked down from heaven and looked at Levi; the one that the father said he is going to be scattered and he said Levi draw near.

I will make you My first born.

He said of all these people irrespective of what their father had said to them, you Levi you will be My first born.

Numbers 3 v 11- 12. Truncated destiny!! Destiny destroyed beyond repairs but the Almighty God said come and be my first born.

In Yoruba Land it is known that if somebody is mad and has not yet reach the market place he can still be cured.

But once the madness takes the fellow to the market that is the end of the story. 

Well some of you who are old will remember this story.

Years ago one man came to us; the wife not only ran mad, she had reached the market, not just reached the market; she had reached the market naked even before they knew what was happening.

So it was a settled matter, so they took her to one big herbalist who said well we will still try.

Then somebody who knew somebody told them and the husband came to me and said this is the problem.

I said that is no problem if you tell me where she is I will go and pray. So I went and we prayed.

The relative with whom she was saying, said to the husband ‘I don’t know this kind of man that you said you are sending, he came and he didn’t even pray for five minute, doesn’t he know what we are dealing with?

They were so disappointed and said let’s take her to cychristric hospital. If God do something fine, if not well!

After two weeks the doctor sent for the husband and said what do you say it is wrong with this woman?

Because for two weeks we have been observing her and we have not giving her drug.

If you say something is wrong with this woman then something must be wrong with you.

I decree tonight that if your destiny had been tampered with, it will be fully restored tonight in Jesus name and you will go home shouting WONDERFUL!

Now God performing wonders for you is wonderful.

I mean like in the story 2Kings 4 v 1 -7 when that woman who was in debt came to the man of God.

And the man of God said, go and borrow empty vessels, shut the door on yourself and your son and let your son begin to bring out the empty vessels to you as you pour out the oil.

I was telling some of my children last week Sunday, I said what do you think the boys were saying when the mother was pouring the oil from the vessel and they saw one empty vessel full?.

They brought another one full, they brought another one full, what do you think they were saying? Wonderful!

When your miracles begin to multiply everyday this year what will you be saying? Wonderful!

But turning you to a wonder is more wonderful.

Performing wonder for you is wonderful.

Turning you to a wonder is more wonderful, like in Act 3 v 1 -11 the man who was born lame at the beautiful gate who everybody knew he was lame, he was born lame.

He has been a beggar for more than forty years, suddenly they saw him walking and leaping and praising God. the Bible says they were all amazed. God turned the man to a wonder.

In the name that is above every other names, when people wants to give an example of wonders they will be refereeing to you very soon.

But something most wonderful is when God decides to perform wonders through you.

When He turns you to an instrument or a vessel of honor through whom He can perform wonders Act 5 v 14-16 the Bible tells us that the Almighty God so empowered Peter that his shadow began to heal the sick.

For God to perform a wonderful for you, for him to perform wonder to you that is wonderful, for God to use you to perform wonder, that is most wonderful and in the name that is above every other name you will not leave here until God has turn you to a vessel for performing wonder in Jesus name.

One of my pastors was sharing a testimony yesterday that there was a little problem over a little piece of land we have in one part of the country and then the people came and wanted to cause trouble.

One of them saw our pastor and said is this the land you are talking about they said yes, the Land of Pastor Adeboye?

They said yes. He said the last time when they came to cause trouble he said daddy shook hands with me and my body kept vibrating for a long time. Those of you that want to fight can fight; I don’t want another kind of hand.

 That kind of handshake that can heal the sick, the kind of hand shake that can cause the lame to work, the kind of hand shake that can cause the dead to rise, God will give it you tonight in Jesus name.

Let me conclude so that we can have time to pray.

Thank you father, the Lord says there is someone her tonight, he said very soon your testimony will be once upon a time I was despised but now I am an amazement.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said very soon you will announce to your relative and say I told you that Jesus will never fail.

Who deserves wonders?

For whom will God perform wonders? I told you the story of a young man called Levi whose destiny was completely truncated and God completely transformed his destiny and that is wonderful in a high degree.

But what happened?

Exodus 32 v 25-26 Because God never does anything without a reason; Moses has gone to the mountain to collect the Ten Commandments.

The people came to Aaron and said we don’t know what happened to these Moses, we need an idol we can worship and they were already worshipping an idol they were naked, they were rejoicing before an idol.

When Moses came and he saw what was happening he was angry but he couldn’t face the nation alone, he wanted to punished them but he was one man, so he stood by the gate and cried out, “who is on the Lord side, let him come unto me and every sons of Levi crossed over to the side of Moses, they told Moses has cursed us….

We are not going to amount to anything but we are on the Lord side and God looked down from heaven and said Levi, you said you are on my side, then I am on your side.

Your father says you will be scattered I say you will be my first born. Who is going to get wonders from God tonight?

The question then is who is on the Lord side?

That is while if you have not yet given your life to Jesus Christ you better come and do so now. His wonder is for those on his side.

If you are pretending to be a Christian but you know your heart is not hundred percent with God come now.

God is calling for those who will be on his side… it is those who are on his side who will begin to say wonderful.

If you are not on his side you will be hearing the testimony but you won’t be able to say it is mine.

Pastor E. A. Adeboye

The WONDERS OF HIS NAME

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 14^th January 04:55

 

Philippians 2 v 9 -11 Wherefore, God has also has highly exalted Him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, of things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father.

 

What is in a name?

 

Everything! Your future is bound up in your name; everything that is likely to happen to you is embedded in that name.

 

Moses was called Moses according to Exodus 2 because he was drawn out of water.

 

For the rest of his life; water kept on pursuing him.  He changed water to blood in Exodus chapter 7, he parted the red sea in Exodus chapter 14, he turned bitter sweet in Exodus chapter 15, He brought water out of the rock in Exodus chapter 17 and when he failed to get to the promise land it is because of water In Numbers 20, water kept following him.

 

The Almighty God knows the important of name so much that on several occasions, He had to change the names of some people for their destiny to be fulfilled.

 

Genesis 17 v 1 -9 He changed Abram to Abraham, barren man to father of nations. He changed Sarai to Sarah Exodus 17 v 15-16 barren woman to princess, mother of nations. Genesis 32v 24-26 he changed Jacob to Israel; he changed a man to a nation!

 

Listen to me very carefully, find out the full meaning of your name and if there is a need, change that name now.  If your name means Satan has received this (Esubiyi) changed the name to the Lord has received this (Jesu biyi) get away from Satan.

 

What is in a name?

 

My mother told me that when she was going to see the priest concerning my baptismal name, the name she had in mind was Elisha.

But when she got to the man, she had forgotten, so she said Enoch.  I said no problem I will keep the two; Elisha double portion anointing, Enoch the man that work with God.

 

You want to know my full name? I will tell you today, but before I tell you my full name, do you know I was born on a Sunday?

 

Don’t let anybody deceive you all these people who are older than seventy, they don’t know their birthday.

 

They just chose one.  Nobody wrote down names in those days, nobody wrote down birthdays. They just chose one, because you have to give a name in the school, official birthday.

 

So I asked my mother, when was I born?

 

She said the year that so and so King mounted the throne in Ilesha.

 

I said okay I know that one that was in 1942.

 

I said what month? 

 

She said how do I know?  But she said I can tell you one thing, it is a Sunday.

 

She said I know it is Sunday because they are celebrating something in the church and so everybody left and I was alone in the house.

 

So I delivered you alone.

 

What else can you tell me about that Sunday?

 

She said it was a very strange Sunday.

 

The rain was falling and the sun was shining, which is an indication in our area that a Tiger was being born.

 

You may think I am joking, ask my elder sisters they are still alive, they will tell you one of my nick name is the Tiger, do I look like a tiger to you now.

 

But if you want to hear my full name, you will find that the full name should be something like

 

Enoch, Elisha, Sunday, Adejare, Adetona, Olagundoye, Adeboye alias the Tiger. There is one alias I won’t tell you, that one is reserved for my wife.

 

And when I was preparing the sermon and I felt the Holy Spirit saying write this down. And I said this is going to be funny.  He said just go ahead and do what I tell you, He said when you finish, tell my children this will be a year of laughter.

 

 

So what is in your name?

Check if there is any evil one reject it and if there is a good one you want, add and God will say Amen.

 

Jesus loves names.

 

He has many names. In John 10 v 7 He said I am the Door, in John 10 v 11 He says I am the Good Shepherd.

 

In John 11 v 25 He said I am the Resurrection and the Life. In John 14 v 6 He says I am the Way the Truth and the Life.

 

In Isaiah 9 v 6, His Father called Him Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.

 

In Revelation chapter 1 v 8 He said I am the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning, the Ending, the One who is, the One who was, the One who is to come, the Almighty.

 

Eight names at a stretch and each names is significant, don’t think He was just compiling names, and there are many, many more of His names.

 

And because there was no way we would have finished, that is why we want t talk about the WONDERS OF HIS NAME.

 

And because there is no way we would have finished that is why he has asked us to talk about one special name next month and that is WONDERFUL, and I am sure some people will see wonders next month.

 

His name guarantees deliverance.

 

He said in my name you will cast out demons, Mark 16 v17. His name guarantees healings Mark 16 v 18, His name guarantee freedom, John 8 v 36 whosoever the Son shall set free shall be free indeed.

 

His name guarantees joy John 16 v 24, His name guarantee peace Isaiah 9 v 6, His name guaranteed promotion, John 12 v 32, His name guarantees victory; at the mention of His name all knees, including the enemies knees shall bow.

 

His name guarantees rest, Matthew 11 v 28-30. His name guarantees satisfaction John 7v 37-39, His name guarantees answer to all your questions, to all your prayers, John 14 v 14.

 

But tonight we want to look within a short period of time at just a few of these names, the one in John 14 v 6 He said I am the Way, the Truth and the life.

 

What does He mean by I am the Way?

 

If you are in a town and you want to go to another town that you don’t know, you will ask people what is the way out of these town to where am going?

 

Jesus is the Way out of sickness, Mark 16 v 17-18, in My name you will lay hand on the sick they will recover.

In Act 9 v 32-35 Bibles tells us of a man called Anias.  Anias was sick, Peter went into his room and said Anias, Jesus has made the whole. And immediately the man came out of sickness.

 

In the name that is above every other name, tonight someone will come out of sickness.

 

His name is the way out of death, in Matthew 10 v 5- 8 He told the disciples to go out, preach the gospel, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raised the dead.

 

In Act 9 v 36 – 42, in the example that somebody mentioned among those who have spoken before me, example of Dorcas.  Dorcas had died, Peter turned to her and said Dorcas, in the name of Jesus, come back to life and she rose.

 

Thank you my Father and my God, Daddy said we will start the New Year, with seventy thousand healing tonight.

 

Jesus is the name out of death.

 

I have told you the story of one occasion when I went to visit a man.  I got there just to pray for the family and be on my way.

 

And the wife was carrying a baby on her back and they said this baby will not allow anybody else to carry her except the mother.

 

But as I walked into the house, the child stretched from the back of the mother, the child stretch violently towards me that if I didn’t catch her she probably would have fallen down.

 

And I was just wondering why? Well since the child was already in my hand, I prayed for her in the name of Jesus.

 

Few months later, the mother was confessing; nobody knew that the mother was a witch; the mother said that was the day she was going to kill the girl, but the girl sees death and seeing the representation of Jesus, stretched out and her appointment with death was cancelled.

 

Any appointment with death concerning you is cancelled today in Jesus name.

 

Thank you my Father, Daddy asked me to tell someone, He said you will remember this year as the year God begins to favor you.

 

Jesus is the way out of embarrassment, John 2 v 1 – 11.

 

There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and they ran out of wine, and they find themselves in a big embarrassment.

 

They invited the guests and the guests were seated and long before the feast was over, there was no more wine.

 

But thank God Jesus was there, and they went to Jesus and He brought them out of their embarrassment.

Every embarrassing situation in your life, you are coming out in Jesus name.

 

So He is the way out of sickness. Out of death and out of embarrassment.

 

He is also the way into, just as there is a way out of, there is the way into; He is also the way into; He is the way into the presence of God.

 

John 14 v 6 He said I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father, except by Me.

 

You want to come into the presence of God? You come by Jesus. And because He is the Way into the presence of God, He is the way onto fullness of Joy.

 

Psalm 16 v 11, the Bible says in the presence of God, there is the fullness of joy.  It takes Jesus to bring you into the fullness of joy.

 

Hebrew 10 v 19 tells us that we can now go boldly into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

 

I think I was telling those of you who are here for the watch night service and by the way if you are not here for the watch night service, I want to encourage you,  get the tape.

 

The Holy Communion service was first of its kind. The cross over service was first of its kind, get the tape, both will bless you; get more than one so you can give your friends as New Year gift.

 

So I was telling them, I said anytime I had to visit head of states and I have visited for quite a few of them.

 

The first time I visited the head of state of Gambia; security check one, security check two, security check three, then you get to general reception, another check, you get to another general reception, another check, then you get to the presence of the president.

 

I said it is easier to get into the presence of God.

 

And it is not Gambia alone, Nigeria too; if you have ever been to Aso Rock find out; they will check you gate one, check you gate two, check you gate three, the people in gate three will be watching you as they are checking you in gate two, they will still check you and that is long before you get close to the entrance of the house and they check again, then another check.

 

Thank God all I need to do to get into His presence is to say in the name of Jesus. Do I hear somebody shout Jesus!

 

He is the way out of sickness, death, embarrassment, He is the way into the presence of the Almighty God and He is the way forward.

 

When everything seems to be stagnant with you, call the name. Suddenly progress will come!

 

In Act 3 v 1 -8 that lame man had been stagnant for forty years, Peter said to him, silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give unto you in the name of Jesus, rise up and walk, and the man who have been stagnant for forty years, got up, began to walk, began to leap, he began to praise God. When you call that name progress begins.

 

 In John 5 v 2-9 a man have been sick for thirty eight years on one spot; he has been stagnant for thirty eighth years. The moment Jesus arrived everything changed.

 

I am believing God for all those whose promotions has been delayed, this year your promotion shall be accelerated.

 

Thank you my Daddy, the Lord said there is someone here special, He ask me to tell you, He said I promise you, that this year your waiting will be over.

 

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said towards the end of last year you did something special for Him, He said this year you will see the abundance evidence of His gratitude.

 

He is the Way out of, the Way into, the Way forward and He is the Way where there is no way.

 

In Exodus 14 v 1- 28 when the children of Israel got to the red sea and they couldn’t go forward, but they looked back and saw Pharaoh and his host pursuing them and they began to cry.

 

Moses cried to God, and God said why are you crying to me? Tell the Children of Israel to move forward, Moses said move forward? There is a sea there Lord! He said “I will show you I can make way where there is no way.

 

I prophesy to someone here tonight, everywhere where there say there is no way; there will be a way for you.

 

In Act 12 v 5- 11 Peter was in prison, the doors were locked securely, guards were outside but the enemies were not satisfied they still tied him to two soldiers, one on the right, one on the left with chains, to make sure that there will be no way of escape.

 

They were so sure they got this one. But Jesus made a Way where there is no way.

 

In the name that is above every other name, in the wonderful name of Jesus, all those who say they have captured you shall be disappointed.

 

Let me hear you shout Jesus one more time.

 

Daddy says there is someone here tonight, He says your showers of blessings will begin this month and grow bigger and bigger and bigger.

 

He is the Way out of, the Way into, the Way forward, the Way where there is no way and He is the Way upward.

 

In John 12 v 32 Jesus Christ said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to Me.  As you lift up Jesus, He will draw you up.  That is promotion!

 

In Luke 5 v 8-11, He promoted a fisher man called Peter, a failure! He promoted him so much that anywhere you go in the world today, you will hear the name Peter, you see houses upon houses built for Peter, Peter’s cathedral, Peter Basilica, Peter’s this. Peter’s that.

 

In that wonderful name of Jesus, you too would be promoted.

 

He is the Way upward; He can pick up a beggar from the dunghill and keep lifting him up until he begins to sit down among princes.

 

I have told you before, if man is the one that promoted you, the same fellow who promoted you will bring you down.

 

That is why I always pity some people that I see who love press men; you want to get press men to write beautiful article about you, so you can become popular, one day the same people, who wrote the beautiful articles about you, they are the one who will write the one that will damage you.

 

If man lifts you up, number one you go as high as his hand can lift you and after sometime when his hand is tired you begin to come down, but my Father’s hands are everlasting, when He lifts you up, you just keep going higher and higher.

 

Daddy says that there is someone here tonight; He says I should tell you, all traffic lights are green. And He says He will keep them so for a long time.

 

God says there is someone here tonight; He said in less than three years, your level will change from a stream to an ocean.

 

He is the Way out of, the Way into, the Way forward, the Way where there is no way and He is the Way upward and He is the only Way.

 

Act 4 v 12 says there is no other name, even among men whereby men shall be saved. Mathew 1 v 21 says you shall call His name Jesus for He shall save his people.

 

When you have prayed and you don’t even know what to say anymore, just keep on saying; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

 

I think it was during the watch night service that I also mentioned this; I was in far away Indonesia last year for a prayer conference and I was ask to speak on prayer.

 

I told the great men of God all over the world gathered over there, I said God answers prayers, they said does He answer all the time? I said He answer prayers all the time.

 

I said the only reason you have said that He didn’t answer your prayer at certain times is because you stop praying.

 

You got tired because you have alternatives. People like me I have no alternatives, Jesus is my last bus stop.

if a member of the congregation has a problem and he thinks he cannot handle it on his own, he report to the pastor, when the pastor cannot handle it, he refers it to the general overseer, when the general overseer has a problem where can he go?

 

I have no alternative; I have nowhere else to go and because there is no where I am going and He knows am not moving.

 

Jacob said, if God does not answer my prayer now, Esau will kill me tomorrow morning, so when God says let Me go, he said ah! Go where? I will not let you go, unless You settle my case.

 

How many of you want your case settle tonight, how many of you are going to hold on to Jesus, until He settle your case?

 

Let me hear you say amen loud and clear.

 

He is the Way, He is the Truth, John 8 v 32 says you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free, when you know Jesus, freedom comes. John 8 v 36, whomsoever the Son shall set free shall be free indeed.

 

I have told you the story before, my father had a disagreement with his peers, in my village compound in 1960, and they told him because the disagreement has to do with me, I was in my final year in the secondary school then, he said to them, I will do what you say but please let this my son finish his education.

 

And they told him point blank, so it is because of this boy you won’t join us?  You will see how old that boy will be before he dies, they told him in the family meeting.

 

He came home and told my mother and I ran and for thirteen years I was running, then I met Jesus, and now the when the forces of darkness see me coming, they run, they run because of Jesus.

 

Are there witches and wizards in your family?  Face them with Jesus.

 

Are there herbalists who say they have already destroyed your future?  Face them with Jesus.

 

Is there anyone in power, no matter how powerful, who says he is going to destroy you? Face him with Jesus.

 

Is there any mountain that has refused to move all these years? Face it with Jesus.

 

Because whomsoever the Son shall set free shall be free indeed.

 

The mad man of Gedaren has six thousand demons in him, one word from Jesus, one word from the Truth and he was free.

 

The devil is a liar, and he has kept many of us in bondage for a long time.  Thank God the Truth has come.

Do you know for a long time it was taught and believed that anyone who wants to go to heaven must be poor?   They said because it is said that the love of money is the root of all evil.

 

The devil knows how to quote the Bible, he quotes it in a way that many of you, if you don’t study the word completely you won’t know the difference.

 

It is not money that God says is evil, He says it is the love of money.

 

Without money how can we ever have built this auditorium?

 

Just imagine think of all the kilometer of steel in this place, heavy duty steel all the way from China. Think of all the tons upon tons of cement that have gone into the foundation, not to talk of electricity, not to talk of amplifier and we are not even as good as we want to be yet.

 

But the devil wants you to believe a lie, you can be the poorest man in the world, if you are not born again you will still go to hell, and you can be the richest man in the world provided you live holy, you will make it to heaven.

 

He said I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health as you soul prosper.

 

It is when you want money to such an extent that you are ready to sacrifice your salvation for money then you are in trouble.

 

Because in the story of the rich young ruler Luke 18 v 18 – 30 the young ruler, came to Jesus and said “sir, what must I do to make it to heaven?

 

The Lord said oh you know the laws, do this, do this, he said I have been doing all that.

 

Jesus Christ said only one thing remain, He said go and sell all you have, give to the poor, come and follow me.

 

Because Jesus knew this man loves money more than salvation, it was a test.

 

He said keep your salvation and I will keep my money.

 

That is why Jesus said poor fellow, he can’t even make it to heaven, some people love money so much that they will steal, some people love money so much that they will defraud, some people love money so much that they will inflate the cost of materials; those people are in trouble, because no liar will make it to heaven.

 

But my God does not want you to die poor, He said I have come for you to have life and have it more abundantly, He said I am the Truth.

 

I have seen some things, I have told my pastors, I have seen an airport, very big airport, and I have seen several planes packed there and each one has the symbol of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

 

Your own is there. So those who say you are going to die poor tell them they are lying, we will serve the Lord in holiness, in purity, we will not lie, we will not cheat, we will not steal and we shall prosper.

Whether the devil likes or not we shall reach the top.

 

Then the Truth.

 

Let me just one more thing about the Truth.

 

Do you know there is an organization that says you must not mention the blood of Jesus?

 

Don’t talk about the blood! And there are some very intelligent people who belong to that organization.

 

I won’t mention names. I was talking to one of them, I said sir, it is written in Hebrews 9 v 22 without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

 

I said who do you think is afraid of the blood of Jesus?

 

Only one fellow, that is the devil.

 

Rev. 12 v 11 said they overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb. The only one who says don’t mention the blood is the devil.

 

I said the organization you belong to might be connected to the devil, he doesn’t like the Truth but that is the Truth cleanses from all sins. It gives victory over Satan.

 

Let me hear somebody say the blood of Jesus.

 

The Way the Truth.

 

Let me say one thing about the truth as it concern grace.

 

Salvation is free, it’s by grace, Ephesians 2 v 9 says it is by grace you are saved not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Salvation is free, but after you are saved, after all your sins are forgiven, it will be falsehood to say I can now live like a child of the devil and make it to heaven.

 

That is a lie. Romans 6 v 1 -2 says can we continue in sin and expect grace to abound, God forbid.

 

We all know that God is love, I know that 1John 4 v 4 -8 makes it clear, God is love.

 

And if anybody knows about the love of God, please look at me very well, I am a living example of the love of God, He loves me, that is why I call him Daddy, not everybody can call Him Daddy.

 

Even Christians calls Him Father, but few of us can call Him Daddy and He is my Daddy.

 

I know Him, He loves me. But I also know Him, He loves me, I also know according to Hebrew 12 v 29 that this my God.

This Daddy, this God who is Lord is also a consuming fire, you don’t mess with Him, if you mess with Him, he will deal with you. I know!

 

I have told you the story before… several years ago, I have this little camp ground in Epe.

 

We want to prepare a little place for workers meeting, so we need toilet, so I got a surveyor to take the contract, to build two big latrines, one for men, one for women, at that time we are still using feet, 6 feet deep, each one and we negotiated how much, he asked me to show him the place.

 

So I took him to the place, when he began to measure, instead of measuring sixty feet, he measure sixty meters and God spoke to me and said son correct him!

 

I said no! If he is a surveyor and he doesn’t know the difference between feet and meter let him suffer for it.

 

We went to the second place he began to measure in meter instead of feet, Daddy spoke to me, son correct him.

 

And I said no! Which university did he go to?

 

After he finished measuring there is this hefty Hausa man who was one of the diggers that was helping him to dig.

 

And if you have ever see these diggers you will know what I am talking about, he saw me and smiled at me and said Megidda.

 

I want to be a nice fellow, so I stretched out my hand to receive his hand, and he grabbed my hand and he began to crush it, and I am telling you the hand of this digger is like iron, he was crushing my hand and he was smiling, the pain was horrible, I had to cry out to God, Father help!

 

It is not a joking matter you can laugh it is not your hand!

 

And Daddy replied me immediately and said

 

“I told you to correct him! I said “I will, I will”.

 

And the man released my hand.

 

So I called the surveyor corrected him but in the main time my hand was burning like fire.

 

As I was going to my car I was grumbling Daddy this punishment is too much.

 

He said, I will not tolerate any nonsense from you.

 

That is the truth, God is love, that is the truth, but He is also the consuming fire.

 

And you shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

 

If you think you can mess around with God you are in for a surprise. Wonderful God, beautiful God but He is the God of grace, but don’t abuse that grace.

 

He said I am the Way the Truth and the Life!

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, He said I have parted your red sea there is no going back now.

 

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said a new wave of anointing will envelop you this year.

 

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said very soon you will be singing:

I have joy like the ocean, in my soul,

I have joy, joy like the ocean,

Joy like the ocean in my soul.

 

Then He said I am the Life.

 

John 3 v 36 says anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus, will have everlasting life, but anyone who will not believe in Him will not even see life, He said but the Judgment of God will be upon Him.

 

I’m going to give opportunity to those of you who have not given your life to Jesus to do so now.

 

Thank you Father, one more word for him, for me and for many of us here; Daddy says when it is rained dry grass becomes green, He said there is someone here He said I will rain on you.

 

If you have not given your life to Jesus please do so. 

2013 Prophecy

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 2^nd January 02:55

Individual

1.       No matter the darkness around you, your star will shine brighter.

2.       God says he will speak peace to your storms.

3.       Certain individual have been stagnated for a while, the reason would become known, address and eliminated. Therefore progress will follow.

4.       In many senses of the world, this year will be a year of completeness.

Nigeria

1.       Prayer of some people minimized death of prominent Nigerians in the last year. Therefore, don’t stop praying.

2.       Before the middle of the year, many will say hope rising.

3.       Learn from disaster of 2012 and take precautions soonest to avert bigger ones. (To those in authorities)

International

1.       Prominent world leaders need lot of prayers so as not to die in office.

2.       Prominent church leaders need prayers against planned scandals.

3.       Weather conditions may get worse, much worse unless prayers intensified.

4.       Expect a major breakthrough in medicine.

5.       Nations who pass unholy laws will have a taste of divine fury

An Intimate Look at the Birth Of Jesus

by 24^th December 2012 05:33

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

I. Introduction:Every year around Christmastime, many believers read the account of Jesus’ birth. But perhaps we’ve forgotten just how important it is. More often than not, we skim over the verses, telling ourselves we already understand them. However, without a deeper, more intimate look at our Savior’s birth, we’ll miss the truths the Lord wants us to learn and apply to our lives.

II. What appears to be insignificant can have eternal consequences.

• A. From a human perspective, there was nothing special about Jesus’ birth. Mary and Joseph were poor, ordinary people having a baby, yet this event was the most significant incident in human history. This child, conceived by the Holy Spirit, was the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
• B. In the same way, events that seem ordinary in our lives may be occasions when the Lord is doing something awesome. Because God is continually working to achieve His purposes, every event and choice in our lives has significance.

III. You can’t determine a person’s value by his or her environment.

• A. When a king is born, he’s laid in silk and anointed with spices, but Mary gave birth in a stable filled with the smell of livestock, wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and laid Him in a manger (Luke 2:7). Nothing surrounding His birth revealed the significance of her newborn baby.
• B. All too often the world judges a person’s worth based on his surroundings. But in the Lord’s eyes, every person is significant. He created each of us for a specific purpose and loves us unconditionally. The ultimate proof of our worth is the fact that Christ considered us to be so valuable that He died for us.

IV. God often gives great understanding to lowly people.

• A. Since the birth of the Savior was the greatest news of all time, wouldn’t you think that the Lord would have announced it to important people like kings and nobles? Instead, He sent His angel to proclaim this momentous news to shepherds.
• B. God still speaks to those who are listening. What we do after hearing from the Lord is what’s important. Like the shepherds who left immediately to find the newborn Messiah, are you quick to obey His instructions? By hesitating, you could miss the greatest opportunities of your life. The key to experiencing all that God has planned is to listen and to obey Him.

V. When people have truly met Jesus Christ, they have to tell others.

• A. The shepherds were absolutely awed by what they saw and couldn’t keep it to themselves. They knew their message would seem strange to others and might even result in ridicule, but they wanted everybody to know.
• B. We need to be as bold as the shepherds. It’s our job to share the good news of the gospel with others, yet so many believers lack the courage to share their faith. Sometimes we feel like we don’t know enough, but we know so much more than the shepherds because we have the Word of God.

VI. The Lord’s ways are not our ways.

• A. Who could have ever imagined God’s plan. However, Christ came to live among us and can identify with us in our heartaches, frustrations, fears, and temptations because He’s experienced them (Heb. 4:15-16).

VII. God uses ungodly people to accomplish His purposes.

• A. At the time of Jesus’ birth, Caesar Augustus was the ruler of the Roman Empire and made important choices that determined the course of human history. When he decided to take a census, he thought he was in control, but the Lord was simply using him to accomplish His plan to fulfill the prophesy Micah made hundreds of years before.
• B. In our limited understanding, we think God only uses righteous people to achieve His purposes, but history proves otherwise. He can use anyone to carry out His plans.

VIII. Conclusion: The birth of Jesus is primarily about God’s unconditional love for the world. Christ had to take human form so He could one day bear our sins and die on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). Therefore, Christmas isn’t about gifts, shopping, and parties. It’s not even about manger scenes and shepherds. Christmas is about Christ’s love for you. He came to earth to die in your place, and if you are going to honestly celebrate Christmas, you’ve got to understand all Jesus is. Ignoring His free gift of salvation has terrible consequences, but accepting it results in eternal life in heaven with your Savior.

Wonders of the Spoken Word

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 18^th December 2012 10:23

 Isaiah 55:10-11 even as we consider the Signs and Wonders of the Spoken Word “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and the returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whitherto I sent it”that is the Almighty God speaking and he is speaking to someone here tonight, he is saying your tomorrow will be alright. If you are the one, I think I better hear your amen.

            Whenever you hear us praising God and calling Him older than the oldest, we are actually referring to one his titles – THE WORD. Of all the things that God could call himself, he loved the Word so much that he calls himself the Word. He says in John 1:1 he says“In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God”; so he is older than the oldest. This Word also created all things. According John 1:3 says. Now because the Word created all things that is why it can transform all things which is good news for you because he’s about to transform your life. He can transform darkness to light. Genesis 1:1-3 says“ in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth, the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep and then the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and God said let there be light and suddenly there was light”. And in the name that is above every other name, today in your life, there will be light. That’s why when in Mark 10: 46-52, when Bartimeus cried out to Jesus for mercy and Jesus sent for him and he came and He said what do you want, he said I want to regain my sight; all Jesus did was He spoke. Receive your sight and immediately he received his sight. And according to the hymn of this congress, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, all of you with eye problems you will get your miracles. The Word can transform darkness to light and He can transform emptiness to fullness. In Genesis 1:20-22, the bible tells us that God spoke. When he created the earth, it was empty but when he spoke, waters bring forth, light bring forth, sky bring forth suddenly there was abundance of fish, abundance of birds, abundance of animals. So this same word is coming out to somebody today who is here empty before this congress is over, you will begin to know what is called the over flow. That is why when God wanted to do the impossible for Sarah, all he said is Sarah shall have a son.  And the womb that had been empty for 90 years suddenly began to know that there is somebody new inside. And I am saying to all of you who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb  in the name that is above every other name, this month, your womb will receive a visitor of joy.

            This Word can bring order out of confusion; he can transform confusion to order. He said when the world was created, it was without form, it was confused until God spoke. When you read Mark 4: 35-41, the bible tells us that when there was a storm and Jesus was sleeping and the disciples woke him up all he said to the storm was peace be still and immediately out of the confusion, order came. And I am saying tonight that all of you who might be in any form of confusion before this night is over, peace will come in Jesus name.  The Word is extremely powerful. It is powerful because it has its origin in God.

            However, we discover that the word does not begin to work until it is spoken. Until God said let there be light there was no light. The word has to be spoken before it becomes effective. However, we also know that the moment the word is spoken, it can no longer be restrained, it can no longer be called back until it has finished its job. God said the word that is gone out of my mouth, shall not return to me void. The word that had already gone to you tonight to which you have already said amen is already at work, and it’s not going to stop until the work is finished. Whether the word is spoken to heal or to deliver; Psalm 107:20 says he sent his word and it healed them, and delivered them out of all their destructions. The moment the word is gone out, there is no stopping it. It will just keep on working. Even if it is spoken to the dead, it can penetrate through into the bawels of the earth and bring the dead out. Like we found in John 11:39-44 Jesus spoke the word: Lazarus come forth. And the word went straight into the grave, grab the fellow to which the word was sent and brought life back to him and the one who had been dead for 4 days came back to life. I speak to every dead womb here tonight, I speak to every dead eyes, I speak to every dead marriage, I speak to every dead business in the name that is above every other name come back to live. Thank you father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said there was a time when you were completely down and he brought you out; he ask me to tell you He will do it again. So when you read Matthew 8:5-13, you will understand what that centurion was talking about   when he said all you need to do is speak the word only, just send a word. I think somebody should just lift his hand to God tonight and say God send a word to me tonight; just send a word to me tonight. Now so we see that when the word as come out of the mouth of God, it continues to perform wonders until it has finished the assignment. But the greater wonder is that just as the word will perform wonders in the mouth of God; it will also perform wonders in the mouth of his prophet. Some of us as never heard God audibly; I pray that God will open your ears.  But many times, he will send a word to you through his prophet. For example, if you read 2Kings 4:1-7 the bible tells us about a widow with two signs who was destitute and the creditors have come to take her sons into bondage if she wouldn’t pay within 24 hours. She ran to a man of God if you read that story very carefully, you will notice something interesting. The man of God say go and borrow empty vessels, borrow not a few, when you have done that, shut the door upon yourself, take the bottle of oil you say you have and begin to pour out and begin to set aside that which is full and the man of God didn’t say I prophesy that as you are pouring the water it will be multiplying, no no no he just said just go and do what I said.   And because the man of God said set aside that which is full, immediately the power in the word has gone into that bottle of oil so that when the widow began to pour, the empty vessels began to fill. Today, I stand on the authority of the word of God, I stand before you has his servant, I stand before you has his prophet to say that from now on, everything that is empty in your life shall become full.

            A young man came to us several years ago, he is no longer so young and he was distressed because he had become financially bankrupt; no money at all. He came for prayers on this camp ground in the early days after I have finished praying for him, he said I know I am not supposed to come to a prophet empty handed but I have nothing and so prophet, it is you who would give me the money for transport back home and I took the little money I had then and I was very rich in those days but you know when two poor people meet; one is still richer than the other. So I took the little money I had and gave it to him and I said “this money will never finish” he took it and said amen. Today by the special grace of God because I know him. I don’t know how many houses he has built but I know at least two: one in his home town and one on camp and so I’m prophesying to someone here too whatever money is in your pocket now will never finish.

The word of God spoken through the mouth of his prophet is as powerful as if it came from the mouth of God himself. In 2King 4:8-17 tells us the story of how a woman had taken care of Elisha and Elisha decided lets reward her. This woman has being feeding me, built a house for me, lets reward her. He said to the woman, woman nine months from now, you shall have a son and the woman said man of God don’t deceive me. That is a guess a clear way of saying I don’t have faith for a child now but the man of God has spoken. If you look at the story very well, Elisha didn’t even repeat himself. Elisha didn’t say whether you believe it or not I’ve spoken but he spoke once and kept his mouth shut. Nine months later the baby came. Some of you will remember the testimony of a couple, they’ve been barren for years and they came to us for prayers and instead of praying I just asked them under the leadership of the Holy Spirit of course; I said what kind of baby do you want boy or girl? The husband said boy, the wife said girl and they said it simultaneously so I said in that case, let have a twin: one boy and one girl. I’m sure you remember their testimony. Well maybe I should ask those of you who are here trusting God for the fruit of the womb how do you want your twins? So shall it be in Jesus name. Whether to control the weather or spoken in judgment the word of God coming from the mouth of the prophet of God is as powerful as if it is coming from the mouth of God itself.  But probably the greatest of all wonders of the spoken word is that in your own mouth, that word spoken can have the same effect. In other words, you can be your own prophet.

            I was sharing with some of my children not too long ago, I said I don’t get people prophesying to me so I prophesy to myself. Early in the morning, I stand before my mirror and if you are standing before the mirror who do you see? So I point at the fellow in the mirror – hello, it’s going to be well with you today. How many of you believe that your tomorrow will be alright? You better say it with your mouth and say my tomorrow will be alright. Why? Because God said in Numbers 14:28, God said as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do unto you. That is why you have to watch your mouth because as you are speaking God is hearing, God is watching. As you have spoken in my ears so will I do unto you. Say it one more time, my tomorrow will be alright. I want to say amen to this one before I tell you. God said there is someone here today, he said I should tell you I control time and seasons and I am going to put an end to your dry season permanently.         

Remember what David said in 1 Samuel 17:45-51, he said to Goliath that I am not just going to kill you, I will also cut off your head. Do you know that as at the time he was speaking, he has no sword in his hand. Kill yes, he was going to use the sling and the stone but cut off the head, he had no provision for that at all but because he said it the provision was available. Say it one more time my tomorrow will be alright. Again you know the story of the Shunamite in 2Kings 4:18 to the end, when she lost that miracle boy and the husband asked her why are you going to see the prophet today its not the time to go and pay your tithe, it not the month end, why are you going? She said all will be well. When she came to the man of God, the man of God said go and ask the woman what is the problem? She said no problem, all is well. Turn to the fellow next to you and say look at me very well because all is well with me. You better say it as if you mean it now. Thank you Lord, I know today will be better than yesterday. The lord said there is someone here tonight; he said I know you are believing me for the impossible, he said I will not disappoint you. In Luke 1:34-38, after the angel had delivered the message to Mary you are going to have a boy et cetera, Mary asked how can this be I don’t know a man, the angel said don’t worry about that, the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Mary said something in verse 38 in fact to put it in my own language; she simply said I receive it. Because she said let it be unto me according to thy word. In other words, what you have said, I receive it.

            I have told you the story when I was praying 1981, my first year as General Overseer, father now I’m living in one room in Mushin please build me a little house even if it is a boys quarters and the Lord said son don’t ask me for a house, I decided to build you a city. It didn’t make sense but I said I receive it thank God I told some people otherwise they will think am lying now. I want to say to you tonight, it will be well with you. Do I hear you say I receive it? Lord have mercy. I want you to know one thing, once the word has gone out nothing can stop it. Some of you will still remember the story and I believe it is going to be applicable to someone here tonight. Thirty-first of December, I can’t remember the year now early 1980s at the watch night service, I was preaching when the Lord spoke to me and I announced it that there was someone in the congregation who was having problem paying his house rent and the lord said that in the new year, the fellow will become a land lord, only one fellow said amen. Some of you who know the story, the fellow who said amen was a messenger. How can a messenger become a land lord in Lagos? But he heard the word and he knew he was the one having problem paying his house rent so he said amen. Am sure the people around must have looked at him and said you of all people;  but then the new year came, he went to work and saw the Managing Director of his company, fell down as we do in our custom to greet the man happy new year sir and that one looked at him and said messenger: by the way, did I give you a Christmas present? He said no sir, and he said Lagos sate was selling some plot of land, I bid for one, I got it. I don’t need it, come and collect the keys. He gave him the keys and the address, he went, he located the place, he was looking for a tiny little house; got there and found it was a whole house can this be true, he put the keys the door opened, he went upstairs looked around, this for me? The following day he went to the Managing Director, this time he didn’t just prostrate but he rolled to the right, he rolled to the left. There is a miracle coming your way, when it comes, you will roll before the Almighty God. The M.D said by the way, is there any furniture in the house? And the boy said no sir; the M.D said I change my furniture every Christmas so the one I used last year I don’t even know where to put them. So he called one of the drivers; go to my house, load my furniture, old furniture and take to this boy’s house. He entered the new year a tenant within one week, not only did he have a house, he was sitting on the furniture that the M.D was sitting on the previous year. God is going to send help to somebody here today. But then now the questions comes, all this things you are saying sir if it is true some of us know we’ve heard teachings on spoken word, positive confession for years. How come I have been making confession and I have being claiming and nothing is happening. It is probably because those who taught us didn’t teach us completely. You see the word doesn’t just become effective in any mouth; there are conditions to be met. Are you ready to learn the conditions? I didn’t hear you loud. Because this congress is the congress that is going to transform your lives. Open your bibles to Job 22:21-28, and then I will explain as quickly as I can. The conditions you must satisfy if from now on you become your own prophet. “Acquaint now thyself with him that is with God and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shall be built up thou shall put away iniquities far from thy tabernacles then shall thou lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence and thou shall have plenty of silver for then shall thou have your delight in the Almighty and shall lift up thou face to God. Thou shall make thy prayer to unto him and he shall hear thee, and thou shall pay thy vows. Thou shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and the light shall shine upon thy ways”.

What are the conditions that I must satisfy so that when I speak, the moment I speak it becomes established:

1.      Acquaint thyself with God. Develop a close relationship with the Almighty God. If you look at 1Kings 17:1, the man called Elijah who spoke a word and the heavens were shut for more than three years. Look at what he said: Elisha the Tishbite the inhabitant of Gilead said to Ahab as the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand, as the Lord lives, the one I spend time with, the one in whose presence I am constantly found, the one with whom I am acquainted, he said there will be no rain, no dew unless I call for it. Spend quality time with God. Many of us just want to get up early in the morning, no time for morning devotion, no fellowship with the Almighty God, we come back late at night, we are tired we just jump to bed and say Lord thank you for today, see you tomorrow… no no no, it’s not those people who can stand up and say I decree. Quality time with God. The kind of person who would say to the lame man by the beautiful gate I say unto you in the name of Jesus Christ arise and walk must be somebody that people will know had been with Jesus.

2.     He said acquaint thyself with him and be at peace… Thank you very much Lord; the Lord ask me to tell a lady here pregnant lady, the pregnancy is threatening the Lord asked me to tell you it’s not coming down. The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said this year, things have started picking up, he said by next year, you will begin to soar. The one who is going to speak and it will be established must be at peace with God. What does that really mean? It means you must have settled all situations between you and God. There must be no area in your life where you are still struggling as to whether I want to obey God or not. Do I want to do his will? Is this one possible to be done? Is the bible really true? Did he really say this? In Joshua 10:12-14, the bible says Joshua spoke and said sun stand where you are, moon stand where you are and immediately, the sun and the moon obeyed him.  But kind of person is Joshua? He’s a man who has resolved everything. He’s the one who said in Joshua 24:15 says “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. It’s a settled matter. Do you know many of us still struggle as to whether we should still pay our tithe? Many of us say we will pay our tithe but the issue of first fruit; we don’t even want to hear that. I remember some years ago when I first began to teach the payment of first fruit to some of my children somewhere, highly educated people, they came to me and said sir, everything you have been teaching is alright this  first fruit business is old testament. I said is that so, they said yes and we are now in the New Testament. You know a times you can become so intelligent to become a fool. I said so we should just stay with the New Testament and forget about the Old Testament? They said exactly. I said oh I see; The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want is that in the New Testament? No weapon formed against me shall prosper is that in the New Testament? I shall live I shall not die and declare the works of God is that in the gospel according to Saint Matthew? For you to be at peace with God, you must surrender completely and say thy will be done. When you get to that stage when you are absolutely at peace with him, you are not struggling, anything you want done, that’s what I will do, then you begin to qualify to speak a word and get it done.

I have told you that when I was young, many a times when I’m playing, with my colleagues, my mother will call me and say son go and fetch water. You know we’ve got our water from the village stream, many of you don’t know what that means now there is water just gushing out of the tap in your room and I will tell my mother I’m not going, am playing, am enjoying myself with my friends and she will keep quiet. Sooner or later I will say mama I’m hungry, I want food and she will say no problem food is here but go and fetch water. Oh let me eat first and then I will go to fetch, no you go and fetch water. I will cry and cry and she won’t bulge. The same is true of God. You do is will, anything you ask for you will get.

3.     Lay up his word in your heart. Study the word, memorize the word. Some of you can tell us every news item on CNN for the past 6 months but if we ask you what are the memory verses in the Sunday school last week Sunday; God have mercy. Lay up his word in your heart. Psalm 1:1-3 tells us that blessed is the man who will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, who will not stand in the way of sinners, who will not sit in the seat of the scornful but he’s going to meditate on the word of God day and night. In Joshua 1:8 the bible tells us the Lord spoke to Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night”.Many of you spend day and night discussing politics, discussing the situation in the country, instead of meditating on the word of God day and night.

4.      He said if iniquity be near you put it far away from your tabernacle. The one who is going to speak and get it established immediately must have zero tolerance for sin. Iniquity must be put far away from you because he says as I hear in my ears, so will he do unto you but then he says in Psalm 66:18, David said “if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me”so you are prophesying and God say I’m not hearing. It is what I hear that I will back up. You see the link between that and memorizing the word of God. David said in Psalm 119:11 he said“thy word have I kept in my heart that I may not sin against thee”. You meditate on the word of God day and night, you keep the word in your memory, it becomes difficult to sin. You know the story of Samson very well, Judges 16:20-21 he said I will get up as before and go out as before I’m sure the devil must be laughing at him and say not this time around because sin has broken the link between you and God.

5. Pay your vows. What has that got to do with my speaking and getting I established? Almighty God says in Ecclesiastes 5:4 he said God is not interested in fools but for someone who made a promise, made a pledge I’m going to do this for God, I’m going to do that for God and then the fellow refuses to pay; the bible says he is a fool. And God says in Psalm 14:1 he said the fool as said in his heart there is no God. So the one who does not pay his vow is the same as someone who says there is no God. How do you expect that the almighty God will back what that fellow will say?  Do you know two people can prophesy? One will get the answer the other will not and you begin to wonder why? Consider the example of David and Goliath. If you read  1Samuel 17:44, Goliath also prophesied he said to David, I am going to kill you , I’m going to give your flesh to the birds of the air. David also prophesied I’m going to kill and I’m going to cut off your head. One failed, the other succeeded.

            Tonight, I am going to give you time to pray and you are going to pray like you have never prayed before because tonight, you are going to be praying prophetically. That’s why before we begin to pray at all because this is the night of the spoken word. Anything that can stand between you and God hearing you tonight must be settled. Which means you need to surrender your life to Jesus. Isaiah 59:1-2, state clearly that“the Lord’s hand is not shortened that he cannot save neither his ear heavy that he cannot hear; he said but your sin/iniquity have separated between you and your God that he will not hear ” If you are still living in sin, he won’t hear. But glory be to God, the bible says the blood of Jesus washes and cleanses all sins. So it is only in Jesus that your sins can be forgiven.      

2012 HolyGhost Congress Prayer points

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 12^th December 2012 05:25

Day 1 Prayer points:

·          Praise God that you are still alive.

·         Father, whatever is standing between me and the wonders of the new creation, reveal it to me tonight.

·         Father, restore to me everything that I have lost.

·         Father, before tomorrow morning, let there be evidence of the wonders of new creation in my life.

·         Father from now on, let my dominion be fully establish.

 

Day 2 Prayer points:

·          Praise Him for His word

·         Father, according Exodus15:26 I can enjoy divine health if hearken diligently to your voice and obey. Lord I promise to hearken diligently to your voice and obey, so I hereby decree that from now on I will enjoy divine health.

·         Father according to Psalm 23:6 if I dwell permanently with you, goodness and mercy shall follow me. I hereby decree because I will permanently dwell with you, goodness and mercy shall be mine all the days of my life.

·         Father according to psalm 91, because I am going to dwell with you, no evil shall come near me. I hereby decree  because I am going to  permanently dwell with you, evil shall never near my dwelling place

·         Father according to Psalm 118:17, because I will witness too others about you, I hereby decree I shall live and not die.

·         Father according to John 15:16, you said if I constantly win souls for you, all my prayers will be answered. I thereby decree that as from now on that before I call, God will answer.

·         Personal prayer request

 

Day 3 Prayer points:

·          Praise him because He is Almighty.

·         Father, you are the help of the helpless please help me.

·         Father, please restore to me every opportunity that I have lost.

·         Father, give me another chance.

·         Father, change every curse in my life to a blessing.

·         Father, if need be re-write my destiny for better tonight.

·         Father, reverse the irreversible for me tonight.

 

Day 4 Prayer points:

·          Worship HIM

·         Father, tell my sickness that you are the great physician

·         Father, tell every disease in anybody here tonight that you are the great healer.

·         Tell all my enemies that you are my defender.

·         Tell all demons in my life, every evil covenant in my life that you are the Lord of Host.

·         Father, show poverty, lack, failure in my life that you are my provider.

·         Father, show retardation, lack of progress and stagnation in my life that you are my promoter.

·         Show every form of barrenness, every fruitless effort in my life that you are the one who commanded that I should be fruitful and multiply.

·         Father, God of Isaac; put laughter in my mouth tonight abundantly.

·         Any appointment that I may have with death, Father, cancel it.

·         Personal prayer request

 

 

Day 5 prayer points;

1.       Praise God that you are able to make it tonight

2.       Father, please perform wonder in my life that will make me never to be sick again

3.       Father, perform a wonder in my marriage so that it will be become a model for others to copy

4.       Father, perform a wonder in my family so that we will never know sorrow again

5.       Father , perform a wonder in my finance so that I will lend to nation

6.       Father,  anoint me so heavily that even evil forces will see me and  they will run

7.       Father,  any evil left in this whole year, keep it far from my home

8.       Father , any signs & wonders remains in this year Father send them to my home

9.       Father, before the year ends let my testimonies be complete and perfect

10.   Father, forever let me be a channel of blessing

11.   Personal request

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 HolyGhost Congress Welcome Address

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 11^th December 2012 03:21

We are delighted to, once again, welcome you to anther Congress. We thank the Almighty God, the God of Signs and Wonders, for sparing our lives over the 12 months to see this year’s Congress.

With the theme SIGNS AND WONDERS, we are in for some divine surprises. Nothing is too difficult for our God. He is the Almighty and sure to do as He has declared. Are you expectant? The expectations of the righteous shall not be cut off. As you seek Him prayerfully, He will surely answer you.

God has specially put this Congress together for you. There will be a time to teach from the word of God, a time to preach, a time to pray and a time for personal ministration during the morning and evening sessions. There will also be teachings on marriage, home management, business, career and related issues of day-to-day living by experts in various fields during the afternoon sessions. The programme opens with an evening session on Monday followed by the first afternoon session on Tuesday and the first Morning Session on Wednesday. The evening session will run on all six days while the other afternoon session will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The   other morning sessions will run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in addition to Wednesday. You may go to the detailed daily programme page on this website.

‘’With the theme SIGNS AND WONDERS, We are in for some divine surprises. Nothing is too difficult for our God. He is Almighty and sure to do as has He declared.’’

As expected, there will be so many people at this Congress but God can reach you personally. Focus on Him and prayerfully part-take in all the programmes. Your miracles are around the corner. Just trust the Lord and diligently wait upon Him.  Happy Congress 2012. Welcome to awesome moments with the God of Signs and Wonders.

GREAT EXPECTATION

by Pastor E.A Adeboye 12^th November 2012 10:13

 

 

 

 

“And a certain woman who had an issue of blood twelve years and have endured much at the hands of many physicians and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse.

 

After hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind him and touched his cloak.

 

For she said if I may touched “if I just touch his garments, I will get well” immediately the flow of her blood was drained up and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

 

Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said who touched my garments.

And his disciples said to him, “you see the crowd pressing in on you and you say , who touched me? And he looked around to see the woman who had done this thing.

 

But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

 

And he said to her, “daughter your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your affliction”.Mark 5 v 25- 34

 

 

What do we mean by expectation?

 

In the simplest language expectation simply means you are looking forward to something about to happen.

 

When a woman is pregnant we say she is expectant, meaning what, she is looking forward to babies being born.

 

 James 5 v 7 tells us that the husband man; that is, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and he has long patient for it.

 

The farmer is expecting that the seed he planted is going to produce fruit.  So when we talk about expectation tonight, we are talking about looking forward to God doing something.

 

And I have come on the authority of the Almighty God to tell you, you will not be disappointed.

 

When we use the word great, great can mean so many things.  It depends on how you use it. When you say a man is great, that is different from when you say the crowd is great.

 

You are still saying great, great could be large in number, it could mean high in quality, it could mean tremendous in influence and so on and so forth.

 

For example in 2 King 4 v 8 -17 the Bible talked about a woman of Shunnem and the Bible called her great.

 

She was called great because she has a lot of wealth, you can’t be poor to build a house for a pastor, she was wealthy, but when Elisha said may I introduce you to the king or the commander in chief, she said thank you very much I am well connected, she also had influence.

 

When we talk about great, we are actually talking about the opposite of small, so the moment you hear great, you know it is the opposite of small.

 

The Bible gives us several examples to let us know what we mean by great.

 

In Matthew 2 v 10 when the wise men saw the star that they have been following from the East, standing over a particular house, they had great joy, that gives you a rough idea what great means.

 

In Mark 4 v 25 the Bible says a great multitude followed Jesus that is another form of great.

 

In Matthew 5 v 35 the Bible refers to Jerusalem as the city of the great king.

 

Again this is talking about greatness in another form. 

 

So we can have greatness in quantity, in quality and we can have greatness in influence and we can have of course greatness that combines all of them.

 

One thing I am sure of today is that somebody will leave here with great joy and great testimonies.

 

Now expectations depends on many things particularly if we are talking about God and am sure that is the person we are talking about.

 

Expectation depends on, number one Promise;

 

If God has made you a promise then you have a right to expect that that promise will be fulfilled.

 

For example in Genesis 8 v 20 the Almighty God made a promise on which the farmer based his expectation; he said as long as the earth remains seed time and harvest shall never cease.

 

That is the promise of God that is the basis on which a farmer planting a seed expect there will be a harvest.

 

Secondly, expectation depends on the track record of the one who promised.

 

If you are dealing with a man who doesn’t keep his promises, and then if he made you a promise, you don’t expect anything from him.

 

If you are dealing with a man who in the past said I am going to the right and you discovered he went to the left, the next time when he says I am coming, you will know he is going.

 

But in Numbers 23 v 19 the Bible says God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent.

 

Once He spoke you know it is done Psalm 33 v 8-9 tells us clearly that the whole earth should fear before God because He spoke and it is done.

 

Once He makes a promise you can go to bed knowing it will be fulfilled,

 

Expectation depends on the resources of the one who has promised.

 

I can remember one occasion several years ago when all my children were very smaller and all of them held a meeting in the room, they didn’t know I was watching them and they sent the youngest one to me and said go and ask daddy what he wants for Christmas.

 

That one came an said “what do you want for Christmas?” I said what can you afford? Because I know he hasn’t got anything. He ran back to the people in the room and he came back and said “just ask for anything” I said “what about an aero plane?”

 

He ran back and he said “no, no! That is not the kind of things we are talking about.

 

But Glory be to God we have a God who is completely unlimited.

 

Psalm 24 v 1 says the earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof.   Haggai 2 v 8 says silver is mine and gold is mine.

 

In case you want me to complete my story, the fellow came back and I said get me a pen. “What kind of pen?”  he went back and told his people. Then he said Daddy please loan me so much, he collected my money to buy me a pen.  

 

Glory be to God!  God does not need a loan from you to get you a thing.

 

Expectation depends on one, promise, two, on the track record of the one making the promise, three, on the resources of the one who is making the resources, and of course, on  the ability of the one making the promise to perform.

 

Jeremiah 32 v 27 the Almighty God said behold I am the God of all flesh is anything too hard for me?

 

Again I remembered telling you once upon a time I was visiting my people at home in Ilesha and one little boy ran to me and say “Lagos Daddy, I want a pair of shoes for Christmas.

 

And I said done, I will buy it for you. He ran to meet the others who are playing outside that I have got shoes for Christmas, he hasn’t seen it but he believed it firmly.

 

Then one of them replied and said me too I have new shoes for Christmas and they ask him “who said so?”  He said “my father!” they said your shoes are joking shoes.

 

They know that his father hasn’t got money for new shoe he hasn’t got the ability to perform.

 

Lagos Daddy, if he says you will have shoes you will have shoes.

 

Now there is an heavenly Daddy and he is saying to somebody here today, “I will meet all your needs”.

 

So expectation depends on promise; the track record of the one who promised the resources of the one who promised, the ability of the one who promised to perform and therefore faith on the side of the one who is expectant.

 

The Bible tells us that faith is the evidence of things not seen.

 

Hebrews 11 v 1 evidence of things not seen, I haven’t seen it yet but I know who promised, I know his track record, I know his resources, I know his ability to perform.

 

How?

 

You will see immediately again the link between faith and expectations.

 

Because faith can be in categories; you have great faith, Matthew 15 v 21- 28 tells us the story of the woman who came to Jesus and said “help me my daughter is grievously vexed of the devil”.

 

Jesus didn’t answer her and she kept on crying and the disciple said Lord Send her away her noise is disturbing us.

 

And Jesus said “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel and the woman kept on pressing until Jesus said “I cannot give the bread of children unto dogs” the woman said “no problem but this dog is not going home at least without a crumb, Jesus turned to her and said “woman great is thy faith.

 

She had great expectation because at least she got what she wanted.

 

Of course there is little faith in Matthew 6 v 30 the Almighty God talks about people of little faith.  And then there is no faith at all and you find that in Mark 4 v 40 the Almighty God talked about the disciple he rebuked of having no faith.

 

So we have great faith, little faith and then no faith, somebody with great faith can go home with great expectations fulfilled and the one with little can then have little expectation and of course the one with no faith cannot expect anything at all.

 

So expectations therefore are in categories, remember we want to talk about great expectations, expectations is determined by faith, so great faith will produce great expectation, little faith will produce little expectations.

 

 

No faith will produce no expectation at all.

 

Is there anyone who never have any expectation of something good?

 

We have example in the Bible, take Esau Genesis 25 v 29 -34 he was the first born the blessings of the first born suppose to be double of any other person but then he was hungry and his brother cooked Pottage and he said  give me food and his brother said “give me your birthright.” he said what does birthright mean to me, he did not expect anything good to come to him, even though he was the first born so he sold his birth right just for a plate of pottage.

 

You may be amazed if you know how limited the expectation of some people are.  I still remembered like yesterday something that happened more than 60 yrs ago when I was very young, one man was quarreling with his ward because the ward refused to go to school and when everybody gathered and said “what is the noise about?”

 

The man says this boy said he doesn’t want to go to school.  And so they asked the boy, “Why don’t you want to go to school?” he said “I have told him all I want to be is a truck pusher.

 

He said that is all he wanted to be. Of course if all you want to be is a truck pusher then why do you need to go to school?

 

But I know deep within me that there is somebody here seating before me here whose determination is to reach the top, if you are the one let me hear you say amen.

 

And then from no expectation we can have little expectation in Luke 7 v 1 -7 Peter fished all night caught nothing,

 

Jesus came into the boat preached, when he finished preaching he said to Peter launched into the deep and cast your net.

 

Peter said I have fished all night I have caught noting, there is no fish here today I will try tomorrow, however because you say so, not that I expect anything to come out of it, I will cast one net.

 

His expectation was little he thought well maybe he will catch a fish or two but he caught so much fish in that one net that his boat and the next boat were filled and they were sinking.

 

Even if your expectation is little the Almighty God will still meet you at that level, but I pray that your expectations will be great in Jesus name.

 

Little expectations requires divine mercy, the Almighty God can meet someone with little expectation.

 

I know there are probably some people who have prayed over an issue again and again here and they have not seen any result.

 

I know there some people who have been believing God for something since January and they are wondering is this not November.

 

The one whose mercy endures forever will meet you at your point of needs tonight in Jesus name.

 

Several years ago we were talking about going to Israel and one of my house help said well with God all things are possible one day I too will go to Israel.

 

She said it as if to say, “they say God can do anything”, she wasn’t expecting much but there was an America lady who was visiting who asked the person next to her what the house help said (because my house help spoke in Yoruba) and they interpreted it to her.

 

And the American lady said I will sponsor her.

 

I want to decree to somebody here tonight from the direction you are not expecting help will come to you in Jesus name.

 

And then great expectation, do you know when you read 1 Samuel 17, you can read the whole chapter but maybe you can take it from chapter 34 -37 to get the point.

 

By the time David stood before king Saul and he said don’t let anybody be afraid of this giant I am going to kill him.

 

And they ask him you are a little boy how are you going do this great thing?

 

He said no problem I know who my God is.  I know his track record, a lion had attacked me before, I killed the lion, a bear had attacked me before I killed the bear,

 

This Goliath will be just like one of them. Do you know that even before David got to the stage, he had already asked the people standing by what was the reward for the one who kills this giant?

 

In order word as far as he is concerned it’s a settle mater that he was going to win, he was already asking for the reward.

 

And I have good news for someone here tonight, in less than a year from now you will stand here and say great is the God that I serve.

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight he said your sickness began when you backslid he ask me to tell that if you return to him completely the sickness will fade away.

 

Daddy says your dreams are extremely big he said but I will fulfill all of them.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight he said before the end of the year you will have more than one reason to dance.

 

In 2 King 2 v 9-15 Elijah asked Elisha he said what do you want me to do before I had been taking from you.

 

And this boy had an extremely great expectation, he said I want a double portion of your spirit, even Elijah had to say what kind of boy are you?

 

You have seen me call fire down from heaven not once not twice, three times.

 

Anytime I want I just say fire come and it comes and you say you want more than that?

 

The boy says I want double.  Great faith leads to great expectations and do you know what?  Great expectations will lead to great manifestations, because that boy got what he wanted.

 

I have told you before, that several years ago, I asked the Almighty God I don’t want to be an ordinary Christian.

 

I don’t want to be an ordinary pastor.

 

I don’t want just the normal something, I  want something extra ordinary.

 

I want double the portion of the anointing of Elijah, double the portion of the anointing of Elisha, plus double the portion of the anointing of Peter, plus double the anointing of Paul, plus double the anointing of Jesus Christ while he was here on earth.  Add everything together and double it again.

 

I know you will say you must be greedy, but the word of God says covet earnestly the best gift.

 

Is there anyone here tonight who want to say father, give me greater power than you have given to Adeboye, anybody here? Are you sure? So be it in Jesus name.

 

Elisha said I want double portion of your spirit and he got it; search the scriptures, Elijah performed seven notable miracles; Elisha performed thirteen before he died and in order to make the whole thing complete his dead bone raised the dead.

 

So he completed it, his master did seven , he did fourteen.

 

I pray for every one of you who are here today who are my children in the name that is greater than any other names you will be greater than I.

 

Now great expectations require some efforts on your part; in Mark 2 v 1-12 the Bible tells us that some four boys brought a man to Jesus, they heard that Jesus was in the house so they brought their friend.

 

When they got to the front door, they found that the place was jammed with people, the doors were blocked, the windows were blocked but they had this great expectation.

 

If only our friend can get into the presence of Jesus, we know he will be healed.

 

We carried him in we won’t carry him back, they has that expectation, so when they got to the place and saw there was no way in they climbed into the roof and broke open the room.

 

Now when you read it briefly like that you don’t get the real impact. Climbing to the roof from outside required an effort, carrying the heavy body of a sick man, that is an extra effort and then they broke the roof of another man’s house without his permission.

 

You know the Bible says from the day of John the Baptist the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent takes it by force.

 

Some of us wants great miracles from God and we don’t want to make an effort at all.

 

That is what I was saying concerning the congress in December, some of us want the  miracles to come to us via the television screen or video screen, they don’t want to make an effort at all.

 

We want to seat in the comfort of our sitting room and expect that you will get the same blessings as the one who made an effort.

 

Great expectation requires great efforts.

And of course you know the rest of the story; the Bible said Jesus saw their faith.

 

Faith can be seen through actions.

 

In 1 Samuel 17 v 40-48 when David, David had already boasted I am going to kill you I am going to cut off your head.

 

David, but he didn’t stand still, number one he selected smooth stones, five of them! Incidentally when you search the scriptures you will discover Goliath have four brothers who were also giant.

 

So the Holy Spirit was guiding the hand of David as he was picking the stones. So in case, Goliath should fall and the brothers should say we want to revenge there is  enough stones for each of them.

 

Our God is more than sufficient.

 

And the Bible tells me that when David saw Goliath coming, David ran to meet him.

 

Great expectation will require great effort.

 

2Corinthians 9 v 6 the farmer who has great expectation of a harvest will sow bountifully.

 

If you think the ground on which you are sowing is not going to produce much then you don’t want to waste your effort.

 

But if you know the ground is fertile then you sow in proportion to your expectation.

 

So great expectation will require one, effort on your part. Two, divine faithfulness.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight he said there is a flood coming your way not of water but of miracles.

 

1 Samuel 17 v 49 -51 David said  I will kill you, I will cut off your head, but do you know that when he said I will cut off your head he had no sword in his hands?

 

But the Almighty God provided the sword, God knows fully well that the neck of Goliath is not a small neck; an ordinary sword is not going to cut off that neck.

So God had already provided a sword big enough that big head from the neck and it is the sword of Goliath himself.

When God has seen your faith he will take over from there.

 

I assure you before the sun rises tomorrow you will sing a new song.

 

Now when ask people to pray, you can sense from the way they pray whether they are expecting something or nothing.

 

Intense thirst will produce intense prayer, intense expectation will produce intense petition, if you expect God to answer your prayer you will pray.

 

I Told some brethren in far way Malaysia earlier this year, there was a world conference on prayer and they said they have heard about what God is doing among us here.

 

So they asked me to come and talk and I told them the reason people don’t pray is because they don’t expect an answer.

 

The reason we pray is because we know he will answer.

 

How many of you really believe God will answer you tonight. He will answer you today in the mighty name of Jesus.

 

Several year ago, at about 1984 I heard about the great work God was doing in South Korea through the ministry of a young man called Doctor Youngi Cho.

 

At that time he had the biggest church in the whole world, four hundred and fifty thousand members.

 

So I went.

 

I didn’t have much money and you know how much it must have cost to go from here to South Korea.

 

I wanted to go, so I cried to God and he provided the ticket.  

 

And I listened to this man, I wanted to find out his secret; what made him so successful in ministry.

 

Of course he taught us about several things like house fellowship and other things but he kept on coming to one thing;  Prayer! Prayer!! Prayer!!!

In fact he brought a whole mountain into which they dug little, little holes where people can crawl into and pray.

 

People came from all over the world, then they took us on tours on the mountain to go and pray, after they release us to go and pray.

 

I had a lot to pray about because I was tired of laboring in vain.

 

Is anybody here tired of laboring in vain? Your failure will end tonight in Jesus name.

 

So I was in that hole and I was praying and of course I forgot myself.

 

By the time I checked myself, I discovered I have been in that hole for about two hours, I discovered that I was the only one left, because they were waiting for me, thank God am a black man because they discovered one black man was not there.

 

And they were upset with me, “why have you kept us waiting?” I said “am sorry, I thought we came here to pray”.

 

They said “yes but are you going to pray everything in one day?” You don’t know what brought me; I mean they were so upset nobody spoke to me all the way back to the hotel, which was very good because I wanted to continue with my prayer.

 

Today, you can see the result.

 

How many of you believed that the Almighty God will answer your prayers?

 

In Mark 10 v 46 – 52 when Bartimeaus heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, they asked him to shut up , he said “ you don’t need help, I need help, keep quiet and let me cry out because this is one single person who I know will solve my problem.

 

He had a great expectation and it was revealed in his prayer.

 

And so that bring us to our case study the woman with the issue of blood that I read to you in the text Mark 5 v 25-34

 

The Lord said there is someone here he said the invisible hand that is stabbing you in the chest have been removed, therefore the pain will not return.

 

Thank you father!

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said I will make your progress like that of a car going downhill; easy and fast.

 

The woman with the issue of blood, number one, had heard about Jesus, that there is a prophet in the land, He is healing the sick, He is opening blind eye, He is solving problem.

 

She had heard and Romans 10 v 17 says faith come by hearing and hearing by the world of God.

 

She had heard so faith was born in her and then she said with her mouth if I can just touch the helm of his garment I know I will be made whole.

 

Romans 10 v 10 says with the heart man believes and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

 

Matthew 12 v 34 says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

 

Like I said before your faith, your hunger will determine how you will pray. And then she made an effort, she didn’t sit down expecting Jesus Christ to come to her house, she came.

 

She came in the press behind, you put it in the modern language, she forced her way through until she touched the helm of his garment.  

 

James 2 v 17 says faith without works is dead, been alone. You have great expectation you are expecting God to do mighty for you.

 

It will require an effort and then of course God will do the rest, because as soon as he touched the helm of the garment of Jesus Christ, power flow through to her.

 

Proverbs 24 v 14 said there shall be a reward. You make an effort, the reward will come!

 

It is that passage that says your expectation shall not be cut off.  There will be a reward!  You make an effort God will respond because Hebrews11 v 6 says God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

Don’t forget the word diligent, he is a reward of those who diligent seek him. He is the one who answer the prayers of those who pray diligently, he is the one who reward the effort of those who made the effort diligently.

 

Now, what then can I expect as a child of God?

 

With faith in him, knowing full well that when he promises he will keep his promise, forever oh lord your word is settled.  Psalm 119 v 81.

 

Thank you Lord!

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight he said you have been dreaming of rain he asked me to tell you your shower of blessings will soon begin.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight; he said those who threaten to subdue you shall fail.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said you are closer to permanent victory than you can imagine

 

Daddy says it take a shout of expectation to bring down the wall of Jericho and he asked me to tell you, you praise me and see.

 

 Thank you Lord!

 

Let me hear somebody shout a really big halleluiah!

 

What can I legitimately expect as the true child of the living God? Quite a lot but I will just give you few of them based on his word.

 

Number one, I can expect healing?.

 

Because 1 Peter 2 v 24 says by his stripes you were healed. Not by his stripe you are going to be, it is by his stripe you are already healed, if he says I have already been healed.

 

I have every right to expect my healing will come.  

How do you want your healing?

I will explain.

 

I know that may stand to be a tricky question but I had gone to pray for a man before who was coughing very badly and I said sir, how can I help you?  You know what he said to me?

 

He said “man of God, I want you to pray that the cough will be going down little by little”.  Little by little!?

 

So when did you want it to vanish?  Little by little?

Do you want your healing little by little? So how do you want your healing?

 

Number two,

I have a right to expect to live the rest of my life in divine health, I can expect never to be sick again.

 

Why?

 

Based on the promise of God, Exodus 15 v 26 He says to me son/daughter, if you hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God to observe and to do all that he commands you this day, I will bring none of the disease I brought on the Egyptians upon you, for I am the lord that heals you.

 

He says if I obey him he will be my physician, I have a right to expect that for the rest of life I will not know sickness again.

 

And I am believing God for someone here tonight; though you might be sick now, before the sun rises you will be well, and for the rest of your life you will not know sickness again.

 

But how are you going to die if you don’t know sickness?

 

You don’t have to be sick to die.

 

At least I know an uncle of mine who went to church on Sunday, it was thanksgiving Sunday, he sang he danced, he had a wonderful time, went home took breakfast and the wife began to prepare launch and as they were pounding the yam he decided to go into the toilet.

 

When they finished pounding the yam they came to knock at the door of the toilet and said come out the table is set. When they open the door they found that he has gone home, that is the way to go. No ache, no pain!

 

That is the way to go.

 

My own will be slightly different; it is going to be on Sunday, I will go to church, have a wonderful service, eat pounded yam and go.

 

That is the way! I have a reason to expect divine health.

 

I pray for every one of you here today, the grace to obey God for the rest of in Jesus name. Therefore the grace to enjoy divine health for the rest of your life receives it right now in Jesus name.

 

 I have a right to expect total security, based on the word of God Isaiah 54 v 17 says no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

 

No weapon! It doesn’t matter the name of the weapon, he said when he comes to you it will no prosper. it is the word of God and I can tell you stories upon stories.

 

The very first year when we were here trying to build our little tent, the expressway then were just at the headquarters of the high way robbers.

 

So they were robbing people every day on the expressway. And because this is the only place when there was a little  light then, not now when light is everywhere.

 

People will run, on one occasion they ran to the camp they came to the carpenters and the workers. And they followed them to go and collect their loads from the car.

 

They will throw something, the tire will puncture, people will run away and the robbers will take whatever they want.

 

But the police men had arrived before my boys got there and they laid ambush, so when they saw my boys coming they thought they were the robbers and they cock their guns and the leader of the police patrol said fire!

 

And the guns refused to fire, they said it again nothing happened.

 

I decree tonight for the rest of our life no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper. I decree tonight no weapon fashion against me shall prosper.

 

Great expectations;

I have a right to expect overflowing blessings. Deuteronomy 28 v 1 -2 the Bible says again provided I will obey and hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord my God to observe and to obey and all that he commands me.

 

I have told you there is a level where God will begin to bless you so much you will begin to run and you will be saying God this is too much, God will tell you I have not even started the blessing will begin to follow and overtake you.

 

I decree tonight there be somebody here even before the end of the year, who will say father, this blessings is too much in Jesus name.

 

I have a right to expect victory without a fight.  Deuteronomy 28 v 7 says they will come against you one way, they will flee seven ways. He says God will cause those who rise up against you to be smitten before your face, you won’t do the fighting, you just wait and see the salvation of the Lord.

 

I have a right to expect a right to enjoy victory without a fight; I have a right to expect the kind of prosperity that will flow to nations. Deuteronomy 28 v 11-12 says never to bow, he said as a matter of fact you will be lending to nations.

 

And I want to thank God for all of you who are here who are supporters of this ministry.

 

You may not know it but you are already lending to nations, because by the special grace of God now The Redeem Christian of God is in more than 160 nations of the world.

 

They called us poor, they say Nigerians are poor, but by the grace of God we are taking the gospel to the world because God promised that we will learn to nation.

 

Now I want to decree to someone here tonight; very soon you will come to me and say sir, how much do we need for missionary work this year?

 

I have a right to expect that not only would I be promoted but my promotion will be permanent.  Deuteronomy 28 v 13 says clearly, you will be above only and not beneath, you will be head and not tail.

 

That is permanent promotion because it is one thing to be promoted, it is another thing to get there and stay there. But it is in the word of God that you have permanent promotion.

 

And of course I can go on and on, on several passages but as a child of God; I have absolute right to expect a mansion when I get to heaven.

 

Now take note I didn’t say if I get to heaven, I say when I get to heaven.

 

And in the mighty name of Jesus Christ I am going to be there. And I know I will see you there in Jesus name.

 

Why?

 

Because Jesus Christ said in John 14 v 1- 3 in my father’s house there are many mansions there.

 

He said if it were not so I would have told you.  He said I am going to prepare a place for you and when I have finished preparing the place, I will come for you.

 

He is coming for me again! How many of you are expecting  Jesus to come for you again? And the reason he hasn’t come yet is that he is preparing the mansion.

 

Now there are some highly educated theologians who said no, no, what is written there is not mansion, what is written there is hut. I said hut! In heaven!

 

If you want a hut you will get one, but I am going for a mansion. How many of you want a mansion? You will get your own there in Jesus name.

 

For those of you who are old members of the church I have shared with you again and again, long ago God had already showed me my own mansion; it was still being built, they have not completed it then and I have not seen it now for a while.

 

So I don’t know how big it is now, but what I saw was so big that if you stand on one end, a man at the other end will be like an ant and they were still building.

 

And that is more than thirty years ago now. And when I asked the Lord, this is where you need to pay attention, how many rooms do I need?

 

Is it not only name, He said every soul you win will have a room in your mansion? Because in heaven your convert will come and pay you visit. So those of you who are not winning souls, listen to me you may get to heaven and found that your mansion is made of only one room because there is no body coming to visit you, you have not won any soul.

 

Those of you who by the grace of God has been converted to Christ through my little effort, there is a room for you in my own mansion, when we get to heaven you are coming to pay me a visit.

 

I want you to begin to work hard for your own mansion too, every soul you win has a room in your own mansion and am looking forward to my own.

 

I don’t know how my own is going to be.

 

What I saw more than thirty years ago, is already big but at that time they were still building, that is why you find that somebody like me can’t rest.

 

We finish one program I go on to another. We finish congress, I go on to Let’s go-a-fishing.  Why don’t you seat down? I want to win more soul.

 

Those ones you’ve won are they not enough? no , I want my mansion to be bigger.

 

How many of you are expecting a mighty mansion when you get to heaven?

 

God will give you one in Jesus name, but make sure you go on winning souls like nobody’s business.

 

Between the promise of God and the manifestation of that promise, the devil would try his best to see if he can double cross you, you must not allow him!

 

And I will give you one example and it will be time to pray, that is the example of Joseph

 

In Genesis 37 v 5- 11 God showed Joseph how great he will become, God gave him a glimpse of how great he will be come because all that Joseph saw was that his brothers, his father, mother bowing down before him.

 

He didn’t know the whole world will be bowing down before him but God gave him a glimpse, then the brothers became angry, they tried to kill him they failed, they threw him into a well, the water was gone by the time he landed.

 

They sold him into slavery; it didn’t matter, they didn’t know they were selling him into the fulfillment of his destiny.

 

He became a slave and when he got to the house of the slave owner he became MD and the devil saw the way these things are going and said I better deal with this boy and set a trap for him.

 

Genesis 31v 9 -12 And the wife of the master said lie with me, sin so that  your destiny can be polluted, sin so that your destiny can be truncated, sin so that your expectation can be cut short.

 

But the young man said how can I do this things and sin against God.  There is only one person who can make my expectations come to past I will not annoy Him.

 

That is why I am making a very passionate plea to you tonight; people have asked me again and again; Sir, why do you keep on hammering holiness?

 

One reason apart from making it to heaven, no matter how big your dream maybe if you don’t annoy God the dream will come to pass. I know that one

 

All my friends call me the big dreamer.

 

I dream big, if I tell you one of my dreams, you yourself will call me the dreamer but I know that as long as by the grace of God I can keep myself pure the dreams will come to pass.

 

If you will stay away from sin, if you will keep yourself pure all your dreams will come to pass, all your expectations will become manifestations.

 

Because of the one who promise, because of his track record, because of his resources, because of his ability to perform.

 

And you know the rest of the story; they threw Joseph to prison but from the prison to the throne, because if the one who promise is faithful, if you are faithful to him, he will be faithful to you.

 

In conclusion he said in Isaiah 1 v 19 -20 he said if you are willing and you are obedient you will eat the good of the land.

 

He said but if you refuse, if you rebel, if you will not obey him, he said then don’t blame him for what will follow.

That is why I am making a special altar call tonight. Do you know that all the promises of God for you since you were born can be fulfilled before the end of this month.

 

Because God is more than able, but if you persist in your life of sin, you will hear other people testifying you will say but I was there that night, how come my own is not there that night, how come my own was not there?

 

God will tell you because of your sin.

 

So if you are here tonight and you have not yet given your life to Jesus Christ and you want to forsake the way of sin and you want to begin to live a life that will be pleasing to the Almighty God, I invite you now to come and surrender your life to Jesus Christ.

 

As you come, ask Him to be merciful unto you, ask Him to save your soul, promise Him that from now on you will do his will.

 

Tell Him to just forgive you all your sins and give you a brand new beginning.

UNSTOPPABLE GENERATION

by Pastor E.A Adeboye 15^th October 2012 06:48

Romans 8 v 31 what shall we then say to these things; If God be for us who can be against us.

When God is on your side, nobody can stop you; sickness cannot stop you, poverty cannot stop you, because Exodus 15 V 26 the great physician Himself said I am the Lord that heals you.

You cannot have God as your doctor and be stuck by sickness. Because If God be for us according to what one of my boys have already spoken; it means the word from the beginning, John 1 v 1 the one who made you John 1 v 3 can repair any part of your body.

Sickness cannot stop you.  And as I have always pointed out; not only can he repair what is wrong with you, he can give you spare part John 9 v 1-7 so if you are sick and the enemy has been telling you this sickness is going to stop you, tell the enemy he is a liar.  Sickness cannot stop you because God is on your side.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 v 24 He said by His stripes we were heal, Matthew 8 v 1 – 3 tells us that he can cure the incurable. A leper came to him, in those days leprosy was an incurable disease but just one touch from the great physician the leper became cleanse.

 In Mark 2 v 1 -12 they brought to him a man who was paralyzed from neck downward; just one word from the great physician and he was healed.

When I was preparing my little note for this sermon, I remembered an incident that happened when I was in Ilorin several years ago.

There was this brilliant young lawyer, the whole thing started a s a joke; he thought it was an ordinary headache but gradually he discovered that he couldn’t use his hands.

After some time he couldn’t use his legs, after some time the only place that remains alive in his body was his head, and everybody was saying they are just waiting for the head to die and they will bury him.

But Jesus took control and what the doctor said we just couldn’t know what to do, they don’t even know where to put injection because every where was dead.

The great Physician touched him and healed him.

Whatever it is that is in your system that the enemy has planted there to slow you down or to stop shall be uprooted tonight in Jesus name.

Am sure you many of you will remember the story of one of my sons and I think his brother even shared the testimony sometimes.

In 1983 the doctors told the parent in London; you want your boy to see his home country again? They said yes, they said take him home now because he has less than two weeks to live.

They brought him, then somebody said take him to the pastors, he will be prayed for and he will be healed. When I saw him; even my faith was shaken.

He had cancer of the jaw bone, his head has  become so  swollen that it has block the passage that go down the throat into the belly, it took him one hour to drink a bottle of Fanta because there was no way for the liquid to go down.

When I saw him, I knew only God can do this one, that was in 1983. The one they said have two weeks to live is still alive today.

Not only is he alive and well, (because they have given him all sorts of chemotherapy before they finally said we can do anything anymore. But one thing is clear, because o the chemotherapy, you can never have a child. Because of the poison that goes with chemotherapy.) Today, he is married, today he has a child.

 I am standing on the word of God to say to every fellow here today, it doesn’t matter the nature of sickness or decease, My God will give you victory over that sickness in Jesus name.

If God be for us, no demons can be against. Why because Psalm 24 v 1  said our God is the Lord of host.

I have told you before that when I first read that he is the Lord of all host I thought he is the commander of all the angels, but God opened my eyes to see that he is the commander in chief of all host; whether those in the earth or underneath the heaven.

Because Philippians 2 v 9 -10 tells us that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; of things in heaven, of things on earth, of things underneath the earth. So all hosts it doesn’t matter which host they are they must obey his voice.

Whether the demons are few like just about seven in numbers like  in Luke 8 v 1- 3 the bible told us he cast out seven demons in Mary Magdalene.

Even if they are only seven demons, they must obey him, and if they were a legion as in Mark 5 v 1-15 they must obey him, just one word and 6000 demons scattered

I stand here today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and I decree that all the demons in your father’s house, all the demon in your mother’s house, all the demons in your husband’s house, all the demons in your place of work will never be able to stop you in Jesus name.

I have seen God at work and I know if God is on your side, demon can’t stop you.

I think have shared with some of you what happened when I went to Cameroon; earlier this year. We were hurrying to a program in the evening and there was a terrible traffic jam.  

We had police escort and everything trying to clear the way for us but the road was so busy that the drivers were not even paying attention to the police and then all of a sudden out of nowhere came this mad man, and I mean he was mad.

All you have to do is just a look at him and you will know he was mad. He stood in front of my car and began to clear the way; he will beat the bonnet of your car and motion to you to move and when you see the person asking you to move you will move.

What the police man could not do, this mad man did. Within minute he has cleared the way and as he was clearing the way he was beckoning to my driver to follow, and the driver was following and when he got to the round about where the holdup ended, he came to my side of the car bow down and disappeared.

Those who were in the car with me where dumbfounded, and I said to them “I  told you my father is the commander in chief of all the hosts”. Let somebody shout hallelujah!

And it is on behalf of my father, that I am decreeing tonight that every evil force that have been trying to block your way shall be cleared out of the way tonight in Jesus name.

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; he said you will understand, he said before they can stop you, they will have to stop me first

The Lord says one day very soon, your sibling will come to you and  say change your name to Joseph.

If God be for us; witches, wizard, herbalist, whatever you want to call them they cannot stop you, why? Because Isaiah 54 v 16 tells us God said I am the maker of even those who are called wasters.

He said Herbalist; he said i made them, witches I made them, wizard; I made them. The Bible says by him were all things made and there was nothing made and there was nothing made that was not made by him.

So he went on to say in Isaiah 54 v 17 he said therefore there is no weapon formed against you that shall prosper, so let the herbalist go and gather his leaves and gather his roots and combine it together and say by this particular charm I hereby say so and so shall not reach their goal.

The Lord will tell the leaves; don’t function. He will tell the earth reduce to nothing. Ask the Elders; ask those who are old enough to tell you, they will tell you that from time to time herbalist will say our leaves had slept in the farm, meaning it have come ineffective. Every charm prepared to stop you shall become ineffective.

Number 23 v 23 says there is no enhancement against Jacob; you can’t begin to chant incantation against the child of God and expect it will work.

I think I remember one occasion when someone says he was in confrontation with secret society and they begin to chant their incantations, he said he said to them go ahead when you are tired let me know.

Because when incantations get to the real original they begin to go back into history; on a certain day Ogun went somewhere did this.

Sango went somewhere did that, he said when they have finished he said I want you to know that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory and his glory as of the only begotten son of the father.

Full of grace and truth and that word his name is JESUS and so all your incantations are swallowed by just one name JESUS.

There was a king in Ogun state, some people felt that he has been ruling for too long and that he is a Christian; he has given his life to Jesus charity, he is calling himself the son of Adeboye.

They said the best thing to do is let’s kill him. Now they tried, they went to Cotonu to bring a juju man all the way, to come and do all kind of charms , will kill the man because the cook for the king happen to come from that place, they linked up with him, who went to bring the juju man.

By the time the Juju man tried everything he knew. He confessed; Tell that your Oga that the God that he is serving let him keep on serving him, because he has reduce all my charm to nothing.

Every charm against you shall be neutralized tonight in Jesus name.

I am telling you true story, some of you probably know the king I am talking about. So they said if the Juju will not work, we know what will do the job,.

We know from our tradition, that this particular King must not see masquerade. So They knew the normal route he will take, they went and arrange for masquerade chanting their incantation and he looked at them and said you are wasting your time because greater his he that is in me than he that is in the World.

Is there anybody here who knows that he is living him him/her?

Let me hear you shout halleluiah to the Almighty God

Daddy says there is someone here tonight he said he is going to give you a complete overhaul.

Daddy says, the changes he promises have already started.  

If God is for us, curses, sins, evil covenant cannot stop us, because the bible says in Numbers 23 v 8 it says how can I curse he whom God has not cursed?

Somebody says he is touching his mouth on whatever and pronouncing a curse on you, he is wasting his time. Nobody can curse somebody that God has not cursed and the bible says in Isaiah 28 v 15 – 18 he said any evil covenant entered on your behalf will not stand, he says he will disannul all of them.

Many of us, unknown to us  when we were young we were covenanted to one demon or the other.

Many of our parents did it out of ignorant, they did it because if they do that they will be able to protect you from other demons, but the problem there is that many at times when you grow up, you can’t get free.  And what was supposed to be for Good may end up becoming for evil.

I have good news for you; every evil covenant made on your behalf is destroyed tonight in Jesus name.

Some of you may be too young to remember the story of this lady; I was visiting a church in Yaba several years ago.

Before then this lady has come to me, she was one of my student at the university of Lagos and said Daddy, I have found a young man who wants to marry me, I said congratulation, she said  No! That is where the problem is.

She said because her father told her he has covenanted her to mammy water and that if she ever gets married she will die and if she doesn’t die, on the day of marriage, mammy water will kill the boy.

She said this boy has come now, I have a feeling it is the will of God; I don’t want to say yes to him because I don’t want mammy water to kill him. 

What do I do? And I laughed, I know the one who created mammy water, I know the controller of mammy water and I prayed a simple prayer in the name of Jesus and I said forget mammy water, go ahead.

Two years later I was in a church in Yaba and this young lady came to me carrying a baby in her hand.

She said do you remember me? And I said of cause how can I forget a mammy water girl and I said where is your husband and she pointed to a very handsome young man.

Every covenant between you and any mammy water, every covenant between you and any idol, every covenant between you and any secret society, I cancel tonight in Jesus name.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said don’t be afraid, what i started I will finish.

There Lord said I will show your adversaries that you are serving the living God.

 Daddy says the same wind that opened a way in the red sea shall blow for someone here tonight.

Matthew 15 v 13, it is written every plant my father has not planted shall be rooted up; every curse shall be rooted up, every covenants shall be rooted up, every evil blockage shall be rooted in Jesus name.  

If God be for us, even the devil himself cannot stop us. Revelation 12 v 11 tells us that they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.

We already have the blood of the lamb, there is power mighty in the blood and I can assure you the devil cannot handle the blood of Jesus. And I can tell you several testimonies.

Maybe I just tell you one of them; a man belong to a secret society and the wife happens to be a Christian and then they discovered that money was missing in the house; the wives money was missing the husband’s money was missing, I mean the money just disappearing.

The husband thought it’s the wife stealing the money, and the wife was wondering if you give me money for housekeeping why are you stealing it again.

So one day they confronted each other, because they will put the money where nobody can see it.  And they kept on changing location and the money kept on disappearing.

And the sister came and said, we have a problem in our house, we will deal with it with the blood.  From now henceforth when you want to keep your money, you will say I cover you with the blood. From that day onward not a kobo got missing.

There is a power in the blood of Jesus Christ that the devil cannot tamper with, and I decree tonight in the name that is above every other name, that blood will speak for you.

He said they overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimonies.  And am happy that one of the preacher before me said one of the things you must do before you can be unstoppable is that you must be a good witness. You must be a good soul winner.

When you go through the story of Job, you will see all am saying clearly illustrated there, in Job 1 v 8-12, the devil came to God and God said have you seen Job? A wonderful fellow, he loves righteousness he ensued evil, the devil says the reason Job is serving you is because you prospered him and you build a hedge round about him.

I can’t cross that hedge unless you open it, he said give me permission and let me take all he has and he will curse you. God said go ahead but I draw a line, don’t touch his life. You know the rest of the story. Job said no problem I hope God knows what he is doing.

And the devil came back and the Lord said you see…. The devil says make him sick, God said go ahead but don’t kill him. The devil takes final instruction from God. Somebody says God allows the devil to that to job, how am I sure. … Job was a servant of God, I am not a servant I am a son. You can perform experiment with servant; you don’t perform experiment with son.

I remembered years ago when there were thieves in where we were living, we went and hired servants/guards. Our children we kept in the inner room. The word of God says he will keep me in his pavilion; he will hide me until all the problems are over.

If you are thinking that God is going to give the devil permission to torment you, think again. If you are his own child, he calls you the apple of his eyes.

He is not going to allow the devil to tamper with the apples of his eye, but the most important point is this all the time that all these things were happening, the reason why Job was able to overcome finally is found in Job 19 v 25 he said it doesn’t matter what is happening, I know my redeemer lives.

The devil cannot stop a witness; somebody who goes around witnessing.  Anyone who goes around witnessing, telling everyone Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus provides, Jesus delivers, I can guarantee you; it doesn’t matter if all the host in heaven, on earth and in hell gathered up against him, he will overcome.

He said it clearly in John 15 v 16, he said if you go and witness and the soul abide, he said if you ask anything in his name and it will be done for you. Anything includes being unstoppable.

I have Good news for those of you who are witnesses nothing will stop you in Jesus name.

Now If God be for us who can be against us? I preached a sermon on this topic several years ago, and God showed me something. ,,

The Lord says there is someone here, he asked me to tell you that I will advertise you.

He says there is someone here tonight; he said in the past when situations looked hopeless you won, he asked me to assure you that you will win again.

I preached a sermon on if God be for us who can be against us, because God showed me something. Each time I say if God for us who can be against us, everybody will say nobody.

And the Lord says read the bible, if God be for us who can be for us, the only thing there is question mark. Nobody was not written at the back of it, the reason why the question mark was there is that God is saying answer the question by yourself.  We would love to say nobody but the answer is not nobody,  if God be for you only one person can be against you and that is yourself.

If you fail to learn from history, if you fail to learn from those who have gone before you, God can be for you and you can stop yourself.

And like I was sharing with my children the youth yesterday night; In Joshua 1 v 1 – 9 the Almighty God told Joshua he said listen where Moses failed you will succeed, he said you are the one who will divide the land to them.

Moses couldn’t get to the promise land he failed, you will get to the promise land, you will divide the land to the people. He said every where the soul of your feet touched, I have given it to you.

He said all you need to do is work on it and it’s yours, he said no man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.

He said only be strong and of all good courage. Fantastic promises!

Of course Joshua was happy  and he began to go from one victory to another, from one victory to another, in fact when he came across the wall of Jericho one shout alone brought down the wall.

Then came Joshua 7 and the people of Jericho by just shouting came against a small town and they were defeated, the people of Ai pursued them and killed many of them.

So Joshua went back to God and said you told me nobody will be able to stand before me all the days of my life, all the days that is what you said. God said yes I remembered and he said because sin has entered. Some of your people have stolen what I said they shouldn’t steal. And they are keeping it in their possession and God said I am not going with you anymore unless and until that which is not yours which is pout among your stuff is removed.  

Its there in Joshua 7. The reason many people get into trouble in the past is that they read one aspect of the word of God and they ignore the other.

They claim the beautiful promises of God and they ignore the conditions, you cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abide. The bible says God forbid.

 Some of us think there are parts of the bible we can treat lightly. Beautiful ones their we love to quote; I shall be head and not tail, I shall be above only and not beneath when the enemy comes against me in one way they shall flee in seven ways, I shall live I shall not die. No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper, all these are true but they are subject to certain conditions.

Somebody once asked me, he said sir, how come you find it so easy to do the will of God? I said probably because God trained me as a mathematician or twenty seven years before bringing me into the ministry, because if there is anything that the mathematician knows, it is that if the conditions are meant, the formula will work. If all the conditions are not there, forget it.

 I don’t want to come here and teach you mathematics but those of you who are youth you will understand this one if the elders don’t; in a right angle triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides. Is that correct!

If the angle is right, if it is a right angle triangle, whether in the moon or underneath the sea, the formula holds. But if the angle is 90.001 degrees the formula breaks down, if the angle is 89.9999 degrees, the formula breaks down. The angle must be 90.

You want to be unstoppable and you are mixing the things of God with your own, you are eating his tithe, you are denying him of his first fruit, you are denying him of his offerings.

Or when you give the offerings, you are not giving him cheerfully. Conditions must be perfectly fulfilled. I am a soul winner, you win soul but you don’t follow them up. You are to win soul and make sure that the souls abide.

Do you know as a result of what you are hearing tonight, your promotion is going to be accelerated, you will realized that you are your own enemy, because if you are not stopping yourself nobody else is going to stop you.

Nobody! No witch, no wizard, none, nowhere that can stop you , and I am saying it in public and I know  there are one or two of them present in the congregation tonight. I know they can’t stop me because by the grace of God there is no quarrel between my daddy and i.

I remembered one television program watched in London, several years ago, and they were talking about witches and wizard and one white man was speaking loudly; there is nothing like witches, it is psychological.

The other white man who had been in Nigeria said I thank God you are not saying this  in Nigeria, because they will have shown you before tomorrow morning.

I know there are there, I know they are watching the television I know they are listening on the internet but they know too that When God is on your side, if you don’t stop yourself, power passes power.

Let me hear somebody shout halleluiah!

We are not denying the fact that devil can perform magic, the priests of Pharaoh threw down their rods but one serpent swallowed up another serpent

Every serpent arrayed against you shall be swallowed by the serpent of Jesus.

Only you can stop yourself if you are not obeying God, completely, if you are living a life of sin and think you can presume on God and begin to quote the bible, it doesn’t work that way.

You remembered those sons of Scavas in Act 3v13-18; they have seen God performing miracles by the hand of Paul, the handkerchief of Paul was casting out demons.

They say well we know what to do; all we need to do is to go and say in the name of Jesus. They got there and say to the madman, we conjure you in the name o f Jesus that Paul preaches, come out of him. And the devil answered and said, Jesus I know, Paul I know, he said but who are you?

I remembered some years ago, we went to sat out a demon out of one fellow.

As soon as we entered, the demon in the fellow began to laugh he said Adeboye I can understand your case, you want to talk home, we shall see.

He said but look at this fellow; he had sex with another man’s wife last night and he wants to cast me out. I was embarrassed, I told the fellow you better run because by the time we say demon come out, he will say no problem, I will come out of this one and just into the other one.

I want to appeal to you tonight, brethren, let’s make a new resolution. We will serve God 100% if we reach that decision, nothing will stop us from now on.

But if you are not going to serve him 100%, go all the way with the devil. Let the devil treat you as well as well he can here on earth. Give you wealth, give you this, and give you that. Prepare you as a ram for the slaughter.

But don’t put one leg in the world and put one leg in God. God said in Revelation 3v 15-16 he said if you want to be cold, be cold, and if you want to be hot be hot. But if you are lukewarm, he said I will spill you out of his mouth.

Judges 15 v 18-21 the bible said Samson said Samson said I will get up as before, I will go out as before.

The Bible said he didn’t know God has departed from him. You cannot disobey God and expect him to support you. Tonight, many of you may say but I have this problem, I have prayed but I have not received reply. As yourself, in what areas am I still disobeying God?

Put your ways right and you are back in business. When Joshua heard that there is something in the camp that should not be there, he said God what do you want me to do?

God said you remove it and I will go along with you. And they located the man who stole God’s money, who stole God’s raiment and they brought him out with his family wiped them out of the camp and the Almighty God said now those people who thought they defeated you let’s go and wipe out those who thought they have defeated you.

Do you know if you restituted your way, everything you have lost, you will regain? Half a word is enough for the wise!

The Christian Home-Principles That Wreck The Home Part 3

by Gbile Akanni 12^th October 2012 09:28

While we thank God for bringing you our way today again, we want to continue our series of studies on the Christian home. And you will remember that we began to look at the variance between the Genesis chapter 2 and Genesis chapter 3 marriage. We were trying to see what are the principles that the devil introduced into the family that normally turns it into a wreck, what are the principles that disturb the Christian family, what are the quiet issues that turn husband and wife against each other and what are those things that undermine the purpose of God in our families. We have dealt with these in the past few weeks and today we would like to conclude by still looking at Genesis chapter 3. We are trusting that the Spirit of God will bring His Word across to you in a definite way today in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

I want you to turn your Bibles quickly to Genesis chapter 3. We have studied extensively from verse 1 up to verse 13. I now want you to go quickly to verse 16 and we will read it up to verse 20. I am trusting that God will cause His will to become accomplished in your life.

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Let's stop there. May the Lord bless the reading of His word into our hearts in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen. While we were looking at the interruption of Satan in Genesis chapter 2 marriage, we have discovered several issues which we have discussed in the past week. But today, I want us to see something else which is yet another very, very serious principle that turns the family upside down and that does not allow the will of God come to pass.

Now, you will discover that when God came down and was discussing with Adam and the Woman the Lord placed a curse on the serpent, He placed also a curse on the Woman and the Man. We may not be able to deal extensively with each of the curses but I just want us to see the effect that the curse on the woman and the curse on the man has brought unto the Christian family. As I look at that, my prayer is that God Himself will open your eyes to see the principle that we shall be looking at. The Bible says

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Now you will agree with me that the theme of this Bible verse is not something pleasant neither is it something that people really enjoy; it is not something you cling unto especially when you come to know the Lord Jesus and you begin to believe God. You remember the Bible verse that says “Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law for it is written: 'Cursed is he that hangeth upon a tree.' ” Gal. 3:13 (KJV). And so you find several enlightened Christians, enlightened believers, those that are born again and have started to know their rights, the rights of redemption; there are several women who have gone to claim liberty and deliverance from this particular curse, especially the curse of sorrow in conception, the curse of sorrow and difficulty in child-birth. And so we have several sisters by the grace of God who have believed God by His word, who believe that when Jesus went on the cross, part of the thing that Jesus took to the cross is this particular curse on our lives. If we look at 1Timothy chapter 4, God again spoke about the deliverance-in-birth for the woman: I want you to look at 1 Timothy, No it is not chapter 4 but chapter 2 and verse 15.

1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

So we find that it is possible for God to bring deliverance and for this particular curse to be reversed. But there is a part of that curse that most of us didn't realize as a curse; and whether we realized it or not, we don't want to let it go as a curse and yet much of the matter we will look at this week is affecting the Christian home. I would like to quickly highlight it as much as I can within the time that I have.

Gen 3:16 ... and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Now these two last statements are part of the curse in that verse 16 for if it was a blessing I would have expected that as all the preceding issues in the verse have been “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children..” - …then I would have expected that the conjunction used there should have been “but…thy desire shall be to thine husband and he shall rule over you!” But I discovered that the conjunction used was “and…” “and…” “and…” It is an addition to the curse!

What exactly am I talking about here? Now you will discover that in Genesis chapter 2 where marriage was instituted, that particular clause was not introduced i.e. that the desire of the woman shall be always to her husband! I would like to quickly point to you here that this particular aspect is the trouble in the flesh: it is the quiet problem that has come upon several families and in fact unto all homes, all women - that their desire, their expectation, their hope, their trust shall be to their husband rather than to the Lord.

So most of the time you will discover that a woman's expectation, a woman's desire, a woman's hope, a woman's trust, most of the time is laid on her husband. And that is the quiet thing that causes women to complain and to put a lot of pressure on their husbands. The reason is because they have decided to put all their expectations, all their hopes, all their trust in this man rather than in the Lord. It is also the basic reason why a woman's understanding, why a woman's attitude is usually blocked and unproductive when her husband is not forthcoming. But you see in Genesis chapter 2 marriage, the will of God was that the woman will have a relationship with God, the man will have a relationship with God. That the woman will have a direct link with the Lord, casting all her desires, cares and problems on the Lord and trusting God to provide and to supply and to bring solution to those problems. If God now decided to use her own husband to resolve the issue, that is OK. But God might as well decide to use something else or someone else or some other situation to solve that problem because she has learnt to cry to Him about it!
But because of this particular curse most women rather than crying to the Lord, rather than casting the burdens in their lives to the Lord, rather than going to the Lord for themselves, they cast their cares, they cast their problems, they cast their expectation upon the man! I will now say at this point – No man is able to totally meet the expectation of another human! Your husband as wonderful as he is, is a man! There are several issues that even if he wanted to help he cannot! He does not have the ability, he does not have the capacity. Yet many times you never remember that if God does not listen, if God does not intervene, if God does not help him, there is nothing your husband can do to help you. Nothing!

Many times as a woman instead of you to carry the burden in your home, the problem in your city, the problem with the people to the Lord, I see what you normally would do as a woman – you are waiting for your husband, you are expecting that your husband should do something about it. And when your husband is not able to stand up, you get offended, you become disappointed, you think that he doesn't care enough. You say, “This man doesn't understand anything, this man is not responsible!”

While I am saying this I am not relieving responsibility from the life of the husband – I will be dealing with the (grueling) responsibility of the husband by the grace of God in the next few weeks of discussion on this broadcast when we shall focus on the role and the responsibility of the husband. I will be dealing with that.

But the Bible says “Woe unto him that puts his trust in man! Woe unto him that makes the arm of flesh his support!” Jer. 17:5a paraphrased. Even if that flesh is your husband; even if that thing you put your hope upon is your husband – it will always block the blessings of God from coming into your life! It will always make things difficult as far as God's provision for your life is concerned. Just sit down and think about what I am saying here! Many of you sisters - before you got married to your husband - you knew how to pray, you knew how to depend on God, you knew how to work by faith; any little problem, you knew how to go to God. And you prayed and saw result!

But what has happened? Immediately you got married, something tells you that your husband is there, your husband is the one to handle all of that, so instead of you going to God and getting solution for your problem what are you doing? You are packing those problems, you are heaping those problems upon your husband. And when he is not able to rise to do it, what do you do? You blame him. You get offended! You get disturbed and you say “why did you marry me if you know you cannot do this thing, if you know you cannot solve these problems?” When there is no money in the house I see many of you quarreling with your husband!

Friends I want to tell you that the first place to cast your cares is not on your husband, it is on the Lord! On the LORD!!

Now this particular curse on the side of the woman… God said “And your desires shall be to your husband...” that was what brother Paul was referring to in the book of 1Corinthians chapter 7. I want you to look at I Corinthians and verses 27 to 28 as much as the Lord is helping us now.

1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Now, why did he say “such shall have trouble in the flesh.” I want you to continue with me to verses 32-34.

1Co 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

1Co 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

1Co 7:34 And there is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. She that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Now I want you to note what brother Paul was bringing out here. You discover that if this particular proposition was supposed to have been in the beginning, you would have discovered that marriage would have been not a help for a man who wants to serve the Lord, a man who wants to walk with the Lord, a man who wanted to obey the Lord. This is not what God intended from the beginning. The picture we see painted in this I Corinthians 7 scripture is not what God intended in the beginning. That is not what God intended in the beginning! Here in the scripture before us, Brother Paul was referring to the problem that came in Genesis chapter 3. Because when your desire is focused on a man, when your expectation is focused on a man, there is no way that man can go on without struggling with how to please you, with how to meet your desire and how to meet all the expectation you are putting upon his life. He cannot serve the Lord without distraction! He cannot focus upon what the Lord wants him to do!!

And in the same manner, the same problem comes upon the woman, the Bible said

1Co 7:34 ...She that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Does that mean then that marriage was meant to be a distraction from being in holiness and from keeping our spirits in the presence of God? I want to say that is not true. But then the issue is that the principle that came in Gen chapter 3 verse 15...when you are not delivered from it, when God has not opened your eyes to realize that this man you are even worrying about, this man that you are fighting with...please what are you expecting him to do? What are you expecting him to do? I will imagine that maybe you are sick, though you could have prayed and said 'God, I want you to remove this sickness from my life.' What did you do as a wife? You decided to keep that sickness until your husband returns! You just wanted him to come and see it, you just wanted him to come and touch it; you wanted to see how he will behave, what will be his reaction? Will he run around? Will he say that he really, really loves you? But I want to say to you: the purpose for which God brought you to that relationship was not to cast your cares upon the man! God wanted you to cast your cares on Him the Lord Himself! But supposing the Lord now decided as you are asking 'Lord send me help' and He decided to send that help to you through your husband: it would be wonderful. If it's another person that the Lord used, it will not be a problem! But I can see several wives quarreling with their husbands today; it's not as if nobody cares for you, it's not as if God did not send somebody to support you but because that person was not your husband you are taking it against your husband!

There are wives right now who are quarreling with their husband simply because when something happened, the man did not arrive on time! But God sent people who helped you. God sent people who supported you! I can hear you say “but that isn’t my husband, why did I marry him, if he knows he cannot be responsible why is he calling himself a husband?” I want to tell you: That is a curse! It is that same curse that is making you not to look unto God!

For you to have a correct marriage you must develop your ability to look unto God! Live beyond your husband! There are many things you want your husband to do, he cannot do it except God will use him! So I will advise that instead of depending on your husband, instead of blaming your husband, you should kneel down and cry out to the Lord - that God may help your husband to do a work or to help your life, or to show you the kind of concern that you needed! And God may well choose another person to do so as it pleases Him.

That is the first thing to do!

Now look at that same thing in verse 16.

Gen 3:16 …and he shall rule over you

It is a curse, it is not a blessing for a man to rule over his wife! It is a curse – and not a blessing - for a man to always shout on his wife before the woman will see the point her husband is raising and give her obedience! It is a curse for a man to have to flex his muscle and be driving his wife up and down. No! No! it is not a blessing!. It is also a distraction on the part of the man. God said “I will make him a help” but you see when what is supposed to be a help in your life is reduced to what you needed to help you can understand what I am talking about. When what is supposed to alleviate part of your problem, part of your suffering, you have to now struggle to keep it in line, struggle to make it understand you, struggle to make it to follow you; you are always looking back and wondering 'Is this woman with me now, is this woman following me now? Is this woman understanding me now? Is she agreeing with me now?' It's a curse on your life.
I see many husband boasting and bluffing to their wife saying “I am your husband here!” That is not what God said you should do and I want to tell you that it is a curse!! The way that God would have wanted marriage to run in Genesis Chapter 2 was that each one of them was to receive from the Lord – they were to receive directly from God. How beautiful it would be! I am trusting God that as I come back on this matter looking at the role and the principles that govern Genesis Chapter 2 marriage, we will begin to realize that it is so wonderful, if the Lord is the Commander in your Home, if Jesus is the Head of your house!

Whatever you wanted your husband to do, can you tell the Lord? Whatever you want your wife to do, can you report to the Lord and see how God will rule her for you? Can you rule your wife through the Lord? Can you influence your husband through the Lord? That is the kind of thing we are saying.

But that verse puts a curse upon the woman. And what is that curse: 'To your husband shall your desire be and he shall rule over you.' Gen. 3: 16b paraphrased

I want us to move a little further to verse 20 and that is where I hope we can conclude our discussion today.

Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

What are you seeing there?

Now, do you remember that in chapter 2 verse 23 he called his wife “Woman because she was taken out of Man”?? So why the change of name right now? Why this change of name? We are discovering that when sin came unto the life of the man and sin came unto the life of the woman, even their marriage changed; their understanding of each other has changed right now. The principle of their relationship has already changed. Look at it

Gen 3:20 And the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Now let's take it slowly, I pray that God will grant you understanding here.

'...And he called his wife's name Eve instead of woman.' In chapter 2 of Genesis he called her name Woman because she was taken out of Man. Now! The reason she changed her name here has also changed and he says '...because she was the mother of all living.' I want to call that conditional love! The Principle of conditional love is a very terrible principle that wrecks the Christian family. In Genesis chapter 2 we saw that the woman was accepted not because of what she did, not because of what she produced or how beautiful she looked or not! The woman was accepted because she was taken out of man. The man said to the woman “that is my bone - that is the flesh of my flesh!” She is woman because she was taken out of me, it is not because she is doing anything! You see, the logic is my hand is my hand because...Yes! you guessed it...it is my hand! I don't say this is my hand because it is useful. I don't say this my leg is good because it is carrying me up and down! Even if it did not carry me (because it is injured) and its making me to sit down in one place, it is still my leg. I will cherish it, I will still protect it! I will still carry it up and down and nourish it! But in Genesis 3, even the relationship changed.

Gen 3:20 And the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

It is as if, if she did not produce any child she is not my wife! It is as though her name depends on what she can produce, her position depends on what she can bring forth, her place in Adam's heart depends on her level of productivity!!! Here now, you discover the bible is pointing at the principle that has destroyed many homes.

My friend, have you shifted your love from your wife because she is barren? Are you beginning now to chase other girls because your wife has not produced any baby? There are some of you that your wife has even produced children but because she only produced girls you are saying “No! No! No! How can I be having girls only? I will need to have a boy somewhere else” And that is why you are chasing other women! I want you to repent today. That was the principle that was introduced in Genesis chapter 3: “and he called the woman's name Eve because she was the mother of all living.”

I would like to stop here and I will leave you with some of these principles that wreck the home. I want you to pray right now. Have you cast your cares upon your wife or upon your husband? Are you depending solely on your husband as the source of your comfort? then woe is near you as you will never go far! Even though that man is your husband, God never asked you to cast your cares upon him! God said “Cast all your cares upon Me for I care for you.” That's what the Word of God says! 1 Peter 5:7(paraphrased).

As we bow here to pray with you, as we bear you to the presence of God, you may not know that it is because your expectation is put upon your husband, that is why you will never be satisfied. Only God can satisfy you! Only the Lord can meet your needs! Instead of blaming your husband why don't you cry to the Lord the Manufacturer of marriage, He can make a change! Instead of weeping upon your husband or on your wife and saying 'If you don't do this I will show you something' did you tell the Lord? Did you cast your cares upon the Lord?

Now, has your love for your wife become a conditional love? If she is doing well, then she is your wife? If she is looking beautiful then she is your wife?? If she has children then she is honourable?? What of when all those things are not there, you say “How can I have her?”

I want you to bow down, your life has to be corrected before the Lord today. Your expectation must turn back to the Lord as we pray right now.

God bless you.

Prayer: Our Father we want to thank You, thank You because Lord You have spoken Your counsel. We want to ask You O God for many of our listeners: Lord! they never have realised, O God, that putting all their cares and problems on their partners for support neither did they know that ruling their wives was a cursed affair! Today O God we want to ask that as many as are coming to you for help; help their lives now.

We bless You O God because we know you will do this for we have prayed in Jesus Name. Amen.

THE UNSTOPPABLE GENERATION

by PASTOR PETER AMENKHEIMAN - STAGO Youth Affairs 3^rd October 2012 09:49

A generation simply refers to all of the people who were born at approximately the same time,considered as a group, and especially when considered as having shared interestsand attitudes.

 

From scriptures, each generation of people is associated with a particular trait or attitude that differentiate them from other generations. There is the Evil generation ( Deut 1:35; Luke 11:29); the Crooked generation ( Deut 32:5); the Forward generation( Deut 32:20); the Stubborn and Rebellious generation ( Psalm 78:8); the Adulterous generation ( Matt 12;39); the Wicked  generation (Matt 12:45), the Perverse generation ( Matt 17:17, Luke 9:41) the Sinful generation ( Mark 9:19); the God seeking generation (Psalm 24:6) and the Unstoppable generation otherwise known as the Joshua generation ( Joshua 1: 1-5) also known as the Chosen generation ( 1 Peter2:9).

After the death of Moses, God raised up a new generation of army led by Joshua who could not be stopped or withstood by any man or force on their way to fulfilling their God given mandate or mission. They are referred to as the Joshua generation or the Unstoppable generation. River Jordan and the wall of Jericho could not stop them. Not even the sin at Ai could stop them. When the sin was revealed, they repented, restituted and repositioned themdelsves for greater exploit. The youths of this generation are charged with the same mandate in going to the ends of the earth in promoting, propagating and propelling the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ wherever they operate. They are destined to go, grow and glow for Christ where ever they operate from.

We are the youth of this generation. Satan will not stop us; sin will not stop us.

 

We are of the generation of believers who cannot be stopped by any man or force in our quest to do the will and work of God, in the way of God in this end time era. Indeed the whole earth will quake and tremble before this Unstoppable generation of youths according to Joel 2:1-10.

YOU CAN BE A PART OF THIS Unstoppable genration of youths by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and participate in the task Of; Exalting The Saviour, Evangelising The Sinner and Equipping The Saint, for the purpose of possessing the land which the Lord has given us.

The Christian Home-Principles That Wreck The Home Part 2

by Gbile Akanni 25^th September 2012 03:01

 

Once again I want to thank God for this privilege to come your way with the Living Seed broadcast. As this program comes your way we are praying that God will use it to build you up and establish you in the path of righteousness.

I would like you to keep praying along as we go into the Word of God today. We also want you to pray and trust God to use these messages to bless your family members, friends and neighbours as you share this broadcast with them. We trust that as the Lord visits you, you will be willing to share with us what God is teaching you in the course of this program. Just send us an e-mail, our address is postmaster@livingseed.org

As we started (in the last broadcast) and we looked at Genesis 3 marriage we saw the principle that wrecks the Christian Home, the principle that introduced trouble into the family, the principle that makes your wife or your husband a trouble in your flesh.

What are these principles? … God did not intend marriage to be troublesome as it has become today. God does not intend marriage to become a stumbling block to our lives. God did not intend it that way! We want to see the principles that turned marriage into what it has generally become today.

Now, I started reading with you from the book of Genesis Chapter 3 last week and I want to draw your attention to the same Scripture but rather than read from verse 1 I would like to read from verse 9 (and I would read it) to verse 20 trusting God to help us to draw your attention to these principles. We also trust God that as we finish this broadcast the Spirit of God will enlighten you much more. This week we shall take all our Scripture readings from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thouart, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

May God bless His Word to us in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Again as we look at the principle of the “Genesis 3 marriage” or the Principle that wrecks the Christian home, I am praying that the Holy Spirit will grant us understanding. I want you to determine in your heart to do whatever the Holy Spirit says to you today so that the devil may cease to have an inroad into your family life: I pray that God will help you to take a definite step of repentance and a definite step of correction. If you need to confess to your spouse - to your wife or to your husband - do not hesitate to do so for I believe God wants to bless you and change your situation as a family. If your husband is not around and you are listening, I want you not to listen for your husband! Listen for yourself and ask God to correct your own life: God will arrest your husband as he sees a change in your own life! (And vice-versa)

Now let’s go quickly to that Genesis chapter 3 that we just read.

We ended last week by talking about the “Principle of open-eye”: open-eye that brings confusion into the family, open-eye that brings argument, that brings struggle, that brings competition. “Open-eye” that makes a person never to submit to his spouse. This week I would like us to continue in that discussion so that we might see more underlying principles that wreck the Christian home. Please follow me to verse 9

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

You see when God asked him “Where art thou” all God was expecting Adam to say was simply to explain where he was, what has happened to him and why he was away from God’s presence! The essence of the question God asked Adam was: “Where are you standing now? What is your current relationship with Me?” But look at the way the man answered

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

I want you to please, quickly as you are reading the Scripture along with me, find out the number of times “I” was used in just verse 10 alone! You will discover that all through Chapter 2 where the Genesis Chapter 2 marriage thrived, it is very very interesting that there was not a single “I” in that (chapter of) Scripture! The only “I” you will find in Chapter 2 was the “I” that referred to God Almighty. In Genesis Chapter 2 marriage it may surprise you to discover that “I” is not prominent; “I” (self, ego: personal ego, personal identity) had no place there, actually the “I” in verse 18 of Genesis 2 was only referring to God. Only the I AM THAT I AM could boast and say “I-am the One, -I- will do it: I will make a help-mate that is uniquely fitting for him.” There was no other place where -I- was mentioned (in chapter 2)! The only (other) place where something close to the personal article “I” was used was in verse 23 where the man said “This now is the bone of bones and the flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she is taken out of man!” You will discover that there was no “I” prominent there; all that was there was the use of “I” in an objective sense - when “I” becomes an object.

But in Chapter 3 you will discover that as soon as the devil interrupted the life of mankind and as soon as the devil interrupted that family, even though the devil seemed to have gone, he left something behind which has become the problem of every man; the problem of every man I say, the problem of every family, the problem of every Christian!! What is this problem? It is the problem of “I”, “Mr. Self”

Look at that Scripture again

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

You can see that in one Bible verse alone there was reference to “I” four times! Just in one Bible verse. If we go on from that point, you will find that it is from here that “I”, “I”, “I”, “I” started otherwise from Genesis chapter 1 to chapter 2 “I” was never used for any man apart from God!

Now, what am I trying to say to you about the next principle that wrecks the Christian home? That principle is the principle of Mr “I”: self-ego, self-identity, self-assertion, self-propaganda, self-promotion. The Principle of “Self” is another principle that wrecks the Christian home!

I want you to look at it now, he said “I” heard your voice. If you look at the letter “I” itself, there is nothing that can be joined to it!! Whenever anybody is talking about “I”, “mine”, “mine”, “I”, “I”, we immediately see the principle of selfishness at work. “I” does not remember any other person! If anything is going on, “I” has to be satisfied first before any other person!!!

If you look at what has disturbed homes today, it is that question of “I”: my own first! My own comfort! My own security! My own family! My own father! My own mother! That is the basic reason why many husbands are keeping double standard, why many wives are not allowing their husbands to know how much money is kept in their bank accounts! There are many wives listening to me now: you have bought a plot of land in your own name and your husband didn’t know about it! Why did you do that? It is the principle of “I” at work: I must have my own, I don’t want anybody to cheat me, I don’t want to be taken for granted, I don’t want people to think that I am just perching upon my husband’s properties - I want to have my own, I want my name to be written on it. … ‘Buy my own car for me so that I will know it is my own!’

You see in Genesis 2 marriage there was no single mention of this “I”, they were not living for “self”! They were not doing self-defence! They were not doing self-satisfaction! It was not “self” that was the motivating factor in their relationship!!! But in Genesis chapter 3, we instantly discovered that “I” became prominent: “I heard your voice in the garden…” You would ask, “what about the wife?” Adam was not concerned! You will soon see what he was concerned with. Adam was not going to give account for the woman, as far as he was concerned; if his own life was kept, if his own life was protected, if he could get all he wanted, everything will be alright!

If some of you listening to me will think very deeply, is it not this principle of self that is disturbing your family? Do you see how you are defending yourself all the time? Do you notice how you would rather get satisfied at the expense of your wife? Do you see how you are always, always, pampering yourself; excusing your own shortcomings while you criticise your partner? The principle of “self”, selfishness has hindered several homes and has ruined several families!! God wanted your home to have achieved and accomplished a purpose, but “self” has robbed you.

I must tell you today, except you leave “self” behind, except that “self” is crucified on the cross there is no way your home can really break-forth into the program of God! It is “self” that will not allow you to give. It is “self” that will not allow you to love your wife as yourself. It is “self” that will not allow you serve in your home. It is “self” that makes many wives react to their husband and say to themselves “why is he talking to me like that? what does he have that I dont have? am I not a contributor financially to all that happens in this house?”

“Self” cannot accept blame! “Self” cannot submit to another person! “Self” cannot agree to come under - if “self” is not on top then it mustmanipulate itself to be on equal platform. “Self” is the force behind all argument in the family, it is the thing that makes a woman to fold up and say to her husband “except you beg me and say sorry to me, I am through with this marriage!” And the husband says to himself “if you say sorry to this woman now, she will take you for granted.” The same principle of self hardens your heart and makes you say to her “if you want to pack, do so!” And I want to say to you my friend, what does it cost you to say sorry? If you say sorry now, will it be written on your face that you said sorry? You stand to lose nothing but to gain much by placating your wife and being reasonable to build your marriage!!! “Self” never allows you to reason clearly enough to think of the eternal consequences of your stubbornness and of your action.

So the first principle I am dealing with today that wrecks the Christian home is the principle of Self. You can see it in this Scripture

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Now in verse 11

Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Now if you want to follow that Scripture very, very carefully and strictly, can you suggest the right and the correct answer to that question? The question is “who told you that you were naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” What should have been the right answer? The answer should have been “Yes I ate!” God did not ask: “Who gave you to eat?” The simple question is “Have you eaten?” The answer should have been “Yes I ate: I ate!”

Now look at the Bible, instead of the man to say “Yes I ate,” the principle of self would not allow him accept blame! The principle of self does not accept blame: most of the time when you do something wrong, instead of you to say ‘sorry I did it,’ the thing you do is to quickly find a reason and find somebody to blame! Your husband comes from work and asks ‘is my food ready please?’ Instead of you to say ‘sorry I was late, something happened that has caused the food not to be ready’…No! No! No! what comes out of your mouth is “how can you be asking whether your food is ready or not? when I was asking you for money before you left what did you do? did you answer me? don’t ask me questions! I am not a cook and even if I was I am not going to cook with my ordinary hand!!” You see instead of “self” to humble himself and keep quiet and submit, “self” will keep making excuses! Let’s see what I am talking about here in verse 12

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Would you look at that? The question God asked was “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” There was no question like “Who gave it to you?” The question is simple “Have you eaten?” The last statement in verse 12 quoted above would have been the right answer: “Yes, I did: Yes I did eat.” ..But No! “Self” can never, never accept his own blame. “Self” would rather shift blame: and that is the next principle that destroys homes. I call the next Principle that destroys homes – “Shifting the Blame”: finding someone else to blame.

The Bible said

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

I will linger on this verse a while so that you can see what I am saying: the woman which thou gavest to be with me, SHE not ME! She not myself… “So please if you want to blame anybody it is the woman which thou gavest to be with me, she gave me to eat. She gave me to eat… she gave me of the tree and I did eat: do not blame me at all: you should know who to blame.” Now let me quickly analyse that Scripture: the way he was reporting you would think that the woman was not by his side! You would think that his wife was far from him and was (like) 100km from him. You can see what I am talking about; the principle of distance! The principle of separation. Right there and then the man began to separate himself and to exonerate himself from the problem and left the woman to fare for herself!! Look at the man talking about his wife as “the woman which thou gavest to be with me!” Instead of saying “my wife.” He said: “No! No! No! The woman...” Do you know the meaning of that? It means Adam had already withdrawn himself! The principle of self-withdrawal.
These are principles that wreck the home!

I can see many in my audience today - when a little problem comes to you and your wife, instead of you to stand together, that problem causes you to separate. It is then you start pointing fingers and say “this my husband is the person that caused this … I? I didn’t do anything to bring this about!” I have met wives that when something goes wrong that is when they say “It was my husband!” You start to report him to his peers at work, and even to his bosses: you start criticising him. Some husbands will say “It is my wife, that is how she causes confusion for me here.”

Now the Bible says

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

If you compared chapter 2 with chapter 3 you would see something else, it may look small and insignificant but it is very, very serious! It is a big principle that wrecks the home and I would like to point it to you. You will see that in chapter 2 verse 23 Adam said “This is now bone of my bones and the flesh of my flesh.” Can you see the preposition he used there? He used “of”! Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. He was saying this is part of me, this is part and parcel of me. Compare chapter 3 and you will see that he has carefully removed the woman as part of himself and has carefully withdrawn himself from being a part of that situation! Consider what he says now,

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me,

Hear him saying “the woman which you gave to be with me!” She is only with me: we are not together! She is not part of me: she is herself and I am myself!! The Principle of separation! The Principle of individualism, these are principles that wreck the Christian home.

Let me quickly draw your attention to something here also. He said “she… She gavest me of the food of the tree and I ate.” When God confronted the woman and said to her “Woman, what is this thing that you have done?” Instead of saying “Sorry, I did it,” the woman also would never accept the blame! She said “the serpent beguiled me and I did eat, so if you want to blame anyone it is the serpent!” Can you see what happens in many families? When anything goes wrong, nobody wants to accept the blame! They always push the blame on each other.

These are principles that wreck the home! These are principles that will not allow you to enjoy your home!

And what are you supposed to do about it today? You are supposed to look at “self” in your life and begin to pray about it. The reason why you and your husband are quarrelling is that you cannot afford to keep quiet: as soon as your husband begins to talk, the “self” in you says “Why is he blaming me? if I keep quiet now he will think I don’t know what I am doing, he will imagine that I am foolish!” Almost every human being I have seen have this issue! What I see with them is that they keep defending themselves, they keep fighting for themselves and keep defending their name! They keep explaining and explaining. I must tell you, explanation will not save your home. Even if you win an argument you may still lose your home! Instead of you to say “Sorry..” and embrace your wife and embrace your husband, you keep arguing! That will not solve the problem!

Again as we round up today looking at the Principle that wrecks the home in Genesis Chapter 3, I want you to understand what I am saying. By the time I come next week I will round up on these principles and will introduce you to what principle we need to guide our families if we would experience the peace and joy of the Genesis chapter 2 marriage. Bow your heart now and just surrender to the Lord. “Self” has wrecked you in many areas, it has not allowed you to enjoy your Christian life, it is now the controller of your home.

Bow your head and say Lord, deliver me from my-self and the Holy Spirit will perform a miracle today.

Bow down as we pray for you.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we just ask You - that “self” that has destroyed several homes, several lives, several people, God we ask that You will touch our hearts so that we will let our “self” go. That this “self” might be put on the Cross where it should be crushed that we may follow You.
Lord whereas “self” has destroyed so many we are praying for these ones which are penitent on their knees and are praying, saying “Lord deliver me from this “self” May you do so today in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A GLORIOUS GENERATION (September Holy Ghost Service Message)

by Pastor E.A Adeboye 17^th September 2012 05:08

 

Tonight we want to talk about the glorious generation Luke 1 v 13 – 17

 But the Angel said unto him, “fear not Zachariah, for thy prayer is heard (God will hear the prayer of somebody today) and thy wife Elizabeth shall bare thee a son, and thy shall call his name John. And thou shall have joy and gladness.

 And many shall rejoice at his birth for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall return to the Lord their God.

 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the heart of the father to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 Glorious generation, what is the meaning of glory? The word glory is difficult to define, except you define it by finding out what it is not. So we will turn to the book of Proverbs 3 v 35 where the bible says the wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Since fools happen to be the opposite of the wise, then shame is the opposite of glory. That is why I am believing God for everyone of you here tonight, anything call shame shall become a stranger to you.

 Glory is the opposite of shame. The ingredients of shame, those things that combine one way or the other to produce shame could be; bondage, curses, reproach, failure, defeat and so on and so forth. So the ingredients of glory therefore will be things like anointing, blessings, honor, success, victory etc. All these are ingredients of glory.

 And when you go through the scriptures you will find a certain a generation, when we talk about a generation we are talking about a group of people having the same characteristic. When you go through the scripture you will find shameful children, like Cain; the original murderer, children like Esau; who sold his birth right just for a plate of food, children like Gehazi; who had an opportunity to become the most powerful prophet in history but decided to exchange that for a little bit of money, children like Judas Iscariot; who for a thirty piece of silver he trade his Lord, they form a generation, they belong to one group.

 That is why you don’t find people naming there children; Cain, or Esau or Gehazi who happens to be the father of all lepers or Judas Iscariot, people don’t like those names.

 But when you go through the scripture you will also find another generation, a glorious generations; and you will begin to hear names like Isaac, Joseph, Samson, Samuel, John.

 

And you find if you mention those names, if I just say is anybody here who is Isaac?  You will find many hands.  Why? Because this are a glorious generation.

 These children, who are in the glorious generation section, have certain characteristics in common, they are all anointed, they all blessed, they are successful, they are all vessels unto honor in the hands of God, they are all victorious.

 But they also have one thing in common; all of them where born by parents who had to wait, their parents were originally considered barren before God opened there wombs and out came this glorious generation.

 

So I have good news for those of you who are here tonight, trusting God for the fruit of the womb.  Out of your womb will come a glorious generation.

 

Let me take some of the characteristics so that you will know what to expect, the children that are going to be born to you, are not going to be ordinary children, they are going to be special, they are going to be a glorious generation.

 

Every child in the glorious generation group is anointed; take Joseph Genesis 37 v 5 -11 you will find that even when he was young, he was already receiving divine revelations; fantastic dreams of greatness that is almost beyond human comprehension.

 

But by the time you get to Genesis 40 v 5 - 22… you will discover that he wasn’t just receiving generation for himself he could even interpret the dreams of others. And by the time you get to Genesis 41 v 25 -38 even Pharaoh an Idol worshipping kings said “can we find a man like this; in whom there is the spirit of the Holy God”. Joseph was anointed.

 

Take Samson as another example, Judges 13 v 2-5 tells us that he was even anointed from the mother’s womb that before he was born at all the anointing of God was already on him, he was so anointed that when Lion came his way, he tore it into two. In Judges 15 v 14-16 when the enemy came trying to destroy, the anointing on him was so mighty he was able to destroy a thousand of them.

 

Or shall we talk about Samuel; still talking about anointed children, we found in 1Samuel 10 v 1 we found that only was Samuel anointed, he was so anointed  that he could anointing a king. Anyone he pours oil upon became a king; in fact he was so anointed that his dress carries tremendous power.

 

1 Samuel 15 v 25- 29, he turned to go and the king took his dress and the dress torn and he said because you tore my dress, your kingdom is torn away from you. That is the kind of anointing!

 

 So the kind of children you are to expect from this meeting tonight will be highly anointed children.

 

The children in the glorious generation are blessed children; take Joseph for example in Genesis 39 v 2 -3 the Bible tells us that whatever he touched prospers.

 

He was so bless that when he came into a house, blessing came into that house.

 

I want to prophesy to those of you who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb, the baby you are going to bring forth less than one year from now, will bring tremendous blessings to your family.

 

Or shall we take Isaac, another one of the glorious generation, in Genesis 22 v 15-18 God said I swear, concerning you Abraham I will bless you, but concerning Isaac; I will multiply him, that is the only place in the scripture you will find swearing, in other words he is saying this blessing will never be reversed.

 

The children that will come out of tonight session will be irreversible blessed in Jesus name.

 

 Thank you Lord!

 

The Lord says there is a woman here tonight, he said I have spoken to your womb, and it will obey me.

 

The children in this generation are vessels unto honor in the hand of God, not a single one of these children in the glorious generation was a useless child.

 

You know there are people who come into this world; they come, they eat, they go to work, they die and that’s all.  After they are gone nobody remember them.  But some people come into the world and they change the world for the better.

 

Every child that will be born as a result of tonight’s meeting will be a world changer in Jesus name.

 

Take Joseph for example in Genesis 50 v 19 -20 he said God use me to preserve the world.  At a time when the world as at that time would have perished, God raised up a young man called Joseph who brought preservation to a whole group of people, his family own as well as the whole world.

 

What about Samuel in 1 Samuel 23 v 19-21 the Bible said because of Samuel God began to appear again in Shiloh, there was a restoration of the presence of God, there was revival.

 

I am prophesying tonight, that among the children that will be born as a result of tonight’s gathering will be world evangelist in Jesus name.

 

What about John the Baptist, in John 1 v 19 -23 he described himself as a voice in the wilderness calling on people to prepare the way of the Lord and to make his way straight.  A voice!

 

Am believing God for all  of you who are here today that out of your womb will be boys and girls that will be voice to the whole world.

 

All the children in the glorious generation were successful, not a single failure among them.  Isaac in Genesis 26 v 12 -14 was so successful he became the envy of a whole nation. 

 

The whole nation envied him! Joseph, in Genesis 41 v 39-44 became the Prime minister of Egypt. Pharaoh said behold I am pharaoh, only in the throne will I be greater than you, apart from that nobody will be able to do anything without your permission. That is success!

 

The Lord asks me to tell someone here to shout the biggest halleluiah! You have ever shouted,

the Lord says that mouth has just shouted  halleluiah to Him, Will soon be filled with praise and laughter.

 

In Matthew 11 v 11 we find that John the Baptist

 

The Lord ask me to assure all of you who are here tonight, he said none of the children conceived this month will be retarded.

 

In Matthew 11 v 11 the Lord Jesus Christ testified concerning John the Baptist and said of all the children born of a woman in the Old Testament, he said there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist.

 

 I decree to all of you who are here tonight, that your children will be great, they will be greater than you, and they will be number one among their own generation.

 

The Lord ask me to tell you the choir, he said he enjoyed your ministration tonight.

 

But then there is a section of these children born in this glorious generation and that is very important and that is the fact that they are all victorious.

 

This so important because it will bring encouragement to all of us because every child that is born in this glorious generation is victorious one way or the other.

 

There are victorious over hopelessness, for example in Genesis 18 v 9-14 when God said to Abraham, that Sarah was going to have a son in nine month, Sarah laughed because she thought the situation was hopeless, but the Almighty God who could have said alright because you laughed I cancelled what I have said, did not change his mind, he says you can laugh as much as you like, Isaac will be born.

 

All of you who consider your situation hopeless, I have good news for you today, in the name that is above every other names, your Isaac will be born.

 

There is no hopeless case with God, none at all. Jeremiah 32 v 37 says behold I am the God of all flesh, is anything too hard for me?

 

The Lord says the fellow that he is talking to will understand, he says that yoke is broken tonight.

 

In Genesis 37 v 1 – 10 the Bible tells us that the Almighty God cause dry bone to live again, it wasn’t just dead bodies it was dry bones and the bible says they were very dry and yet the Almighty God caused hi servant to prophecy and the dry bones came back to live again. The God who can make dry bone live again can take care of your situation, because even if they say your womb is already dried at least it is not yet dead, and even if they say it is dead.

 

There is someone who has the power of the resurrection, and that power is going to work for you tonight in Jesus name.

 

Daddy asks me to tell his people tonight, I will reverse the irreversible.

 

Even if we stop at this stage and we go home, I believe the job is already done.

 

The children of this glorious generation are children who overcame doubt, when their parents doubted, God gave hem victory over the doubt.

 

When the man of God spoke in 2 king 4 v 8 -17 to the Shunamite woman and said you are going to have a son The woman said  man of God don’t deceive me, it is too late, but the Almighty God said well whether you doubted me or not, I will do what I will do. 

 

We are not belittling the part of faith, the bible says the just shall live by faith, four times God repeated himself in the bible, ‘the just shall live by faith’ but the same God said in Isaiah 43 v 13 he said I will walk who will let, in order word, I will work who will hinder me? The Almighty God said when I have decided to do something, who are you to stop me?

 

Every force that may be whispering to you now saying that you are not going to have your own children, the Lord will silence them tonight.  

 

The Bible says clearly in Psalm 33 v 8-9, let the whole earth fear before the Lord, because he spoke and it is done. If God speaks, it doesn’t matter who is doubting, the word of the Lord shall come to past. In Psalm 33 v 11 the Bible says the counsel of the Lord shall stand.

 

I remember the testimony of one of my sons, he came with his wife he says Daddy pray for us, we are trusting God for the fruit of the womb, that was several years ago. I said what do you want the sex of the child to be?

 

He looked at me and said “I asked you to pray for us, you have not even prayed you are asking” I said what sex do you want? Then he said “ok a boy”. So I said get ready for a boy.

 

When he was sharing his testimony he said he left disappointed, because he had thought we will shake and jump up a little bit before the prayer can be answered.

 

I prophecy to someone here tonight, In the name that is above every other name, whatever sex you want, girl or boy or a set of twins even if you want a triplet receive now in Jesus name.

 

Children in the glorious generation are victors over doubt; they are also victors over mockers, in Genesis 21 v 1 – 6 Sarah told us that there must have been some people mocking her, who would have thought that Sarah would bear a child that is why she called the name of the children laughter.

 

There are many of us who have been mocked in the past, but Psalm 115 v 1 – 3 tells us clearly that there might be people who will say where is your God?  But then God will tell them I am in heaven and I do as I please.

 

Everyone who has been asking where is your God, before one year from this moment, they will gather to celebrate with you in Jesus name.

 

The Lord said there is a woman here; he said the man who has been molesting in your dream will never return.

 

Daddy says there is a man here tonight, he asked me to tell you, your potency shall be fully restored.

Thank you father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said by this time next year, you will already be in the club of the fruitful.

 

The Lord said there is someone one here tonight, he said those who deserted you will return to bless you.

 

Glorious generation, a generation on victors, victorious over enemy known and unknown, many at times when people find themselves in this kind of situation that they have to wait a long time before fruitfulness, it is usually because of  an enemy; it could be as a result of an enemy within, it could be an enemy without.

 

There could be an enemy within, cooperating with an enemy without as you find in the case of Samson in judges 15 v 11- 14.  It is the relatives of Samson that handed him over to the Philistine before the Almighty God moved in.

 

I have told you several stories before, I have told you the story of a woman, but for the sake of those of you who are new just to encourage you that it doesn’t even matter that if the enemy is within, God will take care of that also.

 

If the enemy is without, God will take care of that also.

 

Some of you will remember the story of a woman; she got married and she was happy, then one day the mother in law came from the market with a loaf of bread and gave it to the young wife and said eat this and use it  and use it to block your womb.

 

The lady said what kind of joke is this, but innocently she took the bread and eat. And from that day onward, she ceases to menstruate.

 

Until one day the Almighty God decided to send us to a particular town to hold a program, and she heard that we were coming so she began to fast, that at least that particular program will bring an end to her problem.

 

The day we were to arrive, she slept in the afternoon and had a dream. In the dream she saw some people dressed like doctors, they came in they laid her on a table operated her, opened her belly and began to pull out a rope, she saw them pulling out a rope and at the end of the rope there was something like a loaf of bread black and they put that thing with the rope in a basin, sowed her back and left. And then she woke up! When she woke up, she woke up trembling but them she noticed that the bed was wet with blood that she was menstruating again.

 

Whatever the enemy has planted in you that is causing your delay shall be uprooted tonight in Jesus name.

 

Am sure you know the rest of the story, soon after she became pregnant. The last time I heard from her, if I remember correctly, she already had five children..

 

Whatever the enemy has stolen from you shall be fully restored tonight in Jesus name.

 

But now let me spend some time talking to the parent, the parents of the glorious generation, they too have certain characteristics that we need to mention, for example take Abraham, the father of Isaac

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said a bright light is going to shine into your home this month.

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said the word excellent will be frequently used to describe you and yours.

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said before the end of this year, you will sing;

Glory, glory, halleluiah! Glory, glory praise the Lord,

Glory, glory halleluiah! Glory, glory praise the Lord.

That is settled in Jesus name.

 

Genesis 15 v 3-6 tells us that when God told Abraham that he was going to be the father of many nations, he believed God.

 

The father of the one, who is going to be part of the Glorious generation, must be a man of faith. What about the wife who is going to produce this child that will be in the glorious generation, Genesis 18 v 12 the bible shows us clearly that Sarah calls Abraham my Lord.

 

 Submissive wife! the wife who honored her husband, to the extent that she called him my Lord, still reading the same Genesis 18 v 1 – 14 the brother who took the offering this evening, mentioned something along this line.

 

Those who will be parent of this glorious generation must be feeders of God. Those who feed God, now you may think that means those who give offerings, that might be true but it goes deeper than that, God is not interested in pounded yam, he is not interested in rice or any other food.  

 

His food is to win souls. To do the will of Him that sent me and to finish his work. To win the world to him, that is the meat he wants.

 

 Anyone who is going to be a parent of a glorious generation must be a soul winner, take my word for it. And so if you really mean business that you want to be part of the people who will produce this glorious generation from this moment onward you will take soul wining as a matter of life and death because it is.

 

What are the characteristic of those who will bring forth this glorious generation: I Samuel 1 v 1-3 the Bible tells us clearly that Elkanah the father of Samuel was a worshipper of God, a committed worshipper of God. 

 

The father of one of these children must be a commited worshipper of God.

 

I have observed many times that when it comes to worshipping God women are in the fore front, may the Almighty God bless the women.

 

You can watch us on the altar here, when the music is going on and things are wonderfully going on, you will see the women standing up to dance.

 

Maybe the men thought that because I am not standing up is a sign to them that they should seat down but they are making a mistake, because the reason why I remain seated is because I am going to stand for a long time.

 

And many times whether you believe it or not, when I have to come and preach because of several days of fasting, travelling from my seat the altar here takes a lot of strength and energy.  It is only that as soon as I get here power comes.

 

So I seat down reserving the little energy that I have left, so that I have enough energy to work from my seat to the altar, I know once I get to the altar the rest is settled.  

 

I remembered what God said tonight, he said “he was pleased with the choirs tonight”.

 

I am sure he was also pleased with those who joined them in worshipping him, that one is clear.  So I want to encourage you brothers, from now on don’t let the women beat us, lets beat them, we can dance, can’t we? Let the men shout hallelujah!

 

Elkanah was a committed worshipper of God; don’t forget God says he is seeking for worshipper.

 

He said God is a spirit they that worship Him, shall worship Him in truth and in Spirit, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.

 

Don’t tell me; we are men, we are big so big men should dance gently.

 

Why don’t you ask David, he was king, he danced until his belly came out of his garment, and that is why the Almighty God said David I promise you there will always be someone from your family on the throne, just because he praised God.  Let’s begin to take worshipping God seriously.

 

And then in 1 Samuel 1 v 12 -13 look at Hannah, the mother of Samuel, while the husband was a committed worshipper, Hannah was a prayer warrior.

 

Hannah could pray, she prayed so much that even the priest noticed her. When we read these things in the Bible, many at times we don’t get the full impact because we don’t know the details. When people go to Shiloh it is like when people come to our convention.

 

In Shiloh in those days, the whole nation will gather in one place to worship God, I imagine one person praying in that great crowd and the man of God noticed her. Imagine someone praying in this crowd that the General Overseer would notice her that must have been some serious prayer.

 

Hannah was a prayer warrior, tonight we are going to have an opportunity to pray, when that time comes I beseech all of us let us pray like we have never prayed before, because even a dead person can feel the presence of God.

 

 God is here tonight, do you believe that? Let me hear your amen loud and clear!

 

Who is going to be a parent of a child that will belong to the glorious generation? he must be a covenant keeper.

 

In 1 Samuel 1 v 9- 11, Hannah promised God; she said give me a son and I will give him back to you.  In 1samuel 1 v 24-28 she fulfilled her vow, she didn’t say well I have only this one, maybe when I he gives me one I will give   him. So let me keep this one, she fulfilled her vow. Covenant keepers!

 

In Psalm 51 v 15 David said open thou my lips and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. I will want to encourage all of us who are  trusting God for one breakthrough or the other, this time am not just talking to those trusting God for the fruit of the womb, let us make this night a covenant night.

 

A night when we say to the Almighty God and say you solve this problem in my life, the world will hear. You do this for me, I will tell everyone, and then make sure you keep your own side of the covenant because our God is a covenant keeping God.

 

Finally, those who will produce children that will belong to the glorious generation must be pure, they must be holy, and they must be blameless. Luke 1 v 5 -6 the Bible tells us concerning Zachariah and Elizabeth he said in all things they were blameless.

 

I have said it before and I keep on repeating it, if you want a miracle and you still don’t want to live holy, then what you want is not a miracle, what you want is  magic.

 

Go to the devil the devil can give you magic. But if you want a miracle from a  Holy God you must be prepared to live holy, he said you cannot expect to live in sin and expect grace to abound, God forbid.

 

You cannot be committing adultery and expect the Almighty God to answer your prayer for the fruit of the womb.

 

How many times will I tell you the story of the one who said she wanted a child, she came and we prayed and she came back and said nothing happened? I said what’s happening? you prayed and nothing happened?

 

And God said ask her how many boyfriends has she bedside the husband and she said six. Only six! One husband 6 boyfriend, if God were to answer her prayer how would we know who is the father?

 

Anyone who wants a miracle from God must be willing to live holy. When we talk about fruitfulness, we are not just talking about the fruit of the womb, we can be talk about fruitfulness in your place of work, we can be talking about fruitfulness in your business, we can be talk about fruitfulness in your ministry, fruitiness in several areas.

 

Fruitfulness in Academic; it is one thing to study, is it another thing to pass, I have been a student before so I know; I know it is possible to be a very good student and study very hard  and get to the examination hall and blank out.

 

 I know because it has happened to me before, I have never been a poor student by any standard, I remember one occasion clearly, I had study very hard and I know the subject.

 

I got to the examination hall, it was eight questions answer any five, I read the first , the second, the third, the eight and there is not a single one I could recognize, I was about to pick up my answer sheet and walk out of the hall, when something said to me seat down.

 

And I wasn’t even born again then, but God who knew the future decided to be merciful unto me. Seat down and I sat down. I just sat down there, then suddenly i read the question again, I said I know this one, I remember clearly I was to answer five question, I answered all eight and I wrote at the top, mark any five.

 

It is possible to be barren academically; it is possible to be fruitful academically. You can be fruitful in several areas of your life but you require holiness, when it is time to pray and we are crying to God, God make me fruitful, don’t think that prayer applies to those who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb.

 

There are areas of your life too where you can be fruitful and am praying to God that this night will be the beginning of fruitfulness for all of us in Jesus name.

 

If you are here tonight and you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus and you want to do so, you want to say bye, bye to a life of sin, so that the Almighty God can give you a new beginning. So that your prayer can begin to receive instant answers come quickly.

 

Come and give your life to Jesus Christ, he will save your soul, he will wash away your sins, he will give you a new beginning and then your prayers will begin to go unhindered. All the years you have been leaving in sin, what is the result? What can you show for it?

 

Come let Jesus save your soul and give you a new beginning.

 

His blood Cleanses from all sins, it doesn’t matter how many sins you have committed in the past, when you come to him; surrender to him, his blood will wash away every sin.

 

That is what the word of God says, no matter how you have been in the past, there is still power mighty in his blood.

The Christian Home-Principles That Wreck The Home Part 1

by Gbile Akanni 13^th September 2012 07:00

We want to praise the Lord for this opportunity God is granting us again to relate with you on this program. We are trusting God that as we come your way from week to week that the Spirit of God will continue to create a cumulative effect of His will in your life as you listen to the Scriptures. We are trusting also that you will become responsible as you listen to these messages, that the Spirit of God will use you, both in your own life and in your community to reflect the glory of God. Our desire is that whichever place you are coming from, whichever denomination you belong to, whatever be your affiliation in life that Jesus might be formed in you and you yourself might become a blessing to several others. In this way we are trusting that as you listen to today’s message you will pray along, you will open up your heart and ask God to teach you. There is a reason why you are listening to us today: may that reason and the purpose of God for bringing you to His Word today come to pass in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

We have been on this program for some weeks now and we thank God that the Holy Spirit is still moving us to look at the Christian Home. By the time we were ending last week, I began to introduce you to an interruption that wrecked, that destroyed and that changed the pattern of the family in Genesis Chapter 3. Therefore almost all marriages (in fact every marriage) can either fall in Genesis 2 pattern or in Genesis 3 pattern. For the vast majority of us, what we grew up to know as marriage is the Genesis Chapter 3 kind of marriage.

So today I will be dealing with the Genesis 3 marriage under the title: “The Principle that wrecks and frustrates the Christian Home.” This is the issue I would like to draw your attention to as we study the Scriptures. It is the Genesis 3 interruption that brings about the issues of divorce, the issues of struggles, the issues of what Paul called “trouble in the flesh” as we are going to see in several Scriptures as we go along in our study in this series.

To begin our study, I would like you to look again at Genesis chapter 2 and we shall read verses 24 and 25 and then continue to Genesis chapter 3 verses 1, 6, 7, and verses 9 to 20.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thouart, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

May God bless His word to our hearts in Jesus Name.

While we were signing off last week and the last edition of this program, we noted that the Genesis 2 marriage had a beauty, we saw what God wanted: we saw that the man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall be one flesh. We saw that God’s eternal purpose is that the husband and wife is to cleave, is to hold tightly together so that nothing comes in between them and that they are no more two but have become one; they no longer live separate, they no longer think separate, they no longer plan separate - they are one: they are willing to embrace each other and there is no difference between them. They were one flesh. They have cleaved! The weakness of the husband has been made up by the strength of the wife and the lack in the wife has been supplied by the husband.

The Bible said “And they were both naked, the man and his wife and were not ashamed.” The husband was naked, the wife was naked - they were both open, they were both relaxed, there was nothing in between them, there was no problem and no reason to be ashamed. None of them looked at the other one and said ‘So you are like this, unh, if I knew you were like this I would not have married you.’ There was nothing like that! They were living together, they were both naked - the husband and the wife - and they were not ashamed!!!

I want you to note that in Genesis chapter 2 the wife was called woman and the simple reason is because she is taken out of man. I believe that God can bring each one of you listening to this message into the kind of Genesis chapter 2 relationship where there is nothing you don’t know about your wife and there is nothing you are hiding from your husband! Everything is open and everyone is naked: it is not as if the husband is insisting for the wife to bring all her salary yet he is hiding his own salary. There was nothing like that! The two of them were both naked, they were one flesh: nothing in between, nothing to separate them! They were together and were rejoicing, there was total and complete acceptance between these two people. They were living together in the presence of God.

And do you know what happened? God’s presence was with them, every evening at the cool of the day, God came to fellowship with them, God came to share with them. They were always having a good communion with God. T-h-i-s is what Genesis 2 marriage was supposed to have done in our lives. We were supposed to have lived together in total openness, complete nakedness and total acceptance of each other and yet in the presence of God, having communion together with God, relating with God, and getting to fulfill the call of God and the purpose of God in our lives as a family; rejoicing and you know going hand in hand as one flesh, planning together, living together; facing life together not differently not separately - having a common friend! They were one flesh. That was what the Bible said.

But you see the Scripture in Genesis chapter 3 verse 1 introduces a stranger. That is the beginning of the Genesis chapter 3 type of marriage which we want to deal with now. Let’s look at Genesis chapter 3

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

It looks to me as if every-time God is about bringing men unto a joyful relationship, unto a fulfilling married life - the serpent more subtle … comes in. I would like you to know what the Bible said about him: “he was more subtle than any beast in the field.” Which means the devil is never straight forward: he will never come and attack your home directly as the devil!!! He comes in a subtle manner, he comes with a cunningness that you will never suspect.

It is this cunningness that has spoilt many homes, it is this interruption of Satan that has turned the husband against the wife, people that used to live together, discuss things together, share things together now cannot see eye to eye. Some of you listening to me have separated your bedrooms: you used to sleep in the same bedroom before but now Madam sleeps in one room and you the man of the house sleep in a different room. And what is the matter? What are you doing that now your wife has become a disturbance to you? What exactly is the problem? What is now in your wife’s life that you can no longer tolerate her, that you are saying ‘Keep to your room please and if you want to see me you have to take permission.’ Things are as bad as that in some Christian families.

I want to say to you: maybe you should take note that the serpent, that enemy of yours had already eroded your family life. You will notice that Adam was not around when the devil came in, Adam was out when the devil was interrogating his wife! The devil is always looking for an opportunity to come in when your partner is absent. The devil sometime has interrupted your family with a strange woman when your wife went out of town on a training course. Do you remember what I am talking about? That it was when your wife went to a University for one Diploma course for just one year and before she returned things have changed! Some have slept with their house girls, some brought in even the close friend of their wife and have slept with them, some have committed terrible atrocities that if those things were known, the earth itself would not be able to bear it. Some have gone into all kinds of mischievous things in the absence of their partner. For some others, it was when your husband travelled that some of your relatives came in and poisoned your mind. The serpent! I want you to note that his activities must not escape your perception if you want to fulfill the purpose of God for your marriage.

As we continue to look at Principles that wrecked the home, let me show you something. Adam was not around when Eve was tempted. Adam was away when Eve was tempted! I don’t know what happened, I don’t know why Eve stayed back. I am not preempting or presuming anything but I just want to say to you that if the devil must not have a space in your relationship, you and your partner must learn to go together, you must learn to walk together, you must learn to relate together. I have seen so many couples - the husband is living in Lagos and the wife is living in Kaduna; I don’t know how serious your business is that will make you and your wife separate yourselves over a period of time thereby giving the devil an opportunity for the devil to poke his nose into your home. I want to note here that it was when Adam was away that the devil came in. Some of you may not know that the thing that wrecked your home is this separation, this business that you keep going up and down for.

Madam! I don’t understand why you have left your home and you left your husband for three months, four months, five months! When you return he behaves to you like a stranger and you keep wondering what has turned the heart of your husband? I must tell you it is the serpent!.He always looks for a loop-hole, he always looks for a problem! I want you to watch it! If your home will not be destroyed I want you to take note how the devil will want to sneak in when your partner is absent. There are times that in discussion with someone outside your marriage that person says (to you) ‘Excuse me please there is something I want to say to you, I don’t want your wife to hear about it.’ A person that says such is an example of agents of the serpent; they are very subtle. What is it that someone is saying to you that your wife cannot hear? Don’t you think the serpent is crawling around when that is the case? What could anyone say to you that your wife cannot hear about? Such a person wants to split your life!

The serpent is more subtle than any other beast in the field! I want you to know that the devil is much more subtle and wiser in his own conceit than any creature. Don’t give him a chance, otherwise your marriage that is joyful today may enter into the Genesis chapter 3 type without your knowing it. Let me say something to you: you will notice it in Genesis chapter 2 verse 25

Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Right at the end of that chapter we didn’t hear anything again, the whole place was quiet. The next chapter we saw was chapter 3 when the man was away, the devil came in. There is no stage at which the devil cannot interrupt a marriage! Are you hearing me? Some people have been married for 10 years before the devil started coming in. Some people were married for 25 years before the devil started coming in. Some people have even given their first daughters in marriage yet the devil came in to scatter their marital relationships.

Why is this? It is because at any point in your life the serpent can always come in.

I want us to move on because it looks to me today that the first Principle you must mark carefully if you will not let your home spoil is the “Principle of the serpent-lurking-around,” the serpent who looks for the absence of your partner, who looks for a loop-hole, who looks for a time when your spouse is not around to create misunderstanding!

Let’s quickly see the next principle that destroys the home; I want to be chronological as I study Genesis 3 with you. When the woman disobeyed God and sin entered into the life of the man and the woman, there was no way the marriage could hold together. I need to say this to you now: Genesis 2 marriage is only based on the fact that God is relating with the man and God is relating with the woman! When your relationship breaks down with God as a man, it must affect your marriage. Are you listening to me? When the relationship of the woman with God breaks down, her marriage will be affected.

There are some of you listening to me; maybe because your husband is so loving and you are enjoying him that is why you are compromising your personal walk with God and you compromise your personal quiet time when you listen to God and God ministers to you, you are cutting it for your husband and your relationship: I want to say to you that you are destroying the basis for the sustenance of this home that God is raising for you. The basis of any Christian Home is a working and a functional relationship of each partner with God!When this breaks down because of sin, marriage also cannot survive. If you want your home to stand well, as we are looking at Genesis 3 you must avoid disobedience to the word of God and you must also avoid the problem of sin.

When your husband is not walking with God let me tell you there is no way he can work well with you. When your wife is no longer obedient to the word of God there is no way she can be submissive to you. The major issue you have to watch in your relationship as husband and wife is that each one of you must remain in constant communion and in an unbroken relationship with the Lord Jesus in your life. Every day, every evening there must be communion between you and God.

Mark that something happened in this Scripture: the woman broke her relationship with God, the husband also broke her relationship with God. Therefore their marriage also broke down!

Let’s quickly look at something else in verse 7, hope you are following me. The Bible says in Genesis 3: 7 if you have your Bible please turn to it quickly.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

That really touched my mind because in verse 25 of Genesis chapter 2 the Bible says “And they were both naked, the man and his wife and they were not ashamed.”

But then in verse 7 of Genesis 3 the Bible says “the eyes of them were both opened and they knew that they were naked, they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apron.” There are few things that are touching my mind as I draw your attention to some more issues : the Bible says the eyes of them both were opened. The next principle that destroys and wrecks the Christian home is what I would call the Principle of open-eye: open-eye will not allow you to relate together: open-eye (personal wisdom) will not allow you and your wife to be together. As your husband is talking I hear you also saying “Do you think I don’t know what I am doing? Do you think I am a foolish woman? Do you think I am just here for nothing? I know what I am doing please, don’t tell me that!” Before your husband has said one thing, you have said two; before your wife can explain anything you will stop her and say “Keep quiet please, don’t tell me what I should do, don’t advice me, you can’t be controlling me; my eyes are also open, I know what you are doing, I know where you are going and I also know what I am going to do to you!”

Open-eye!!!

This principle of open-eye will always break a home. Madam! it is your open-eye that will not allow you to have a stable home. Some of you are listening to me today, open-eye is not allowing God to bless you, it is not allowing you to submit to your husband. Open-eye is not allowing you to trust your wife again. Open-eye: Open-eye of civilisation. Open-eye of association of so many women outside; many of you now come back from your many ventures outside and say you are now civilised because you have gone to meet those women that have no home, that have no husband, that have married two, three, four, five husbands! Right now such women have nowhere they call home, right now some of them their lives have scattered and they are planning how to scatter yours! Such people are the ones that tell you “How can you allow a man (or a woman) to be riding you around like a horse!”

I want to say to you, one of the subtle principles that destroy the Christian home is this principle of open-eye. I told you before that the Christian home that God is setting up for us is not competitive, it is not a ground for fighting and rivalry. It is not a matter of “Whatever my husband knows I must know it.” No! That is not the issue. The issue is that you are brought in to complement each other, you are brought in to support and stand by one another, that as the two of you fit into each other’s lives, things will turn around and God will bless you. God will cause your life to break forth in the way God wanted it to be!

It looks very clear that (in this episode) I may not be able to complete these Principles of Genesis chapter 3 marriage: Principles that wreck the Christian home, Principles that bring trouble into the Christian family.

(Albeit) I would like to yet draw your attention unto these issues - that God wanted your home to be trouble-free, God wants to bless you but look at these principles I am talking about: Satan is seeking an opportunity to come-in in the absence of your partner. The devil is seeking an opportunity to sow a wrong seed into your heart in the absence of your partner. Sometime it is some wrong news that the devil will bring into your heart about your partner, some other time it is some kind of incursion that the devil will bring into your life in the absence of your partner.

As I stop here, I want you to look into your life: Is there any of these principles I have been able to deal with today that is dealing with your family in a wrong manner? Is there any of these Principles that you have allowed namely the Principle of separation (both the separation from intimacy with God in your personal life and the separation of your minds from each other as husbands and wives) that allowed the devil to come in?

I want you to bow your heart now. I believe that your home is not beyond repairs, God can turn things around but these principles that God is revealing to you, you must take note of them and repent of them. You must surrender them to the Lord and let us see what God will do with your life.

Bow your head as I pray with you right now.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I just want to present each of our listeners to you especially those that are crying to you personally, they have noticed this Principle destroys the Christian family and they have noticed how it came into their lives subtly: may You touch their hearts to confess it to You; to repent rather than criticise one another, and to confess one to another so that You the Lord may come in and heal them. Those of them that have broken their relationship with you and are no more walking with You and no more relating to You, sin has broken their lives in Your presence. God I ask as they repent, step back into their lives, restore them to Yourself from today. Thank you for hearing this prayer, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen

Come Up Higher by Pastor E. A. Adeboye: Full Text of message preached at the 60th Annual Convention of the RCCG.

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 22^nd August 2012 07:59

 

John 5 v 2 -9 “Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a  pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda,  having five porches, in this lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered  waiting for the move of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water and whoever then first after stirring up the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.

 

A man was there who had been ill for thirty eight years, when Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, he said to him, do you wish to get well? The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me” Jesus said to him “get up, pick up your pallet and walk” immediately the man became well and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.”

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said on order to prove to you that he is the Lord of host; he said he will use your enemies to promote you.

 

The Lord says there is some one here tonight, he said you have many ambitions, very great ambitions but because of the way things have gone, it look as if they will never be fulfilled, the Lord asked me to tell you, leave that to me.

 

The Lord asked me to tell you, today will mark the beginning of days to you.

 

There was this man who was lying down helpless, waiting for the angel to come. The angel has come 38 times and this man has got nothing out of it because somebody smarter, quicker had robbed him of his success.

 

But one day unexpectedly, his jubilee came because Jesus walked to him looked at him where he was on the ground and said “come up Higher” and immediately the man who had been lying down helpless, jumped up completely whole.

 

Somebody is going higher today in Jesus name.

 

One of the preachers who had preached before me, he made some very important points that I thought maybe he spied my notes, only I know there is no way he could have done that.

 

He said come up higher could be either of two things, it could be an invitation; like Jesus said come ye to me all ye that laboured and are heavily laden. And I will give you rest, or it could be a command. Come up higher, just like God said let there be light and there was light, he went further to say that the one who is going to ask you to come up higher, must be somewhere at least higher than you and today God is the one who is calling us to come higher and we all know that according to Psalm 91 v 1 the one who is calling us to come higher is called the most high. Ecclesiastes 5 v 8 calls him the one who is higher than the highest, so the one who is inviting us to come up higher surely is higher than all of us.

 

Not only that the One who is inviting you to come up higher must have the ability to help you climb. In case you want to come higher but you cannot do so, he must have the ability to help you come.

 

Because when Jesus said to this man, get up , take your bed and walk. The Bible says immediately he was made whole and the fellow, who is asking you to come up higher, must have the power to deal with those forces trying to hold you down.

 

I want to thank God for all the testimonies we have heard tonight, I have heard testimonies in my life, I heard some tonight, I heard some yesterday, I heard of a pregnancy that came after six month and the baby is hundred percent normal as if not premature.

 

I have heard of a testimony now of a couple that the husband said you ask how many baby do you want, and she said let’s ask for three and the husband says I agree, and they brought the triplet to show us.

 

I have heard the testimony now of bullet passing through the front of the dress and coming out of the back of the dress and leaving the body alone. I have seen that one.

 

I’m saying that to say the God who is calling you to come up higher, he is the one who said in Jeremiah 32 v 27 he said behold I am the God of all flesh, is anything too hard for me?

 

So I am believing God that God who has called you to come up higher, will help you to reach the top in Jesus name.

 

Of course Jesus said to that man come up higher and the man says I am not interested that he wants to remain on the ground, he would have remained on the ground, so if you are going to come up higher, you must be willing to come up higher, you must obey the one who commands you to come up higher because the word of God says in Isaiah 1 v 19 he said if you are willing and obedient then you shall eat the good of the land.

 

When God calls you to come up higher, you must have faith in the God who is calling you to come up higher because Heb 11 v 6 says without faith it is impossible to please God.  And mark 9 v 23 says if you can only believe, all things are possible to him that believes.

 

When God calls you to come up higher, you must make the necessary efforts to go higher. Even if all the efforts you are going to make are prayers, you must pray a determined prayer, until you find yourself on top.

I’m believing God for all of you who are listening to me tonight; before the sun rises you will be higher.

 

Everybody knows that life is in levels. There are all manners of level, for example there is the level of the poor, there is the level of the comfortable, there is the level of the rich, there is the level of the wealthy, there is the level of the prosperous, there is the level of the flourishing.

I don’t know which level you are today but in the name that is above every other name, levels will change tonight.

 

Let’s look at the story of this man; Jesus stood by him. The Great physician, the One who has never been sick, the One who does not know sickness said to this man “come up higher” come out of sickness!

I want to appeal to you tonight, that you put yourself in the same position as this man, because if you listen to me carefully when I was reading the story to you. The name of the man was not mentioned, in other words, the man could be you, so God is saying to you tonight, come out of sickness.

Is there any one here that is sick tonight, in the name that is above every other name, you will come out of sickness in Jesus name.

 

Now there are levels when we are talking about health, there is the level of the sick, there is the level of those who have been healed, there is the level of those who are healthy, that some people don’t even know what is called headache, and then there is the level of those who if they touch you at all you will be healed; they have the healing touch.

 

They are not just healthy; they carry the healing virtue. So even if you are not sick and you are healthy, you can go higher, you can get to that level, where whoever you shake hand will receive healing.

 

We just finished our America convention and one of the testimonies there, was that last year, some people came for prayers and because they were many, I just prayed for all of them, and they moved out, after I have prayed for them, I got up to go elsewhere, as I was walking by, the spirit just directed me to one man and I greeted him and shook hands with him and I left, I didn’t know his problem, but he came with cancer.

 

I shook hand with him he returned this year to come and give his testimony that the cancer disappear.

 

I pray for all of you who are listening to me, that sickness, that disease, that the doctor says it’s incurable, next month you will testify that your sickness disappeared.

 

So there is the level of the healing touch, and then there is the level of the healing handkerchiefs Act 19 v 11-12 tells us that from the body of Paul, handkerchiefs and Apron were taking to the sick and they were healed and the devil departed from them, that’s a level. You can move to that level. And then of course there is the level of the healing voice. You just speak the word and healing takes place.

 

How many testimonies to that effect, I can tell you many but I want you to be the next one to testify.

 

That in the name that is above every other names, even as you are hearing me now, be healed in Jesus name.

 

And then you can move from the healing voice to the healing shadow Act 5 v 14 – 16 tells us that the shadow of Peter was healing the sick, that is a level. You can move from the sick to the healed, to the healthy, to the one with the healing touch, to the one with the healing handkerchief, to the one to the healing voice, to the one with the healing shadow. Which level do you want?  Because God is calling you to come up higher.

 

This man have been sick for thirty eight years, you don’t need to be there to know that his wealth has dwindled year after years for thirty eight years.  But the Lord that own all things stood by him and said come out of poverty.

 

And I’m repeating tonight as the representative of the most high God, there is some one here tonight, you will come out of poverty.

 

I have already told you there are levels, the poor, the comfortable, then the rich. The rich people are those who save money, the wealthy are those who put money in fixed deposit. They just give you one hundred million and say keep it for three years, I will come for it later. And there are those who are prosperous and there are those who are flourishing, there are those who lends to nations.

 

I pray for someone here tonight, even if you are poor right now, one day very soon you will be lending to nations.

 

When we read about somebody like Solomon in 2 Chronicle 1 v 15, a man who treated silver like ordinary stones.  That is some kind of money! And I know there are people here tonight, it’s not that they want money just for the fun of it, they want to do the work of God.

 

There are people who want to build churches. We need a new auditorium, because those who are outside the auditorium now are almost more than those who are inside. Thank God it’s not raining so we need a bigger auditorium.

 

May I prophesy to somebody here tonight, that in the name that is above every other names, you will be one of the ten that will build the new auditorium.

 

The reason I said one of the ten is because I have to include myself and my wife and one or two of my friend, so the rest of you can struggle for the remaining number.

 

I decree in the name that is above every other name, none of you will die poor.

 

Jesus stood beside this man, this nameless man, so low so unimportant that they didn’t bother to mention his name, because among the Jews if you are important, if you come from a good home, they will mention your name and the name of your father.

 

If your family doesn’t matter, they will mention your name and they won’t bother to mention the name of your father.

 

But this man was so useless that they didn’t even mention his name.

They mentioned the name of Bartimeaus the son of Timeaus even though he was a beggar they still mention his name and the name of this father but this man was so useless that they didn’t mention his name,

 

But the great Promoter stood beside him and said come up higher.

 

As the Lord lives, I prophesy to someone here tonight, nobody may know you now but before you die the world will celebrate you.

 

Because the God who is asking you to come up higher, is the God who picked Abraham who was completely unknown until God intervened.

 

In Genesis 12 v 1 -3, God just said to Abraham, the son of an idol worshipper, unknown and said to him “now I have decided to have mercy on you, I will bless you, I will make you great, I will turn you to a blessing, I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who curses you and through you shall all the nation of the earth be bless.

 

That God of Abraham is here tonight and he is going to come to somebody and he will say you, Nobody knows you now, nobody knows your father you don’t matter, you don’t count but by this time next year, the world will already be celebrating you. If you are the one say it is me oh Lord!

When we talk about greatness, there are levels; Abraham was great, his son was very great, his grandson was exceedingly great.

 

There are levels of greatness! You may be great already, God is saying come up higher, let’s make you very great, you may be very great already , God is saying come up higher, let’s make you exceedingly great.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, the Lord says he is already in the mouth of the lion, he says he will rescue him.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said you have known joy before but it was for a brief moment, he asked me to tell you, the joy I am about to give you will last forever,

 

Thank you Father! The Lord said there is someone here who has several boils in your private parts and they just refused to heal, the Lord asked me to tell you, you can check they are already gone.

 

Thank you father! The Lord says there is someone here tonight; He said a major breakthrough slipped through your hand, the Lord asked me to tell you, “I will give you a bigger one”

 

Occasionally he says something that is so sweet that I want to take it myself before tell in you.

 

The Lord said there is someone listening to me now, He says in your desert a stream bubble up and it will rapidly become a big river.

 

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; He said for the rest of your life, your song will be it is raining all over me.

 

So the Lord stood beside this helpless man. The Help of the helpless stood beside this helpless man, because this man said I have nobody to help me, and He said to him come up higher, there is nobody to help you but the Helper of the helpless has come, let’s change your level from failure to success.  From Success to great success, from great success to frightening success.

 

You know it is possible for God to make you so successful that you will become so afraid, read Luke 5 v 1 -11 peter fished all night caught nothing, Jesus stepped into his boat, told him where to throw the net, he did, caught so much fish, two boats began to sink and he became afraid.

Once in a while God will give you a miracle and you will think you are dreaming.

 

I decree tonight that the next time you are sharing your testimony, you will tell everybody that three days after the miracle happened, you still thought you are dreaming, so shall it be in Jesus name.

 

But not only is this man helpless the man said for thirty eight years, as I was moving towards my destiny, thirty eight different people stole miracles before I could get there, somebody had taken it.

 

And the Lord of host said come up higher, no more defeat.

 

I pray for you tonight that the Lord of Host will arise for you.

 

Because we don’t have the time I could have showed you we have different level of victories; we have victory, we have great victory, we have victory without a fight, we have a victory that will frighten the victor.

 

God will fight for you.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, He said from now on, three words shall no longer be in your dictionary; failure, defeat and agony.

 

The Lord asked me to tell you a story because there is something He wants to say; when we were in the very first auditorium, several years ago, I was preaching like this God said that there was someone in the crowd that the fellow was going to have three financial breakthroughs.

 

God said the first one, hundred percent of it belongs to God, that the second one is to be divided fifty – fifty between God and the fellow and that the third one will wipe out all the debt that the fellow is owing. I announced it.

 

Some days later a widow came, she is a widow I know very well, she had seventeen mouths to feed and she was heavily in debt not only in Nigeria, the bank in London has been threatening her because of the debt they say the husband is owing.

 

So she came “daddy I have got the first financial miracle and I have brought it, I said “sister pleases! I know you, I know your problem, if I have money I will give you not take from you.

 

She looked at me and said” I thought you are my friend? God said there will be three breakthroughs, I have got the first one, you don’t want the second and third to come?

 

I sad alright, I took the money from her, I kept it. (God bless the preacher who has no faith!) I said I will wait until the second and third comes.

 

Very soon she came, the second has come, this is fifty percent for Jesus, I kept it, I didn’t touch either of the two, then the third one came, a letter came from the bank in London; we are sorry, we made a mistake, your husband didn’t owe us, we are the one owing your husband.

 

God went and changed the books and they paid what they say they owe the husband and he cleared all her debts.

 

Now listening to me carefully, God said there is someone here tonight; he said you are going to have three financial breakthroughs. He said the first one; you can keep it, he said second one 50 percent is your, 50 percent belong to Him, he said the third one is hundred percent for God but after that Get ready to flourish.

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight He said there is a wind coming, that will restore all your dry bones.

 

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, He said there are certain hands holding you down he said I will dislocate all of them.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ stood above this man, the source of all joy stood above this man, he stood above the man who has been sad for thirty eight years, he said come up higher, come out of sorrow.

 

Do you know God is speaking to someone here tonight and he is saying to you, you shall weep no more.

 

There are levels of joy; you can move from sad to happy, you can move from Joy to great joy and there is something the bible called exceeding great Joy like you read about in Matthew 2 v 10 and then there is what the bible called Joy unspeakable.

 

Joy so great you can’t even say it out; you know somebody can be so glad that he will be crying.

 

Those of you who have not known joy for a long time, beginning from now, you will move from sorrow to joy, from joy to great joy, from great joy to exceeding joy, from exceeding great joy, to joy unspeakable.

 

Daddy says there is someone here tonight, He said some people will sing of wealth, some people will sing of popularity, He said but I will be your song.

The Lord says there is someone here today; He said very soon, people will talk of your family that ‘this family has found favour with God’.

 

When God gives you an Invitation you have a choice, you can refuse an invitation, He can say come, you can say I am not coming.

 

Even when He commands you, you have a choice to obey or to disobey.

But tonight, since you have taken all the trouble to come, don’t refuse the invitation of God. How will I know that I will go higher if I say I am willing? The Bible says the just shall live by faith, you believe it? You will have it. It’s just a matter of faith.

 

So you are going to pray by faith tonight, I know the altar call has been made earlier on and so many souls has been saved so I thank God for that.

I am going to take it that by the grace of God those God wants to save, He has saved. But we are going to pray some prayers and we are going to pray this prayer by faith and I will remind you of the story of a couple,

 

Husband and wife came, daddy we have been barren for years, pray for us so that we can have our own children, I said fine, what kind of baby do you want? The husband said boy, the wife said girl and they said it simultaneously.

 

So I smiled and said well in that case we better make it a set of twins, one boy one girl and they said amen, they received it.

 

Nine month later, set of twins came one boy, one girl.  If I say to you tonight, that from this moment onward will be your journey will be constantly upward. Will you receive it?

 

Lift your voice to the Almighty God loud and clear and say Father change my level tonight… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

Lift your voice to the Almighty God and say Father, pull me out of the miry clay (of failure, of poverty, of sickness) never to return… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

Lift your voices to the Almighty God all the forces that have been holding me down all this years in the level of poverty, of failure, father scatter them…. in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

Father, all those who have been asking where is my God, show them today, show them right now… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

Father, everything that pertains to me Lord, perfect it tonight… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

Father I want to thank You tonight for your word, I want to thank You for those who have come forward tonight to give their lives to Jesus, You said whoever comes to you, you will in no wise cast out, they have come to you now, receive them in Jesus name.

 

Forgive them in Jesus name, cleanse them in your blood in Jesus name, save their souls in Jesus name, write their names in the book of life in Jesus name.

 

From now on, let them do Your will in Jesus name. Father I am committing everybody here tonight, everyone of us, pull us out of the miry clay in Jesus name, take us to the top in Jesus name, don’t let us come down again in Jesus name, all the forces holding us down, scatter them in Jesus name.

Everything that pertain to us perfect tonight, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

Let somebody shout halleluiah!

60th RCCG Annual Convention Welcome Address - COME UP HIGHER

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 7^th August 2012 05:46

 

Dearly Beloved Brethren,

It is with great joy and gladness of heart that We welcome you to the 60th Annual Convention of this glorious mission. The Lord has indeed been very gracious to us , showing us great mercies , miracles , deliverance , victories , provision . We also bless the name of the lord for keeping you alive in His mercy , since the last time we were gathered here .

This convention is at the invition of our heavenly Father to nbehold the king , His power and His greatness . He is asking us to ‘Come up higher’  through the Highway of holiness , increased faith and purity , enlarged vision , and an ever increasing greatness unto glorious expectations .

“...And an highway shall be there , and a way , and it shall be called The way of holiness ; the unclean shall not pass over it ; but it shall be for those : the way – faring men , though fools , shall not err therein .”

( Isaiah 35:8 ).

There’s a place specially prepared for those who yield to the invitation to come up higher . A position of higher level of power , grace , glory , mercy , joy , total victory , success , prosperity and deliverance . This is why you have to come , be prepared to recieve LIFE ! In its fulness .

We encourage you to personally and passionately seek Him by availing yourself of the various seminars, and plenary sessions . Prayerfully commit yourself and your future to deep Intimacy with Jesus Christ . Drink in deeply of His Presence and do not allow yourself to be distracted .

It is our desire that the power of the Holy Spirit may rise within you and cause you to long for Him daily from now till you are filled to overflowing.

There is room at the top for you , see you there in Jesus name .

Pastor E.A. ADEBOYE

General Overseer

ELIJAH AND THE ANOINTING

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 1^st August 2012 10:46

ELIJAH AND THE ANOINTING

By Pastor E.A Adeboye

“ 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 known 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 hast 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”.  1 Kings 18:36-38

 

Holiness is very important and key to being anointed. The secret of Elijah’s success in ministry was holiness and total obedience. He did not know how to argue with God and that is holiness. Today, many believers are still at loggerheads with the King of glory. When God wants them to sit, they say they want to stand. When He asks that offerings should be given cheerfully, they do it grudgingly. Do you know that the way you offer your gift before God has a way of affecting what you receive? If you give grudgingly, you will receive in like measure. The moment I discovered the need to live a holy life, my life took a positive and easy turn. Are you totally obedient to God?

Elijah was untouchable to his enemies because of the anointing. Those who tried to touch him were roasted alive (2 Kings 1:10; 2 Kings 1:10)

“And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty”.  

In addition, he had unusual strength. There was no record of him being sick, not even for once because he was holy and the anointing of God was upon him. His needs were supernaturally met. At some point, birds brought him food; later, a widow and at another time, an angel brought him food. Besides, his prayers were answered by fire (1 Kings 18:36-38). His prayer on mount Camel was for less than two minutes yet, the fire fell. His words were decrees. In 1 Kings 17:1, he said there would be no rain, and it was so. He could easily hear from God (1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 18:1). It is a beautiful thing to hear from God. You don’t have to be a prophet to hear Him. Another thing I like about Elijah is that he did not taste death (2 Kings 2:9-12). Holiness prepares you for the rapture and for Heaven. If only you can live a holy life and totally obey God, you can experience God’s mighty moves in your life.

THE CRY THAT ATTRACTS DIVINE ATTENTION

by Pastor J.T. Kalejaije 16^th July 2012 05:40

It is not everyone who cries that receives answer. The cry that attracts divine attention is not a cry from the lips but a cry from the heart. It is a desperate cry. It is a cry of faith and it is backed up with action. Some people cry, (please note that my usage of the word cry here means when you “pray”). Some cry but their cries go into voice mail, Why? Three reasons can be deduced for this:

Indifference to the Poor: a) Prov. 21:13 say “who so stoppeth his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry himself but shall not be heard”. The Bible says that a time will come when even the cries of anyone who stops his ears to the cry of the poor will not be heard; his cry will go into voice mail. The poor are many in your families and community. You live with them, they cry on a daily basis, they cry for help but God has given you the ability to help them yet you will not look at them, God says, if you do not respond to the cries of these people, your own cries, when you cry, will be in vain.

Sin:
b) In Isa. 59:1-2, God says, “behold Gods hand is not short to save, neither His ears heavy that He cannot hear but your iniquity has separated between you and your God”. Your sins, our sins have separated us that even when we pray, He does not hear.

Unorgiving spirit:
c) This is so important that God even prefers forgiveness to sacrifice. If you want to do anything for God and you suddenly remember that you had a face-off with someone, stop, go and reconcile with that fellow before you come back.

If you do not do the above things and you cry to God, your cry will surely go into voice mail.

It is my sincere prayer today that your cries will never be in vain. The question is which cry can attract divine attention?

1) A persistent cry attracts God’s attention. Mk 10:46-52. The blind Bartimeus had the opportunity, he heard that Jesus was passing by; he cried but was not heard. He persistently cried until his cries attracted Jesus’ attention. Dear reader, have you cried out before now? Do not give up. When you cry this time, God will see you through. In Luke 11:1-5, we see the parable of a judge that was not born again but who recognized a widow’s persistent cries demanding something from him which he granted. A persistent cry always attracts divine attention.

2) The cry of the righteous always attracts divine attention. Ps 34:15 “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto his cries”, before they even cry out, God is willing to answer their cries.

3) A cry for mercy attracts immediate attention because when God speaks, there is a performance. He cannot change what He says He will do and one of the things He says he will do is recorded in Rom 9:15 where God told Moses “I will have mercy on who I will have mercy and will have compassion on whom I have compassion”, others may hate you, I have discovered that all men who went to God to cry for mercy got divine attention. The blind Bartimeus, according to Mk 10: 46-52 he did not say “Jesus, Son of David heal me”, but he cried “Jesus son of David, have mercy on me”. He cried for mercy and Jesus was attracted. He got his sight!

In Matt. 15:21-28 a woman from Canaan stood in the gap for her daughter. She went to Jesus on behalf of her sick daughter, and said, “have mercy on me, heal my daughter”. Before she got home her daughter was healed. In the mighty name of Jesus whatever the problem that is facing you now, by the time you finish reading this article; God will solve it for you.
In Lk 17:12-18 Ten Lepers went to Jesus and cried for mercy, and they were all cleansed.

4) The cry of the helpless and fatherless can attract divine attention. Job 29:12: “Because I delivered the poor that cried (not all the poor, but the poor that cried) and the fatherless.” This means if you are poor and helpless, your cries will attract divine attention. Ps. 72:12 “…For He shall deliver the needy, the poor and he that has no helper.” Do you need help? What do you do with your mouth? If you are not happy with your present situation, and you want to break the chain cry and God will answer.

5) The cry of the afflicted attracts divine attention. (Job 34:28) The problem with us is that we do not cry unto God. Rather we grumble, complain, and murmur, even to the extent of blaming God. The hard truth is that God wants you to carry the cross so that you can wear the crown. God wants you to leave the present level; He wants to promote you and so, someday you will take examination. If you want a big miracle, then prepare for a big problem. Beware of the curse of the poor or the afflicted.

6) The prayer of the humble attracts divine attention:

7) A desperate cry always attracts divine attention. When someone is desperate over something, do not joke with such a person. Even Jesus made a desperate cry shouting “Lazarus, come forth”, and his cry was answered.

8) A cry of faith and a Prayer of faith incorporates forgiveness

9) A cry after loading your cloud, Solomon gave God and God gave him back. Ps. 50: 14-15 “Offer unto God Thanksgiving”. After loading your cloud, cry unto God. It is your urn to cry for mercy. Say father I cry for your mercy, father have mercy on me this hour.

Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye

THE SECRET OF ANSWERED PRAYERS (June HGS)

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 19^th June 2012 11:35

THE SECRET OF ANSWERED PRAYERS

 

I King 18 v 36 – 39 And it came to pass at the time of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at thy word. Hear me oh Lord, hear me that this people may know that thou hart the Lord God and that thou has turned their heart back again, then the fire of the Lord fell and consume 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 feel on their face and said “The Lord he is the God; the Lord he is the God”.

 

If there is any example of a prayer that was answered and answered instantly, it is this prayer of Elijah that I have just read to you.

 

Elijah’s prayer lasted less than two minutes and yet fire fell. In the name that is above every other name, God will answer your prayer by fire tonight.

 

As many of you know Elijah is one of my favorites, I spent three years studying him and he is one of the reasons why I pray, because if there is anything about Elijah that is very significant is that he is a prayer warrior.

 

So I have spent time, quality time studying this particular prayer and if it pleases God, I may write a book on just this verse very soon.

 

What are the components of Elijah’s prayer? What are the things embedded in this prayer, that cause fire to fall as soon as he finished praying?

 

Number one; he said Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob.  What does that mean?  He was worshipping God, just like one of my child said earlier on, he was eulogizing God, he was worshipping him.  

 

When you go through the Scriptures, you will discover that all who worship God got their request granted. You will never find a single example in the Bible, (if you find one let me know and I will give you a hundred thousand naira) of someone who worshipped God in spirit or in truth who didn’t get their request granted.

 

Matthew 8 v 3 It is the story of a leper; someone who was incurable, someone who was not suppose to be found among the multitude, he came and the first thing he did was that he worshipped Jesus.

 

He worshipped him before he said I know you can heal me if you want to, of cause he had already prepared the ground for his request to be granted.  Jesus merely said I am willing, be thou cleanse.

 

 Mark 5 v 1 – 15 is the story of the mad man of Gedaren, we have talked about him again and again, one of my son refereed to him again tonight, as somebody living in the grave yard, he saw Jesus from afar off, he ran to meet him, fell at his feet.

 

He was mad remember? But in his madness he still worships God.  I have said it before, if a mad man can worship God, what is your excuse for not to worshipping him?  

 

Like I have always said, this man was so mad, that when mad men saw him; they hide.  But in his madness, as mad as he was, he recognized the Almighty God and worshipped him.

 

Read the story very well, he didn’t even pray to be delivered, but God delivered him all the same, worshippers always got their request granted.

 

Look at Mark 5 v 20- 24, how come Jarius got his daughter restored back to life?  He worshipped Jesus! He was a great man but in the presence of Jesus Christ; all men become small.

 

That is why I feel uncomfortable when I see some so called great men who cannot worship God, when we are praising God and we are dancing, we are rejoicing.

 

I see some people who think they are too good to worship the King of kings, to worship the original majesty, to worship the original professor, original CEO, there is no one like him, he Is greater than the greatest, higher than the highest, older than the oldest, richer than the richest, better than the best.

 

Let me hear somebody shout halleluiah!

 

Do you know when you read Matthew 15 v 21- 28 that even if God wanted to say no to you and you worship him, the no will become yes? This woman came to Jesus and said, “have mercy on me; my daughter is grievously vexed of the devil”.

 

Number one Jesus didn’t answer a word, she kept pressing on. Just like one of my son said, persistent, perseverance.

 

Because some of you prayed for five minutes and if God has not answer in five minute, you say okay, He doesn’t want to answer. As if God is your house boy, He is the Almighty, brother; He is the King of all the universe, if you call on Him you need to be prepared to wait till He answers.

 

I have had the opportunity of visiting head of states all over the world. They are the one who asked you to come; you arrive thirty minute before time, one hour after your time is due, they still have not attended to you. Do you leave? Leave! Do they need you?

 

Not to talk of the Almighty God, the owner of heaven and earth, the One who can make and unmake , the One who opens and no man can shut, the One who shut and no one can open. The One who can raise the dead, the One who can reverse the irreversible.

 

And you say because you have talk to him for five minute you are going. Go! There is no problem.

 

This woman persisted; help me! Finally the disciples came to Jesus and say this woman is disturbing us with her noise send her away. Jesus said I am not sent but unto the house of Israel. The Bible says the woman came and worshipped Him; I know I don’t qualify for a miracle but look at me, I am on my knees. Jesus said yes, but I can’t give the food of children to the dog, the woman said “this dog will remain on her knees until a crumbs falls down from the table.”  Jesus said you got it!

 

God will answer somebody here today.

 

Some years ago, they were celebrating the centenary of Pentecostalism; 100 years since the Holy Spirit fell in Azusa, and I was invited to come and represent Africa and preach.

Two of us was invited, one from South Africa and myself. It was my turn to preach, the whole world was there and because as far as I am concerned the whole world can be there, the most important thing is that God is also there.

 

I got the microphone, went on my knees and worship God before I preached. When I finished one of the big men came to me and said “thank you”. I said “for what?” He said “for worshiping God in public, you are not even ashamed to kneel before the crowd.

 

Some of you can’t even shout halleluiah in Church.

 

Let me hear somebody shout halleluiah!

 

I have told you before; people have asked me, when you are holding such a big meeting, convention, Holy Ghost congress etc. don’t you know that the devil is around? Demons all over the place, why don’t you start by binding demons?  Why do I need to waste my time with demons and the devil?.

 

Devil I bind you.  But I thought somebody bound him this morning, he is already loose?  I don’t need to waste my time binding demons, binding devil and so on.  All I need to do is to worship God.

 

Once God shows up, once light comes, darkness must disappear.

 

Let somebody shout halleluiah.

 

So when you hear me saying, Rock of ages, Ancient of days, Holy one of Israel, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning, the ending, the One who is, the One who was, the One who is to come.

 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace, the Way, the Truth, the Resurrection, the Life.  I know what I am doing. Worship him!

 

I have told you before; my wife says stop saying that your Father was poor, but it is the truth.  He was poor and out of him, God has produced me and there is hope for you too.  Glory be to God!

 

He was poor he had two wives, in spite of the poverty and so, he has many children, and whenever it is time for school to open, you know parents have to pay school fees.

 

In those days, my father will pick a quarrel with the wives so that they won’t be able to ask for school fees. But my mother always gets my school fees. I have told you how she did it; I happened to be the last boy of my dad.  So I was always sleeping with him.

 

 My mother will come when it is a couple of days before the school opens, early in the morning and she will come and begin to eulogize my father; you are the son of so and so, when your father went to war, he captured so many people, he killed so many, when your father threw a party, he fed the civilian he fed the army.  

 

The bird flew for days they couldn’t see the end of your father’s farm (and I will be wondering where that farm!) But my father loved it, as my mother is saying you are this you are that.  He will be saying yes, it is true; it is a man you are calling.  

 

Very soon you will begin to hear him say, it will be well with you in this house.  Everyday my mother came to say that one, my father feel into it all the time because at the end of it.

 

It is he who will now turn to my mother and say, and what can I do for your today? And my mother will say, the owner of my head, the husband of my chest.  Everybody knows things are hard but your son is about to resume and my father will say “there is no problem.  

 

No problem and there is no money in his pocket but he will go out and borrow, because my mother had eulogize him, she has raised him to a level where he cannot afford to bring himself down.

 

When you lift up your voice to the Almighty God and you say, you are Greater than the greatest, you are Better than the best, you are Richer than the richest, you are Holier than the holiest.

 

You can do the impossible, nothing is too hard for You.  You are the One who can reverse the irreversible.

 

You think God will not answer?

 

Secret number one, worship Him, Elijah started by saying, You are the God of Abraham, you are the God of Isaac, you are the God of Jacob, he was worshiping God.

 

Then he went on to say, let it be known this day, not only that you are God in Israel but that I am Your servant.

 

If you don’t study that one very well you will miss it, what is he saying? He is saying thank you for making me your servant and I learnt a lot from that.

 

Thank You for what you have done for me, thank you for saving my soul, thank you for the blood that cleanses me from all sins 1 John 1 v 7

 

Thank you because I know it is by grace I am saved Ephesians 2 v 5 – 9 It is by grace we are save not by works, not that anybody should boast.

 

Many of you come to God as if he owes you a debt, No! You are the one who owns him everything.

 

That you are still alive today is by his grace, that you can open your mouth to speak is by his grace, that your eyes can still see is by his grace, that you can come here today is by his grace. There are so many things we take for granted that we never thank God for, several things.

 

Last month, someone who was very, very sick and I was praying for him, after prayer I said, come let’s go for a walk, I know he could hardly move, but I wanted to ginger up his faith, I didn’t want him to lose hope because when you give up fighting, death comes.

 

 So we began to walk very, very gently, one step after another. I said when you are tired tell me so we will let you rest. By the time we are returning to go back, he said “Daddy, you know I have never thank God for being able to walk, I said “you are not the only one”.

 

How many of you got up this morning and said thank you Lord that I can walk?  You took it for granted.  How many of us got up and say thank God I can lift my hand?  We took that for granted.

 

 How many of you say I thank God I went to the toilet on my own, they didn’t carry me there we take it for granted.

 

Thank you Lord for what you have done for me. Will somebody lift up his/her hand and say thank you Lord for what you have done for me!

 

Before you begin to bombard him with your request, thank him. Thank Him for what he has done; thank him for his grace in your life. 1 Corinthian 15 v 10 Paul said, I am what I am by the grace of God.

 

“And then let it be known that I am your servant”, he said something else something else; he is saying Lord without you I am nothing.

 

It is easy for me to understand from Elijah, the first time we heard about Elijah 1 king 17 v 11 all we heard about him, was Elijah the Tishbite of the inhabitant of Gilead, they did not even mention his father’s name.

 

As far as the writers of the Bible were concerned, his father didn’t even matter.  His father’s family was so low that they didn’t mention his father name. They mentioned the name of the father of Bartimeaus the beggar, Bartimeaus the son of Timeaus, he was a beggar but his father was a important.  But in the case of Elijah, no need to mention his father’s name because it doesn’t matter. 

 

But look at him now, he is about to call down fire from heaven and he is saying, God without you I am nothing.  However because I am your servant, because you are behind me.

 

Like one of my son said; with God backing me up I can do all things, Philippians 4 v 13 says I can do all thing with God through Christ who strengthen me.

 

Not too long I had a little confrontation with someone very, very important, very, very big and I said to him, “Adeboye is nobody, I have no power, I have no connections, I have no wealth but, the God of Adeboye, is a different matter entirely”

 

Adeboye is zero, but Adeboye plus his God, don’t mess around with my God, because my God is a consuming fire. When my God says let there be, there will be. When He says let there be not, there will be nothing.

 

If anybody challenges you as a child of God, let them know; I may be small, but greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world, acknowledge your total dependence on God.

 

I am Your servant, what am about to ask You to do is not because of me but because of You.

 

The world has known me with You. If I fail, they won’t think much of me, they will be thinking of You, you are the One that will be responsible because I am Your servant.

 

There was a song we use to sing in those days;

 

 I have no helper of my own, Holy Spirit help me.

 

I pray that the Almighty God will help somebody here today.

 

 

He went on to say number three; I have done all these things at thy word. There is nothing I am doing here Lord that is not according to your word.

 

Meaning what? Anytime you approach God in prayer, always attach your request to His word.

 

Psalm 119 v 89 says forever oh Lord thy word is settled.

 

So when you want to pray a prayer of deliverance, tell him daddy, it is written; this signs shall follow them that believe, in my name they will cast out demons, it is written.

 

Say it loud, let the demons hear what you are saying so they will know you know what you are saying. Anytime you want to lay hands on the sick for healing, attach the word, father is written I will lay hand on the sick and they shall recover Mark 16 v 17 – 18.

 

And if you have to pray for the dead, don’t be afraid. Matthew 10 v 7-8 father you are the one who commanded me to raise the Dead.

 

Attach his word, father I am going for this interview, you are the one who said I will be head and not tail, I am tired of being at the bottom, I want to go higher, it is written.

 

And when the world is raging against you, when they begin to fire arrow at you (and I am not talking about arrow that deliverance ministers talks about) I am talking about those who are accusing you falsely, those who are criticizing you.

 

Tell the Almighty God, it is written they shall come against me in one way they will flee seven ways. I am not going to fight because it is written the Lord will cause the enemies that rise up against me to be smitten before my face.  I will wait and see you do the smitten.

 

People have asked me again and again, each time they are criticizing you on television, on radio, in newspaper, you say nothing. I am not supposed to do anything, my own is to wait and see because it is written.

 

In 1siah 41 v 10-13 my father says I will help you, I will hold you by your right hand and I say I will help you. Those who are incensed against you shall be as nothing. You shall seek them and you shall not find them. It is written!

 

How many of you know that it is written that you shall be head and not tail? How many of you know that you shall Live and not die?

 

 Let me hear you shout halleluiah!

 

The Lord said there is someone here today He said the problem started as ordinary headache and it already becoming something else, the Lord ask me to tell you not to worry; He is taking care of that now.

 

Thank you Father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said what you need is a spare part from heaven; he said he has released it to you.

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said very soon the enemy will come and confess and they will say to you, each time we thought we have clipped your wings, you soar higher.

 

Elijah said that the people may know that you are God, you know one of the things we suppose to do when we go witnessing is tell the people who our God is.

 

When you see idol worshipper worshipping idols, they called them by all kinds of name; Sango, Oloju and they begin to call these idols some big, big tittles.

 

 Why don’t you talk about your God? The true living God.  

 

Matthew 1 v21 says he shall call his name Jesus for he shall save the people from their sins.

 

My God is the savior Exodus 15 v 26 says I am the Lord that heals thee, my God is the great physician.

 

Psalm 23 v 1 – 6 my God is the great comprehensive provider; he said the Lord is my sheared I shall not want. Psalm 75 v 6 -7 my God is the great promoter; he is the one who promotes.

 

John 15 v 1-5 my God is the fruitful vine.

 

In other words, Elijah was saying to God, prove today by backing me up that you are Almighty God. You know one of the reasons why people don’t want to go out to witness is there are not even sure God will go with them, but I want to encourage you; when you go, my God will go with you.

 

Several years ago around 1974-1975 I had a little group of young people, I was young then, and many of them were younger.  We formed what we call called Fishers of men and I send them out in twos and I told them, anywhere you go and you witness don’t argue with anybody, if anybody what to argue just tell them listen; have you a problem?  If we pray and the problem is solved, then you surrender to our God. That is the confidence we have in Him.

 

Some of you have heard the testimony of two of them (she is sitting on the altar right now, she is now an elder) they went to Ota, and they got into the house of the chief herbalist in the town, and they began to talk to him about Jesus Christ and the man laughed and said “I pity you because you are little children, how can you come into my house and be talking about any other God, I am the God in this town; witches and wizard we work together. Anybody who has a problem, they come to me for solution here”.

 

He said “look up” All over the house all kinds of charms and the children remembered what I have said sir, they said you may be the chief herbalist in this town, we are not disputing that, but have you a problem that you cannot solve with all your charms,?  He said yes.

 

Because he was walking with witches and wizard and these people always come for their own salary.

 

 And the salary is anytime he got married and the wife became pregnant; they will come and kill the poor lady. He was on the seventeenth wife, sixteen had died and finally he has fallen in love with the seventeenth one and he doesn’t want her to die. The seventeen one had become pregnant and as usual the forces of darkness have come for their pay and the girl was bleeding that will lead to her death.

 

He had tried all his charms but it wasn’t working because of his covenant with the devil.  So this little boys and girls said “Let us pray” and they prayed in the mighty name of Jesus, “blood stop” and they left to go to into the next house to witness.

 

 All of a sudden they looked back and saw a man crying after them; my children, my children, wait, wait! And they looked it was the old man. He said “the bleeding had stooped Come and tell me more about your Jesus”.

 

How many of you believed that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow?  Do you believe that?

 

Let me hear you shout halleluiah to him.

 

You need to know your God, if you don’t know him you can’t witness about him, I know him, I know that He has a name that above every other names.

 

I know that at the name of Jesus every kneel must bow. And please let me join my own to what one of my sons has said earlier on, my God answers prayers.

 

He will answer your prayers tonight in Jesus name.

 

 And then he said “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Israel, I worship you. 

 

He said “I worship you, I am your servant, thank you for what you have done for me, let it be known today that I have done all this according to your word.  Attach his word to what you are saying and let them know that you are God, and then finally he now said that you have turned their hearts to you.”

 

God, why am I asking for this miracle? Elijah said “so that these people can be converted”.

 

One of my sons said so in his preaching, he said “why do you need a car, if you are not going to use it for evangelism? Why do you need money if you are not going to use it for the work of God? Why do you want more than you already have? God has met your needs, you are not naked, and you have food to eat. You have a house to live in why do you want more?  It must be for the purpose of His kingdom.

 

They brought in a man who was paralyzed from neck downwards through the roof; Jesus Christ said “thy sin has been forgiven thee. They began to murmur; ‘who is this one talking about forgiving sins?. 

 

Only God can forgive sin. Jesus said alright, let’s give you a miracle, “son get up and take up your bed and go”.

 

As soon as he got up, the people who have been murmuring said glory be to God, we have never seen it like this before.

 

The reason many prayer have gone unanswered till now is that the purpose for which many of you are praying has nothing to do with the kingdom of God.

 

Let me assure you, make up your mind from now on that you will be winning souls for God, you will be doing everything to make sure his Kingdom is expanded here on earth. He will answer all your prayers.

 

When the Almighty God said “son you are going to cover the arena”, (you remember this place use to be open space) I said amen, Thank you Father, because your children will come I don’t want them to seat in the rain.  He said we will cover it, then he said “you are not going to take an offering for it”, I said “ha! Then how is it going to be done? Told you the truth, I ran into the toilet when he said it is you and I. I said “my faith can’t take that, but you are sitting down here now, if it is raining outside it is not going to disturb you. There is nothing you want for his kingdom that he will not do.

 

How many of you want to be a divine treasurer? Before the end of this year, money will change hands.  

 

The Lord said there is someone here he said I have told you before I am telling you again, I will still surprise those who said you will die barren.

 

The Lord said there is news coming; he said it doesn’t matter where you are when you get it, he said you are going to scream for joy.

 

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said very soon they will say it to your face, are you the only one serving God, what about us?

 

In Act 8 v 5-8 the Bible tells us that there were miracles, signs, wonders, happening in Samaria when Philip preached Christ to them. And there was great joy in the city.  

 

How come God was healing the sick, casting out demons, performing miracles through Philip, so that the Samaritans can be converted to God? That is why some of my children have said it again and again; the moment you’ve become addicted to soul winning, Jesus said it in John 15 v 16 , He said you have not chosen me, I have chosen you, (thank you father for choosing me).

 

I have ordained you, (thank you father for ordaining me) And I have sent you forward, so go forth. Win souls, make sure your fruits abide. Don’t just win souls; follow them up, bring them into the church, pursue them until they become established in the church. He said anything you asked the father in my name, I will do it.

 

I was trained as a mathematician, and a mathematician knows the meaning of ‘anything’. When a mathematician says this thing is true for all time, you can be sure it is true for all time. God says anything you ask will be done for you.  The reason why I believe God has brought this topic tonight is because the miracle of someone can no longer wait.

 

Because God will seat down waiting for you; because your miracle is out there waiting for you to come and talk to him or her. To come and witness.

 

I know a sister; for years she was praying to God, God give me a husband. God said “go out and win souls, your husband is not in church yet. She went out, spoke to someone, that one gave his life to Jesus, about six month later she came to me and said Daddy I have a problem, I said “ what is the problem? She said this new convert; this fellow that I have just won to Jesus says he want to marry me.

 

 I said yes, what is wrong with him? You have been praying for him and God has brought him now are you going to say no?

 

Today they are one of the best families that I know. The husband is the head of the family but he keeps on remembering that he is a convert of the wife.

 

I know one brother, by the time I finished the story a few of you will know him too. His prayers had always been Lord let me go abroad. I don’t know why, he just wanted to go abroad.

 

Then one day he witnessed to the boss, (he was an ordinary driver) the boss gave her life to Jesus, the husband of the boss became an ambassador and they said we need a driver over there come along with us.  He is in abroad now. I want to go abroad, God says witness, your miracle is out there.  I pray for somebody here today, that even as you go out to witness among the souls that you will win; will be the breakthrough you have been waiting for in Jesus name.

 

The Lord asks me to tell someone here today, he said your ultimate dance of victory is around the corner.

 

When you read 1king 18 you will discover that before Elijah prayed, if you read from verse 30 -32 he did two things; first he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

 

Number two he built a new altar to the Lord. He repaired the altar, God is waiting to answer prayers tonight but please if you have backslidden, repair the altar of God in your heart, come back to God.

 

 You know you have drifted away from him, you know how close you were to God before, now you are far from him, come back to God.

 

Then he built a new altar to God; that is those of you who have not even given your life to God, do so tonight, give your heart to God.

 

We are already in June, one of my sons, mention some of the prophecies at the beginning of the year, if you listen to the news, you will see some of these prophecies already coming to past.

 

In January on the international scene, God said power will change hands this year. It is written there.  See what is happening in the world; see how many people that nobody thought can ever lose power have already lost power because Daddy said so.

 

The same Daddy said “wealth will change hands” It is the same Daddy who says desperate prayers will receive mighty answers. When God says something, get ready for it. And we already in June, and there are certain things that should be happening now that are not yet happening because some hearts are away from him, or some hearts are not even with him at all.

 

So the first things I want you to do tonight is that every backslider must come back to God and everyone who have not given his life to Jesus Christ before and you are here now, come to God now.

 

Because let me assure you before this month is over, there will be some mighty testimony but it will be for those whose hearts are right with God.

 

So if you want to give your life to Jesus come now, if you are a backslider and you want to be restored to the Lord come now.

 

Keep on praying even as you are coming; ask Him to save your soul or asking Him to restore you.

 

 You are coming as prodigal sons/daughters, you are asking for forgiveness.

 

Ask Him to be merciful unto you, ask  Him to overlook all your sins and if you are coming for the first time ask Him to save your souls today and give you an opportunity to serve Him.

 

Ask Him to give you an opportunity to taste Him and see how good He can be.

 

And the rest of us brethren; lets intercede for these people that God who saved our souls will save their own souls too.

 

 let’s ask God to be merciful unto them, let’s ask the almighty God to cleanse them in blood of Jesus and give them a brand new beginning… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed

 

Father, i just want to thank you, I want to thank you for your word, I want to thank you for these people who have come forward now, you promise that whosoever will come unto you, you will in no wise cast away; they have come to you now father, please receive them in Jesus name. Forgive them in Jesus name, let your blood wipe away all their sins in Jesus name. Save their souls tonight and write their names in the book of life and let their heart become a altar for Jesus Christ in Jesus name.

 

Father I pray, that because they have giving their lives to you and because the backslider have been restored back to you,  from now on when they call on you, answer them by fire. Give them a new beginning, give them a new testimony and please don’t let them ever go back onto the world, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

I want to rejoice with you because from now on I will be joining you in prayer, very soon in the mighty name of Jesus you will be receiving miracles, that is why I am going to need your name, your address and your prayer request. (Please drop them with the counselors)

 

Now I want to give you some prayer points so that we can talk to God with confidence tonight and I can assure you that God answers prayers.

 

 He answers prayers all the time.  He can do much more than you can ask but until you ask, He is not going to give it to you.

 

He said you have not because you ask not, so I want you to pray with all your heart.

 

1.   Worship Him generously; spend quality time just worshipping him. Call him by all the names you know. (The rose of Sharon, the Lily of the valley, my Husband, the Lover of my soul, the soon coming King. Call him by all the names you can think of)

 

2.    Thank Him for all He had done for you and don’t please don’t forget all those things I mentioned that we take for granted (thank Him that you can still see, thank Him that you can still hear, thank Him that you can still speak, thank Him that when you want to eat they don’t have to feed you; you can put the food in your mouth yourself, thank Him that you don’t have to beg before you wear clothe. Thank Him that you are not in hospital today, thank Him that you are not in an asylum. Thank Him abundantly).

 

3.   Say Father; you always answer those who worship you, please answer me now.

 

4.   Say father; you are the one who said that I should be fruitful and multiply, make me abundantly fruitful. (Then you can add physically, spiritually and otherwise)

 

5.   Father, you promise all who go out to witness for you that whatever they ask you will give to them, now I am asking give to me.  (Then you list all you want to ask, is it promotion? Is it breakthrough? Is it success? Is it anointing? Is it marriage this year? Whatever is it you want, you can put them in. Because come day light am going out witnessing for you).

 

6.   Savior; please save millions of souls today all over the word.

 

7.   Say Father, you are the one who said you have come that I may have life and have it more abundantly; from now on let me begin to enjoy your abundance. (Abundance in health, abundance of testimonies, abundance of breakthroughs, abundance in every areas of my life).

 

We are going to pray for thirty minutes but please pray with all your heart…

 

Thank you Jesus, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

That God that you have worshipped will grant your request, the Almighty that you have thanked will give you several more reasons to thank Him. 

 

Beginning from now anytime you call on Him, He will answer you by fire.

 

As you go out to witness for Him, He will turn all your requests to testimonies.

 

You will be fruitful, you will multiply, and you will enjoy abundant health.  He will prosper you.  Every door you knock at will be opened unto you, where there was no way before, God will make a way for you, all your enemies will be at peace with you.

Very soon you will dance the dance of victory God will use you to win millions of souls to himself, you will never lack.

 

God will support you, he will strengthen you, He will fight your battles for you.  Even before the sun rises, you will have testimonies.

 

So shall it be in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

 

If you receive that let me hear you shout halleluiah!

Answered Prayer-The Key Secret Revealed

by 1^st June 2012 10:37  

 

I f you read any book entitled keys to answered prayers, the will list a number of important factors necessitating answered prayer such as Faith, forgiveness, persistence, earnestness, etc, etc. However, the major secret to answered prayer remains hidden from many people. In this article, I will reveal that secret to you beloved.

What is prayer?

The word prayer or proseuchomai (in Greek) is derived from two words ‘pros’ and ‘euchomai’. Pros a preposition of direction and euchomai means to wish.

What is a wish?

Microsoft Encarta says a wish is a transitive verb meaning to have strong desire: to have a strong feeling of wanting something to happen or wanting to have something. “I wish she’d say yes”.

Hence in our context therefore, prayer is directing our strong desires to God Almighty through the name of Jesus Christ.

Types of prayer you want to know

1. Prayer of supplication. Supplication means to petition or entreat someone for something. Luke 11: 9 – 13, James 5: 17-18, 1 kings 8: 37-40, 54 – 55

2. Prayer of intercession To intercede means to plead or mediate on behalf of another person. Genesis 18: 22 – 33 (Abraham) 1 Kings 18: 41 – 46 (Elijah) 2 Kings 4: 32-36 (Elisha) Acts 12: 1 – 18 (The early church)

3. Prayer of faith The prayer of faith is prayer based on God’s Word. Mark 11:12 – 14, Mark 11: 20 – 25, Luke 7: 1 – 10, James 5: 13 – 18, Matthew 9: 18 – 26

4. Prayer of agreement The prayer of agreement is when two or more people come together and agree with one another and with the Word of God that something specific will be done. Genesis 11: 1-9, Matthew 18: 19-20, Exodus 17: 8-13, Psalm 133: 1-3, Acts 4:23, Hebrews 10: 24-

5. Prayer of praise and thanksgiving Praise and worship is what brings us into the presence of God. Psalm 100, Acts 16:16-34, Psalm 149:4-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19

What is praying amiss?

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:3) Praying amiss is directing a selfish wish towards God. You see beloved, when God blesses, He blesses so that others may be blessed through you also. God said to Abraham, “I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing”. All selfish prayers have their root in worldliness: the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16). Believe me brother, a prayer engineered by worldliness will go unanswered even if you are earnest.

How to condition yourself for answered prayer

All texts in the bible that talk about asking and receiving are sandwiched by the keyword to answered prayer. We shall examine a few texts to determine the word that unlocks the secret to answered prayer.

Text number one:

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”. (John 15:16) Herein lies the secret to answered prayer-The Fruit you are bearing. God will give you based on the fruit that you are bearing. What fruit are we talking about? The fruit of the Holy Spirit is what is needed to qualify someone to receive answered prayers. There are nine fruits of the Holy Spirit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. All these fruits are of benefit of someone else and not you. I am a beneficiary of the Lord’s loving-kindness which is a fruit of the holy Spirit. It is written, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not”. (Lamentations 3:22)

Text number two:

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (1 Peter 3:12) The word righteous used here is the Greek word dikaios that means equitable. To be equitable is to be characterized by justice or fairness and impartiality toward those involved. A scripture which immediately comes to mind is “Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child”. (Exodus 22:22) Brethren, equitability or righteousness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Text number three:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7) What are the words of Christ? “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you”. (John 15:12) Love, love, love fills all the words of Christ. Moreover, God is love. Love is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit. Actually, love is the mother of the remaining eight fruits. Without love you cannot suffer long for instance. Wherever you see the fruit of patience, love is the root of it.

Text number four:

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22) This text is probably a magnification of text number three. The condition here is the commandments. Which is the commandment? John 15:12 is the answer again. The commandment is to love one another as He has loved us.

Conclusion

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Colossians 3:12-14)

Walking in Unconditional Love is the major secret to have all your prayers answered.

Amen.

Operating under Divine Favour

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 21^st May 2012 06:51

 

Let’s open our Bibles to Psalm 102 v 13 Thou shall arise and have mercy on Zion (you can put your name there) for the time to favor her yea, the said time is come.

 If you receive that let me hear you say amen loud and clear.

Tonight we want to talk about OPERATING UNDER DIVINE FAVOR.

The pastor who spoke before have done an extremely beautiful job. And I just want to add a little bit to what he had already said, from this text we discovered that when a man’s time of favor comes God will do two basic things; number one he will arise, number two; he will show mercy. Only those two basic things, thou will arise and show mercy for the time to favor her yea, the said time has come. When the time for favor comes, God does two basic things.

Number one he arises, now Psalm 68 v 1-3 says let God arise and his enemies will scatter. Now when we will say the enemies of God will scatter the question that comes to your mind immediately is; who are the enemies of God?

When you look at Act 9 v 1-5 you discovered that the enemies of God are the enemies of his children. There was a man called Saul of Tarsus he was persecuting Christians, he was throwing them to prison, he was killing them, he was doing all manners of evil against them and then one day he got permission from the leaders to go to Damascus, that if he should find any Christian there at all he will take them bound to Jerusalem so that they can be dealt with.

On the way the Lord met him and knocked him down from the Horse. Do you know those who are persecuting you are about to be knocked down. Then God spoke to him and Saul, Saul, why persecuted thou me? And then Saul said how can I be persecuting you, I don’t even know who you are.

Then God said it is me you are persecuting, when you are persecuting my children. You see those who are tormenting children of God they don’t know that they are in serious danger because they are actually fighting against God and when God arises his enemies will scatter.

So if I were you I will congratulate the man beside you and say your enemies are about to be scattered.

When you go through the Scriptures you will see several examples of what happen when God arose, for example if you read Exodus 3 v 7-8 it is when God arose for Israel that there deliverance from Egypt came, he said to Moses he said I have seen the afflictions of my children, I have seen what the Egyptians are doing unto them.

You see many at times, we think God does not see, but God is not blind, everything that is happening here on earth he is observing and when it is time in his infinite wisdom to arise, he will arise.

And I have a feeling that the time for him to arise is now. The time for him to arise is now, he is about to arise for me, he is about to arise for me, he is about to arise for his church, he is about to arise for Nigeria, he is about to arise for the world. If you believe that let me hear you say amen.

When you read Judges 15 v 1 -15 it tells you the story of Samson dealing with the Philistines and then the Philistines decide they were going to revenge and the children of Israel decided; let’s sacrifice Samson.

His relatives came to him they bound him and they handed him over to the Philistines.

 I once preached a sermon on when God is silent. When they got Samson on the mountain top and they were bounding him, God didn’t say anything, when they were binding him; God kept quiet.

When they handed him over to the enemy; God didn’t say a word, until the enemies began to rejoice, thinking that now we got him, then God will arose. God will arise for somebody here today.

 And when God arose suddenly all the ropes bounding Samson, the bible say it was burnt as if it touched fire and somehow he landed where there was a jaw bone of an ass already waiting. Do you know the weapon that God will use to deal with your enemies is within your reach right now?

And before we knew what was happening; one thousand of the enemies lay dead and the others fled. When you read 1 Samuel 17 v 1 -51 for forty days Goliath was terrorizing Israel; he was getting up in the morning terrorizing them, in the evening terrorizing them and God kept quiet.

But one day, God arose. And when God arose in the morning, by the night time the head of Goliath was already gone. Tonight in the name that is above every other names, the Goliath in your life is about to lose his head.

When you read Daniel 3 v 13 – 30 you will see the story there of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when the king said they must bow down and worship his idol and they refused, God kept quiet.

When the king was boasting; I am going to deal with them, I am going to throw them into the fiery furnace, I am going to make the fire to burn seven times than normal, God kept quiet. When they were binding the three of them, God kept quiet.

When they were carrying them towards the fire, God kept quiet. But just before they landed in the fire, God arose!

 Do you know that whatever problem followed you here tonight, will not follow you back home? Because the time for God to arise for you has come, if you believe that let me hear your halleluiah!

When you read Daniel 6 v 18- 28 you will see it there, that when the enemies of Daniel were holding their meetings plotting how they will destroy him, they said something, they said we know him; there is no way you can corrupt him, the only way you can get him, is to ask him not to pray, he will pray to his God.

You know the enemies had been saying that concerning many of you; they said the only thing you can get him not to do is not to go to the Holy Ghost night, he will go there to pray, so let’s wait till he goes, well God is watching and he is listening.

When they said let’s get him into the den of Lions, God didn’t say a word. When they threw him into the den of lion and they rolled the stone across the mouth so that he won’t be able to escape and God arose and suddenly Lions became like lambs.

 

Do you know all those things that have been frightening you very soon now, they will be toys in your hands?

Let me give you just one more example because the bible is full of what happens when God arose.

In Act 16 v 25- 34 the Bible tells us about what happened to Silas, you know before that they had already cast out a demon out of a girl, the people got angry they beat them, they threw them to prison and they told the jailer keep them save because by tomorrow morning we are going to kill them.

And then the Bible says at mid-night, Paul and Silas began to pray and they began to praise God. They were doing what we are doing tonight and suddenly God arose and when God arose, the earth began to shake and very soon there was an earth quake. And the prison doors were flung open, every man’s bound were loosed.

And the man, that they say should keep these people save so that they can kill them tomorrow; is the now the one who began to wash their wounds, who began to give them food.

I have good news for somebody here tonight, because your time of favor has come; your enemies will become your servants.

 So number one, when the time of favor comes, God will arise.

Number two, he will show mercy.

I can go through the scriptures from the beginning to the end, to show you all those who received mercy from the Lord what were the outcome.

But the bible says something in Lamentation 3 v 22 – 23 he says it is of the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed, thank God it is renewed every morning. But for the mercy of God how many of us will be alive today?

If God has not been merciful unto us; many of us were born into a family where the father probably had six or seven wives.

And out of the six or seven wives maybe five of them are witches and maybe your mummy alone is the only who didn’t know anything at all and yet the Almighty God preserved your life.

How many people are in that category? Let me hear you shout halleluiah!

It is of the mercy of the Lord that we are not consumed and because of that mercy that is why you are going to get your breakthrough tonight. Because when you read Mark 1 v 40 -45 the Bible tells us the story of a leper who came to Jesus Christ and said I know you can make me clean if you are willing.

In order words I know you have the power, but I am not even sure I qualify for a miracle, the bible says Jesus Christ did something very great, he touched the leper. And the bible says you must not touch a leper, because if you touched a leper you yourself will become unclean. But the one, who made the law, broke the law. Why?

Because they said he was moved by compassion. Mercy moved Him. Tonight every law that is against you shall be broken because God will show you mercy in Jesus name.

In Romans 9 v 15 – 16 the Bible says God said I will be merciful on whom I will be merciful (and am sure I am the one He is talking to now)…

I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. It is therefore not of him that runeth, nor of him that willeth but of God that showeth mercy.

Nobody succeeds in this world except God had mercy on him and he will have mercy on you tonight in Jesus name.

I am going to take just one case study to show you things that will happen when a man is operating under divine favor.

And the example I am going to  use is Joseph, there are several things I can tell you about Joseph.

In fact I wrote a whole book on him, on the faithfulness of God (if you want you can go to CRM bookshop and you get the book) it is a whole book, but tonight am not going to go over a whole book, I am going to mention seven things that will happen to somebody who is operating under divine favor.

• Number one:You cannot kill a man operating under divine favor, nobody can kill him. Genesis  37 v 19- 20 the bible says when the brothers of Joseph saw him coming, what was it they said? behold the dreamer comes, let us kill him. They said let us kill him, I mean ten big men decided that the time has come for a young boy to be killed but they forgot something, they forgot that this man was operating under divine favor.
• I want to assure every one of you here tonight, you will not die before your date. How do I know? Because Deuteronomy 32 v 39 the Almighty God said I am God and there is no one else, he said I am the only one who can kill, and I am the only one who can make alive. And he said there is no man who can deliver out of my hand, in other words no one can kill. Nobody can kill anybody God does not kill and I can assure you; God is not going to kill you at all.
• So when God arises when there are enemies who have made up their minds that they want to kill you and then God arises what will happen? Deuteronomy 28 v 27 And God will cause the enemies that rise against you to be smitten before your face.  Do you know what that one means? you are standing still, enemies arose against you and while you are watching you just see the enemies collapsing. You don’t have to do anything all! God will cause the enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face, he said when they come against you in one way they will flee seven ways.
•  When God arises for you nobody can kill you, the bible say in Isaiah 54 v 17 he says no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper. If God arises for you, every weapon of the enemies will be neutralized.

Isaiah 41 v 10 – 13God says I will help you, he said I will hold you by the right hand and I will help you. He said those who are incensed against you, will be as nothing, he said you will look for them, you won’t even find them.

When God arises for you, those who says they want to kill you, they will scatter and that is going to happen tonight in Jesus name:

Number two, when a man is operating under divine favor, not only can you not kill him, you cannot kill his dreams. There are several people who just like Joseph had some very big dreams. Big dreams!  In Genesis 37 v 5 -11 Joseph had a dream. Then he told his brothers, even an idiot could interpret the dream; this little boy said the dream I had is that all you my brothers you are going to bow down before me.

And the brother said, “You! We will see”. Then he had another dream, again he dreamt, and this time he said not even just the brother; my father and my mother they too they are going to be bowing down, so they said “alright we will see”.

When they saw him coming they say we will kill him and when he dies his dreams will die with him.

Many of us when we are young we have wonderful dreams, some of us by now as we are getting old, we begin to wonder what is going to happen to those dreams. I have good assurance for you, if you are operating under divine favor; those dream as big as they were they will come to past.

Because In Genesis 50 v 15 – 21 those brothers, the same brothers, who wanted to kill Joseph and kill his dreams, came, fell down before him and they say we will be your servant.

Am assuring someone here tonight, all those who have ganged up against you who say they must destroy your dreams; very soon they will come and bow down before you, why? Because when a man is operating under divine favor, God arises for him.

The Lord said there is someone here again tonight, who is asking the question again and again, when will the battle be over? The Lord asked me to tell you very soon.

Psalm 33 v 10-11the Bible says that the Lord bring the counsel of the hidden to nothing, he makes the devices of the people of none effect but the counsel of the Lord shall stand forever.

 So it doesn’t matter what they planned against you, it doesn’t matter their evil imagination, as long as God is on your side the original plan of God for your life shall be fulfilled in Jesus name.

I have told you this story before, but I will say it because of those who are listening all over the world who had never heard it.

 In 1951 in my little village but it’s no longer little glory be to God.  It was a small village, in those days only two Lorries come to town per day, one is Austin the other is Bedford and you can tell by the sound they make.

At that time I can tell you the total number of people with pairs of shoe in the whole village; they were very few, I know the headmaster had one, the king had one, the catholic priest had one and some other people so you don’t get the number.

 And so the Anglican bishop from Ibadan came to visit our village and we in the primary school we lined up to receive him, the village hunters didn’t go to the farm, they were firing their deign guns to give the Bishop gun salute. And he drove in a very new black car.

Remember, only two Lorries come to the village, here comes a car. He was wearing the robe of a bishop, beautiful robe and when he was coming out of his car, I looked at his shoes, oh God! It was shining beautiful, I have never seen anything like that before, my mouth was wide open, and then when it was time for him to go, every farmer were giving him gifts; chicken, yams, eggs. When I got home that day, I told my mother, I said mama; I am going to be a bishop.

That was 1951, then I grew up, went to school and dropped out of church for years, I didn’t even go to church at all talk less of Bishop.

But as God will have it somewhere along the line, He met me, He saved my soul, one way or the other He promoted me and I became General Overseer.

Then in 1981 I was visiting my village as General Overseer, and they arranged for the school children to line up the route, the hunters were firing their guns, I drove in a brand new car and as I was about to come down from the car I looked at my shoes.

Let somebody shout halleluiah!

Thirty years after I had the dream it came to past, your dream too, everyone of them shall come to past in Jesus name.

Number three, when you are operating under divine favor, at home you will shine. According to Genesis 37v3 among all the children of his father, Joseph was special, what made him special?

They said he was the son of the old age, but that is the excuse. He was special because God made him special. Tell your neighbor, you may not know it but I am special to God.

 So his father made him a coat of many colors, Isaiah 60 v 1-2 he said arise and shine, why? For your light is come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you, it is not anything particular, that made Joseph special, it is the glory of God upon his life.

In 1 Samuel 16 v 11 – 13 when God wanted to pick a king in the house of Jesse, he picked David, David shone among his brethren.

In 1 Samuel 16 v 15-18 you will discover that when an evil spirit began to trouble king Saul, and his servant told him, ‘sir  you need a musician to play so that this evil forces will leave you alone’ and he said ‘okay, get me someone’.

They said ‘we know one man who was an extremely good musician and he was a valiant man of valor’ they were talking about David.  Even at home he was already shinning.

And in the name that is above every other name, from now on you too will begin to shine at home.

Number four, when you are operating under divine favor even in strange land, he will shine. When Joseph got to Egypt in Genesis 39 v 1 -6 the Bible says almost immediately he arrived in Potiphar house he began to shine, Potiphar just took a look at him and saw the way things were going  and said I hand over everything to you.

How do you hand over everything to a prisoner? a prisoner that you have just bought , a prisoner that you don’t know anything about. But because God was arising for him abroad he was shinning.

 

 The Bible says in Psalm 121 v 8 God says I will keep your coming and your going out. In other words, it doesn’t matter where you go, you will still shine there.

 In Daniel 1 v 8-20 the Bible tells us when Shedrack, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel got to the foreign land where they were taken to slavery, the Almighty God showed them favor and by the time they finished their training they were ten times more better than other wise men. Abroad they shine!

                         

In Genesis 24 v 1 – 14 Isaac was in a foreign land and there was farming in the Land and because he obeyed God, God made him to shine at the time that there was famine in the land; he prospered so much he became the envy of the entire nation.

I have good news for someone here tonight, very soon the whole nation will know about you.

I have told this story before, several years ago, when I was still a lecturer at the university of Lagos, there was this conference of applied mathematician in Canada and I happened to be one of the two people sent from Nigeria to go and represent us, and I felt very big because Nigeria is sending two people and they included me.

When we got there for the opening night, the man who was to make the opening remark (I think at that time I had published about 12 papers, it is your publication that they use in promoting you) but when they introduce the man who was going to do the opening talk they said he has published a hundred and fifty papers, I said what am I doing here?

Then he began to talk on what he called the mathematic of the rain. And I know two days later they were going to call me to stand before all these people to present my paper, what am I going to say in the presence of somebody who is talking about the mathematics of the rain?

I tell you a secret , I  prayed hard; “ Almighty God when it’s my time to present my paper don’t let this man come”, But when the time came he was seating in the front row. Probably he came because I was so young, I am talking of 1976 or so, and I was afraid, because when somebody has finished preparing papers, others begin to ask him questions.

So it is not the presentation I am afraid of, it is how am going to answer their questions.

Then I presented my paper and everybody got up and they began to clap including that man!

I am prophesying to someone here today, anywhere you go, you will prosper.

Number five, when you are operating under divine favor, whatever he does prospers Genesis 39 v 2 the Bible says in Potiphar house Joseph was a prosperous man, then Genesis 39 v 21 – 23, even when Joseph landed in prison, again, God was with him and whatever he did prospered.

When a man is operating under divine favor, anything he touches will begin to succeed, he will begin to prosper.

Thank you father, the Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said that which was introduced into you while you were sleeping had been removed tonight.

Daddy says there is someone here tonight; he said the cause of your delay has been dealt with right now.

Jeremiah 17 v 7 -8, the Bible tells us that when a man put his trust in the Lord he will be like a tree planted by the river side he said whatsoever he does shall prosper.

Do you know that you can sell pure water and become a billionaire? If God is with you, anything you touch will prosper.

You can sell fire wood and become a billionaire, whatever he does shall prosper. In the name that is above every other name, your prosperity begins now.

Number six, when a man is operating under divine favor, his promotion is certain, there may be a delay like in Genesis 40 v 1 – 23 the bible tells us that after Joseph interpreted the dreams to some people and he told the one that was going to be in the court of Pharaoh he said when you get back to your position please remember me, but the bible says the man just forgot him, for two years he forgot the one who had done him good, but that is because the time wasn’t right yet, when the time came, the one who has forgotten remembered.

There are many of us who are here tonight, we have done good to several people, but in our times of trial they have forgotten us.

They don’t even want to see us, they don’t want to help us at all, but I have good news for you; things are about to change.

All those who should help you, who have forgotten about you, tonight they will have a dream, God will send them a dream so that by the time they wake up they will be looking for you.

When a man is operating under divine favor, his promotion may be delayed but it will surely come to pass.

In Genesis 41 v 38-40, the Bible says finally they brought Joseph out of the prison, and Pharaoh said we can’t find another man as wise as this, the spirit of God is in him, therefore let put him in charge.

       

Isaiah 75 v 6-7tells us that promotion does not come from the east or from the west or from the south he said God is the judge, He raises one and pulls down another.

 God the great promoter will bring your promotion speedily in Jesus name.

 Like I told you before in 1 Samuel 2 v 7-8 when the Almighty God decides to promote you, he keeps on promoting, he can take you to any height, and he can take you to place you never dreamt possible. He just keeps on promoting, after all his arm is an everlasting hands.

If human being promotes you they can bring you down, if news paper promotes you one day they will turn against you the same people who are writing good thing about you today, with great joy they will write evil things about you. Because they know it is evil news that will sell their papers.

 It is not they are wicked, it is just their job. But when God promotes, you he keeps promoting you forever.

And I have good news for somebody here; your promotion is beginning right now.

Am sure you will remember the story of one lecturer in one university, the Head of department said because he refused to join a secret society he said this fellow will never be promoted as long as he is the head of department.

This young man who gave his life to Jesus Christ mentioned the case and we cried to the Almighty God.

After all the Almighty God said if you have faith and you doubt not, you will say to this mountain, mountain be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea and it shall be so. If the Head of department decided to make himself a mountain, we tell mountain to move.

Every mountain blocking your way shall move in Jesus name.

And suddenly there was a coup a new government came and the new government for one reason or other decides to remove all professors who were head of department at that time.

And the Head of department came. And the head of department said ‘I want to see the files of all those who are under me and they couldn’t find the file of this man.

The master has seen to it that the file was well hidden. They kept searching and finally they found the file and found out that there had been no recommendation for that man for more ten years.

No single recommendation, because they file was hidden And the new boos said there is only one way to compensate him and he gave him double promotion. Everything that had been denied you shall be returned seven folds in Jesus name.

Finally number seven:When a man is operating under divine favor, he will surely reach the top. There is no way you can keep down somebody who is operating under divine favor.

In Genesis 41 v 44 the bible said Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh and I am saying to you Joseph in the land of Egypt nobody will lift his hand or foot without your permission.

He said they must all obey me and I am saying I am taking the back seat, you rule, nobody will do anything without your permission.

 Deuteronomy 28 v 13 when you are operating under divine favor, you will be head and not tail, you won’t stop until you reach the top and God is talking to someone here tonight.

In 1 Samuel 22 v 1 -2 even when David found himself in the cave of Adullam and al lot of vagabonds, people in distress people in need, people who had problems, gathered themselves together to him, he was still their captain, even in the cave he was captain.

Then later on in 2Samuel 2 v 4 in spite of everything that the enemies had done  he was anointed again to be king of Judah, then in 2 Samuel 5 v 1 -3 finally everybody came and said listen you are to be king of Israel.

I say it one more time, that goal where God is taking you, you will reach there in Jesus name.

By the time you get to Mark 10 v 46 -52 you hear Bartimeus saying something about Jesus, he says Jesus thou son of David.

Now the bible tells us that Jesus is the king of kings and yet the bible records for us that David is the father of king of kings, now that is absolute top.

He started asking among his brethren, he became captain over vagabonds in the cave of Adullam, then he became king over Judah, then he became king over Israel and then he kept on rising until he became father of the King of kings.

I have good news for somebody here today, in the name that is above every other names, I will see you at the top, because that is where I am going.  I am going to the top, anybody going to the top with me? I will see you there in Jesus name.

This is the reason why anybody who has any common sense at all will not want to offend God.

Because he is the only one who can give you divine favor, He is the only one who can make sure that nobody can kill you, He is the only one who can make sure nobody can kill your dreams, He is the only one who can make sure you shine at home, He is the only one who can make sure you shine abroad, He is the only one who can make sure that even if your promotion is delayed, it will still come to past.

He is the only one who can make sure you will finally reach the top.

 That is why in Genesis 39 v 7 -9 when a woman the wife of Potiphar, tried to entice Joseph into committing sin, Joseph said no way.

The woman said nobody will know, I am the mistress of this house, my husband is away, whatever I say is final and when I ask everybody to clear out of the house, they will clear. So we will do this thing secretly nobody will know.

Joseph said I am not talking of your husband; I am talking of God, how can I do this thing and sin against God?

 Your husband has done great thing for me, he has left everything in my hand, but he is only an instrument in the hand of God, I cannot dare offend God.

Many at times some people they think when they look right and they don’t see any one, they look left and they don’t see anyone and the door is locked. They think everything is okay; I can do whatever I like now. God is watching!

I am sure you heard the testimony of a member of the choir, not in our church but in another church. The pastor has agreed with her to go to a hotel and do all kind of things. And they got to the hotel, they were about to enter the room, again the pastor looked round right and he looked left nobody knows us here, but as they were about to enter the room, the girl said to the pastor, we have looked right, we have looked left,  she said but we didn’t look up. She said God is watching. That was how she escaped.

Do you know God is watching you? And it is good news that is why the enemy cannot reach you without him knowing. If He is watching you, that is why he can keep your going in and you’re coming out.

If he is watching you that is why he can monitor what you are doing so that he can make it to prosper. If he is watching you that is why he can make you to find favor anywhere you go.

 But because he is watching, that is why  you cannot afford to offend him, no matter well you locked the door, you can’t lock God out, he himself is the door, when he wants to come in he doesn’t need a key.

That is why people have asked me again and again, why do you keep on hammering on holiness? I said ‘I have seen a little in my few years in this world, I am seventy years old now.

I have seen people rise and fall, I have seen people promoted by God crashing to the ground. Becoming nothing, why? Because they offend God,

I can assure you of one thing, when I became born again and I was running up and down, winning soul, Doing one program after the other, some people says take it easy that is how they always start, very soon he will go down.

 I told them then others may go down, this one is not going to go down. And I am telling you brethren you have not seen anything yet, I am going to go on higher and higher. Why because I have learnt the secret; as long as there is no quarrel between me and God the rest is easy.

Everybody can be against me if God is for me, I am more than conqueror, that is why I am appealing seriously to those of you who are here tonight. Because this is a very special night indeed, if you are still leaving in sin, it is time to repent, if you have not given your life to Jesus Christ before, come and do so tonight.

If you say you are a Christian and you are still living in sin; you are a backslider, come and give your life back to Jesus Christ. Holiness is the master key, you live holy, and the rest is settled.

Dating and Courtship:God’s Way - Pt II

by DAVID C. PACK 11^th May 2012 10:02

ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

Every engineer and architect understands the importance of a building’s foundation. To construct a huge skyscraper in the middle of a city, experienced engineers would first examine the land, before planning, let alone laying, the foundation. The bigger the structure, the stronger the foundation required to support it. Miscalculation can lead to disaster. Therefore, every precaution is taken to make sure that it is built correctly. Otherwise, an enormous amount of money and effort would be spent in vain.

Why do billions of people seem unable to apply the same principle to their own lives, especially when so much is at stake? Marriage, in a sense, is the second biggest “building” in one’s life (next to salvation), yet few see the importance of laying a right foundation—or any foundation—under it. Sadly, no school of marital architecture or engineering is teaching how to do this.

Necessity of a Good Foundation

Jesus was a carpenter. This meant that He understood the importance of carefully laying a right foundation before starting a building’s actual construction. He knew what this first step meant to the building process and later stability of the structure. In Luke, using this analogy, He described the man who “…built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” He contrasted this with “…he that hears, and does not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth [Matthew’s account says “sand”]; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (6:48-49).

The world does not understand that proper dating and courtship form the rock-solid foundation that every marriage must stand on. Instead, most unconsciously build marriages on little more than emotional and psychological sand! When troubles come into marriages—as they invariably do—failure results because they are improperly anchored. So many couples are unnecessarily swept away by “floods” for which they were never prepared.

How many years are required to build a towering skyscraper? Including clearing the worksite, digging and pouring the foundation alone can often take many months, or even a year. Likewise, it takes much time and effort to build a successful, solid relationship. And this also does involve first clearing the “worksite”—unlearning all of the wrong knowledge upon which your understanding of selecting a mate is founded.

Most human beings live their lives guided by feelings, and many times by mere momentary impulse. Using their own logic and experience, countless couples do not realize that absolute destruction lies ahead. What “seems right” can lead to the “death” of a marriage (Prov. 14:12).

Another important aspect of this analogy is that the foundation is not often noticeable. When standing amid a neighborhood full of houses, foundations are not easily seen. In a city, the huge concrete pillars that go deep into the ground under the skyscrapers are concealed. The same is true of dating, courtship and other areas of our lives. Often, we may not see the foundation, but it is critically important!

In the first stages of a relationship, when one is having a good time, all can seem wonderful. On the surface, a relationship founded on lust and infatuation is often hard to distinguish from one based on true biblical principles. Infatuation often comes disguised as true love, and few can—or will—see the difference. Nevertheless, the relationship built on infatuation is almost certain to collapse (and often so will some of the many lives directly connected to it), and usually very quickly, while the one built on true love will not.

Often, statements like, “They were so in love” or “I was there with them the evening they fell in love, and I knew it would be forever,” could be made by friends or family. But all those involved—participants and observers—were blind to the importance of a solid foundation.

Happy marriages do not come about by chance! Success requires much work and patience, and preparation must start before beginning to date. And the foundation of true marital success has several components.

Understanding the True God

There is no book in the Bible titled “How to Date, Court and Marry.” Nor are there specific chapters or verses with the words “date” or “court.” As a result, many professing Christians resort to their own beliefs and feelings on this matter. Yet, there are attributes of God, and very critical elements of His laws and principles, that must be understood to form a proper foundation in order to realize a happy and abundant life.

The world is ignorant of the true God and His laws. This is why so many ask themselves, “Who or what is God?” Because God is Spirit, and He must draw individuals to Christ (John 6:44, 65), it is actually impossible for humans to know the true God—or to grasp the laws that He put in place, which govern everything, including marriage—without Him calling them and revealing Himself to them.

You must be willing to absolutely prove the existence of the true God. This book is designed for those who will be able to understand the principles it contains, which are based upon what the God of the Bible teaches.

Scores of passages would be necessary to fully understand the true God of the Bible. However, for our purposes here, I John 4:8states, “God is love.” Because God is also perfect, He has a perfect understanding of what constitutes love. Within His Master Plan is a supreme purpose for every human being.

God understood from Creation that it was “not good that the man should be alone.” Therefore, He created a wife for the first man, Adam (Gen. 2:18). Recall that He also taught Adam and Eve His Law and explained how, if kept, this would bring wonderful happiness and joy to their lives.

The Give Way

The Bible teaches that there are two different, opposing ways of life. One is best described as the “give” way—the other as the “get” way.

The give way is outgoing, outflowing concern for the needs, concerns and welfare of others. It is focused away from self! It is diametrically opposite in thinking from the get way, which is incoming, focused on self, with one’s own interests and needs at heart.

The Bible teaches that God has a “divine nature” (II Pet. 1:4). This nature is “natural” to God, but it is not natural for people. While His Way reflects the give way of life (Jms. 1:17), human beings practice the opposite. As simple as this sounds, your dating will reflect either the get or give way of life.

Though most will never admit it, they are almost totally preoccupied throughout their lives with getting, accumulating, satisfying, and focusing on the self. The average person views a date with one thing in mind, from the perspective of the number one person in his life—himself! One may not consciously admit this—or even be able to recognize it without God’s help—but it is true nevertheless. Influenced by your carnal nature, you will automatically—naturally—think selfishly, always putting your needs first.

Be determined from now on to ignore those selfish desires. Remember, God’s way is give. When approaching each aspect of dating and courting, keep this fundamental perspective in mind. You are here—you were born—to give to others. (Actually, when fully understood—and there is not enough space to cover more than the basics of it here—learning to give is the greatest goal in life!) In dating and courtship, this approach will benefit you in untold ways if you always keep it in the front of your mind.

Always ask yourself and be concerned with what kind of date you are giving, rather than what the other person is doing—whether you are getting from the other person what you expect, because you expect him or her to do the giving. And, in effect, this is what you are saying if you are focused on getting a good time.

God’s Way Simplified

Man has established millions of laws. Yet, he does not realize the awesome significance of God’s laws, embodied in the Ten Commandments. To most, these are merely considered to be ten Jewish principles of morality. Yet these commandments are far greater than that! God’s Law existed long before Moses received the stone tablets, given to Israel at Mt. Sinai.

God’s Law can be simplified into one word—love. The Ten Commandments are summarized as love toward God and love toward fellow human beings. The first four teach man how to love God. Notice: “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make unto you any graven image…You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:3-8). In Matthew 22, Christ summarized these four, saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” (vs. 37-38).

The last six of the Ten Commandments instruct man how to love his fellow man. Notice these: “Honor your father and your mother…You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet…” (Ex. 20:12-17).

God’s Law Magnified

The Ten Commandments form the only true foundation of every aspect of the right way to live—including how to form and maintain proper relationships. This Law existed before Moses—from the time of Creation. All ten were magnified in the New Testament and are still in effect today. As the same One who was the God of the Old Testament, Christ states that He “is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). Christ knew that the commandments form the foundation on which all of God’s laws were built. As the God of the Old Testament, He inspired the prophecy in Isaiah 42:21: “The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” (This prophecy was fulfilled at His First Coming.)

Christ referenced several of the Ten Commandments in the New Testament, in each case magnifying and strengthening them. Recall, for example, what He said concerning the Seventh Commandment, most important for our purpose here: “You have heard that it was said by them of old time, you shall not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:27-28).

Violating the spirit of any of God’s Law is sin—and all sin is against God (Psa. 51:4). This is the perspective that one must take to understand correct dating and courtship. Your perspective should mirror God’s. Although the Bible does not tell us specifically how to approach every aspect of dating and courting, there are principles that must be applied to build a successful, long-lasting relationship. Everything you do in the course of dating and courtship should be based on give, continually asking if your conduct reflects both love toward God and love toward your neighbor.

Sin is the opposite of love, and this includes vanity. Competition, strife (arguments), greed, envy, jealousy, hatred and lust all stem from vanity. The briefest look reveals that relationships today are filled with these attitudes.

What is Sin?

The Bible teaches that you have at least one thing in common with every man, woman and child who has ever lived: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The Bible also says that when—not if—you sin, you automatically earn the penalty of death (Rom. 6:23).

But what is sin?—What is it that people do to earn death?

Many religious leaders teach that Christ died for our sins and that His shed blood cleanses us from sin. They preach about being set free from bondage to sin, while they preach about freedom from keeping God’s Law. Have you noticed that they never define what sin is—that they never challenge people to search their Bibles to see how God defines sin?

If they did, they would have to read I John 3:4, where John wrote, “Whosoever commits sin transgresses [breaks] also the law: for sin is the transgression [breaking] of the law.” When you sin, you break the law.

But what law? Paul wrote, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law” (Rom. 7:7). God’s Law reveals sin, and the specifics of it.

Again, what law was Paul writing about? Notice: “…for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet” (same verse). This is the Tenth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:17and Deuteronomy 5:21. Paul and John were both clearly referring to the Ten Commandments. Both apostles taught that breaking this Law is sin.

John also wrote, in I John 5:17, “All unrighteousness is sin.” Since God’s commandments are righteousness (Psa. 119:172), then unrighteousness—sin—must be the opposite. Therefore, sin is the breaking of God’s commandments.

The apostle James expanded this principle when he taught, “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend [sin] in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, do not commit adultery, said also, do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law [a lawbreaker]” (2:10-11). Of course, James was also referring to the Ten Commandments.

Consider. People may go through life without ever physically committing a murder or adultery, or stealing or lying. Nevertheless, all have sinned. How can this be? Because even when we obey the letter of the Law, we can break the spirit of the Law in our minds—and this is sin.

Sin always begins in the mind. Given enough time, what you think about eventually becomes what you do (Prov. 23:7). Notice what Christ said: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart [mind]; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders [Sixth Commandment], adulteries [Seventh Commandment], fornications, thefts [Eighth Commandment], false witness [Ninth Commandment], blasphemies [Third Commandment]: These are the things which defile a man” (Matt. 15:18-20).

Also, James 1:14-15demonstrates that wrong thoughts eventually produce wrong actions: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death [the wages of sin].”

The typical singles scene in today’s society is a veritable study in temptation, lust and the sexual sins “conceived” as a result.

Lust Conceives Sin

Most never make the connection between thoughts and actions. The Bible records a tragic example of how lustful thoughts can lead to disaster. Even beginning Bible students are familiar with the account of King David’s adultery with Bathsheba. This story bears examination at this point to see how lust can conceive one sin, that leads to others, and results in death.

One spring evening, as David walked on the roof of his palace, he spotted a woman who was bathing (II Sam. 11:2). Instead of looking away, and putting her image out of his mind, he allowed himself to entertain wrong thoughts, and broke the Tenth Commandment—coveting another man’s wife.

These thoughts led him to inquire about the woman (vs. 3), and he discovered that she was the wife of Uriah, one of his most trusted servants. Unfortunately, this did not stop David from going forward to break the Seventh Commandment by committing adultery with her (vs. 4). His sin also involved breaking the Eighth Commandment. David took (stole) what did not belong to him—Uriah’s wife.

These sins eventually resulted in the birth of an illegitimate child (vs. 5). Earlier, wanting to cover up the pregnancy, David conspired against Uriah, who had been away faithfully fighting a war for his king. Recalling him from the front lines, David urged Uriah, through deceit, to sleep with Bathsheba to make him think he was the unborn child’s father (vs. 6-13). These actions broke the spirit of the Ninth Commandment—bearing false witness.

When Uriah refused to sleep with Bathsheba, feeling he must be with the troops instead, David orchestrated Uriah’s murder by having him placed in the most intense part of the battle, thus ensuring his death (vs. 14-17). David had now broken the Sixth Commandment—“You shall not kill.”

What began merely as impure thoughts led to multiple sins—and catastrophic results! Sin often begins in a seemingly harmless and innocent manner, but unless stopped and repented of in the early stages, it leads to catastrophe and complete destruction.

Eventually, when David came to see his sins as God did—as terrible lawbreaking and iniquity—he repented. This is why he wrote, “For You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with You. The foolish shall not stand in Your sight: You hate all workers of iniquity [sin]” (Psa. 5:4-5).

Foundation Established

The need to establish and then build on the basics is especially important with dating and courting. If one is not rooted in sound, clear understanding, it is impossible to build a sturdy house—physically or spiritually. You now have the necessary foundational knowledge to be able to understand principles we must yet discuss from God’s Word regarding dating and courtship.

The Bible further compares Christians to general contractors—builders. Notice Paul’s words: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (I Cor. 3:10-13).

What you have learned to this point is precious knowledge. We could ask: Are you determined, in any potential relationship, to build with gold, silver and precious stones?

TRUE LOVE—AND HOW IT RELATES TO DATING

We have seen that when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they cut humanity off from God. Therefore, mankind is also cut off from the source of real love. As a result, because millions lack God’s revealed knowledge of what is true love, the feeling they have is only a feeling!

You need no longer be ignorant of this. God created men and women with the ability to love and be loved—and He wants them to experience this in their lives. You can find true love in a relationship—and we have seen that it is far different than simple infatuation—but to do this you must first understand what it is!

Love Defined

The New Testament uses two different Greek words generally translated “love.” One is found in Colossians 3:19, where husbands are commanded, “love your wives.” Here, the word “love” derives from the Greek word agape. This word means the love of god, and to understand the fullest love that can be shared between a man and a woman, we must first know what the love of God is.

One must accept that men’s opinions do not count! The Bible is the sole authority. Now how does God’s Word define His love?

John wrote, “for this is the love of god, that we keep his commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” (I John 5:3). Previously, we have talked about love and we have talked about God’s Law, but we have now established how they are connected. The Bible plainly defines the greatest love as the keeping of God’s commandments. Sadly, while every professing Christian wants to experience the love of God, most believe that the commandments are grievous—and harsh!—and would say that this law was done away by Christ’s sacrifice.

Is it any wonder that the state of dating, courtship and marriage today is in such confusion, yielding so many tragic results and ruining so many lives? What hope could any marriage have without understanding and having access to the love of God?

Recognize that the commandments and the law are the same. Notice how Paul amplified what John wrote: “Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). Once again, love is defined here as “the fulfilling of the law.” Obedience to the Ten Commandments fulfills the Law—and it is this that “works no ill to his neighbor.”

Remember that the Bible speaks of “the Holy Spirit, [which] God has given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). True Christians obey God’s spiritual Law. Jesus never taught that we need merely “believe on Him” to be saved. When asked what one must “do” to have “eternal life”—be saved—Jesus did not say, “Just believe on Me.” He said, “If you will enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17). Now read how having the Holy Spirit is directly connected to the love of God: “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5)—but only if we obey God!

Where is the harshness in a law God equates to love? The “sentimental fluff” standards of the various humanly-defined forms of so-called “love” mean nothing to God. As with sin, only God can define real love!

Once again, commandment-keeping demonstrates out-flowing, selfless concern for others!

Consider God’s greatest gift to mankind, which has been reduced to little more than a religious slogan: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Recognize that God is the only Source of true love, and only through His Word—the Holy Bible—can we find exactly what constitutes true love between a man and a woman.

Returning to the Greek

As mentioned, two words were translated “love” in the New Testament. The Greeks recognized that there were different forms of love, and by understanding these two words, plus a third Greek word (not found in the New Testament) that can also be translated “love,” we can better understand the love one must strive for in relationships.

The next New Testament word translated “love” is philia, the root word for “Philadelphia,” meaning “brotherly love.” This love is between brothers, friends or comrades—a physical love of companionship and friendship. Parents and children, siblings and close friends all share this type of love in their relationships.

But the Greeks also had a third word for love, eros. You may recognize the English word erotic, which is derived from it. Eros is romantic, sexual love between husband and wife, but it is not lust! Remember, it is a form of love, which God designed to be the pinnacle of physical pleasure when expressed in a marriage relationship between husband and wife, the only proper place for it.

Clearly, eros is not wrong, but it should never be the only form of love in a marriage. Sadly, however, most couples have no idea that marriage cannot be based solely on romantic love. This excludes both of the much deeper forms of love that couples can go on to experience. While romance and sex certainly bring some happiness and closeness in a marriage, and this is not to be understated, this is not enough to make the relationship truly fulfilling—or for it even to last.

Grasp this! Though the love of friendship and companionship is vital, both philia and eros are—and can only be—practiced on the physical level.

Before delving deeper into the meaning of eros, let’s first see the kind of love the Bible instructs spouses to have toward one another: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25). The love referenced here, as with so many other scriptures, is agape. God expresses this love to mankind spiritually through His Holy Spirit working in converted minds. Recall Romans 5:5.

Agapeis not merely a feeling, although it can involve various feelings. It is a conscious, controlled way of thinking. It is absolutely crucial to recognize that the natural, carnal mind, lacking God’s Spirit, simply cannot experience this kind of love—and neither can any marriage that leaves God out of the picture!

All three forms of love are important, and vital, for the bond of marriage to remain strong—and to endure. But remember, these three are vastly different. Philia is the love within friendships. Eros is the love expressed through romance and sex. Agape is the most critical and important love—spiritual love. (Take time to study I Corinthians 13, often described as the “love chapter.” It expands on the many specific attributes of agape.)

Some marriages never get beyond eros. Others grow to involve a genuine philia for one another. But marriages—and any other relationships—that reach the pinnacle of supreme happiness have graduated to agape, the greatest form of love.

While the first two may, over time, come naturally to a relationship, agape is not natural in human beings. This is truly the dimension of which the world knows nothing.

Recognizing True Love

Again, what is true love? We have learned that it is a selfless, sharing, out-flowing concern for others that is founded on the way of give. This love involves putting one’s own feelings and interests aside to better see—and serve—the needs and feelings of others.

Remember, God is love. Although man is and always has been hostile toward Him, God still gave His only Son to redeem humanity. This is why Christ said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Understand the enormity of this gift. If Christ had not succeeded in His goal when He was human, the Father would have been utterly alone for all eternity, having no one remaining except the angels with whom to share His love!

Because God is love, He desires all to have—to experience—the same love He experiences! As one submits to God, repents and is baptized, he gains access to God through His Holy Spirit. As this love flows through the newly converted, it will flow into his relationships throughout his lifetime.

Grasp this all-important point. This love overarches absolutely everything having to do with dating and courtship. True love is unselfish. It is not an emotional high (although it certainly involves emotions). It combines both outgoing concern and genuine affection for the other person in a relationship. But it must always continue to extend further—to include every other human being.

Many songs croon of “love at first sight.” One describes “strangers in the night exchanging glances, wondering at first sight, what were the chances they’d be sharing love before the night was through.” Others speak of gazing “across a crowded room,” somehow able to “know” they have just “fallen in love.” But can this truly happen on a genuine level? No! Instead, there can only be desire—lust—at first sight! Based upon appearance, one may be attracted to someone across a room but a relationship founded on this alone is wrong, and will never work.

One simply cannot fall in love at first sight, although one can grow over time to deeply love a person. This develops out of mutual admiration and respect for one another, and involves, as we will learn, much thought and careful analysis.

Do Not Be Deceived!

I have counseled teenage couples who sincerely believed that they were “in love.” While perhaps only 18 or 19, they were convinced that they would someday marry each other. Guided by their human reasoning, these teens sought to validate their feelings in what were inappropriate relationships. Even after hearing real love explained, they continued deceiving themselves into believing they were “sharing” and “giving”—that they were practicing unselfishness—true love. They “knew” they loved each other, and only wished others would understand.

Teens are generally incapable of analyzing their motives in a relationship, either until it has failed, a pregnancy or disease has resulted, or virginity has been lost and disillusionment has entered—in other words, when it is too late! For some, even these are not enough to jolt them to reality.

Human nature could be described as an onion with a rotten core. Each layer of skin is a different motive, and while the upper layer seems fine (in this case, supposed “true love”), one must be willing to shed each layer in order to see what is at the core. Any two teenagers who sincerely think they are in love must analyze the motive behind the motive, and honestly acknowledge the basis of their relationship—infatuation driven by lust!

Notice what the Creator God states about your feelings—and your heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). And recall again an earlier reference, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).

If you are a teen and feel—“know!”—that you are in love, beware! Notice: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkens [listens] unto counsel is wise” (Prov. 12:15). Take time to periodically reread these three passages, and remind yourself to honestly face the facts and to hear wise counsel!

Vast numbers of teenagers go down the path of sincerely believing they are in love. Deceiving themselves, they are actually ruining their lives and the lives of others! Fornication, terrible diseases, unwanted children, shamed and disappointed families, financial hardship, disillusionment, psychological problems (sometimes even leading to suicide), lost education, lost innocence, lost friendships, lost happiness—and lost futures—are the painful results!

Make no mistake! These things do not just apply to teenagers! Laws are laws—they play no favorites. They apply to every person who violates—breaks—God’s eternal spiritual Law, which, if kept, is capable of preventing every human ill. Breaking them brings a host of effects that WILL “break” all who ignore this supreme cause.

A simple principle applies here: “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed [beware] lest he fall” (I Cor. 10:12). This can—and should—be applied to every aspect of life. Are you certain you are walking the right direction in your dating relationships? What dangers might you be overlooking—or ignoring? Will you set the right priorities, demonstrate character and do the right thing?

Your entire future could depend on it!

Conversion Comes First

The single greatest goal of every person is to be born into the coming kingdom of God, to share rulership with Christ at His Return. All other goals, including pursuing and achieving a happy marriage, are of lesser importance. This means that receiving the Spirit of God, which begins the path of conversion, is one’s single highest priority after reaching adulthood.

However, while serious dating should wait, there is a certain type of dating that can be done before one is converted. (The difference between these two stages will be explained later in greater detail.) First, one should never date one-on-one or advance to the more serious stage of courting until after conversion—which begins with repentance, baptism and the receiving of God’s Spirit!

Why should baptismal status matter? Grasp this crucial fact. Husbands and wives are to express the love of God (agape) to each other and, for this to be possible, God must be working within a marriage. This can only occur if His Spirit is present in both partners. Again recall Romans 5:5, in addition to Galatians 5:22, which explains that love is a “fruit” of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s make clear when one receives the Holy Spirit. Notice Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” You must repent—which is turning from disobedience to God’s Law—and be baptized before you can receive God’s Spirit. Without it, you are utterly incapable of loving a mate in the way God designed. (Be sure to read our booklet What Do You Mean Water Baptism?)

Some will ask, “What does conversion have to do with dating or courting?”, adding, “I have no intention of getting married at this point.” However, if you are becoming serious or courting someone before conversion, you are already—albeit unconsciously—building a foundation of physical attraction, physical “love.”

Think of the above in the following way: Failing to see the importance of receiving God’s Spirit before serious dating (not speaking of marriage yet) equates to telling God that you do not need His guidance in selecting your mate—that you only need His help in blessing a marriage after the fact—after you decided who would be best as your lifelong partner! Ultimately, you have formed a relationship without seeking God’s guidance as to whether there was hope for success.

Would you make a big business decision—certainly not as important as marriage—without first determining your chances of success?

Some marriages should never take place, regardless of how the couple feels and whether they are converted. Later portions of this book will more thoroughly address why. All those who select a mate without God’s direction are “rolling the dice,” with no assurance whatsoever that the relationship can work long-term.

Many readers may have already made the mistake of marrying the wrong person, sometimes more than just one. In almost every case, lack of maturity was involved with one or both spouses in the previous marriage. If this is you, you could be reading this book for guidelines (if the marriage failed), asking how to do better the “next time.” (This is another question that will be addressed later.)

No matter how “mature” one may be (and mature teenagers would be the last to ignore sound advice), it should now be clear that anyone of teen age cannot possibly develop true, godly love. This does not mean you cannot date, but that you must adjust your definition of dating. always keep it general. Teenagers should NEVER allow themselves to get serious in a one-on-one relationship. (See chapters 7 and 8 for much more detail.)

An unconverted mind can practice the principle of “it is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35) to a certain degree, but, lacking God’s Spirit, a carnal mind that is also immature cannot even begin to face and overcome the trials and challenges of marriage.

Parents of Teens

If you are a parent of teenagers, you should be careful not to force your children to date only those of your choosing. (This is qualified later in the book.) If you do, you will drive them the opposite way.

God Himself is a parent and, like every parent, He wants the very best for His children. However, He recognizes that He made human beings as free moral agents, able to make mistakes, but also able to learn from them. And while experience is a very good teacher, it is far better (and less painful) to learn from instruction and from the examples of others.

Parents are responsible for teaching their children God’s Way. As your children grow older, you should be gradually giving them more responsibility. Under your overall guidance, this will help them learn to make right decisions. During the late teens, a teenager should be making some of his own decisions. But there may be times when you need to intervene. If your teenager wants to spend time with the wrong companions, disregard all protests—step in and stop the contact! As parents, you are often the only ones truly guiding your teenager. Be willing to take the time to actively teach them God’s principles and truths—and to intervene when necessary to protect them from themselves.

Be assured that if you do not teach your teenagers, someone else will—and it will probably not be what you want them to learn!

Emotional Maturity is Vital

Most people in the modern age no longer base decisions and actions on solid moral values. They have been programmed to act according to their feelings. Very few are any longer taught that they must learn to control their emotions.

A well-known singer once recorded what became a famous song, titled “Feelings.” My father enjoyed this particular tune, and I came to enjoy it as well. Looking back, it became, in a sense, prophetic of our entire age—and this age has had an impact on you, and it will directly affect how and with whom you form relationships in your life.

This has been called “the age of feel good.” Most people now make decisions, come to conclusions or react in given situations based almost exclusively on how things feel to them. For more than a generation, most human beings have become subtly conditioned—by education, pop psychology and society—to listen to, and stay in tune with, their feelings, as a guide to their course of action in any given situation.

Part of this conditioning involves people having been virtually trained to look for and almost exclusively respond to their feelings. They have even been taught to elevate their feelings to the point of almost continually asking themselves how they feel—about almost everything!

This represents an enormous change in the overall way that most people think and react—and view the circumstances in which they find themselves. Dating and courtship are not exceptions, and may have been affected more than most other areas of human activity.

Here is what is different—what has changed today. The vast majority of people, including society as a whole, once generally reacted to circumstances, and the environment around them, based on the values that they had been taught—based on ethics, principles, morals, beliefs, integrity and overall character. This meant that people once viewed matters much more on the basis of right versus wrong, good versus evil, proper versus improper, wise versus unwise, and even law versus sin.

Sadly, and so tragically, a regard for values of almost any kind now carries very little weight in the thinking of most in the world. Today, hurt feelings, emotions and perceptions have become much more important—have been given much greater credence in people’s thinking—than at probably any other time in human history.

There is no aspect of life left unchanged by this trend.

Living Daily “Soap Operas”

Millions of children and teenagers today cannot handle even the simplest obstacles, problems and challenges so basic to everyday life. In part, this is because they have never or only rarely been told “no” by their parents or other authority figures—they have rarely been denied anything. Therefore, seemingly every “issue” or crisis causes them to “go to pieces.”

The result has been that much of today’s generation is living out a kind of daily “soap opera.” Everything involves emotional melodrama because society has been and is being conditioned, now through the recent phenomenon of “reality television,” to continually await the latest twist, next chapter or new episode being played out on screen.

More often than ever, when young children do not get their way, they throw temper tantrums if not disciplined. Usually, parents do nothing, but as these same children grow up, they eventually realize that it is unacceptable for an adult to fall to the floor, kicking and screaming. So, most—but not all—learn to hide or suppress tantrums.

But little has changed on the inside. While teens and adults may have learned to cover up some or most of their emotions on the outside, many are still screaming, crying and going to pieces inside. This is exactly why so many grow up appearing to be mature but, in reality, have remained terribly immature.

Many young people and even adults today battle moodiness, often brooding and becoming easily annoyed when they are not the center of attention. In the pursuit of happiness, most of society almost constantly caters to their every whim and desire—without regard for the consequences. Just look at the pampered athletes throughout professional sports, and these are the “role models” that millions of children, teens and young adults are copying.

Today’s teenagers are also much more easily influenced by their peers than just a generation ago. Rather than using their own minds and character to make sound decisions, they succumb to the easier path of following the crowd. Acceptance has become all-important in today’s world. Worse, and even more common, most individuals now refuse to take responsibility for anything—feeling, in the age of “victimhood,” that almost nothing is ever really their fault. The “blame game” has become epidemic.

By the age of 16, a teenager has usually reached a certain level of physical maturity. It is at this point that he may begin to think more seriously about life. Yet—and this is critical to comprehend—it is usually not until around age 25 that one reaches a significant level of mental maturity. But even this applied more to generations past.

What About You?

The above examples of immaturity are best described as an epidemic afflicting millions today. What is your maturity level? Are you certain that you are growing in maturity—enough to properly handle dating, and possibly courtship, assuming you are of sufficient age and conversion?

Real maturity is absolutely essential to successful dating. This is true for two reasons. First, most people do not find it pleasant to date an immature person. If you are immature, and refuse to grow and develop in emotional and mental maturity and stability, the only people you will be able to date will be the same—immature and unstable.

Second, and more important, as you grow older and begin dating one-on-one, it is essential to have already achieved a certain maturity level before becoming serious. Love and the proper perspective of the relationship are impossible without it! A person must be mature enough to understand the implications of a serious relationship. A lifetime of marriage and commitment may be just over the horizon!

Again, take heed lest you fall! Analyze where, in your personality and character, you need to grow and develop. Work on these areas! Set goals and move forward. Go to God and ask Him to show you other areas in which you need to grow:

Can you make right decisions? Do you take responsibility? Can you handle setbacks? Are you able to cope with crises, or do you “fly off the handle”? Can you acknowledge your faults? Can you differentiate between infatuation and real love? Are you addicted to wrong television? Similarly, are you addicted to wrong entertainment and wrong music?

Also ask yourself: Are you striving to become more well-rounded—in interest and culture? Do you have a strong work ethic? Are you most often happy, rarely allowing things to “get you down”? Are you patient with others? Would others describe you as composed—in control of your emotions? Are you generally thought by family and friends to be a responsible individual?

While maturity is crucial to every aspect of adulthood, it is an especially vital building block for dating, courting and, ultimately, marriage! To enjoy a thriving, successful marriage, one must be spiritually, emotionally and intellectually mature! There are no exceptions. While some may seem physically and mentally able to enter a relationship, they are often unable to maintain one. They lack too many essential qualities so necessary to endure the ups and downs that every relationship experiences.

Other Aspects of Love and Dating

Maturity and conversion are the most fundamental building blocks of proper dating. Maturity is directly related to responsibility. As children become teenagers, they begin to ask the bigger questions of life: “What will I do for a living?”—“How will I support myself and my family?”—among others.

Marriage is a God-plane relationship and, as a direct precursor to marriage, dating should not be a simple, animalistic pursuit of pleasure. Yet sadly, many young people never take time to plan their future. Instead, one night of succumbing to lustful impulse can bring disaster crashing down on foolish, unsuspecting minds—an unwanted pregnancy forcing couples to begin preparing for a family without the benefit of foresight and the joy of planning.

In contrast, God began planning to expand His Family long before even creating the earth. Notice: “According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption [“sonship”] of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:4-5).

Be willing to shed society’s influence over you. Admit that you may need to unlearn almost everything you have absorbed, and replace it with sound biblical principles. Once armed with this new set of values, you can firmly rely on God to bless you with the best possible prospective mate.

If you seek counsel, exercise foresight, and are willing to wait, God’s way will reap far greater rewards than you can imagine!

THE PURPOSE OF DATING

Now that you have begun to unlearn the wrong way of thinking and understand how to build a solid foundation on God and His Way, you are ready to learn the right purpose of dating.

This chapter addresses why people date, coupling it with the practical realities that accompany this activity. If you ask several passersby on the street why people set dates to do things together, you will get a variety of responses. These might include: To have fun, get to know other people, have a girlfriend or boyfriend, have sex, peer pressure, find companionship, defeat loneliness, etc. Some of these reasons are fine, but obviously some are not!

There are other basic—and more important—reasons for dating.

Times Have Changed

Recognize how society has developed over the past century. Both the “dating scene” and dating practices have changed dramatically! A brief look at recent history shows that times and morals have undergone a drastic change.

Few customs have changed more than dress. There was once a time, in the mid-1800s, when women dressed modestly. They wore floor-length dresses, with long sleeves and high necks. Men wore shirts and ties, and such dress among men and women carried over to the workplace, and even to sporting activities.

Society followed the “old morality” concerning dating, marriage and sex. If a young man wanted to date a young woman, he would first ask her father for permission, and at some point ask if he could “court” her. Of course, the prevalent attitude then was that “sex is shameful,” making fornication and its tragic results much less frequent. Despite the pervasive inhibition ingrained by the widespread misconception (known as “Victorian prudery”) that all sex is inherently evil, ironically, at that time, happier, committed marriages were much more common than today. This is because people generally had much more character than those of the modern age. And this was true even though most people then also did not know how to select the right mate.

As the century turned, a new picture slowly emerged. The tradition of requiring a chaperone to accompany young couples vanished. Even yet, young people still understood clearly-defined limits. At this point in history, a couple might have shared a short kiss, but only after their interest was serious or they had become engaged. This is in sharp contrast to the widespread idea of “no limits” followed by couples today, where “fooling around”—“making out, necking” or “heavy petting”—and sexual relations are the norm, long before couples are inclined to consider, let alone entertain, the thought of lifelong commitment.

Society continued changing even more rapidly as the century developed. Many new books, magazines and other publications discussing and describing sex became available, and people began to throw off the restraints of prudery. By the 1950s, a “new morality” had arrived, and with it came the jump from the ditch of prudery to the opposite ditch of permissiveness.

Dating is now a practice that almost immediately involves sexual intimacy. Many today disdain—or, again, have not even heard of—the concept of courting. Teenage morality has dropped to its lowest point in history—with no apparent end in sight to the worsening trend.

Of course, society today flaunts sex in everything. The effects are so far-reaching that a return to modesty would almost instantly collapse the economy. Advertising would change overnight, as would the clothing industry. Thousands of Internet companies would declare bankruptcy, as would advertising agencies, now completely unequipped to offer a different way. The music industry would fold as we know it, and the change in movies and television would make the whole entertainment industry almost unrecognizable. Many could not make the shift fast enough.

To learn more about the right purposes of sex, read our vital book Sex – Its Unknown Dimension. That book is a companion to this one, and is necessary to understand the God-ordained purposes for sex.

What Is a Date?

The dictionary definition of what constitutes a date was briefly discussed in the introduction. At this point, it is worth repeating. Recall that the most commonly understood definition of a date is “an appointment for a specified time; especially a social engagement between two persons of opposite sex” (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary).

In the simplest terms, a “date” is merely a set time agreed upon by two people to engage in an activity—any activity. Another way of stating this is that it is merely social contact with a person or persons of the opposite sex, either one-on-one or in a group.

This leads to the next question, that of when dating may begin.

When Should Dating Begin?

During the teenage years, dating should only be within groups and with specific parental knowledge and permission. As one grows older, and closer to the age suitable for marriage, one-on-one dates may begin. The process begins with group dating and leads to one-on-one when the time is right, which, in turn, leads to the more intensive step of courtship if the couple becomes seriously interested. This, of course, then progresses to engagement and marriage, if continued.

(Conversion is another virtual prerequisite for dating one-on-one. This will be momentarily addressed and expounded upon in Chapter 7.)

Through group dating, you will overcome nervousness and learn to relax and naturally respond to those of the opposite sex. This will prove beneficial when moving on to courting. You will be able to evaluate situations more realistically.

Above all, try to date widely. Fifty years ago, this was referred to as “playing the field.” This meant dating as many different people as possible. This gives one exposure to a broad range of personalities, with the important side benefit of learning which kinds of personalities are compatible with yours and which are not.

This is most critical to recognize. You need to know which kinds of people make you comfortable, and which do not. You will probably find that one personality type makes you most comfortable. But this may not always be the case. (Remember, at the same time you are learning about yourself, you are also helping your “date” to do the same.)

Paul spoke of being able to be “all things to all people” (I Cor. 9:22), for the purpose of helping and benefiting more kinds of people. Dating widely helps you learn to interact with almost anyone in any kind of social setting.

In the earliest stages of dating, romance is never to be involved! As we have seen, teenagers are much too young for this more serious activity. This can only come later, when one is of sufficient age and maturity to contemplate marriage and its enormous implications. While modernists will howl in protest, only at this stage should one begin to date one-on-one, with the potential to progress to courting and romance. Though this approach may seem old-fashioned, it is absolutely essential to not get ahead of yourself, when you are too young to even know what kind of basic personality match would make for the most successful, long-lasting relationship.

Recognize that society is pushing you from every direction to begin romance long before it is appropriate. Romance too early carries a high price. I have counseled many who have had to pay this price—and my task was often to try to help rebuild shattered marriages, and shattered lives. Countless thousands of teenagers have grown up to sorely regret the daily pain and consequences they now face, because they thought that they were more mature—more ready for romance—than they actually were.

It would be helpful to summarize some important points here: Group dating can begin as early as age 16, where a small number—perhaps six to eight, or so—make an appointment to enjoy a wholesome activity together. Responsible adults or parents should stay close. (Of course, very large group activities can and should begin at an early age, and these would have a variety of parents or other adults present.) But it must be understood that we are talking about a group of people of both sexes participating in an activity together. Under no circumstances should this slip into “pairing off” within the activity. Parents must be particularly watchful of less responsible teenagers, because these will be the very ones who think they are the most responsible—those who think they can “handle” a relationship probably long before they are in fact ready.

Before one is baptized and converted (age 18 to 20 at the earliest), he or she should not date one-on-one. With rare exceptions, group dating is the only way one should date before conversion. Remember—to think that serious dating one-on-one is proper before baptism is tantamount to telling God that you do not need His guidance in the second most important decision (after conversion) in every person’s life—choosing the mate with whom you plan to spend the rest of your physical life.

There could be an unusual, very rare exception to dating prior to conversion. For example, a teenager could escort (or be escorted by) someone to a Church activity or a special, one-time school function. But all the principles in this book must be remembered during such unique occasions.

Age 18 is the absolute soonest that people should consider dating one-on-one, with 19 to 20 a better age to start this activity. Whatever the age this begins, it is vital to have already laid a foundation of much exposure, in all kinds of settings, to those of the opposite sex. There should be a certain comfort level in place first—before one-on-one dating. Otherwise, the danger grows that the more shy, timid or nervous-type person will quickly pair off with either the first person with whomever he or she is comfortable or whoever pays him or her attention. I have seen this often.

Through casual group dating, you will be able to overcome nervousness and learn to relax and naturally respond to those of the opposite sex, and you will be able to evaluate later dating situations more realistically. This will also prove immensely beneficial when moving on to the more serious step of courting.

More About Group Dating

Teenagers today have no idea of the danger of one-on-one dating. But how does this differ from group dating? Is it crucial that one come before the other?

One-on-one dating ultimately leads to marriage. Before this, it usually leads to some level of attachment. While many are not willing to accept this, they are certainly willing to realize that one-on-one dating&mdash

Dating and Courtship:God’s Way - Pt I

by DAVID C. PACK 26^th April 2012 02:38

INTRODUCTION

The world is ignorant of almost every right value that produces the right results all people seek. While everyone wants to be happy—and assumes that following the established norm is the right way to achieve happiness—most remain miserable and never know why. This is especially true in the world of modern dating.

Dating, followed by courtship, is supposed to lead to a happy marriage. But marriage cannot be happy if it is not built on the right foundation. Most couples have no idea that the foundation of a successful marriage begins long before the wedding day. In addition, a direct by-product of the wrong foundation is that most people have no idea how to select the right mate.

Just what is dating? A sampling of opinions reveals a variety of definitions, with seemingly no two alike. In the simplest form, a date is merely a set time agreed upon by two people to engage in an activity. The most commonly recognized definition is “an appointment for a specified time; especially a social engagement between two persons of opposite sex” (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary).

What about courtship? Most know little or nothing of this lost art, and many no longer know—let alone use—the term. Those few who do, know virtually nothing about the principles of courtship—or its true purpose. As a result, if two people are “dating,” this could mean they have dated only twice, yet have become interested in pursuing marriage. Even if both were serious, and technically courting from this point (this is often the case today after just two dates), most would still refer to this as dating.

In fact, there is no common understanding of just what dating and courtship are, or the plain difference between the two—and there is a big difference!

Also, because it sounds too “official” and “old-fashioned,” teenagers today rarely even use the term “dating.” The idea of a date—when a man formally asks a woman, for instance, if she would accept an engagement for dinner—is nearly non-existent. Many simply slip or tumble into dating situations, seemingly not caring how this happens, or even what happens. Instead, they seem more concerned with “going with the flow.”

Yet, you should care! Too much is at stake not to. There are many important principles behind dating that one must consider in order to successfully date—and be able to eventually move on to the more serious courtship and pursuit of marriage. You must have a means of knowing if or when you have found that special person. There are specific processes involved in proper dating that will help lead you down the right path.

When was the last time you either heard or used the word “courting”? Again, this term is very rarely used in society today, and most do not have any idea what it really means. Webster’s states that courting is “to engage in social activities leading to engagement and marriage.” Most would reply, “But isn’t that dating?” The answer is no. Courting is a separate but important and intricate part of the process pointing toward and leading to marriage. Therefore, you must also come to understand and apply the right way to court.

And then there are those who may want to date, court and marry for the second time. Of course, some lose a spouse to death. Many others, having already established a pattern of marital failure, hope to do better “the second time around.” But no one is telling them how to do better. Wounded, and perhaps feeling burned, many stumble into a “rebound” relationship, often choosing the exact same kind of person they just left behind! These people need guidance as well, and this book offers it.

There are many manuals available, written from the human perspective, on how to date, court and find a mate. And there seems to be no end of sociologists, psychologists, marriage counselors and others considered to be experts, who are only too willing to offer what are no more than the opinions of people. This book does not merely present my perspective—my view—of the subject. That would be of no more worth than so many others.

Consider the intensifying debate about the status and legal recognition of same-sex couples. The United States and other Western countries are caught in the middle of a conflict—an outright war—over whether homosexual partners should be granted marriage licenses. In America, civil unions have already been permitted for some time in certain states. As the battle lines continue to form, the U.S. President and his allies are pursuing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. Frustrated that “the courts are defining marriage” for the whole country, he stated that “marriage should be defined by the people.”

But is this true? Is it really “the people” who have devised the institution of marriage? Should “the people” decide who and what constitutes a marriage? If so, then is it also human beings who should define the traditional means of selecting a mate pursuant to this goal?

The answer to all these questions is an emphatic “NO!”

Let’s be clear. While religionists and theologians assume that this is God’s world, it is not! Let me repeat, this is not God’s world—it does not reflect His Way. Its customs, beliefs, values, philosophies, traditions and practices are not of God. But God is calling—and working with—a small number of people, whom He is training for a very special purpose. Who and how one chooses to date, which can lead to courtship and marriage, is inseparable from this purpose.

This book is far more than another manual containing dating “tips” or “helpful hints.” What you will read here reveals what God has to say on the matter. What people may say or do—and the “will of the people”—is irrelevant and usually just plain wrong! It is God’s perspective—His view—that offers the way to everything good in life.

God intends that every human being enjoy a happy marriage. This is directly tied to whom and how one dates—and courts—prior to marriage!

In order to fully grasp the many principles that apply to dating, courtship, engagement and marriage, much foundation must first be laid. Be patient with the need to establish the right framework. It is essential to appreciating—to truly comprehending—all that follows. The reader makes a big mistake by skipping over or skimming through any early portions of this book in search of “specifics” describing what should happen on a date. If this is your interest—if you are merely looking for “keys, tips” or “good ideas”—this book is not for you. While it does contain, later in the book, a great many specific points for application, these latter chapters simply cannot be properly applied without first understanding the vital backdrop of the preceding chapters.

A word to parents and teens: Parents, this book can be absolutely invaluable to you in training and preparing your children throughout the years preceding the eligible age of marriage—if you use it! Teenagers, this book will also guide you—and will protect you from endless, and usually unseen, traps and pitfalls. Read it. Study it. Adhere to it. You will be enormously glad you did!

Dating and Courtship – God’s Wayis truly different, and applying its contents could change your life forever!

DATING TODAY

Why do you need to learn more about dating and courting? Is this not something people just pick up from others and “learn as they go”? Is there a right and wrong way of dating or, like learning to walk or ride a bike, can people just naturally figure it out as they experience it?

The cold, hard facts are that today’s standards of dating, courting and engagement are wrong—all wrong!

But how can I say this? All you need do is look at the astonishing array of ill effects in millions of relationships to realize that the dating and courtship practiced today are far off-track. But, before we address this, the principle of cause and effect must be explained.

The Cause-and-Effect Principle

Most people live their entire existence completely unaware of why things either “go right” or “go wrong.” They seem unable to grasp that what they do, or do not do, has a direct effect on their lives. Most do not recognize that for every cause there is an effect—or, conversely, for every effect there is a cause. Nor do they know that this is a law. Scientists recognize this in physics, but society is unaware that the same is true in life—that the law of cause and effect is no less immutable than any law of science.

Let’s reason together, considering a few basic points. How does the law of cause and effect work in one’s life? Some simple examples:

If you routinely eat too much, what happens? You will become sick or overweight—or both! There is no mystery to this.

If you drink too much alcohol, you will become intoxicated. This could lead to a long list of bad effects: A next-day headache, being arrested, or even an auto accident resulting in injury or death to yourself or others. Again, there is no mystery here.

If you break society’s laws, the effect is that you might go to jail or prison. This will hurt your family, your career opportunities and your entire future. Once again, no mystery to this.

In this fashion, the law of cause and effect directly impacts your life—and the life of everyone on earth. The ways that this happens are endless.

Let’s go further. If industry pollutes the environment, the result is contaminated air or water, or even the much-debated problem of global warming. If countries go to war, the results—the effects—are economic upheaval, disease, famine and general misery for all involved. If parents neglect the proper rearing of their children, or if children do not obey their parents, the effects could be poor performance in school, drug addiction, criminal conduct or worse.

Of course, none of this is hard to understand.

God’s way of life—including the principles of right dating, courtship and engagement—is also based on the law of cause and effect. The Bible contains hundreds of laws and principles, each carrying the power of cause and effect for those who keep—or break—them!

Whether one identifies and knows all the laws and principles of the Bible is not relevant to whether breaking them will bring certain punishment. Just as speeding can result in a ticket, whether the driver knew the speed limit or not, so those who break the laws of God reap penalties, whether they know they are violating specific laws or not.

Look at the world around you. It is littered with broken families, unhappy marriages, single-parent homes, STDs, astonishing ignorance and widespread misery. Have you ever asked why? WHY has mankind never been able to solve these and other great problems? Why do they only grow worse with the passing of time? The answer: because the laws and principles of God are being routinely broken by earth’s billions of human inhabitants.

The Author of the Bible states that His great Law, the Ten Commandments, is “holy, just, good” and “spiritual” (Rom. 7:12, 14). Again, consider the basic understanding of cause and effect. When God’s laws and principles are obeyed, they bring countless blessings, benefits and good things into the lives of those who obey them. But mankind has routinely rejected—and even lampooned—the instruction book that reveals the cause of all its problems, evils and ills.

The Effects

So how does the law of cause and effect apply to dating and courtship? Where do these practices lead? The answer is simple. Dating, and the courtship that may ensue, are the precursors to relationships—and ultimately marriages. The effect—successful or failed marriages—is what results from either right or wrong forms of dating and courtship.

The cause-and-effect principle goes both ways. For every cause, there is a resulting effect, and for every effect, there is a traceable cause! So, let’s look at the effects of modern dating. We could ask: Are they good?

To determine whether the dating practiced today is correct, we should first examine its fruits. In other words, we must analyze the effects of dating today. If the effects are bad or rotten, then we should be able to admit that something is wrong, possibly very wrong, with the cause—the ways that people in society practice dating, courtship and even engagement.

Therefore, it is essential to examine the overall state of the marriage institution. If dating and courtship are being done properly, we should expect the general condition of marriage throughout society today to be healthy.

Today’s Marriages

Greater numbers of people are questioning the institution of marriage every day. Many are concerned with the direction of current trends. Some ponder whether marriage can even survive. Still others get married on their own terms or only on a “trial basis.” Millions simply live together, unmarried—and ever-greater numbers now cohabitate in “same-sex” partnerships.

All of this would have been unthinkable just 50 years ago. Virtually everyone back then planned and expected to “grow up, get married and have children.” And marriage was for life! Entire communities—and nations—functioned on this premise!

If dating and courtship were practiced correctly today, they would form the foundation of a beautiful relationship between a husband and wife as God ordained it. The two would spend a lifetime together enjoying much happiness and joy. This God-plane relationship would include expanding the family to children who would experience more productive and abundant lives, because their home and family would provide a strong, positive environment, capable of nurturing them to adulthood and into their own successful marriages with children. Parents would teach children all they need to know, and the process would continue through successive generations.

Does this sound like a fairytale—a children’s bedtime story? Today it does! This is because modern society is shot full of wrong education, misinformation, hollow opinions, pop psychology, ignorance, bad advice—or no advice—all of which virtually prevents young people from having any hope for true happiness in marriage.

The following are revealing statistics, trends and facts derived from census data, and what sociologists, psychologists, marriage planners/counselors and others report. While shocking, this is only the briefest thumbnail—a very tiny sampling—of all that could have been included. Take the time to consider the enormous implications of these statistics. Make them personal, and imagine the individual lives behind them:

• 50% of married women and 66% of married men in the U.S. commit adultery (combined, these statistics indicate that five out of six marriages—over 80%—involve at least one adulterous partner).

• Divorces per 1,000 marriages: 1969—140; 1990—380 (up 171%); 1996—451 (up 222% since 1969).

• Compared to first marriages, remarriages are 50% more likely to end in divorce during the first five years, and tend to be unstable, break up more often, and more quickly (Statistics Canada).

• Divorced status in America is the fastest growing marital category. Between 1970 and 1996, the number of divorcees more than quadrupled, going from 4.3 million to 18.3 million.

• The National Institute for Healthcare Research says that divorce now ranks as the number one factor linked with suicide in major U.S. cities, ranking above all other physical, financial, and psychological factors.

• More than 50% of people in their 20s, interviewed in a Gallup survey, agreed to the statement, “One sees so few good or happy marriages today that one questions it as a way of life.” Among single young adults, more than half stated that one of their biggest concerns about marriage is “the possibility that it will end in divorce.” Incredible!

About half of all marriages fail! How can this be? Try to imagine the pain, suffering and frustration that so many experience. Is there a reason for all of this? Is it merely because many people just cannot get along? Most have no idea—no realization—that if they follow the correct way—God’s way—they could avoid all the misery and unhappiness!

But divorce is not the only sad and shocking effect of wrong dating and courtship. Improper dating and courtship practices carry the side effect of leading the large and growing ranks of wounded, jaded, cynical people to decide to just live together—or, more accurately, share a bed together—instead of committing to marriage.

Consider just these statistics from Britain: In 1972, there were 480,000 couples who chose to marry. By 2001, less than three decades later, only 286,000 weddings took place, even though the population had grown by seven percent. In 2005, the number of UK marriages fell to 244,710, a stunning decrease of ten percent compared to 2004—this drop in just one year. Just since 1986, the number of women choosing to cohabitate has more than doubled, going from 13 to 28 percent. The figures for men are only slightly lower. (Correspondingly, in America, the number of unmarried couples cohabiting increased tenfold from 1960 to 2005.)

All of this describes a world in revolt against the institution of marriage!

The Young Victims

Cohabitation is not the only bad side effect resulting from divorce. It is important to stop and look at the children—the most painful fruits—of these failed marriages. Again, you will be shocked by the far-reaching implications of the telling statistics below, describing the United States, and reflecting the disintegrating fabric of what is considered the most powerful nation in the world:

• 75% of children of divorced couples go through divorce.

• The school dropout rate among children from divorced families is twice that of those from intact families.

• Among teenage and adult females, parental divorce is linked to daughters’ lower self-esteem, earlier sexual activity, greater delinquency, and difficulty establishing fulfilling, lasting adult heterosexual relationships. Yet, their parents’ divorce usually occurred years before any difficulties were observed.

• 50% of children today will spend at least part of their childhood in single-parent homes.

• In 2000, 33% of babies were born to unmarried women, compared to only 3.8% in 1940. (More than 1/3 of children never experience a married home!)

• The high divorce rate directly affects one million children every year.

• In a recent survey, 62% of men agreed that “while it may not be ideal, it’s okay for an adult woman to have a child on her own if she has not found the right man to marry.”

• Studies show that children from broken families are twice as likely to have emotional and physical health problems. Again, these are also more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, with this leading to difficulties in friendships.

Many children today are victims of their parents’ ignorance of the correct way to date and court. If their parents had only taken the time to study God’s principles on the subject, these children would not suffer in the way that they do—both during childhood and later in their own unhappy marriages.

Will your children, or future children, become statistics? Will they suffer in uncounted ways? Will you wait until you experience all the wrong effects of improperly dating, courting and preparing for marriage before addressing the gaping wounds you and your children will experience? Or will you deal with the cause now—before it is too late?

Other Shocking Statistics

Let’s return to the subject of unmarried couples who live together. Over half of all first marriages today are preceded by cohabitation, compared to virtually none in the early part of the twentieth century, just 100 years ago.

Young adults now so often postpone marriage until their late 20s to early 30s. While most men and women are choosing to establish themselves in jobs and careers before marriage (which can be good), they also most often spend a long period unmarried but sexually active. This newer phenomenon has been described as “sex without strings, relationships without rings.”

Yet, looking at destroyed marriages, wounded children and broken families does not paint the full picture of the effects of wrong dating habits today. Sadly, dating today directly leads—almost universally—to premarital sex. “Leads to” is probably not even the right term, because “dates” today often involve sex on the first date! Actually, more often than not, sex is the expected norm as part of the first date, and most of the “dates” that follow. Millions do this.

So many, blinded by pure lust, are committing fornication as a veritable way of life! Surrounded by illicit sex on every side, and often guided solely by their hormones—and what the dating partner almost certainly expects—rather than by what is right, couples routinely commit every kind of sexual sin imaginable. And many do this without the slightest pang of conscience giving them pause. Within minutes, often induced by a variety of drugs, alcohol and an unwholesome environment, young people unconsciously reject the possibility of a healthy, fulfilling, God-ordained and designed wonderful relationship of husband and wife. Instead, they choose to dive into mindless, instant gratification, giving little or no consideration for the devastating long-term effects they will surely experience.

A single shocking previously mentioned statistic brings this trend to the forefront: One-third of all children in the United States today are born out of wedlock! Think what this means! One out of every three children now begins life without a proper family and lacking the environment that the Almighty Creator designed and intended.

The Downward Spiral

Breaking this down, we can begin to understand the compounding trouble afflicting most families today. What happens to all those in our generation who have lost even the most basic knowledge of how to have a happy, abundant marriage? What will happen another generation from now? What will happen to today’s children’s children?

While statistics reveal that teenagers from intact families are less likely to be sexually active, adolescents from broken families are twice as likely to have children out of wedlock. Also, as mentioned, 75 percent of children who have suffered through their parents’ divorce will experience it themselves. In other words, the choices people make now regarding dating and courtship may well lead to divorce, which, in turn, could destroy the marriages of their children, and their children’s children, in an endless and worsening cycle. The effects of dating habits yesterday have caused horrible conditions in countless lives today, and the trend can only grow worse for greater numbers tomorrow!

Relationship destruction spreads like an infection, like cancer, making it easier for others to follow bad examples and take the easy way out themselves. The tragic end result is that divorce and ruined lives breed more divorce and more ruined lives. On the present path, this worsening trend would continue until the marriage institution and the entire concept of traditional families are irreversibly destroyed—except that God will soon intervene in the affairs of mankind and cut short the downward spiral before such extinction is permitted to happen!

Failed Marriages—So Unnecessary

Vast numbers of marriages have needlessly failed. This has been because couples were not taught in advance how to carefully select someone who could be a real companion—and a truly compatible partner—for life. Divorce resulted simply because there never should have been a marriage in the first place. Of course, many other marriages fail because couples who could have otherwise succeeded simply did not know how to make their marriage work—a very different problem, and one largely outside the parameters of this book. But no marriage can reach its full and wonderful potential, and could possibly even fail altogether, if singles either do not know what to look for in a prospective mate, or even that they should be thoroughly examining those whom they are dating seriously.

When most people carefully look at the effects we have discussed, they will admit that they are real—and that something is terribly wrong! Tragically, these same people often remain unwilling to believe that all these bad effects could have resulted from wrong causes! Will you examine these causes? Will you come to understand and accept the principles of proper dating, courtship and engagement?

Before these things can be discussed—and we will do this in great detail in later chapters—we must carefully lay the all-important foundation, so crucial to truly comprehend all that you will only then be prepared to learn.

A FATAL MIXTURE

Today’s dating practices are almost entirely wrong. However, before we can understand how they are wrong, we must ask why this confused state of affairs. Why are so many people unable to correctly date, court, and reap the benefits of a happy marriage and family life? To fully grasp the reason the masses do not follow sound principles of dating and courtship, we must learn the underpinnings of society as a whole. The big picture must be examined.

To do this, we must go back to the beginning.

From the Beginning

Almost 6,000 years ago, the first man and woman were created. These two—Adam and Eve—were history’s very first husband and wife, and lived in the Garden of Eden. As Chief Designer of marriage, God also explained this relationship to them, and the laws that govern it. He called it “very good.”

Touching on the high points, a summary of this account is found in the earliest chapters of Genesis. What is clear is that God taught this first couple His Way—the way that would bring peace, supreme happiness, abundance, prosperity and all the good things of life.

Yet, because of His infinite Purpose, God created these first human beings as free moral agents. Adam and Eve had the power to choose. God did not force His way of life on them, but rather taught them the right way, leaving the choice to them as to what they would do.

Genesis 3records what happened in the garden with Satan tempting Eve. This account demonstrates the devil’s cunning subtlety as he tried to discredit God and appeal to Adam and Eve’s vanity.

There were two special trees in the garden. First was the “Tree of Life,” representing God’s Way. Adam and Eve were instructed to eat as much from this tree as they wished. There was also the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” This first married couple was expressly forbidden to eat of the fruit of that tree. God told them that in the day they ate that fruit, they would “surely die.”

Understand. God—and God alone—decides what sin is. Man was not given the authority to decide what sin is but rather only whether he would sin.

Adam and Eve had a clear choice! Through Satan’s subtlety and their rebellion, they rejected God and took of the forbidden fruit. They rejected God’s perfect Law and rule—His government over all creation—and were taken captive by Satan and his way of sin. Because of sin, they no longer had access to God’s blessings, guidance, protection or the free gift of His Holy Spirit, which they could have acquired by eating of the Tree of Life.

From that day forward, mankind has been cut off from God, having rejected God and His ways (Isa. 59:1-2). this is why mankind does not—cannot—know the truth about the purpose behind right dating and the purpose behind right courtship. He has chosen his own path—a mixture of good and evil—and the fruit of his choice is literally a “mix,” with some marriages working somewhat, others constantly riding the rollercoaster of extremes, and many not working at all. Therefore, all but a select few couples lack the supreme happiness and joy that God intended for every marriage!

Any mixture of good and evil is always fatal! If one mixes even a small amount of arsenic or cyanide into a cake, it will still just as surely kill those who eat it. However, a truer analogy here is that humanity is ingesting a veritable “ricin” (a poison 6,000 times more deadly than cyanide) of wrong thinking!

The Real Author of Modern Dating

Most assume that this world belongs to and is guided by God—that civilization as a whole is being supervised by Him. Is this true? We must ask, who is the real ruler over this world? Once this has been established, we will have identified the true author behind today’s dating practices. In other words, to coin a phrase from a well-known song of several decades ago, we should ask, “Who wrote the book of love” so popularly followed by this world’s masses?

It is critical to understand Satan’s role! The serpent deceived Eve, starting mankind down the path away from God and His Law. By choosing the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve handed themselves and their descendants to the serpent’s thinking.

Open your Bible and read these plain verses. The devil is the “god of this world” and he has “blinded the minds” of everyone in it (II Cor. 4:4). Satan is also called the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). The apostle John added that Satan “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). Astonishing, but true—and most will never accept this statement, or that it could apply to themselves, much less that it could have any bearing on their dating practices.

Isaiah 14:12-15tells a remarkable story containing many clues about where Lucifer (who later became Satan) once resided, what he did, and what happened to him: “How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to hell [the “grave” – verses 9and 11], to the sides of the pit.”

Ezekiel 28:12-17parallels and reinforces Isaiah 14and is equally important to understand. This account describes one whom some scholars claim was a human “king of Tyrus.” However, careful reading shows this is impossible—and even ridiculous.

This passage speaks of one who “seals up the sum, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty,” who had also “been in Eden the garden of God.” No human has ever been perfect, and the devil was the serpent who beguiled Eve in the Garden. Verse 13states, “you were created.” Satan is a created being. Verse 14calls him “the cherub that covers.” (Exodus 25:17-20describes the two remaining faithful “cherubs that cover[ed]” God’s throne in the Old Testament tabernacle. Their wings covered the “mercy seat.”) No earthly king could ever fit this description.

The latter part of Ezekiel 28:14states that this “king” was “in the mountain of God” and “walked…in the midst of the stones of fire.” This describes the area around God’s throne. Verse 15says, “Iniquity [lawlessness] was found in you” and verse 16refers to it as “sin.”

Verse 16also describes this cherub as having been “cast…out of” heaven. God also said He would “destroy” (Hebrew: expel) Lucifer from heaven. Verse 17reveals that his “heart was lifted up because of [his] beauty” and that his wisdom was “corrupted…by reason of [his] brightness.” The verse ends with God “casting him down to the ground,” where the kings of the earth would “behold him.”

Lucifer was a brilliant being, an “angel of light”—as are “his ministers” today (II Cor. 11:13-15). The word Lucifer actually means “the light bringer.” This brilliant, wise, perfect being once brought light to all who were around him. But he rebelled and sinned—thus becoming the “prince of darkness.” His rebellion turned him into a twisted, perverted, fallen angel. While of great intelligence, he has literally become insane—a being who no longer knows right from wrong!

Yet he is still the one in charge of—in control of—this world!

A lengthy passage in the New Testament offers more insight to the devil’s authority and influence over the nations of earth. Matthew 4contains the well-known account of Christ’s confrontation with the devil after fasting forty days. The devil repeatedly tempted Christ by twisting scripture (one of his favorite devices). At one point, “the devil took Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and said unto Him, All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me” (vs. 8-9). In a moment, we will see that this stunning event reveals more than meets the eye! Notice that Christ rebuked Satan (vs. 10) and quoted Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” At this point, the temptation ended and the devil departed.

Also notice! At no point did Christ say, “These kingdoms are NOT yours to give” or “Who do you think you are, trying to offer Me what is already Mine (God’s)?” Christ said no such thing. Why? Because He knew that the kingdoms (governments) of this world are the devil’s kingdoms. Christ clearly knew that they were Satan’s to give. Therefore, He rejected the terms for receiving them from the one—Satan—who had the authority to offer them.

Stop and consider the implications here. This world’s nations and governments, with “all the glory of them,” are still under the control of the “god of this world”—the “prince of this world.” This is the plain truth from your Bible! This world, with its ways and systems, is under the control of the devil! And this has a direct influence on—an overarching connection to—why the world cannot, of itself, ever come to the right knowledge about dating, courtship and marriage—and why this world’s religions and educational institutions have failed so abysmally in teaching these things.

Complete Deception

As mentioned, Satan “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). That’s right—“the whole world.” This is a staggering statement—but there it is in your Bible.

How can the devil deceive over six and a half billion people? Verse 9concludes, “He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Notice that it says, “his angels.” These beings are referred to as demons. They assist Satan in his work of mass deception.

And if Satan has deceived the entire world, then it is not God’s world. It has to be one or the other! Since the whole world is deceived—and since “the whole world lies in wickedness” (I John 5:19)—it becomes clear why it is cut off from God. Deceived people practice lives filled with sin. (Recall Isaiah 59:1-2.) For our purposes here, continue to view these passages in relation to the process of how people are influenced to date, court and select marriage partners.

No one enjoys being told that he is deceived, and no one enjoys hearing that he is ignorant of God’s Purpose. These statements wound human pride, but not as much as remaining in deception wounds those who permit this.

If one cannot accept Revelation 12:9as coming directly from the mind of God, any hope of breaking free of this awful deception will be lost! Such people will have chosen to remain under their captor for the remainder of the age. (If you doubt the Bible as the inspired Word of God, read our booklet Bible Authority...Can It Be Proven? and take the time to prove its authority to yourself. This Book is the most misrepresented, misinterpreted, misunderstood book of all time. Yet, it can be proven to be the plain Word of God!)

Prince of the Power of the Air

Now consider the following vital scripture. Ephesians 2:2is speaking of the devil when it says, “…according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.”

This is a fascinating passage, with the thought continuing at the end of verse 3. The apostle Paul tells the Ephesian brethren that at one time, they “were by nature the children of wrath.” Who are the “children of wrath”—also called the “children of disobedience” in Ephesians 5:6? How do they relate to the phrase, “prince of the power of the air”?

Again notice Ephesians 2:2. It says that Satan’s “spirit…works in the children of disobedience.” Did you see that? He has “power” to use the “air” to broadcast, through his spirit, an attitude of disobedience! He sends moods, feelings, attitudes and pulls of the flesh into people’s minds, and this broadcast “works” within people’s minds and thinking. This “air power” gives the devil tremendous influence, allowing him to send thoughts of confusion, deceit, anger, pride, hate, foolishness, vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, envy, rebellion and much more directly into people’s thinking!

Let’s continue examining the devil’s influence through the use of an analogy. In a manner of speaking, Satan owns the largest radio station on earth, broadcasting 24 hours a day, reaching and deceiving the entire world!

Are you beginning to see from where the preoccupation with merely dating for sex comes—why so many singles seem to have so little else on their minds?

At this point, some vital understanding is necessary before continuing. A Christian obeys God, through His Law. Paul recorded that God has a spiritual law (Rom. 7:14). Christians keep it. When they do, it “keeps them,” so to speak. But when people break God’s Law, similarly, it “breaks them”!

In Acts 5:32, Peter referred to “the Holy Spirit, [which] God has given to them that obey Him.” Take time to turn to this verse and read it carefully. True Christians understand and practice—fulfill—its meaning. God’s Holy Spirit is given upon repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). This Spirit helps Christians obey the Ten Commandments!

Sexless Being

There is a central aspect of Satan that has a direct bearing on dating and courtship.

Consider the design of all angels. The Bible explains that these beings do exist and that they are on a higher plane than men. God created man a “little lower than the angels” (Psa. 8:5).

Notice how Jesus spoke of how the future Sons of God will have a certain parallel to angels: “…they neither marry, nor are given in marriage…as the angels of God in heaven” (Matt. 22:30). Although angels invariably manifest themselves as men, they are neither male nor female, and are therefore without sex. The devil—a fallen angel—is also sexless. He has no ability to reproduce himself and is completely unable to experience the marriage and family relationship, including sexual relations, made available to human beings! He resents its great purpose and potential, one that offers men a “Son of God” status that he can never receive. He resents the marriage institution. It is therefore in his interest to twist and pervert the institutions of marriage and the family. This includes inspiring the growing acceptance of alternative unions and “marriages.”

In contrast, God has given human beings the marvelous ability to reproduce. In the correct atmosphere of a wholesome family, this brings unparalleled joy and happiness. And, as parents rear their children correctly, those children will grow up to be wonderful parents themselves.

Grasp this all-important truth. Satan can never experience the wonderful blessings that God has given to mankind. Hence, the catastrophic mess the family has become through his influence. (Recall the awful statistics listed in Chapter One.)

Brilliant in intelligence, Satan understands the law of cause and effect. He knows that to ultimately defeat the fulfillment of happy marriages and families—and to destroy the values of children and teens before they reach the age of marriage—he must begin at the cause. One way he does this is by attacking the foundation—right dating and courtship!

Today’s Society

For 6,000 years, the devil has been relentless in guiding mankind off track. All that you see around you today—your community, your country and every institution within them—have faulty foundations.

You must come to accept that this is not God’s world—that He is not the author of its governments, religions, cultures, education systems, family values, and “alternative lifestyles,” practiced by ever-increasing numbers. These are all humanly-devised institutions and ideas, created and developed by men under the sway of the devil. While some of these things are not completely evil, they are, at best, the mixture derived from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Take a hard look at the world around you. Search your local newspaper. Visit the magazine section of any large bookstore. Scan through television channels. At best, most of what you will see is semi-lewd, and filled with an emphasis on physical beauty, excess, grossness of culture and driven by lust. These are the influences—with powerful messages—that are competing for your attention, and the attention of young people moving toward the dating age. Recognizing them sets the stage for understanding their effect on the modern dating culture.

Further, the western world is drowning in communication devices such as mobile phones, pagers, handheld computers, e-mails—possessed by people who must be instantly, and continuously, linked to each other for fear of being “out of the loop” for even a moment.

Then there are those who, wanting to rebel against mainstream society, choose to wear “character” clothing outfits to “express themselves.” Today, large numbers of middle and upper class teens dress as though they are no more than hardened urban street thugs. It is as though they want to reflect a culture that is trapped in an endless cycle of poverty, violence and hopelessness.

Some who are “depressed” about growing up in a two-parent, middle-class family dress in black “Goth” styles, also wearing black and white makeup and black lipstick in the most garish fashion. Others fill their lives with endless parties, including parties after the parties, all the while pouring a virtual pharmacy of drugs—often on top of alcohol—into their systems. Seeing no hope or purpose in their lives, large and growing numbers live to “get high,” refusing to face the sober realities of life. Needless to say, the large majority of singles are left completely unprepared to choose lifelong mates or to understand what such relationships mean if they found one.

But let’s continue. A visit to virtually any independent music store reveals another subculture of the modern world: A generation of youth full of pride and vanity, yet “pure in their own eyes” (Prov. 30:12). With hairstyles resembling everything from spikes to lions’ manes, to unkempt, unwashed and undesirable, today’s teens and twenty-somethings collect the latest “underground record.” Such lyrics set to noise could be rock, rap, punk or hip-hop, but to a young person it does not matter—as long as his peers approve. So many idolize whatever is the most popular band to unleash crashing wails labeled as “music”—but more accurately described as howling shrieks emitted by people who must be in some kind of severe pain.

Also observe any music-award television show. Notice how so many in the audience wear tight-fitting, virtually painted-on outfits that are flashy and attention-getting. They reveal parts of the body that were meant to be concealed, and often make those wearing them look like aliens from outer space! Yet, almost an entire generation has come to consider such garish dress and outlandish behavior to be normal—even chic and fashionable.

Next, notice the way people walk, especially in the inner cities. They swagger as if to say, “Don’t mess with me.” Full of haughtiness, arrogance and a kind of bravado, they are often covered in tattoos, body piercings and outrageous hairstyles. Worse, however, is that endless television commercials explicitly promote this culture by a daily bombardment of an entire generation of young people who are watching—and copying what they see. The almost endless—and outrageously crude—sexually suggestive beer commercials alone tell you this.

Then listen to how people speak. Even those with master’s degrees curse and use slang words as though they have little more than a third-grade education. It is as though some have chosen to “dumb down” themselves to be accepted by people whose opinions never used to matter. Others love to copy those who cannot form complete sentences without cursing or using God’s name in vain.

Take a look at mainstream entertainment and media. So much of this is little more than what has been described as “what’s hot, what’s new, what’s next”—the latest hit movie or sitcom. Today, entertainment means “how far can we go?” in pushing (or blurring) even past human boundaries of decency and good taste. Never mind what God thinks, or what His standards are. Most want more extramarital sex, more violence, more blurring of the lines between good and evil, less morality, less common sense, less decency, and the promotion of situational ethics instead of having to choose between right and wrong.

Desperate to show how sophisticated their tastes are, many embrace the world of independent films—a subculture of absolute sickness and depravity passing itself off as intellectually fashionable.

The music, dance, dress, language, books, plays, conduct and other trends that are underground and cutting edge today invariably become mainstream tomorrow. This drives the underground scene to be even more extreme, knowing that today’s extreme is tomorrow’s mainstream!

Across college campuses, and in high school and middle school hallways, the air is charged with sexual tension, mixed with peer pressure and bad judgment. Using a “band-aid” approach, adults turn a blind eye to the misadventures of the next generation, which is sexually active, jaded and always ready to move on to the next perversion, generally translated as the latest “trend.” Sadly, many are in awe of homosexuality and lesbianism, thinking these to be “cool,” and as something to experiment with. More and more early-teenage girls are adopting the trend of having a casual lesbian relationship with a school friend on the side, while simultaneously—and actively—remaining heterosexual.

So many have gone from periodically visiting the sewer to living in a cesspool—and the cycle of perversion will continue and grow worse, until this world mirrors the times of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:26-30).

This is the world you live in—and it is trying to instill in you every wrong principle of dating and courtship. But Satan’s world is not the only roadblock to a happy marriage.

Human Nature—Whose Nature?

Recall Satan’s influence. Before the invention of radio, his power—as arch broadcaster and prince of the power of the air—could not be as easily understood. Now you can comprehend!

We can now better understand the “children of disobedience.” Like Christians, these people are also inspired and guided by a spirit—but that of the god of this world. Satan broadcasts a spirit of disobedience—through attitudes—into humanity. Ephesians 2:2is plain. But a deceived world knows nothing of this understanding!

If you listen to radio, you usually select a station that plays what you desire to hear. Of course, today, people more often “surf” television stations. Eventually, something interests them, and they stop at a station of their choosing. In every case, stations are selected by choice. People have control over what they hear or watch.

It is not the same with Satan’s “radio station.” No one decides to tune into the devil’s broadcast. And no one ever sets out to be deceived! But every human being on earth is automatically tuned to Satan’s wavelength! His wickedness, hostility, rebellion, deceit and selfishness are continuously “on the air.” Though you cannot see it, anymore than you can see radio waves or television signals, the air around you is literally charged and “crackles” with the power and energy of Satan’s broadcast.

Therefore, it is really Satan’s nature that is being labeled as human nature. In fact, once injected into people, the devil’s nature becomes natural to them. It becomes their nature—now human nature!

It is critical to realize how this spirit works in people. It is the single greatest key to understanding exactly how Satan can deceive and manipulate so many billions of people.

Human Nature

Although we now understand that human nature comes from Satan, we must also understand that it is not inherited—but rather acquired! A parent who loses an eye, hand or leg does not produce children having only one eye, one hand or one leg. When God used one of Adam’s ribs to create Eve, it did not mean that all men ever after would lack one rib. Also, the Bible refers to their son Abel as “righteous Abel.” Their disobedience did not prevent his obedience.

Adam and Eve were adult “babies.” Just like babies born today, they were pure at the time of their creation (“birth”) but were quickly exposed to a “broadcast” they were not able to resist. They were created on the sixth day of the week (Friday), rested on the Sabbath (Saturday), and were seduced by Satan (Gen. 3:1-6) probably the next day (Sunday)—at the age of two days old! Thus, Satan was waiting for “baby” Adam and “baby” Eve. No two-day-old child can discern right from wrong. Like so many young people, Adam and Eve just thought they were grown-up enough to make their own decisions.

Think of it this way. Again, like most children today, Adam and Eve chose not to listen to their Parent, God. Instead, they believed Satan’s lie that they would not “surely die.” Once again, in so doing, they rejected the rule of the government of God in their lives. If Adam had obeyed God’s instruction, he would have qualified to replace Satan and restore the government of God on earth.

Notice this New Testament evidence of how human nature is acquired, not inherited: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted…” (II Cor. 11:2-3).

Paul was writing to people who lived 4,000 years after Adam and Eve. He recognized that the devil was still alive and active. The Corinthians were adults capable of being deceived (“beguiled”) in the same way as Eve, and Paul warned them to be on guard that they not return to following the ways of human nature. Just as Eve’s nature was not evil and hostile to God (see Romans 8:7) before she was deceived, neither was the nature of the Corinthians after they were converted.

Once called and converted, having received the Spirit of God, one has put off the old human nature of his past life. Paul also added in Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation [conduct] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” These statements follow, and are actually part of, the passage identifying Satan as the “prince of the power of the air.”

Think for a moment. It would be grossly unfair of God to inject newborn babies with human nature and place them under His “wrath.” Do you see this point? Human nature is acquired—and this puts people under the wrath of God!

The following is the same scripture from the Phillips translation of the New Testament (1962 edition). It better describes how all people have acquired human nature from Satan—and the influence driving all modern social practices. The parenthetical portion is part of this translation: “You drifted along on the stream of this world’s ideas of living, and obeyed its unseen ruler [Satan] (who is still operating in those who do not respond to the truth of God)…We all lived like that in the past, and followed the impulses and imaginations of our evil nature…like everyone else.”

How true! Most people simply drift along in life following whatever impulses and ideas (“imaginations”) strike them from moment to moment. All of Ephesians 1is Paul’s accounting to those brethren of their calling into God’s way of life. Take time to read it, possibly using the Moffatt translation of the Bible. The Ephesians had come out of the course of this world and were no longer “by nature” the children of wrath and were no longer yielding to the “prince of the power of the air.” They had begun to “dis-acquire” human nature by yielding to God instead of the impulses, pulls and temptations of Satan’s wavelength.

With the understanding of Satan the devil, society and self, one must realize the great danger we all face. Step back and recognize the pulls that have affected you throughout your life.

Realize that you live in a world completely devoid of the right way and therefore unable to produce happy, successful marriages. Realize that you have absorbed many ideals—and perspectives—of the world around you. These have conditioned you to assume the characteristics and values—the nature—of society. But, like the Corinthians, you can also dis-acquire the world’s values.

Combining Satan and society with human nature creates a dangerous, explosive situation, especially in regard to dating. For those with eyes to see, the world has proven that it does not know the correct way—God’s Way.

Are you now willing to examine the world’s wrong form of dating from God’s perspective?

LUST AND INFATUATION—THE WRONG FOUNDATION

Satan has counterfeited virtually all aspects of God’s Way. Think for a moment. Everyone understands the crime of forgery. A forger’s goal is to create a counterfeit that is indistinguishable from the original. For example, if one is going to make twenty-dollar bills, it would make no sense to produce forgeries that will not be accepted.

Consider. If you want to counterfeit Christianity, you would not offer Buddhism. You offer something that looks, feels and seems to be Christianity. It must appear to be Christianity to the undiscerning eye.

The Bible describes three forms of real—true—love. To confuse and trap the unsuspecting, the devil has produced counterfeits to these, which, among other things, form a faulty foundation for dating today.

Let’s now closely examine one of the biggest counterfeits produced by the greatest “forger” of all time.

True Love?

Various definitions and misconceptions about love abound. Some feel that it is devotion, others feel that it is sexual passion, and still others feel that it is affection. Then there are those who feel that it is adoration, or respect, or caring, or admiration or even warm feelings. Still others see it in poetic terms—or as a mystery that cannot be explained.

So then, what is love?

By looking at so many bad marriage results—separation, divorce, and the endless cycle of cohabitation for those who at one point thought they were “in love”—it is evident that the world simply does not understand true love. The problem is that so many initially felt that a relationship was right, when it was not. So many thought that they were in love, only to find out that their feelings were little more than “easy come, easy go.”

Society often bases its values on the opinions of the least-qualified voices—those of the entertainment industry. One such “voice,” Madonna, a famous pop icon, said, “The most important thing is to have love…that happens with a marriage, without a marriage, with a single parent, whatever.” What does this statement really say—other than give license for people to define love any way they wish?

Then there are those who want to hear what the “experts” say. Here is one example:

“What is love? Is it the same as lust? Tough question. There are many different kinds of love—romantic, parental, platonic. Mostly, love is feeling emotionally attached to another person. You want to be close to that person. You want to share things with her, understand her and have her understand you. You want to care for her and have her care for you. Romantic love usually comes with a strong physical or sexual attraction. You want to hold, touch and sometimes become sexual with that person.

RISING STARS (April HGS Message)

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 11^th April 2012 03:46

Tonight we want to talk about the RISING STARS. Whenever God gives a theme, it is a word of prophecy and so I believe that those who are here tonight;

number one you will be stars. Number two you will begin to rise. Now I am not talking to everybody actually, I am talking to somebody.

There is somebody here tonight who will be a star, there will be somebody here tonight who will begin to rise.

Rising Star.  In English, two words; Star and Rising. Now who is a star? A star in the simplest language is someone who excels.

And am starting tonight by decreeing to someone here; from now on you will continue to excel.

For example; David excelled in Music in 1 Samuel 16 v 15 -18 when the king needed a musician, somebody told him, we know someone who is a star in music and his name was David, he was a star in music.

Because we are dealing with children tonight we will move a little fast, because we could show you that a Elisha was a star in sport, Daniel was a star in administration, Solomon was a star in wisdom, Moses was a star in meekness, the daughter of Job were stars in beauty. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were stars in commitment to God.  Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist was a star in purity. Paul the apostle was a star in Anointing. David was a star in gratitude to God.

I pray for someone here tonight; in every facet of your life, you will become a star.

Then what do we mean by rising? It simply means going higher, increasing in success, increasing in brilliance, increasing in skills and increasing in ability. When we talk of going higher, you read Genesis 26 v 12-14 the Bible showed us a man called Isaac, Bible said he waxed great and then went forward and then increasing, that is an example.

He kept on going higher and higher. In Genesis 40 v 43 the Bible tells us about Jacob, how he increased exceedingly and then we can give you several other examples but because of time, we all know that when we say something is rising, it means it is getting better, it’s shining brighter, it’s becoming more and more known.

 In the name that is above every other name, you will keep on rising, you will be rising in joy, you will be rising in success, you will be rising in power, you will be rising in anointing, you will be rising in glory.

Now when we therefore talk about RISING STAR, it means someone is already a star and now the star is becoming bigger and brighter. I know some of you may not believe it if I say you are already a star, but the word of God said it; that God calls things that be not as though they were.

And every one who is my child here tonight, you are already a star and your star will be getting bigger, it will be getting brighter in the Mighty name of Jesus.

Now we could find several examples in the Bible, we find a young man called Philip in Act 6 v 1-6

Thank you Father! The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he ask me to tell you; stop being afraid, because the destroyer will not visit your family again.

So there is this young man called Philip in Act 6 v 1-6 he started as a deacon; to become a deacon, he was already a star; people have sought him out and they found him to be a man of good report; full of holy spirit and faith and then they make him a deacon, very soon he became an evangelist, he kept on rising and rising.

In the name that is above every other name, by the time I see you again next month; you will be higher than where you are now in Jesus name.

Now how do I become a star?

There are various ways of becoming a star, one of the ways is to be created a star. Genesis 1 v 16 tells us that God made the stars also, in Jeremiah 1 v 4-5 God told Jeremiah, even before I formed thee I knew thee, while you were yet in your mother’s womb, I have already sanctify you, I have already set you aside to myself, I have already anointed you a prophet to nations.

There are some stars that are stars even from the womb. In Luke 1 v 13 -17 even before John the Baptist was born, it has already been prophesied that he will be great.  Some people are created stars. 

Then some people are born as stars; the son of a king is called the prince, from day number one the day a prince is born; he is born a star; if it’s a girl we call her a princess.

 In Genesis 12 v 1-3 God told Abraham that through his seed all the nations of the world will be blessed. So those children who are even yet to be born had already been made a blessing by God, so when the children of Abraham began to arrive they had no option but to shine.

The son of a star is a star.

The son of a goat cannot be a dog. One of my sons said the day the son of an elephant is born, that day the son of elephant is already bigger than the son of a cow. The son of an elephant cannot be like the son of a cat.

By the special grace of God I am a star and so all my Children are stars. If you are one of my children shout halleluiah!

Then some people are made a star, some people are promoted to become a star for example Deuteronomy 34 v 9 tells us that Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses laid his hands on him.

The reason Joshua became a star is because Moses laid his hands on him, that is why tonight as we lay hands on all out children, even if they were not starts before they will become a star.

Thank you father, The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said your parents are insignificant, he said but you are going to be great.

The Almighty God said there is someone here tonight, He said the only thing that has been increasing in your life is poverty he said but from tonight the tide will turn.

The Lord said there is a child here tonight that all you have ever been is just average, He said but from today you will become brilliant.

1 Samuel 16 v 1-13we see the story of David he was in the bush, he was not loved, he was not appreciated, his father did not even count him worthy of anything, but the Almighty God took him from behind and turned him to a star.

I am praying for someone here tonight, even where you are not yet known, the Almighty God will pick you up and turn you to a star.

Thank you father, the Lord says there is a woman here tonight, he asked me to tell you, he asked me to you not to worry, he said next year you will bring your own children.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said all the weapons of all your enemies are already render useless.

Some people are created a star, some are born a star, some are made a star and some people achieved stardom. Somebody like Daniel, he was taken into slavery but because the Almighty God was with him and he himself stayed with God; little by little, step by step, he became one of the three in the entire kingdom. According to Daniel 6 v 1-3 he was a slave at the beginning but at the end he was one of the best three, one of the ruling three in the entire kingdom.

I am prophesying to my children here tonight; out of you shall come president, out of you shall come great rulers, out of you shall come managing directors. In the name of Jesus you will reach the top.

And so when we look at the greatest example we have; that is Jesus Christ himself you will see he was born a star, he was called the bright and morning star and he was made a star. Matthew 28 v 18 He said all power in heaven and on earth has been giving unto me.

And then of course He achieved stardom according to Philippians 2 v 5 – 11 the Bible tells us because of the sacrifice that he made on a good Friday like a day like today, because of the sacrifice He made, He ended up with a name that is above every other names.

So that at the name of Jesus, every kneel should bow.

And I am saying that in name of Jesus every problem in your life will bow today.

Now, how do I rise?

I am already a star, whether I was created a star or I was born a star, or was made a star, or I achieved stardom. The question now is how do I get my star to keep on rising? That is the crucial thing we want to discuss very briefly tonight.

Rising is a principally in God’s hands. Psalm 75v 6-7 tells us that promotion does not come from the east or from the west, or from the north and it doesn’t come from the south. It says God is the judge, He raises up one and he pulls down another.

The Almighty God will raise you up.

 In 1 Samuel 2 v 7-8 the Bible tells us that it is God who can make rich or make poor, He is the one who raises up and He is the one who pulls down, He is the one who can take the beggar from the dunghill and begin to raise them up until they begin to seat with princes.

And I decree in the name that is above every other name that from this moment, you will only be going higher, you will never go lower in Jesus name.

 Deuteronomy 33v 27 tells us that the hands of God  are always underneath, he said underneath are the everlasting hands, no matter how low you are now, the hand of God is already underneath you , and so all God need to do now is to lift you up.

That is why I am rejoicing with you, you will never go lower than where you are now.

 So God is the one who controls rising, however you can influence your own rising, there are things you can do that will enable you to rise very fast because Hebrew 11 v 6 says God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him; he decides who goes up, he decides those who goes down but if he is going to reward me, he cannot reward me with down grading me, he can only reward me by promoting me and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

And He also says in his word in Proverbs 8 v 17 He said I love those who love Me and those who seek Me early shall find Me.

If I love Him, He will love me, if I seek Him early I will find Him and if I seek Him diligently He will reward me. James 4 v 8 says if I draw near to GOD, God will draw near to me.

I can influence my rising; if I love God, he will love me, if I draw near Him, He will draw near me, if I seek Him diligently He will reward me. Even though He is the Almighty, He is a God of principles. He follows his principles in all His actions. If I do what I should do, He will lift me up.

Thank you Lord the Lord says there is someone here tonight he said the evil cloud over your family has been rolled away.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said I will not help you alone I will help your children also.

This one is for those of us, who are student;

The Lord said there is some one here tonight; he said I will enlarge your mental capacity greatly.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight he said before the end of this month expect another major testimony.

The Lord said there is a family here that has become used to frequent tragedies, the Lord asked me to tell you from now on you will become use to frequent joy.

In Proverb 3 v 9-10 the Bible made it clear if you put God first, if you honor Him with your increase, with your substance and you honor him with your first fruit he said he will respond in such a manner that people will noticed that you are becoming excessively prosperous, you will begin to shine financially.

He says in Malachi 3 v 8-10, He said those who rob Him of His tithe He will curse, He said but those who bring all the tithe to His house, they will shine financially, that is what is say, once you know what to do, do it and leave the rest to God.

He said if you take this step this is what I will do, then take the step and see what He will do. But when He says take this step this is what I will do and then you do contrary to what He says, how can you expect you will continue to rise.

You can influence the rising of your own stars. And then you can influence the rising of your own children.

Thank You Lord, the Lord says  there is someone here tonight he ask me to tell you, he says I specialize in making something out of nothing., he said I will make you great.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said I have surprise you before, I am now about to astonish you.

Proverb 22 v 6says train up a child in the way he should grow when he is old he won’t be able to depart from it. The training you give your children will determine how they will end.

Many parents have destroyed the future of the children because they didn’t give them the right training at the beginning.

Some ladies find it difficult to settle down in their husband’s home because their mothers didn’t teach them even how to cook.  The mother didn’t teach them how to behave when they get to their husband’s house and so the future was even destroyed before they left home.

Train your child the way to go; when he gets to the top he won’t be able to depart. When we talk about training the children, God said in Deuteronomy 11 v 18-19 He said what you talk to your children about when you are in the home with them; is what will determine how God will respond to them.

In other word, when your children are sitting down at home playing with you, what is the kind of discussion they are listening to? God says when you are talking to your children, you are suppose to be telling them about God, the word of God, whatever you tell your children is going to determine what their future will be.

One of the major problems some men of God have had in the past is that in the church they say something, at home they say something different, so the children becomes confused and they begin to wonder; so at the end of the day they don’t even want to have anything to do with the church.

You can influence what happens to your children, and all of us who have failed our children up till this moment, may the Almighty God forgive us in Jesus name.

 May the Almighty God give us the grace to repent immediately our ways in Jesus name. May the Almighty God give us the grace to restitute our ways in Jesus name.

As for you children, you can influence your own rising too Proverb 22 v 29 the Bible says seeth thou a man diligent in his business, he will stand before kings and not before mean men. No matter how young you are if you are ready to work hard; God is ready to promote you.

God is not going to promote somebody who is lazy.

The fact that you are born a prince does not mean you will become a king. They say there is no royal road to success. The elders will tell you; princes have become slaves before because they fail to work.

Children listen to me, “many of you are spending too much time watching television, you are spending too much time playing games, you must learn to work, the world is not a bed of roses, there is a lot of struggling going on and those who will work hard will make it to the top. If your parents are the type that will push you, glory be to God”.

My mother used to push me, thank God for my mother, of cause thank God for my father he loved me but he was always in the farm.  When other children are playing outside, my mother will ask me to seat down and study my books, and I will tell her other people are enjoying.

My mother will tell me other people children are not my business. You, you are my business, and you must do what I tell you. I thank God for her, she pushed me and thank God I allowed myself to be pushed. You children because your stars will begin to rise, you better seat up and begin to work hard.

There are many of you in the schools and the colleges and you are not studying hard and you think you can pass by bribing somebody. That can only take you far to a certain level. There is one thing that will take you to the top in life; hard work. See a man diligent in his business; he will stand before kings not before mean men. Hard work in everything that you do.

I have said it before there are some Christians who are believing God for breakthrough but they are lazy, let me tell you the truth; no breakthrough is coming for a lazy person, because God knows if he gives you the breakthrough, out of your laziness it will slip out of your hands.

I have seen so many Christians; bricklayers, carpenters, other trades; if they have been hard working on this camp ground alone, they will have become a multi billionaire by now.

 But you give them a job to do; 10 am they are still eating breakfast they haven’t started work at all. I start my own day by 5 am, only God knows when I close. They will begin their work by after 10am they want to close by 4pm. Such people when they get one job they never get another.

 I am praying for all of you who are listening to me because you are my children, you are stars, you are going to rise but you must work hard.

Seeth thou a man diligent in his business! Tell your neighbor “stop being lazy and your star will begin to rise”.

The second thing you can do children so that your star can rise fast is that you must obtain the blessings of your parents; the Bible says honor thy mother and thy  father that your days may be long.

When you honor your parents they will bless you and the blessing of your parents will take you far. I have said it again and again, I am where I am today; by the grace of God and by the blessings of my mother.

 Anytime I please my mother, anytime I did something for her that makes her happy, she will pronounce blessing on me. One blessing in particular that I didn’t understand then; is “son, because you have done this; you will call one fellow two hundred will answer you”. I didn’t understand what that one means, but today by the grace of God if I call one pastor and I didn’t mention the particular name, even in this place where we are, if I say pastor come, they will be more than two hundred who will come.

 I am pronouncing the same blessing on all my children, you will call one fellow one thousand will answer you.

Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long that they may bless you and that your star may continue to rise.

Let me say one more thing to you parents, you parents cannot be a star if you are in sin; you cannot be covered in sin and shine and if the parents are not a star, how can the children be a star?

If you are living in sin, you are an enemy of God, how can you be an enemy of God and expect God to cause you to rise? How can God promote you when you are doing things contrary to his will? The bible says you cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound.

Parents listen to me, those of you who for one reason or the other don’t want to surrender your life to Jesus, for the sake of your children, surrender your life to Jesus.

If you have made up your own mind that you want to live the rest of your life suffering, if you have made up your mind that you want to go to hell, please think of your children, consider your children, because if you are not a friend of God it is difficult for blessing of God to come upon your children.

The elders have a saying that it is the one who is mother is loved, is the one that we would appreciate the child. If you are an enemy of God, God cannot love your children, so I am talking to those parents who are here tonight; if for no other reason, because of your children, give your life to Jesus, become a friend of God. When you become a friend of God, then God will become a friend of your children.

 As for you children, nobody is ever too young to surrender to Jesus, you can surrender your life to him today and he will turn you into a star. So those of you who want to give your life to Jesus whether parent or their children, you can come now

... And as you come; talk to Jesus Christ, ask him to be merciful unto you, ask him to save your soul, tell him to write your name in the book of life, ask Him to save your soul, tell Him you want to shine for Him, ask Him to wash you clean in His blood, that from now on you will do His will. Talk to Jesus Christ now!

PRAYER POINTS:

• 1.   Praise God that we have this opportunity, that we and our children can come for these special anointing.
• 2.   Father, in all that I do from now on, let me excel.
• 3.   Father, promotions comes from you, please promote me this year.
• 4.   Father, as my children grow in age; let them grow in Wisdom and in the knowledge of God.
• 5.   Father, let my children be head and not tail. Above and never beneath.
• 6.   Father, as for me and my children, let us keep rising forever.
• 7.   Father, don’t let anyone or anything truncate the destinies of myself or my children.

 

.

SIX STEPS TO THE CROSS

by 5^th April 2012 01:36

Text: John 19:17-19

Introduction:
Guy complaining to his makes the statement “ I am finding a different church next Christmas”
Wife looking puzzled asks “WHY?”
Husband responds “Because every time this church the preacher is either preaching on Jesus’ birth or His Death, don’t he know anymore sermons?”
On Christmas we talk about the great birth of our Savior. We tell of the 3 wise men followed a star and brought gifts and how the shepherds herd and seen a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God. We tell of how Jesus’ birth is so beneficial to us and how without it we would be lost.
All this is true and then on Easter we focus on the cross and/or the resurrection of Christ. We note the importance of His trip down that lonely road to Golgotha. We tell of how He triumphed over death hell and the grave.
But one thing we never knew,

1. He Humbled Himself Matthew 3:15
a. For us to humble ourselves we must first submit ourselves to others
b. The Word says Heb 13:17 (KJV) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
c. It is a hard thing to humble oneself. We take it as a surrender and that is exactly what it is. We surrender our will and ideas for someone else’s.
d. But Jesus did just that He submitted Himself to be baptized??? He had no need of baptism. He did it to show that he was also under the rule of His father, GOD.

2. Denied Flesh - Matthew 4:4
a. Immediately after Hi 40 day fast Jesus was tempted, and of course Satan knew how to tempt Him.
b. Never forget when Satan tempts you he does it at a most opportune moment. He doesn’t tempt you because its Tuesday the 22nd at 4:15 p.m.
c. Satan is more organized than that. I mean we preach that Satan is the father of all Lies and YES he is but we also preach that “How do you know that Satan is lying?” answer “When he has his mouth open.”
d. That part we do err in. For the Bible says that he can appear as Angel of Light. And if in doing so he can also tell you things that are true to persuade you in a specific way.
e. However, the difference is this, it would be more exact to say that every time he has his mouth open he is using what he says to drag you to hell whether it is a lie or the truth
f. So with that said we look back now to the temptation. He tempts at an opportune time. He lays in wait in effect.
g. So with that said we look back at the temptation.
h. What would have been wrong with Jesus to command the stone to be made bread? Nothing, other than the fact he had a battle to win and winning it meant that he could not do what Satan was trying to command Him to do.
i. Satan knew He would be hungry but Jesus denied the flesh once again and triumphed over SATAN.

3. Denied the Temptation of Boasting - Matthew 4:7
a. I have heard it said that Satan was naïve to the fact that Jesus was born to save others.
b. That is as wrong as it can be. Satan knew that Jesus came to be the second Adam. And he was using the same tactics on Him as he did on Adam. TEMPTATIONS
c. He came to Jesus and told Him to cast himself off of the cliff and let the Angels, as it is written, to bear you up lest you cast your foot against a stone. He used the age-old tactic of self-abasement.
d. Notice that Jesus did not say “Don’t tell me I can’t” “Don’t tell me I am not the Son of God.”
e. He simply said “It is written”
f. The flesh would have us rise up and try to defend our stature. But Jesus denied that fleshy attitude.

4. Denied selfish gain - Matthew 4:10
1 Tim 6:10 (KJV) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
a. Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted He was tempted to get all the world and keep it for Himself. A temptation that some of us would find it hard to resist.
b. Some have said that “Well it was not Satan’s to give”
c. My answer is yes it was Adam gave it to Satan it was his. Furthermore, if it was not Satan’ then why did Jesus just say “ITS NOT YOURS TO GIVE?”
d. Because it was his to give.
e. Selfish gain says give it to me give it to me
Mat 4:10 (KJV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.


5. Preached repentance - Matthew 4:17
a. When this was all said and done then Jesus had triumphed over the things in which we must face right?
b. Right, but it says in verse 17 “From that time… Jesus began to preach and say the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
c. He WON but he did not keep His winnings to Himself
d. He was victorious but He let others share in the Glory of the victory and to share the prize with which He won.
e. He never held back the truth even when it hurt others, cause He knew that the truth was what they needed not the sugar coating. They needed a way out of the mess they were in. The needed God and He, “Jesus” was the only way to God.
f. He preach Repent for what you are doing is Sin.
g. Not Well that may be ok or this may be ok. Lets just wait and see.
h. He preached the hard cold facts of Life.
i. How can the words spoken some 2000, 3000 even 5 or 6000 years ago help us today?
j. Because GODS word is ALIVE. JEUS MADE SURE OF THAT.

6. Discipled others - Matthew 4:19
a. Jesus came to came to help others, He came to preach repentance but He also came to equip others.
b. What do we do to equip others? Sometimes we think because of flesh I am not telling this one or that one how to do something because they might try to take my job or something.
c. We wonder if and when we share “a secret” then we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
d. That is exactly the opposite approach that Jesus took one of the first few things He, after he got the equipment for God at baptism and the strength of the fast He gathered others to himself to teach them the mysteries of God.
e. He took them under His wing and taught them everything He knew, to a point of course.
f. He held nothing back he loved them when they needed love and rebuked them when the needed rebuked.
g. He taught them values that still stand today and we still live by in our time 2000 years later.
h. He was the greater then the great Smith Wigglesworth who done such great things He was greater than Charles Spurgeon He was greater then John the Baptist He was greater than Paul He was the greatest.
i. And still is the greatest Leader to have ever walked the Earth.
Conclusion:

We often focus on His birth and His death yes they are very important but His life is a model for us. We can’t be born like him and we can’t die like Him but we sure can live like Him

The Active Life of the Spirit-filled Believer

by Smith Wigglesworth 1^st April 2012 03:46

These are the last days; the days of the falling away. These are days when Satan is having a great deal of power. But we must keep in mind that Satan has no power only as he is allowed.

It is a great thing to know that God is loosing you from the world, loosing you from a thousand things. You must seek to have the mind of God on all things. If you don’t, you will stop His working. I had to learn that as I was on the water en route to Australia. We stopped at a place called Aden, where they were selling all kinds of ware. Among other things were some beautiful rugs and ostrich feathers in great quantities. There was a gentleman in “first class” who wanted feathers. He bought one lot and the next lot put up was too big; he did not want so many. He said to me, “Will you join me?” I knew I did not want feathers for I had no room or use for them and wouldn’t know what to do with them if I got them. However, he pleaded with me to join him. I perceived it was the Spirit as clearly as anything and I said, “Yes, I will.” So the feathers were knocked down for fifteen dollars. Then I found the man had no money on him. He had plenty in his cabin. I perceived it was the Spirit again, so it fell to my lot to pay for the feathers. He said to me, “I will get the money and give it to one of the stewards.” I replied: “No, that is not business. I am known all over the ship. You seek me out.”

The man came and brought the money. I said, “God wants me to talk to you. Now sit down.” So he sat down and in ten minutes’ time the whole of his life was unhinged, unraveled, broken up, so broken that like a big baby he wept and cried for salvation. It was “feathers” that did it. But you know we shall never know the mind of God till we learn to know the voice of God. The striking thing about Moses is that it took him forty years to learn human wisdom, forty years to know his helplessness, and forty years to live in the power of God. One hundred and twenty years it took to teach that man, and sometimes it seems to me it will take many years to bring us just where we can tell the voice of God, the leadings of God, and all His will concerning us.

I see that all revelation, all illumination, everything that God had in Christ was to be brought forth into perfect light that we might be able to live the same, produce the same, and be in every activity sons of God with power. It must be so. We must not limit the Holy One. And we must clearly see that God brought us forth to make us supernatural, that we might be changed all the time on the line of the supernatural, that we may every day live so in the Spirit, that all of the revelations of God are just like a canvas thrown before our eyes, on which we see clearly step by step all the divine will of God.

Any assembly that puts its hand upon the working of the Spirit will surely dry up. The assembly must be as free in the Spirit as possible, and you must allow a certain amount of extravagance when people are getting through to God. Unless we are very wise, we can easily interfere and quench the power of God which is upon us. It is an evident fact that one man in a meeting, filled with unbelief, can make a place for the devil to have a seat. And it is very true, that if we are not careful we may quench the Spirit of some person who is innocent but incapable of helping himself. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.” (Romans 15:1). If you want an assembly full of life you must have one in which the Spirit of God is manifested. And in order to keep at the boiling pitch of that blessed incarnation of the Spirit, you must be as simple as babies; you must be as harmless as doves and as wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16).

I always ask God for a leading of grace. It takes grace to be in a meeting because it is so easy if you are not careful, to get on the natural side. The man who is a preacher, if he has lost the unction, will be well repaid if he will repent and get right with God and get the unction back. It never pays us to be less than always spiritual, and we must have a divine language and the language must be of God. Beloved, if you come into real perfect line with the grace of God, one thing will certainly take place in your life. You will change from that old position of the world’s line where you were judging everybody, and where you were not trusting anyone, and come into a place where you will have a heart that will believe all things; a heart that under no circumstances reviles again when you are reviled.

I know many of you think many times before you speak once. Here is a great word: “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19). Innocent. No inward corruption or defilement, that is full of distrusts, but just a holy, divine likeness of Jesus that dares believe that God Almighty will surely watch over all. Hallelujah! “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:10,11). The child of God who is rocked in the bosom of the Father has the sweetest touch of heaven, and the honey of the Word is always in it.

If the saints only knew how precious they are in the sight of God they would scarcely be able to sleep for thinking of His watchful, loving care. Oh, He is a precious Jesus! He is a lovely Savior! He is divine in all His attitude toward us, and makes our hearts to burn. There is nothing like it. “Oh,” they said on the road to Emmaus, “did not our heart burn within us, as He walked with us and talked with us?” (Luke 24:32). Oh beloved, it must be so today.

Always keep in your mind the fact that the Holy Ghost must bring manifestation. We must understand that the Holy Ghost is breath, the Holy Ghost is Person, and it is the most marvelous thing to me to know that this Holy Ghost power can be in every part of your body. You can feel it from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. Oh, it is lovely to be burning all over with the Holy Ghost! And when that takes place there is nothing but the operation of the tongue that must give forth the glory and the praise.

You must be in the place of magnifying the Lord. The Holy Ghost is the great Magnifier of Jesus, the great Illuminator of Jesus. And so after the Holy Ghost comes in, it is impossible to keep your tongue still. Why, you would burst if you didn’t give Him utterance. Talk about a dumb baptized soul? Such a person is not to be found in the Scriptures. You will find that when you speak unto God in the new tongue He gives you, you enter into a close communion with Him hitherto never experienced. Talk about preaching! I would like to know how it will be possible for all the people filled with the Holy Ghost to stop preaching. Even the sons and daughters must prophesy. After the Holy Ghost comes in, a man is in a new order in God. And you will find it so real that you will want to sing, talk, laugh, and shout. We are in a strange place when the Holy Ghost comes in.

If the incoming of the Spirit is lovely, what must be the onflow? The incoming is only to be an onflow. I am very interested in scenery. When I was in Switzerland I wouldn’t be satisfied till I went to the top of the mountain, though I like the valleys also. On the summit of the mountain the sun beats on the snow and sends the water trickling down the mountains right through to the meadows. Go there and see if you can stop it. Just so in the spiritual. God begins with the divine flow of His eternal power which is the Holy Ghost, and you cannot stop it.

We must always clearly see that the baptism with the Spirit must make us ministering spirits.

Peter and John had been baptized only a short time. Did they know what they had? No, I defy you to know what you have. No one knows what he has in the baptism with the Holy Ghost. You have no conception of it. You cannot measure it by an human standards. It is greater than any man has any idea of, and consequently those two disciples had no idea what they had. For the first time after they were baptized in the Holy Ghost they came down to the Gate Beautiful. There they saw the man sitting who for forty years had been lame. What was the first thing after they saw him? Ministration. What was the second? Operation. What was the third? Manifestation, of course. It could not be otherwise. You will always find that this order in the Scripture will be carried out in everybody.

I clearly see that we ought to have spiritual giants in the earth, mighty in apprehension, amazing in activity, always having a wonderful report because of their activity in faith. I find instead that there are many people who perhaps have better discernment than you, better knowledge of the Word than you, but they have failed to put it into practice, so these gifts lie dormant. I am here to help you to begin on the sea of life with mighty acts in the power of God through the gifts of the Spirit. You will find that this which I am speaking on is out of knowledge derived from a wonderful experience in many lands. The man who is filled with the Holy Ghost is always acting. You read the first verse of the Acts of the Apostles, “Jesus began both to do and teach.” He began to do first, and so must we.

OUTWARD MANIFESTATION

Beloved, we must see that the baptism with the Holy Ghost is an activity with an outward manifestation. When I was in Norway, God was mightily moving there, though I had to talk by interpretation. However, God always worked in a wonderful way. One day we met a man who stopped the three men I was with, one being the interpreter. I was walking on, but I saw he was in a dilemma, so I turned back and said to the interpreter, “What is the trouble?” “This man,” he said, “is so full of neuralgia that he is almost blind and he is in a terrible state.” As soon as ever they finished the conversation I said to the spirit that was afflicting him, “Come out of him in the name of Jesus.” And the man said, “It is all gone! It is all gone! I am free.” Ah, brothers, we have no conception of what God has for us!

I will tell you what happened in Sydney, Australia. A man with a stick passed a friend and me. He had to get down and then twist over, and the tortures on his face made a deep impression on my soul. I asked myself, “Is it right to pass this man?” So I said to my friend, “There is a man in awful distress, and I cannot go further. I must speak to him.” I went over to this man and said to him, “You seem to be in great trouble.” “Yes,” he said, “I am no good and never will be.” I said, “You see that hotel. Be in front of that door in five minutes and I will pray for you, and you shall be as straight as any man in this place.” This is on the line of activity in the faith of Jesus. I came back after paying a bill, and he was there. I will never forget him wondering if he was going to be trapped, or what was up that a man should stop him in the street and tell him he should be made straight. I had said it, so it must be. If you say anything you must stand with God to make it so. Never say anything for bravado, without you have the right to say it. Always be sure of your ground, and that you are honouring God. If there is anything about it to make you anything, it will bring you sorrow. Your whole ministry will have to be on the line of grace and blessing. We helped him up the two steps, passed him through to the elevator, and took him upstairs. It seemed difficult to get him from the elevator to my bedroom, as though Satan was making the last stroke for his life, but we got him there. Then in five minutes’ time this man walked out of that bedroom as straight as any man in this place. He walked perfectly and declared he hadn’t a pain in his body.

Oh, brother, it is ministration, it is operation, it is manifestation! Those are three of the leading principles of the baptism with the Holy Ghost. And we must see to it that God is producing these three through us.

The Bible is the Word of God, it has the truths and whatever people may say of them they stand stationary, unmovable. Not one jot or tittle shall fail of all His good promises. His word will come forth. In heaven it is settled, on earth it must be made manifest that He is the God of everlasting power.

God wants manifestation and He wants His glory to be seen. He wants us all to be filled with that line of thought that He can look upon us and delight in us subduing the world unto Him. And so you are going to miss a great deal if you don’t begin to act. But once you begin to act in the order of God, you will find that God establishes your faith and from that day starts you on the line of the promises. When will you begin?

WHAT IF WE BELIEVED?

In a place in England I was dealing on the lines of faith and what would take place if we believed God. Many things happened. But when I got away it appeared one man who worked in the colliery had heard me. He was in trouble with a stiff knee. He said to his wife, “I cannot help but think every day that that message of Wigglesworth’s was to stir us to do something. I cannot get away from it. All the men in the pit know how I walk with a stiff knee, and you know how you have wrapped it around with yards of flannel. Well, I am going to act. You have to be the congregation.” He got his wife in front of him. “I am going to act and do just as Wigglesworth did.” He got hold of his leg unmercifully, saying, “Come out, you devils, come out! In the name of Jesus. Now, Jesus, help me. Come out, you devils, come out.” Then he said, “Wife they are gone! Wife, they are gone. This is too good. I am going to act now.” So he went to his place of worship and all the collier boys were there. It was a prayer meeting. As he told them this story these men became delighted. They said, “Jack, come over here and help me.” And Jack went. As soon a he was through in one home he was invited to another, loosing these people of the pains they had gotten in the colliery.

Ah, brothers and sisters, we have no idea what God has for us if we will only begin! But oh, the grace we need! We may make a mishap. If you do it outside of Him, if you do it for yourself, and if you want to be some one, it will be a failure. We shall only be able to do well as we do it in the name of Jesus. Oh, the love that God’s Son can put into us if we are only humble enough, weak enough, and helpless enough to know that except He does it, it will not be done! “What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive and ye shall have them.”

Live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, walk in communion with the Spirit, talk with God. All leadings of the divine order are for you. I pray that if there are any who have turned to their own way and have made God second, they will come to repentance on all lines. Separate yourself from every earthly touch, and touch ideas. And God will bring you to an end of yourself. Begin with God this moment.

The Romans 12 Blueprint for Christ's Church

by 27^th March 2012 06:35

The word "church" is not used in Romans 12. In fact, it's found only 5 times in the entire Epistle and all are in the final chapter. Yet, there is no question that the Apostle Paul is writing to all the Lord's churches in general and His church at Rome in particular.

Likewise, there is not a single reference to Romans 12 being a pattern for a healthy church. Some things are so obvious it's not necessary to spell them out. The healthy church description of this chapter is one such.

Why does this matter?

The health of the Lord's churches in this 21st century is a major concern for everyone called to shepherd God's people. So many churches that were once healthy and strong, vibrant in their witness and effective in their mission, have fallen onto hard times. Some came under the influence of corrupt leaders, some were hijacked by carnal power-brokers, and some grew discouraged and surrendered to the world.

The typical young adult called into the ministry today has never seen a healthy and strong church. He goes forth to fulfill a mission in the faith that there must be such a church out there somewhere and if not, he is to build one from scratch.

Here is a snapshot of such a healthy church

FOUNDATION: everyone is committed to the Lord. (Romans 12:1-2)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

This is about our vertical relationship. It comes before anything else. Without this, there is no church, period.

a) The mercy of God is the starting point. Everything we do is in response to all He has done. (See the previous verses, Romans 11:30-36). The initiative is with Him; we are all responders. "We love Him because He first loved us" (I John 4:19). No one not having a great appreciation for God's mercies has ever come face to face with his own depravity and unworthiness.

b) We commit our lives to the Lord God through Jesus Christ. Living sacrifices. We place ourselves on His altar every day of our lives. This means after our initial salvation experience, we daily recommit ourselves to Him. "I die daily" (I Corinthians 15:31). No one is living on remembered blessings or ancient grace.

c) We become focused on the will of God. Knowing that will and obeying it become our chief concern. "What will please the Father?" was the driving force of Jesus' earthly years. Link: see Matthew 11:26 and Luke 10:21.

Summing up: All the Lord's people, but particularly leaders of His church, have been the recipients of His mercy, have committed their lives to Him, and are daily focused on becoming more like Him and doing His will.

FRAMEWORK: everyone is growing in Christ. (Romans 12:3-8)

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (vs. 3)

This is about our internal relationship. In a house, the framework is the massive timbers that form the rafters and joists, the underpinning and studs. It will become invisible to everyone, but if it is absent or done poorly, everything is in jeopardy.

Church members are healthy in relation to:

a) Themselves. They are humble, but not groveling. (vs. 3) They have a solid, balanced view of themselves as sinners saved by grace, as objects of divine grace.

b) The body as a whole. They belong to the entire group, and are not loners.(vs. 4-5) They have a deep appreciation for the whole congregation. The more they love the Lord, the more they treasure one another. Let them backslide and this will be the first thing to go.

c) Their spiritual gifts. They accept their gifts and use them within the congregation in Christ-honoring and body-building ways. (vs. 6-8) (Link: See Paul's indepth teachings on spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12-14.)

Summing up: There is no place for lone rangers within a healthy church. People see themselves as part of the Body of Christ. They do not exalt themselves above others. They are no soloists but performers, so to speak, in the Lord's choir or symphony.

FINISHING: everyone lives by the law of love. (Romans 12:9-21)

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good....

This is the horizontal relationship. As with a house, the finishwork is what people see. They do not notice the foundation or the framework unless something is wrong. In a congregation, they will see the behavior of God's people toward one another and the world.

As Jesus did in Luke 6:27-38, after commanding us to "love," Paul does not stop there but explains what that kind of love within the body looks like. After all, love in scripture is never presented as an emotion, something we feel, but an action, something to be done.

If our love is pure and without guile or hypocrisy, here is what it will look like:

a) This kind of love hates some things.

Followers of Christ will hate what He hated: bad religion, corrupt leaders, and hypocritical do-gooders, for starters.

An unhealthy church will love some of the things it should be despising and opposing. (Abortion, living-together-without marriage, and homosexuality come to mind.)

b) This kind of love values good things.

It's worthwhile to note that this does not say "cling to what is religiously good." After all, "every good and perfect gift comes from Him" (James 1:17). God's people should treasure any music, art, or other expressions that are truly good, and not restrict their approval to the religious, something Scripture does not do.

An unhealthy church values unhealthy things.

c) This love puts others before itself (vs. 10).

Seek out and treasure the pastor and church worker who does this and you know you have found a winner. To our everlasting shame, many of us in the ministry devote time and energy and wealth to enhancing our resume' and furthering our career.

An unhealthy church is beset by members vying for first place.

d) This love is grounded in faithfulness to Christ (vs. 11-12).

This is its source, its reservoir.

An unhealthy church will skip the daily faithfulness in order to get to the exciting work of serving Him.

e) This love does kind deeds to others, particularly fellow disciples (vs. 13).

Hospitality is a big deal in Scripture. See Hebrews 13:1-2 and Matthew 25:40,45. Also III John, especially the brute Diotrephes who forbids church members from showing hospitality.

An unhealthy church does kindnesses only to the deserving.

f) This love treats enemies kindly (vs. 14,17-20). This is in complete harmony with our Lord's command that we love our enemies (Luke 6:27). We should not fail to see the specifics of this love commanded by Jesus: we are to do good, bless, pray, and give to our tormentors. (see below**)

An unhealthy church attacks its enemies.

g) This love blesses the hurting and the lowly (vs. 15,16).

No student of Scripture--and that should be all of us who follow Jesus--can miss that the hurting and the lowly are favorites of the Lord. And yet, they are the quickest to be deserted by an unhealthy church.

h) This love is an overcoming-with-good force (vs. 21).

An unhealthy church is overcome by evil.

**The Lord fully intends His people to show His kind of love toward those who do us wrong. Our natural instincts kick in here and we want to retaliate. But the Lord's plan is not to destroy our enemies, but to win them over.

When we do loving things toward those who hate us or curse us or threaten us or would forceably take from us, we accomplish 12 things:

We honor God, please Jesus, and cooperate with whatever plans the Holy Spirit has going on here.

We infuriate the devil, puzzle our enemies, and silence the church's critics.

We bless the church, encourage other believers going through equally difficult times, and bear a strong witness to the watching world.

Doing so causes our anger to dissipate, and according to Luke 6:35, two more things happen: our reward in Heaven is great and our reputation for Jesus goes through the roof.

Want to see this principle in action? See Paul and Silas in the Philippians jail. Acts 16:25 and following.

Let us teach Romans 12 to our people as the model for a healthy church, and constantly keep it before them.

I Will Build My Church - Part 1

by 19^th March 2012 05:43

Matthew 16:18-19(KJV)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  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 loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

• This is the first distinct mention of the church in the New Testament, given by Jesus who is the Builder of the Church.  We do not build the church on our own; we simply cooperate with the Master Builder!
• THE CHURCH IS NOT A MATERIAL BUILDING
  The word is never used in Scripture to refer to a material building (140 times in NT). The language used of the Church could not be applied to a building. ("The Lord added to the church. Herod vexed the church. The church was persecuted. Paul saluted the church. The churches had rest.") Only in the traditions of men can people "go to church."
• THE CHURCH IS NOT A DENOMINATION
  Denominationalism is contrary to Scripture, evidence of carnality and divisions. Denominations are usually formed around a form of church government, a doctrinal emphasis or truth, a personality that God used in some revival, or an experience. The tragedy is that each revival of truth finds its bitterest enemies in the previous group that had light from heaven, but stopped somewhere along the way! History repeats itself in each generation. The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history!  We must constantly guard against the degenerating cycle of Message - Man - Movement - Monument. Notice that Jesus does not say He will build His CHURCHES, but His CHURCH.  There is only one church - and its message has never changed! 
• THE CHURCH IS NOT "PLAN B" IN THE MIND OF GOD
  The church was not merely instituted after the Jewish rejection of Christ, but rather was prophesied through the entire Old Testament.

                      

·   All nations were to be blessed by the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18)
                      

·   All the families of the earth were to be blessed by Abraham's seed (Genesis 26:4)
                      

·   All kindreds of the nations would worship the Lord (Psalms 22:27-28)
                      

·   In the last days all nations would flow to the house of God (Isaiah 2:2-3)
                      

·   The Gentiles would seek the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10)
                      

·   Many nations would be sprinkled with the blood of the Messiah (Isaiah 52:15)
                      

·   Many nations would be joined to the Lord in that day (Zechariah 2:11)
                      

·   The Name of the Lord would be great among the Gentiles (Malachi 1:11)
                      

·   In His Name the Gentiles would trust (Matthew 12:21)

 

• THE CHURCH IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
  The kingdom of God is much larger than the church, because it includes more than the church - the whole universe, all the angelic hosts, and all the Old Testament saints. However, the New Testament church is the CENTERPIECE of God's Kingdom and its most important part. If you live between the Day of Pentecost and the Rapture, YOU MUST BE IN THE CHURCH TO BE SAVED! Jesus said the prophets who gave these prophecies - and even the angels - would love to participate in the things happening in our age.

Matthew 13:16-17  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

1 Peter 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

                      

·   Moses would love to have seen the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5-9)
                      

·   Isaiah would love to have seen Pentecost (Isaiah 28:10-12)
                      

·   Joel would love to have been in the Upper Room (Acts 1-2)

 

• THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY THING GOD EVER HAD TO BUY
  God created everything else, but the church cost Him dearly! We are privileged beyond measure to be part of the Church of the Living God!

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood

·         THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY THING THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN
Individual saints and local assemblies may have problems, but the church is as solid as the rock of revelation it is built upon.

          

·   The earth is to be shaken (Isaiah 2:19-21)
         

·   The nation of Israel is to be shaken (Ezekiel 38:19-20)
          

·   The heavens and the nations are to be shaken (Haggai 2:6-7)
          

·   Everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-29

 

• But the church cannot be shaken! The gates of hell cannot prevail against it, because JESUS IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH!

Matthew 16:18-19(AMP)  And I tell you, you are Peter [Petros, masculine, a large piece of rock], and on this rock [petra, feminine, a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it - or be strong to its detriment, or hold out against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind - that is, declare to be improper and unlawful - on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth - declare lawful - must be what is already loosed in heaven.

Notice two principles in this passage

• First, the church is built on a MESSAGE, not a MAN. Men come and go, succeed and fail, but the true revelation of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church ("thou art the Christ" - Matthew 16:16).
• Second, we must build the church according to God's BLUEPRINT if we want to have His BLESSING. The words "bind" and "loose" are perfect passive participles in the Greek language, indicating things that have already been forbidden or permitted. We can't just do whatever we want and expect God to bless it; we must do what He wants, and the blessing will come automatically.
• If a contractor builds a house for someone, he sticks to the blueprint, which is the will of the purchaser.  If we want to build a church, we need to stick to the blueprint (Bible), which is the will of the purchaser (God).  Otherwise, we are not really building a church!
• THAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS SERIES.  We need to discover God's blueprint for building His church!

 

PRINCIPLE #1:  DO AND TEACH  (Acts 1:1)

• Acts 1:1  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
• Jesus' ministry was all about DOING and TEACHING. The one refers to His miracle-working power, while the other refers to His doctrine. Jesus did not work miracles just for miracles' sake, but He used them to teach doctrine (i.e. healed blind man and taught "I am the light of the world," fed 5000 and taught "I am the bread of life"). He also did not teach just for teaching's sake, but "he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:29)
• DOING without TEACHING is wrong! It is wrong to have "spirit" without "truth" because that leads to APOSTASY. It is obedience to doctrine that saves us, not just a "move of the Spirit." It is not your FEELING but your OBEDIENCE that makes you a Christian.
• 1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
• But TEACHING without DOING is also wrong! It is wrong to have "truth" without "spirit" because that leads to APATHY. God holds us responsible for what we DO with what we KNOW. Talking about revival doesn't bring revival - revival is spelled W-O-R-K!
• James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
• OUR CHURCH MUST BOTH DO AND TEACH IF WE WANT TO BE BLESSED BY GOD! 
• John 4:23-24  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

PRINCIPLE #2:  WITNESS AND WAIT  (Acts 1:7-8)

• Acts 1:7-8  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
• God has two words for time:  CHRONOS, which means "time governed by the clock" (QUANTITY time) and KAIROS, which means "time measured by special moments" (QUALITY TIME).
• The key is that you have to take advantage of KAIROS time at the moment it happens, or you lose it forever.
• Luke 19:44 (NKJV)  41Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
• Acts 24:25 (NKJV)  Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."
• Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV)  15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
• Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
• When the disciples asked when Jesus was going to "restore the kingdom" (send revival), He told them that it was not for them to distinguish between the "times" (CHRONOS) and the "seasons" (KAIROS), because only God controls times of supernatural visitation!
• Only God has power (EXOUSIA = AUTHORITY) over the results of our prayer, our worship, and our work. But He has given us power (DUNAMIS = ABILITY) to be witnesses.
• The key to revival is for the church to exercise its ABILITY until God exercises His AUTHORITY.
• We must WITNESS and WAIT!

 

PRINCIPLE #3:  RISE ABOVE AND GO BEYOND  (Acts 1:25)

• Acts 1:25  That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
• Sometimes we mistakenly think that the early church was somehow more "spiritual" than we are today. But the book of Acts tells us plainly that they had problems and setbacks too.
• Outside of the crucifixion of Jesus, probably no other situation was harder for the disciples to deal with than the fall of Judas. He had been ordained to be an Apostle, ordained to preach the Gospel, and given power over devils and disease. And yet he backslid and betrayed the Lord into the hands of the Sanhedrin. What a setback for the church!
• But we do not see the disciples giving up or getting discouraged! Instead, they resolutely rise above their heartache and move beyond a terrible trial to embrace their future in God.
• With God, FAILURE IS NEVER FATAL!  God never wastes a hurt!
• Micah 7:8  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
• Let's rise above our past, our problems and our perplexities, and go beyond to a place that we have never been before!

LET THE FIRE FALL

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 9^th March 2012 05:26

LET THE FIRE FALL

           Judges 15 v 11-16Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to  Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" And he said to them, "As they did to me, so I have done to them."

            They said to him, "We have come down to bind you so that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines." And Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not kill me."

            So they said to him, "No, but we will bind you fast and give you into their hands; yet surely we will not kill you." Then they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

           When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands.

          He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out and took it and killed a thousand men with it.

          Then Samson said, "With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have killed a thousand men."

What happens when the fire of God falls?

Number one; Yokes are destroyed. Isaiah 10 v 27 says the anointing destroys the yoke, when the fire of God fell on Samson, all the ropes binding him were burnt, they were not just cut but they were burnt. Because the fire that came down is the fire from the Almighty God and Hebrew 12 v 29 says our God is a consuming fire, so when the fire of God comes down, yokes seen and unseen are destroyed by the fire of God. And I am praying for someone here tonight, that whatever yokes may remain in your life, that which is not letting your life to prosper, that which have been hindering your legs from making progress they shall be consumed tonight in Jesus name.

The second thing that happens when the fire fall is that the one in whom the fire falls become empowered so that whatever his hands touches begins to prosper. Samson found the jawbone of an ass and the jaw bone of an ass suddenly became a weapon of war. Because when the fire of God falls, the one on whom it falls receive power.  In Act 1 v 8 the Bible says we shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon us, in Act 3 v 1-8 after fire have poured upon Peter, he took a lame man by the man and because his hands has received power, he was able to transfer that power into the layman, and the layman now began to walk. I want you to stretch forth at this moment and say fire of God, fall on these hands so that from now on whatever I touch will begin to prosper.

The thirdthing that happens when the fire of God falls is that all external enemies are destroyed. Samson took the jawbone of an ass and suddenly all the enemies that didn’t run, laid down dead. The bible says in Psalm 68 v 1- 2 it says when God arise, his enemies will be scattered. And I am prophesying to someone here tonight, by the time you returned home, you will find that all your enemies are gone.

The Lord says there is someone here He said that business that was closed down, will reopen.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said that which your enemy has swallowed he will vomit it.

The Lord says many homes will soon be filled with the laughter of new children.

Deuteronomy 28 v 1 -7says clearly that if you are obedient to God, you won’t have to fight he said the enemy that comes against you in one way will flee before you in seven ways. In the name that is above every other name, from now on, all the enemies that stand up against you will be smitten by the Almighty God himself.

The fourththing that happens when the fire of God falls is that the household enemies will be disappointed.

It was the relatives of Samson that bind him; they were those who handed him over to the external enemies. They were those who felt let us get rid of this trouble maker, they felt that Samson will never come back home, but God disappointed them. All the enemies in your father’s house, all the enemies in your mother’s house. All the enemies in your husband house, all the enemies in your wife house, after tonight they shall be disappointed. All those who though you will not reach your goals, all those who wanted to kill your dream like the brothers of Joseph, in the name the one who sent me, after you have reached your goal they will come and bow before you.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, who is down cast, he asks me to tell you, that your sun will rise again.

David said in Psalm 23 v 5 David said thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemy, I assure every one of you listening to me tonight, whether the enemies like it or not, it shall be well with you.

The fifththing that happens when the fire of God falls is that destiny will be restored.

When the relatives of Samson brought him bound to the enemy they thought his destiny was over, but then the Almighty God has a purpose for the life of Samson and God saw to it that the plan of the enemy to truncate the destiny of Samson was foiled. I have always said it nobody comes to this world without a reason. God sent  you to this world for a purpose, when you were young you had some beautiful dreams, you had dreams of greatness but as time began to go, it looks as if those dreams will never be fulfilled, I have good news for you tonight, before the end of this year, you will have a testimony.

The Lord says there is someone here, he said your constant prayer has been; God bless Daddy G.O, the Lord asked me to tell you, I will bless you also.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said before the end of this month of March, he said you will sing “He has done it for me, what my family cannot do, he has done it for me”.

The Lord says there is someone who has made up his mind that he will deal ruthlessly with The Redeemed Christian church of God. The Lord asked me to tell whoever that is, and he is not saying the fellow is here, he just sad someone, and if you know such a person please tell him. He said the fellow should choose the kind of death he wants to kill him, he said he can have one out of four; motor accident, sleep and not wake up, cancer or heart attack.

Please I beg you,  If you are the one and you are here, stay put with God at the altar tonight, don’t go home beg him until he will change his mind, when we finish stay put, you he knows all things. If it is your relatively, if you have ever heard someone says that, tell him what came out this night.

The sixththing that happens when the fire fall is that when the fire falls on you, suddenly you begin to have the last laugh.

 The Philistine were rejoicing; we got our enemy, he is even bound, this fellow is finished but not long after that, Samson was the one saying with the jaw bone of an ass, I have wiped out my enemies.

I prophesy to someone here today, in the name that is above every other name, you will laugh last.

In Daniel 6 v 1 -24 the enemies saw the way Daniel was rising so they plotted against him to put an end to him permanently they threw him into the den of lions , rolled a big stone, they thought this fellow is finished. I am sure they must have gone home that night rejoicing, but by the following morning, Daniel came out alive, the king sent for the enemies and asks them to go into the den themselves. I assure you, by the time the sun rises this day; it will be your turn to laugh at your enemies.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight who has been asking, when will God answer my prayers? He asked me to tell you, tonight!

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said take a proper record of where you are now, he said because I am about to take you far.

In Exodus 12 v 31- 36 when the fire of God fell in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh sent for Moses in  hurry, the one who had said “who is your God, I don’t know him and I am not going to let you go”, now said, go quickly, go and worship your God and bless me also. I can see Moses saying, I thought saying you don’t know my God and you are now asking my God to bless you. All those who have been asking where is your God? you will laugh last over them.

When the fire of God falls, a child of God will begin to sing a new song.

Humanly speaking, f Samson has a song before the fire fell, it will be it looks as if the end has come, but after the fire has fell, he began to sing a new song. Every one of you here tonight, in the mighty name of Jesus, you will begin to sing a new song. Psalm 40 v 1-3 he said when I cried to the Almighty God, he brought me out of the miry clay and he put a new song in my mouth. The bible says in 126 v 1-3 he said when the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, he said we were like them that dream, then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing.  In the name that is above every other name, from this moment forward, you will be laughing for joy; you will be singing a new song.

The Lord said there is someone one here tonight, impossible as it may appear to you, he said one day when you arrived anywhere, everybody will stand up for you.

I think God reserve the best for the last for me!

The Lord says there is someone here tonight; he said your own golden age begins now.

Daddy says, it is usually said flowers fade, stories end, he said but there is someone here tonight, your testimony will never end.

That is the crown of it that means those who are thinking that maybe one day I will grow less, they are wasting their time.

1 Samuel 2 v 1 -10when the Lord answered Hannah, she sang a new song, those of you who have been saying this barren woman is going to die barren, now come and see. You know when I was listening to the first testimony tonight of the woman who have been barren for seventeen children and God gave her four children at a go and I know, that I have asked God for seventy thousand children. I know that testimony is going to be multiplied among my people.

Let me move out of the way so that the Holy Spirit can do what he wants to do.

When the fire falls, what it does depends on whom it falls. When the fire falls it either turns what it fell upon to fire or turn it to ashes. You put a piece of wood in fire; the good part of the wood, will also become fire, the bad part of the wood will become ashes. When the fire of God falls, if you are not a child of God ,if you are not on the side of God, if you are leaving a life of sin, it is a dangerous thing to ask the fire of God to fall. Because if it falls on you and you are not one of his children, it will only destroy you.

An ICON @ 70 years

by 29^th February 2012 04:16

The life of Enoch Adejare Adeboye is a fulfillment of the scriptures in Zechariah 4: 10 which declare, "despise not the days of small beginnings." Born in 1942 into a humble family in the village of Ifewara, Osun State located in the South-western part of Nigeria Enoch Adeboye often humorously states that his family was so poor that even the poor people called them poor. As a matter of fact, he unashamedly tells his congregation that he never owned shoes until he was eighteen years of age. What he possessed though were physical intangibles such as focus, consistency, diligence, ambition, a brilliant mind and a determination to succeed in life.

In 1956 Enoch Adeboye was admitted into Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State, Western Nigeria and as a youth he discovered a passion for books, and an aptitude for science and in particular the field of Mathematics. This led to an academic journey in the field of Mathematics against incredible odds including but not limited to finances, the Nigerian Civil War and academic politics. By the time he was done, Enoch Adeboye had obtained not only a Bachelors (BSc.) degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nnsukka, Nigeria in 1967, but also a Masters (MSc.) Degree in Hydrodynamics  and a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria in 1969 and 1975 respectively.

One of the motivations for these academic achievements was Enoch Adeboye's passionate desire to become the youngest Vice Chancellor (University President) of any one of the frontline Universities in Nigeria. It did seem that his academic ambition would be realized as his academic career flourished. However, this was not to be as a greater career awaited him in the service of the Lord. In 1967 Enoch Adeboye got married to his beloved wife Foluke Adenike Adeboye (nee Adeyokunnu).

Growing up as a nominal Anglican (Episcopalian), Enoch Adeboye had a vague knowledge that God existed in heaven but did not have or know that he needed to have a relationship with him until 1973 when together with his wife he walked into a most unimpressive building seeking divine intervention from personal challenges. This was the only premises at the time of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The church RCCG was founded by Revd. J. O. Akindayomi, a man who though was illiterate had been supernaturally endowed with the ability to read the Yoruba (a native Nigerian dialect) version of the Holy Bible (translated from the Authorized King James Version). Even though both the environment and the Pastor (the founder himself) seemed unlikely to have anything to offer to a man of his status, Enoch Adeboye was unusually inspired and touched by the Word and also by the presence of God. On that very day, Enoch Adeboye committed his life totally to the Lord Jesus Christ and has since not looked back.

In 1973 Enoch Adeboye received the Lord Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour, joined RCCG and became baptized by immersion in water. Unknown to him though, the Lord had already informed the founder that "a man of books" (a highly educated man) would soon join RCCG and eventually take over the mantle of leadership from him (the founder) whenever he passed away. As Enoch Adeboye joined and became an active member of RCCG, the founder began to personally mentor and groom him for the future assignment he was totally unaware of. He initially served as the sermon interpreter to the founder (from the native Yoruba dialect to the English language) and later was ordained a Pastor.

 

In 1977 when he was ordained a Pastor in RCCG, Enoch Adeboye manifested an incredible passion for the work of the Lord, pioneering Bible Study meetings, Crusades, Revivals, Outreaches and the evangelistic programs known as the Congress. These were very successfully conducted in various cities all over southwestern Nigeria.

By the time the founder passed away in 1980, RCCG had about 42 Parishes and this in those days was a great achievement. Although the founder left a sealed document pronouncing Enoch Adeboye as the succeeding General Overseer, his transition into office was not smooth but met with some resistance. In 1981 Enoch Adeboye was ordained the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. With time, Enoch Adeboye's results could not be denied. With a childlike faith in the efficacy and power in the Word of God, his passion was to live a life of holiness and teach others to likewise live holy lives.

Of course the appointment as General Overseer immediately terminated all academic ambitions and Enoch Adeboye set his heart on taking RCCG to the next level of ministry. He introduced innovations into the ministry and in particular sought means whereby the elite in the society and professionals could experience ministry in a manner to which they were accustomed without compromising in the worship of God in Spirit and in truth. This led to the establishment of the "Model Parishes" through which countless millions in the upper echelons of the society have come to know the Lord. The poor, needy and downtrodden have not been ignored, as Enoch Adeboye has a deep compassion for souls.

Soon after the innovations came the Holy Ghost Services in the mid nineteen-eighties which featured a night of Praise, Worship, Prayer, Soul-winning, Deliverance, Testimonies and the Word once a month. Initially held on the premises of the Headquarters in Lagos space constraints required a change in location. This led to the purchase of a massive piece of uninhabited forest land located on the outskirts of Lagos, a haven of highway / armed robbers and kidnappers with a great company of pythons and wild animals. Enoch Adeboye moved his family to this "wilderness" he called the Redemption Camp, constructed a large auditorium and began to hold the Holy Ghost Services there.

To the glory of God, these services have been consistently held for over twenty years now and today, the crowds in attendance run in the millions every month. From the Redemption Camp, Enoch Adeboye faithfully travels many miles to work in Lagos and also ministers all over the world.

On 18th December 1998, Enoch Adeboye hosted the very first Holy Ghost Festival (open air meeting) in Nigeria with an attendance of over seven million people (CNN estimate). This most ambitious project in the form of an open air Worship Service was carried out in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria and in attendance were over seven million people as confirmed by the CNN aerial satellite. Not one person was lost or died in that throng and this feat was repeated the following year. In 1999 though, there were no less than twelve million worshippers present. This program has since been replaced with the annual 3-day Holy Ghost Congress held every December at the Redemption Camp. In addition to this is a Special 3-day Holy Ghost Program held in the first weekend of March yearly. At each and every one of these events, miracles, signs and wonders have become commonplace as the power of God moves freely to set free, heal, anoint, deliver, bless and empower.

 

Enoch Adeboye's trade mark of humility is disarming and this endears him to people, enabling him to easily share his testimony of the Gospel. His passion for soul-winning feeds his passion for church-planting and through this, countless thousands have been inspired to follow him and likewise serve the Lord in the ministry. From that unimpressive building he walked into in 1973, the Lord has today through Enoch Adeboye built a Mission of over five thousand Churches all over the world (Nigeria, almost all the nations of Africa, the US, the UK, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, India, China, Hong Kong, the Far East and even the Middle East). In the United States alone there are over five hundred Parishes and still increasing.

For several years, he has been honored to serve as Pastor and / or spiritual counselor to Heads of States, Ministers, political leaders and national decision-makers. At the same time, he endeavors to travel to minister in unreached places where others will not go.

To date, all over the world Enoch Adeboye has been conferred with several honorary degrees and national merit awards in appreciation of his contributions to humanity. In the 2009 Newsweek Elite Edition (January 5, 2009), he was listed as one of the Fifty Most Influential People In The World (No. 49 to be exact). For example the following are note-worthy:

1999 - Received honorary citizenship and key of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

2000 - Dedicated the first chapel in the Nigerian Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.

2005 - Received honorary citizenship and key of Dallas, Texas, USA.

2005 - Received honorary citizenship and key of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

2008 - Awarded a National Honor (Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) by the Nigerian President

2009 - Led the Pre-Summit Prayers at the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations, Headquarters, New York.

2009 - Named one of 'The World's Fifty Most Powerful People' by Newsweek Magazine (USA).

2009 - Awarded honorary doctorate degree - University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

2009 - Awarded honorary doctorate degree - University of Nigeria, Nsukka

2010 - Awarded a National Sports Honor (Spiritual Pillar of Nigerian Sports)

Though the above achievements are phenomenal, Enoch Adeboye never fails to give glory to the Lord, claiming that there are greater things ahead that the Lord will yet do.

To date, Enoch Adeboye's profile includes:

■Strategic casting of the worldwide vision of The Redeemed Christian Church of God

■General Overseer with ultimate responsibility for over 12,000 churches in over 120 nations.

■Author / Writer of the popular, globally-distributed daily devotional manual - Open Heavens.

■Host / Convener / Main Preacher at the annual December three-day Holy Ghost Congress (open air meeting) in Nigeria with an average attendance of over six million people

■Host / Convener / Main Preacher at the annual March three-day Special Holy Ghost Service (open air meeting) in Nigeria with an average attendance of over six million people

■Host / Convener / Preacher at the monthly Holy Ghost Service (open air meeting) in Nigeria with an average attendance of over one million people

■Host / Convener / Preacher at the quarterly Festival of Life (indoor revival meeting) in London, UK and various cities in the US with an average attendance of over fifty (UK) and seven thousand (US)

■Host / Convener / Preacher at the Annual RCCG Conventions in Nigeria, UK and the US with an average attendance of over two million (Nigeria), twenty thousand (UK) and seven thousand (US)

■Ordination of Pastors / Deacons during the Annual RCCG Conventions worldwide.

■Convener of quarterly / annual RCCG Leadership and Discipleship Conferences and Retreats all over the world.

■Author of over forty books published all over the world.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

LIFT UP YOUR HEADS O YE GATES(February Holy Ghost Service)

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 23^rd February 2012 03:56

Psalm 24 v 7 -10lift up your heads, oh ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in. who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, o ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of host, he is the King of glory.

What do we call a gate? Physically it is a huge door that is usually installed to prevent people from entering a particular place. Spiritually it stands for the elders of a city.

For example when Jesus said I will build my Church and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it. By the gate of hell; it is referring to principalities and power. We won’t have enough time to go into all the details, all I am saying tonight however is this; gate weather physically or spiritually will not prevail against you.

Now when we are dealing with gates the first thing is that we need to know where the gates are. Hosea 4 v 6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  If you don’t know the gates that are shut against you, if you don’t even know that they exist, they maybe destroying you without knowing.  

Ignorance is a killer. If you know there are gates against you, then you need to locate where they are.

 

In Matthew 7 v 7-8 the Lord said, ask, seek and then knock. Before you need to talk about the gate, you need to locate where the gates are. When you find the gates, the next thing is to knock. In Rev 3 v 20 even God said I stand at the door and I knock. You are supposed to knock first.

Now you know the gates, you have located the gates, you have knocked, the next thing is if you have key, use the key to open the gate.

In Rev 3 v 7 Jesus Christ said I have the keys of David and when I open no man can shut, when I shut no man can open. If you don’t have the key get someone who has the Key to come and help.

If you don’t have the Keys to the gate, you can call unto Jesus, in Rev 3 v 8 He said I have set before you an open door that no man can shut.

I am believing God for somebody here tonight, that Jesus will open doors for you that nobody will be able to shut again.

If all fails; you knock the gate refused to open, you use the key and the key refuse to work, you asked someone to come and help but nothing seems to be working, the next thing now is to force open the gate.

Because behind every gate there is something precious otherwise there is no gate and you know you must get to the other side of the gate, because what you want is there.

So if everything else fails then you use violence. In Mark 2 v 1- 12 when the friend of that young man brought him and they couldn’t get in, they climb to the roof, so they turn open the roof so that they can get to Jesus Christ.

The Bible says in Mathew 11 v 12 it says since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent takes it by force.

That is why you see two statement in the text that we have read; lift up your head oh ye gate, that means open gently. It went further to say be ye lifted up ye everlasting door, in other words if you don’t open gently, we will open you by force.

How many of you are here tonight, determined that you will not go home until you get your miracle?  It will be necessary that before this night is out, you will become a warrior.

There are gates to cities, maybe your problem is because the city where you live. When you consider Jericho for example in 2kings 2 v 19-20 the city was beautiful but there was a problem in the city; anyone who is in the city, suffered bareness, suffered death, they suffered abortion, they suffer end miscarriages.

They needed someone to deal with the gate of the city, when the gate of the city was dealt with; curses ended, bareness ended, death ended.

So I am saying to all of you from various villages and cities, all the gates that have been harboring evil shall be forced open tonight in Jesus name.

Or you could look at another example, Samaria in 2King 7 v 1-11 the reason the gates in Samaria were shut, is not because of the people inside, it is because of the enemies outside.

Because there is a siege and the gates had to be shut to prevent the enemies from coming in, but because the gates were shut, famine came, people began to eat their children, and all kinds of problems follow.

So for the gates of Samaria to be opened, external enemies had to be dealt with. And when the Almighty God intervened; the siege was lifted, famine ended and abundance came.

Now if there are enemies outside the gates of your cities, seen and unseen, because of tonight, I decree such enemies will be scattered in Jesus name.

Thank you Lord, the Lord said there is someone who damaged his ribs in an accident, He asked me to tell you He is taking care of that right now.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight; He said before the next raining season, He said your showers of blessing will begin to fall.

There are national gates, a whole nation can be in serious trouble because certain gates do not open, for example in Exodus 15 v 1- 28 If God had not opened the gate of the red sea; the children of Israel either would have perished or could have gone back into slavery.

So a whole nation could be in serious trouble, because certain gates refuse to open.

So I am prophesying to Nigeria tonight; every gate that is holding the children of Nigeria captive, you are coming down tonight in Jesus name.

I can give you another example in 1Samuel 17 v 1- 51. And the gate this time was the form of a man; a giant called Goliath and he had a whole army captive.

For forty days there was a reign of terror. Until the gate had to be dealt with and it wasn’t a gate that was going to lift up its head, it was a gate that its head has to be lifted up.

Until David cut off the head of Goliath and lifted it up; the children of Israel were still trebling.

And I am speaking to Nigeria tonight; every Goliath creating fear and terror to the children of this nation, as the Lord of host is still on the throne; every Goliath shall lose its head tonight.

The Lord says there is someone here tonight; He said they told you that they have locked the doors and thrown away the keyes, the Lord asked me to tell you , I don’t need keys to open the doors.

Thank you father

The Lord says there is a woman here tonight; He said the last time you shouted halleluiah, your womb were untied. Your womb that was tied has now been untied.

Tonight I want to spend a little more time on personal gate.

For a human being there were five major gates:

• 1.   The eye gate
• 2.   The ears gate
• 3.   The mouth gate
• 4.   The nose gate
• 5.   And then of course the skin gate.

Through your skin you can know what is going on outside your body, even in the dark you can tell whether the water you touched is cold or warm.

Through your nose; if you breathe in the wrong thing you can even die.

Through your eye; a lot could affect you internally by what you see.

Like I told those of you who came to the Holy communion last night; many people are married to who they are married to now because of what they saw. He saw the lady and said this is beautiful and I think this is the one I want. You saw a man driving pass in a Mercedes Benz car, and you say, you think this is a good husband; he will be able to take care of me.

What you see can influence your decision.

What you hear can make a lot of deference to you, what you hear can make you happy or make you angry.

Your mouth; that is the gate by which you eat and drink and by which we speak.

So let’s spend some time and look at the eye gate.

Many people die in poverty because their eyes are not opened to opportunities.  In 2king 4 v 1-7 the widow of the son of the Prophet was surrounded by opportunities, many neighbor with empty bottles, but just a little bottle of oil in her own house, everything she needed to be debt free and to live in abundance for the rest of her life was around her but here eye gates were shut.

Until God through his servant opened here eye and within 24 hrs, she moved from penury to abundant.

I decree tonight, in the name that is above every other name, your financial eye shall be open tonight.

In John 21 v 1 -6 Peter and the disciples fished all night and caught nothing, until Jesus Christ stood and said throw your net to the right, they were throwing there to the left, there break through was on the right. They were working hard all nights but one word from the mouth of Jesus Christ everything changed. The gates that have been blocking your eye so that you have been wasting your time and wasting your energy with nothing to show for it, that gate will come down tonight in Jesus name.

Some people are in the wrong career, they need that God will open their career eye.

I have said it before, some people are doing barbing, whereas God wanted them to be a tailor; but they say scissors is scissors. Until God opens your eye to the careers, He has for you; you may be laboring in vain.

In 1king 19 v 19-21 Elisha thought he was to be a farmer, God said no you are to be a prophet.  In Luke 5 v 1 ? 11 Peter thought he was to be a fisher man, God said no, you are a fisher of men.

I pray for you tonight, before it is too late God will open your career eyes.

Then of course I have shared the example of one man before, who was an accountant, one day he just woke up and said for how long will I be saying yes sir, God give me an idea, open my eyes, let the gate of my eye be open.

God showed him that he should be roasting groundnut but that he should be roasting it with honey.  I have shared the story with you before by the last time I heard about him; he already had 3 private jets from roasting ground nut.

Those of you that is doing the work that is not your own, this very night God will open your eye.

There are spiritual eyes. You know the story in 2King 6 v 15-17, when a king sent army to arrest Elisha and the servant saw horses and chariots surrounding them.

Physically he could see, he came back and tell his master, master what shall we do? We are surrounded by enemies.

The master said those who be with us are more than those who are with them. He prayed and said God open this young man?s eye, and when his eyes were opened, he saw horses of fire and chariots of fire.

His spiritual eyes were opened, until your spiritual eyes are opened, you don?t have dominion.

In Genesis 13 v 14 -17 God said it is what you can see that you can have. If God will open your spiritual eye and show you what he alone could do for you things will be different.

I pray for every one of you here today, that your spiritual eye will be open; you will see where God wants to take you and you will begin to reign the world with dominion In Jesus name.

Let me give you an illustration before going to the ear gate. When I went to America for the first time in 1979 to attend Kenneth Haggins camp meeting, I saw a crowd; 17000 people! God, you mean there can be these much crowd! Attending the convention of one man? God what you have done in America you must do in Nigeria.

I saw a bit into the future, at that time if you gathered everybody in Redeemed Christian church of God together, we were about 600. But some years later, I went to Korea and I saw the church of Youngi Cho.

I saw a man holding seven services on a Sunday, telling his congregation, those of you who have come this Sunday; please don’t come next Sunday, so those who didn’t come this Sunday can come next Sunday. I came back home and I said to God, I am no longer satisfied with seventeen thousand, I want something bigger.

How many of you want the very best that God can give you. Let me hear you say amen. God will open your eye to see greatness tonight in Jesus name.

Let’s talk about the ear gate, a very, very important gates; seven times in the book of revelation, God repeated himself, he said he who has hears to ear let him hears what the spirit is saying to the church, that tells you that some people may have ears and never hear, it means the gate of their ear may be shut.

The gate of your ears are very, very crucial, because according to Roman 10 v 17 the bible says Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of the God.

What you hear can determine what you will become, faith comes by hearing.

It is a single testimony that changed my whole life completely concerning divine healing. When I got born again in The Redeemed Christian church of God, I was rejoicing in my salvation but I was very sickly, within two weeks, malaria will knock me down.

So when they talk about healing without medication? I just said you are saying your own; you have showed me the way to heaven, don’t send me there too quickly.

Then one day I heard a testimony from an old man, how God healed him wonderfully and immediately my faith rose. And I thank God since 1975 that faith has been going stronger daily.

That word that you will hear that will take you from the valley to the mountain top, may God send it to you tonight in Jesus.

The ear gate is the door to healing, it is the door to deliverance Psalm 107 v 20 it said he sent his word and he healed them and delivers them out of their destructions. How do you receive the word?   Through the ear gate!

And I decree that every sickness, every disease that may be in you be uprooted today in the mighty name of Jesus.

The ear gate is the door to blessing, it is the door to prosperity, the bible says the blessing of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow. Proverbs 10 v 22 the blessing of the Lord, how do you hear a blessing; blessing are pronounced.

The one who receives a blessing, receives it through the ear. Every gate that is blocking your ear shall come down tonight in Jesus name.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said because you have honored me with your first fruit, he said before the end of this year, you shall be honoredalso.

Genesis 18 v 9- 14God spoke, Sarah heard though the hearing gate and she laughed and from that day on, she kept laughing. Because what God said; once you will hear what God said, you can be sure it will come to past.

And the Almighty God said that this year he will do new thing, how many of you receive heard that one? How many of you received that one? Then in the mighty name of Jesus; new thing will begin in your life in Jesus name.

But then let’s consider the mouth gate; lift up your heads oh ye gates and be ye lifted up ye everlasting God, that the king of glory may come in and who is this king of glory, the Lord, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of host, he is the king of glory.

We had a program not too long ago with some eminent Nigerians, and I told them there God is not a civilian, he is a warrior. The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

The gates might not want to open gently; it takes the mouth of an individual, to open all the other gates. If the enemy can keep your mouth shut he has defeated you.

As long as the mouth gate is not opened, the devil knows he has won. If you can’t open your mouth to praise God, if you can’t open your mouth to pray, then you are finished.

In 2King 4 v 1 -7 the widow of the son of prophet that I refer to earlier, for years she was In debt, the man of God was near and she kept her mouth shut.

Until when she could no longer keep quiet. The day she cried to the man of God that was the day her problems were over. The elders have a saying that if you keep quiet your problems will keep quiet with you and I know there is someone here tonight, who will no longer keep quiet.

In fact before this night is out we are going to open our mouth gate wide and the king of glory will come in.

In all the scripture where God said I will come to your aid, Psalm 50 v 14-15 He said first come to his presence with thanks giving, come to his court with praise pay your vows and then call on me and I will answer.

He didn’t say keep your mouth shut and assume that I will know. In Jeremiah 3 v 33, he said call on me, open your mouth gate and then I will show you mighty thing. It is when you call when your mouth gate is open then I will open your eye gate.

Matthew 12 v 22the bible says they brought to Jesus a man; who was blind and dumb.

He healed him, so the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw. He is blind and dumb, when he was healed; he spoke first before he saw.

Speaking is more important than seeing. Those of you who don?t know the reason why I keep asking you to shout; maybe who will begin to get a rough idea, because as long as the enemy can’t keep you quiet he can’t hold you down.

In Mark 10 v 46 ? 52 Bartimeus heard that Jesus was passing by, his ear gates were opened, he was blind his eye gates were shut but he used his mouth gate to get his miracle. He cried out! Jesus thou son of David, have mercy on me.

See what the devil tried to do; they said shut your mouth. If he had shut his mouth, he would have died blind, he would have died a beggar, he would have died by the road side, he would have died as a nobody.  But he opened his mouth gate and today we are still talking about him.

Every one of you that the devil has been keeping quiet, today the gate of your mouth will be open in Jesus name.

The mouth gate is the gate to progress, it is the gate to victory, it is the gate to almost everything.

The Lord said there is someone her; He said because of a previous tragedy, anytime the phone rings now, you become afraid. He asked me to tell you, relax no more tragedy for you.

Mark 11v 23Bible says if you shall say to this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea and you shall not doubt, it shall be so unto you.

If you don’t say to the mountain the mountain will stay. When you are saying to the mountain you must tell the mountain where to go.

When it is time to pray tonight, I’m believing God for you that for once you will cease to be a lady and a gentle man.

Let us finish the prayer of tonight and then be a lady and gentle man again. But during the one hour of prayer, because if you will do the right thing tonight, even as the bishop already prophesied, your life will never be the same again.

Your mouth; the bible says death and life is in the power of the tongue. The bible says you have not because you ask not. Tonight we are going to use our mouth.

Now, why will the gate obey? Because we are going to command gates tonight, and they are going to obey us. He said it is because it is the king of glory that is coming in.

The gates will not open to ordinary people, but in Psalm 73 v 22- 24 David thought us a secret; that as the king of glory is going in, we will go in with him, he said you will hold me by the right hand and receive me into glory.

When you go through all the cases where the gates have been opened, you will see that the gates opened to the king of glory and his own people followed through.

For example in Psalm 114 v 2-3 the Bible says it is God in Judah that the red sea saw and fled. It wasn’t Moses that the sea was running away form, it is the Almighty God that it saw and fled.

If you look at Joshua 5 v 13-15 the reason the wall of Jericho fell when the children of Israel shouted, was because the captain the host of the Lord was with them.

When the wall of Jericho saw the captain of the host of heaven it has no option other than to give way.

Whenever I asked you to shout halleluiah, it is because I know in doing so the Lord of host will come down and stand by your side and as long as the Lord is standing by your side no opposition will be able to withstand you.

Because the Bible says let God arise and his enemies will scatter.

I have said it before that you don’t hear me at the beginning of the service that I say ‘am beginning to bind you devil?. I am not arguing with those who do that, I have my reservations; you bond him in the morning, you bond him in the afternoon, you bond him in the evening. The question is how quickly doe he gets loose?

I attend a service somewhere, the pastor prayed at the beginning of the service and bond the devil before the service, after the service he wanted me to talk to the ministers, and he prayed before I began and bound the devil.

Because he is someone close to me, I called him aside, Sir, I thought you bound the devil before the service, you mean before the service ended he was loosed? Because you are bounding him again now?. He said “well you never can tell”.

I said I think I know a better way; it doesn’t matter whether he is lose or wherever he may be, he cannot withstand the shout of halleluiah.

Do I hear somebody shout halleluiah tonight!

So when you come against the red sea, you will say red sea; get out of my way because I am not coming alone. Wall of Jericho; get out of my way, because I am not coming alone, fiery furnace; get out of my way because the consuming fire is with me, Lions; get out of my life, because the Lion of Judah is with me

The Lord ask me to tell you a story very quickly, it has to do with the birth of one of my sons.

My wife had three caesarians operations so we stopped because the doctor said, don?t try it again. Then we became born again, believed in divine healing; so my wife became pregnant again and this time, Jesus did all the work. The baby came on Friday night, at the maternity center in Ebute-metta, the following Saturday, I was going to minister to the doctors in LUTH and I gave them the testimony of how my wife delivered naturally after three caesarian that Jesus was the doctor. Every doctor present open their mouths for minute, they just open their mouth.

Now the Lord asked me to tell you the story because there is someone here tonight; he said when you share your testimony, mouths will open.

When David came across Goliath remember what he said in 1Samuel 17 v 45 -47 he said Goliath, I am not coming alone. I am coming with the Lord of host.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said when they talk about you they talk in whispers, he asked me to tell you very soon they will sing your praise.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said your season of harvest is very near and you will not miss it.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said by this time next year you will confess that I do not know I can get to this height.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said I have opened doors to you before he said but the big one is coming now.

The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said this year you will see God’s glory in a new dimension.

Why would the gate open? Because you are not coming alone, the gate will open for the King of glory, it has to open to the Lord of host.  

In 2kings 2 v 12 -15 Elisha said to Jordan, you have to open because my destiny is on the other side and I am not coming alone, I am coming with the Lord God of Elijah. And Jordan opened It has no choice. There are many of us this very night is going to mark the beginning of our destiny.

I can feel the presence of the Holy spirit in a very, very strong way tonight, I believe I have done enough of teaching so we go ahead and let the Holy spirit do his own thing but before we pray, Psalm 34 v 8 said taste and see that the Lord if good.

Watch the process; taste that is the mouth gate and then see, open your mouth gate and you will see the goodness of the Lord. Taste and see; those of you who are here tonight, who have never tasted the Lord, this is the moment to do so.

Believe me honestly the Lord is good; there are things that the Lord wants to show you. Things that will shake you, but you have to taste him first. So if you are here and you have not given your Life to Jesus come now, after all they say the taste of the pudding is in the eating.

Give your life to Jesus and watch gates open, if you want to give your life to Jesus you better come now. Come and surrender your life to Jesus let him save your soul, let him cleanse you from all your sins, then you will have authority to command doors open, Every gates that have been blocking you; your red sea, your Goliath, your red sea, your Jordan, you will be able to command them. You will be able to say to gate open if and only God is with you.

PRAYER POINTS

1. King of glory I praise you, Lord of host I worship you (spend time praising him)

2. In the name of Jesus, every gate blocking my vision, lift up your head now.

3. In the name of Jesus, every gate blocking my hearing be lifted up now.

4. Every gates blocking my testimony, lift up your head now.

5. Every gates blocking my breakthrough; be lifted now.

6. Every gates to my destiny; lift up your head now.

7. Every gate reluctant to open; Lord of host, break them to pieces.

8. King of glory; move in massively into every facet of my life and everything opposite of glory flush them out.

9. Father; filled my mouth with new testimonies.

10. Your own personal request.

THE POWER OF PRAYER & FASTING part 2

by 21^st February 2012 08:44

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

by 13^th February 2012 07:50

 

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

by THE DIRECTORATE OF PRAYER 7^th February 2012 08:30

                               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 70^th 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 70^th 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

by 2^nd February 2012 08:35

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

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 18^th January 2012 06:21

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

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 31^st December 2011 08:47

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

by Pastor Ron Hammonds 27^th December 2011 05:17

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

by 17^th December 2011 05:43

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

by THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD 7^th December 2011 09:36

 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

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 29^th November 2011 02:17

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)

by Pastor E.A. Adeboye 16^th November 2011 09:10

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