THEME: The Holy Spirit in the life of Peter | Date: Friday, 2nd of October, 1998
We are here again tonight. We thank you for what you did last night –
that was wonderful Father. We are very, very grateful! Tonight Father,
surprise us again like never before! Surprise us again! At the end of
everything Lord, let us be able to glorify You. Thank You Father! Thank
You in advance for salvation! Thank You for healings! Thank You for
deliverance! Thank You for miracles! Thank You for signs and wonders!
Thank You Father! Glory be to Your Name! In Jesus mighty Name! Amen!
Praise
the Lord! Praise Jesus! Shake hands with one or two people and say:
"Tonight, the One who's name is Wonderful will perform wonders in your
life! Amen! If you believe that shout Alleluia! (Alleluia!) Go ahead!
Give the Lord a big hand! Thank You Jesus! Glory be to God! You may be
seated, Glory be to You!
Let's read from Luke 5:4-9: Now when He
had left speaking He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep and let
down your nets for a draught and Simon answering, said unto Him, Master
we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing, nevertheless at
thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they
enclosed a great multitude of fishes and their net brake. And they
beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they
should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so
that they began to sink." And now verses 8 and 9 that we will look at
tonight: " When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees
saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was
astonished, and all that were with him at the draught of the fishes
which they had taken."
Somebody's going to be astonished tonight!
You
know how far we've gone with this story. Last month we discussed the
second boat – it became clear to everyone of us present that it is our
turn to be blessed! Peter had caught so much fish because Jesus Christ
had said, "Let down the nets!" He filled the first boat so he beckoned
to the second boat to come and help. The second boat came and was also
filled to overflowing and the two boats began to sink and the Bible now
said – "When Peter saw it he fell down at the knees of Jesus." And I
thought he would have said – Thank You Jesus!, from now on let us
become partners – every morning come here to preach. My boat is
available. When you've finished preaching tell me where to throw the
nets. So let's sign a contract – but instead he said, "Depart from me
oh Lord! for I am a sinful man!" I don't deserve this kind of miracle.
I know myself! If you don't know me! If you don't know the fellow you
are hooking up with – it shouldn't be me! I am a sinful man! I know it
myself! So, go away, go, go look for somebody holy!"
Someone is
here tonight who is going too get an unexpected miracle (Amen!) The
Bible says because Peter was astonished he didn't even know what he was
talking anymore! There are some miracles that happen in your life that
you don't even know what to say. When someone is happy, he's supposed
to laugh; but when joy becomes overwhelming – you weep!
In
Exodus 14 verse 13 Moses said to the children of Israel, He said, "Just
stand still and see the salvation of the Lord! – that He will show you
today!" The beauty of that statement is the word ‘today'. If you will
stand still and trust God, today, suddenly, for the first time in your
life, you will see something that you've never seen before! Amen!
(Amen!)
In Luke 1 verses 34 to 38 the Bible tells us that when
the angel came to Mary and told her she was going to conceive a baby
boy, Mary asked the angel, "Sorry, sir! I don't understand how this can
be – I have no husband, I'm not yet married, so how am I going to be
pregnant without a man?" And then the angel went into big theology.
"Oh, the Holy Ghost shall overshadow you! The power of the Almighty God
will brood over you." By the time the angel finished Mary was more
confused than before. "I'm talking of a man, you are talking of the
power of the Most High!" When she said, "Alright, I don't understand
what you are saying but that which you say should happen, let it
happen." That's the kind of simple faith God is expecting from you
tonight..
I've said this before - whenever we are dealing with
those who are illiterates, its always easy for them to receive their
miracles because they've not studied science, they don't know
philosophy, they don't know sociology, ecology, they don't know all the
Gs but they know that there is Someone called Amen! (Amen!), Someone
whose power is beyond understanding, so when you tell them God will do
this for you, all they say is "glory to God!" But when I'm dealing with
my colleagues – they know about electricity, they know about positive
pole and negative pole so when you lay hands on them and you are
praying they are thinking: "Now the miracle that is going to happen is
it going to enter by the right hand and go out by the left? Which of
the two hands has greater anointing – the right or the left?? Now when
the power enters into one, is it going to drive the sickness into the
ground or ….what is going to happen?" While they are thinking that, the
miracle comes and goes! Tonight, I just want you to say, "Yes, Lord!!"
(Yes, Lord!) I don't know how its going to happen; I am just saying
"Yes, Lord!" Let me hear you shout Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
Faith
is so important that somehow when you now look back at this story of
Peter – you will see that if Peter had not cast his net, he would not
have seen the glory of God. If he had not suppressed his doubts because
he started by expressing his doubts: "We have fished all night; we have
caught nothing! I am an expert fisherman! Sir, if you learnt any trade,
it is carpentry! If there's any fish in this river tonight I would have
caught it!!" The doubt was there, but he pushed it down. He said, "At
thy word – because You have spoken! Because You have spoken to me! I
will do what You say."
Unbelief displeases God. It upsets Him.
That's why we must run away from unbelief. Hebrews 11 verse 6 says,
"For without faith it is impossible to please God." May you please God
tonight in Jesus Name! Amen! (Amen!) In fact when you read Hebrews 3
verses 18 and 19 God said to the children of Israel" This land is your
promised land. I've given it to you." But they refused to go in because
of unbelief! And the Bible said, God swore in His anger – "Because you
refused to believe me – I will not let you enter that land!" Anything
that can rob you of your miracle may God destroy it tonight Amen!
(Amen!)!
In Hebrews 4 verses 1 and 2 the Bible tells us that
unbelief is something we must fear. He said let us fear that some of us
too we may have some rest, some miracles that God has reserved for us!
Let us fear that unbelief will not rob us of it. Why is it that
unbelief is so displeasing to God? It is simply that God has more than
sufficient power – like we learnt last month – Daddy, you're too much!
But no matter how mighty His power your unbelief will render that power
useless!
Take Mark 3 verses 1-5. The Bible says, Jesus entered
into a synagogue and there was a man there with a withered hand. And as
soon as Jesus came in everybody was looking – "heh, heh! we know He's a
miracle worker – let us see whether He will perform a miracle on the
Sabbath day!" Then Jesus asked the man forward. He said, "Stretch forth
your hand!" He knew the hand was withered – if that man had refused to
act in faith, if he had not stretched forth his hand Jesus would have
failed that day! "Stretch forth your hand." He said.."Ah, ah! I can't
stretch it – it is withered!" Everybody would have said:" Heh,heh! how
God had proved to us that on the Sabbath day this man is not supposed
to heal.." But when the Lord said, "Stretch forth your hand!" the man
didn't even wait for a second saying. He stretched forth his hand and
it was restored as the second one. Today God is going to speak to
someone. The moment you hear Him speak to you – grab it. Don't even
think how its going to happen – just say! "Yes, Lord!"
When You
read Mark 2 from verse 1 to 12 when they brought that paralytic man –
he was brought in by four men; they broke the roof to bring him down;
his friends had shown their faith – it was now the turn of the man who
was down there and already there was a controversy about him. Jesus had
said, "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee!""
Everybody was saying,
"Who is this fellow now turning himself to God! Who has power to
forgive sins except God?" And then j said, "All right, I give you a
proof, a proof that the Son of Man can forgive sins." He said, "Young
man, rise up, take your bed, go home!" What would have happened if that
fellow says: "If I can stand up why am I here? If you want me to stand
up, let me feel something like an electric shock! Something hot!
Something vast! Let me feel something!! Then I will begin to say,
weeell, maybe I should try."
Many of you are going to receive
your miracles tonight – let me hear you shout Alleluia! (Alleluia!) The
Lord said to this man,, "Rise up and take your bed." He did not wait
for any other saying. Immediately he began to make an attempt to rise –
the power of the Almighty God did the rest. That's why the Bible says
in Romans 14 verse 23, it said, "Whatever is not of faith is sin." In
other words – you refuse to believe the Almighty God and to act on what
he says, you annoy Him so much that He regards it as a sin. And how do
we show that we have faith? James 2 verses 17 and 18, it says, "Faith
without works is dead – being alone" Somebody says, " You say you have
faith? All right show me your faith by your works. I will show you that
I have faith by my works."
I've told you the story before: I had
severe fever, pain all over my body, headache, everything so I couldn't
go to church and it was Digging Deep – so I lay on my bed, serious
temperature. "Well, all right, since I can't goo to church let me
listen to a tape and I put one pastors tape in – I just took it by
random from my tapes – put it in and then he started talking as if he
saw me there lying on my bed. He said, "By His stripes you were healed!
And if you were healed by His stripes what are you doing on the bed?"
And it was a tape! "If you are healed by His stripes and you believe
that you were healed by His stripes what are you doing lying down on
the bed of sickness?" I jumped up, dressed very quickly and went to the
church. Somebody else was already conducting the service. They were
expecting me but when they didn't see me somebody started and then the
Pastor who was conducting, because he didn't prepare, said, "Well,
brethren, today we're going to dance for the God!" I was sitting at the
back. He said, "Everybody stand up and begin to dance!" And you know
the man holding the microphone is a powerful man. When he said,
"Everybody stand!" Whether I like it or not I have to stand! He said,
"Begin to dance! Begin to dance!" So I held on to the pew before me
because my body was still paining me like nobody's business. And they
began to beat the drum and everybody began to dance and you, if
everybody is dancing and you are not dancing, you know everybody will
be looking at you! So I was trying to smile and move a little.
Suddenly, I felt like going to the toilet, so I moved very gently
holding on to the pews, until I got to the toilet and as I passed out
it smelt terrible so I rushed out of the place and I suddenly
discovered - all the pains were gone and I've never suffered another
fever since that time! Tonight you are going to put your faith to work
– it is your own testimony we are going to hear tonight (Amen!)
Putting
faith into action comes in various categories. Some of you have heard
me share this testimony before and I know that God is asking me to
share it because there is someone here tonight who must have a
financial breakthrough! Amen! (Amen!)
When I became General
Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God the church was very
rich! Our total income for one month was about N6,000 and we had about
40 people on our payroll and we had to pay them first before the
General Overseer can even think of anything. Then I was paid my
gratuity because I had worked for years in the University and it was a
lot of money. I looked at it. I said, Thank God, at least I will be
taking from this till things improve – but suddenly it occurred to
me…"Ah, wait a minute oh! I have to check from Daddy!" "Daddy, thank
You for this money, I'm going to pay my tithe you know but what do you
want me to do with the rest? "Ah!" He said – you know in a situation
like that He answers quickly – He said, "Divide it into three." "Yes,
Lord." "Give one third to such and such a ministry." "Yes, Lord. There
is still two thirds." "Take the second one and give it to such and such
a ministry." The "Yes, Lord." Became lower. "Take the remainder and
give it to such and such a ministry." He said, "I AM YOUR SOURCE!
You're not going to depend on gratuity!" How many of you believe that
Jesus is your shepherd? How many of you believe that you shall never
want? I want you to say loud and clear tonight: "Money shall never be
my god!" Say it loud and clear! Let me hear you say Amen! (Amen!)
Up
to this moment many of us say we believe that God will provide but we
don't believe! In fact, when we are talking about who is a Lord,
whenever it goes to money, we know who is Lord! You put your hand in
your pocket – Offering time! You want to bring out five naira – by
accident you brought out fifty naira – he says to you – "put me back!"
and you say – "Yes, lord!" Say it again! "Money shall never be my god!"
Faith
must be accompanied by works… then the big question is – how does faith
come? How do we get the faith that God is talking about? Romans 10
verse 17 says, "So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of
God." You know I've read that passage several times – I've memorized it
years ago but I didn't get the full meaning of it until not long ago.
He did not say faith comes by reading. He did not even say faith comes
by studying. He said faith comes by what? Faith comes by what you hear!
That is why if you are attending a church where you are always hearing
negatives – you need to pray! If your friends are those who say "eh! We
know that God can do anything buuut ehhh! We know that God can do
anything buuut….!" You need to change your friends because if you don't
live with those who are always saying, "With God nothing shall be
impossible" your faith, even if you have any, will decrease! That's why
we encourage testimony.
When I got born again, in the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, oh! The pastors will come, they will say:
"Thank God! For the past 15 years I have not taken any tablets, I have
not gone to any hospital!" I will say, " That's why you're looking for
somebody to kill! Do I follow you to your house? You have shown me the
way to heaven – don't let me get there too soon!" I'm telling you the
truth! That was the way it was with me then. But then one day there was
an old man in the church, about 80 something years old and when II met
him in the church he was always walking double with a walking stick.
But then one Sunday morning we saw him in church walking straight – no
walking stick and they announced that this man is going too give the
testimony of his healing tonight! I was the first one in the church
that evening. I want to hear from somebody who is not a pastor because
the way some of them have been giving their testimonies my scientific
mind said, "Don't mind them!"….. "I had a headache last week, I prayed.
And it went!" "Well, I had a headache – I prayed and it didn't go!! So
don't mind them!"
So I wanted to hear what this man had to say –
the old man said, when he was younger he contracted venereal disease
and they couldn't cure him properly and so each time he tried to raise
himself up fire will be burning him – so when he bends down the pain
will subside. He had been walking like that for years – then he went
home somewhere in Yorubaland and as is custom he would go from house to
house witnessing. So he was going from house to house talking about
Jesus. Then the devil spoke to him: "Old man! Go home! If this your
Jesus is as powerful as you say why has he not healed you?" And the old
man said, a terrible anger welled up within him – "Devil! You're
laughing at my God? If I'm going to die today I will die but I'm not
going to walk double anymore!" He broke his walking stick, threw the
thing away and then he got up and began to walk home. And he said as he
got up, the fire began to burn. I say, "Ah! This man is telling the
truth!" He say, as he was going he was feeling dizzy and so he said, he
began to say to Jesus, "If I'm going to die just do me one favour –
don't let me die in the street! Don't let the devil laugh at you!" I
said, "This man is telling the truth!" And so he kept on going, feeling
dizzy; the pain was burning…He said as he got to the threshold of his
house, the pain disappeared! Let somebody shout Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
So
Peter saw the glory of God and fell at the feet of Jesus. He saw the
glory of God and fell at His feet. Oh, we can go through the scriptures
and see all those who saw the glory of God and fell. Many people don't
know why when we're praying for some people – they seem to fall. It
could be that God wants to perform an operation on them but at times
when someone is so thirsty for anointing and you come in contact with a
great man of God, full of the power of God, as you soak in the
anointing like a dry sponge soaking in water, you sink! But if thee
Almighty God suddenly came into your room at 2 am in the night, I
guarantee you, whoever you are you will fall! Some of us know what I'm
talking about.
In Matthew 15:21-28, a woman came to Jesus and
cried unto him,- "Lord, help me! My daughter is grievously vexed by a
devil!" The Bible says Jesus did not even answer her a word. "Help me!!
Lord! Have mercy!" Jesus said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep
of the House of Israel." The woman said, "I know how to get your
attention!" She came. Fell at His feet, worshiped Him – "Lord, have
mercy!" The Lord said, "I can't give the bread of the children to
dogs!" "I'm not asking for the bread of the children! I'm only asking
for a crumb! The Lord looked at her and said: "You will eat bread!"
Anyone who falls at his feet, by the time they get up they will see the
glory of God!
In Mark 5 verses 1-16, the Bible talks about a
man, I've told you about him before – among mad men, he was a mad man.
When mad men saw him coming, they call him "Mad man!" – and they run!
Because when you bind him with iron he will break the thing, He was
living among the dead, he was roaring in agony, day band night!1 But
one day he saw Jesus coming and he ran towards him and fell at His feet
and worshiped Him and that day 10,000 demons could not prevent that man
from receiving his deliverance. Somebody tonight is going to be
delivered (Amen!) because that someone is going to fall at the feet of
Jesus and when you rise from your feet you will see the glory of God
(Amen!) Thank You Father!
Let's take one more example of
somebody who fell at his feet and saw the glory of God. You'll find the
story in Mark 5 from v 21-24 and then you can pick it up from verse 35
to the end. Mark 5:21-24 is the story of Jairus – he had only one
daughter. Like I used to say he was managing with that one because in
the nation of Israel they didn't count a girl to be somebody in those
days – if you don't have a son you are not regarded as having any
children. But this man had a girl and he was managing with the girl and
all of a sudden death came and swallowed that girl! But this man was
wise – he was a big man. A very big man but when he came to Jesus he
fell at His feet and worshiped him and before the day was over death
vomited the daughter! There is someone here tonight everything that the
devil has swallowed from your life – the devil is going to vomit (Amen!)
Now
I have not finished the sermon. If God wants we will finish it but
right now I feel the presence of the Lord and I want us to go on our
knees right away and just cry to the Lord and say, "Tonight! I want to
see Your glory!" Go ahead, talk to the Almighty God! My Lord and my
Saviour! Tonight, I want to see Your glory like I've never seen it
before! I want to see Your glory! That's why I'm on my knees Lord God
Almighty! I'm falling at Your feet and I'm asking my Lord and my
Saviour! I want to see Your glory! I want to see Your glory in my life.
I want to see Your glory in my home! I want to see Your glory in the
ministry You have committed into my care! I want to see Your glory in
Nigeria! I want to see Your glory Lord God Almighty! All over the
world! I want to see Your glory in Your church! I want to see Your
glory tonight like never before! I want to see Your glory! Help me!
Show me Your glory! Let me see Your glory in my finances! Let me see
Your glory in every sphere of my life! You are the Almighty there's
nothing you cannot do – everything the devil has stolen from me Father,
through Your glorious power, let everything be restores, restores
7-fold! OH! Let Your children who are gathered here tonight see Your
glory! Everywhere in this auditorium, let Your glory come down! Yes,
Lord, show us Your glory!! We will praise You for it forever! Thank You
my Father! Blessed be Your Holy Name! Thank You Jesus! Thank You! Thank
You Lord! Thank You Almighty God! Blessed be Your Holy Name! Lord!
Thank You Father! Glory be to God! Alleluia! Father! Thank You Lord!
Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Blessed be Your Holy
Name! Thank You Lord! In Jesus mighty Name we have prayed! Father! we
are all on our knees before You because without You we're nothing! We
are ordinary dust of the earth but with You O Lord we can become
glorious beings! Tonight, Father!, like never before, let us see Your
glory! (Amen!) By healing, by deliverance, by setting the captives free
– let us see Your glory! (Amen!) Thank You my Lord! In Jesus' mighty
Name we have prayed! Thank You Father! Let somebody shout Alleluia!
(Alleluia!)
I believe that somebody has seen the glory of God already. You may be seated let's continue.
Peter
then said, "Depart from me, O Lord!!" Depart? How could Peter say such
a thing? At least he was a Jew and I'm sure while he was growing up
they read the scriptures to him.. So surely he knew how dangerous it is
for the Lord to depart from anyone. I pray tonight that the Lord will
never depart from you (Amen!) Because when you read Judges 16:20-21
when Delilah said to Samson after he shaved his head, "The Philistines
be upon thee, Samson!" Samson said, "I will go up and go out as
before." The Bible said, he didn't know that the Lord had departed from
him. But the Philistines took him and plucked out his eyes. When the
Lord departs from any man – light becomes darkness. The Lord will never
depart from you (Amen!) When you read 1 Samuel 16 verse 14, the Bible
says the Spirit of the Lord left Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord
came and troubled him. ‘Whenever the Lord departs from somebody demons
will take over! Oh, I pray again – the Lord will never depart from you
(Amen!) When we read Hosea 4 verse 17 and then you read Hosea 5 verse 9
you will see there – some of you have heard the story before, the story
of a young man called Ephraim. God blessed him, he prospered mightily,
and then he became arrogant and he refused to submit to the Lord and he
began to worship idols! Until God finally said, "Ephraim has joined
himself to idols. Leave him alone!" And then God said in Hosea 5 verse
9, He said, "Ephraim shall be desolate!" When the Lord departs from
somebody prosperity is replaced by desolation! Ah! God will never
depart from you! And that brings us to one important point –
Why
do you need just a child? After you have waited all this long, why must
it be just a child? I don't want just a child! I want a child that will
be a vessel unto honour in the house of the Almighty! I mean if you
say, "God if you are going to give me only one child let that child be
a child that will be used by You throughout the whole world!" I can
understand that. I've heard people pray, "God give me a car, even if
it's 3rd hand!!" Why don't you want a new one? Why don't you want a big
one? Oh, because everyone will be looking at me! I'm afraid of thieves!
Thieves will come if they want to come whether you are in a 3rd hand
car, whether you have no car at all – they don't want to know! People
have been robbed in public transport before is that correct? That is
those who don't have a car of their own. Whenever you're asking God for
something, ask for some thing good. Don't ask for just a partner – I've
told you the story before that one of my sons told – he has many funny
stories but this particular one has a lesson in it. He said a sister
said to God, "God give me any brother and I will marry him. Anyone!
Anyone!" And then some days later a brother came and said, "Sister! How
now? You are the one God is talking to me about." And the sister looked
at him and looked at God and said, "Lord!, I said ‘anyone' not
‘anything'" If you ask for anyone you will get anything!!
And
there was a very special prayer that God also rejected in Matthew 26
from verse 39 to 44. that's where the l himself was praying, "Lord!, if
it is possible take this cup away from me!" God the Father said, "If I
take this cup away from You what will happen to Adeboye? He will go to
hell! No, You will drink the cup so that Adeboye can come to heaven."
Thank God that Father didn't answer that prayer! He reserves the right
to reject prayers and every prayer that you have prayed that will not
bring glory to God may God cancel them in Jesus Name! (Amen!)
Now
Peter said, "Depart from me." And the word ‘depart' has an opposite –
it is ‘abide'. Tonight, I'm not going to say, "Lord!, depart from me."
I am going to say, "Lord!, abide with me." Because if the Lord abides
with you according to Romans 8:31, the Bible says if God be for us, who
can be against us. In Joshua 11 verse 5, the Bible made it clear that
if God is with you even if anybody stands up against you that fellow
will fall because God said to Joshua, "No man will be able to withstand
you all the days of your life, because as I was with Moses, so shall I
be with you," May the Almighty God abide with you. (Amen!) And when God
abides with you, then if the Lord is with you you know you can walk
through fire it won't burn you. In Isaiah 43:2 he said, when you are
walking through the fire it will not even kindle upon you, he said,
because I will be with you.
The Bible has some strong things to
say about sin – for example, in Proverbs 13 verse 15, the Bible says,
"The way of the transgressor is hard." In Isaiah 48 verse 22, the Bible
says, "There is no peace to the wicked saith the Lord." In Jeremiah 17
verse 11 he says, "As the partridge sits on an egg and hatches it not,
so will anyone who gets wealth but not by rightful means. It will
depart from him in the middle of his days and at the end he will be a
fool." In Proverbs 13 verse 22, the Bible says, "The wealth of the
wicked is laid up for the just!" In other words it said, let the wicked
begin to gather the wealth, one day he will die suddenly and that
wealth will come over to the righteous. In Ezekiel 18 verse 20, the
Bible says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." In Romans 6 verse
23, the Bible says, "The wages of sin is death." In James 1 verse 15,
the Bible says, "When sin is finished, it bringeth forth death."
Everything
God says about sin is terrible; therefore any wise person will run from
sin. Anyone who runs from sin will suddenly discover that it pays to
run from sin – because in Isaiah 48 verses 18 and 19 the Almighty God
said, "If you will listen to me and begin too do what I ask you to do
then your peace will be like a river." In Deuteronomy 28 verses 1 and 2
he said, "If you will hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord thy
God to observe and to do all the things that I command you this day,"
He said, "Then this blessing shall follow you and overtake you (Amen!)
In Exodus 15 verse 26 He said, "If you hearken diligently to the voice
of the Lord thy God to observe and too do all the things that I command
you this day," He said, "I will bring none of the diseases that I have
brought upon the Egyptian upon you." He said, "because I am the Lord
that healeth you."
Now the rest of us – those of us who are
already sure that we are born again; that we are already washed in the
blood; by the grace of God we are already living holy – I want you to
begin to pray for these people who are already coming. Say, "Lord. as
you saved my soul, save their souls also!" Begin to pray them! And
those of you who want to give your life to j, come from all over the
place. I will wait for only 2 minutes and then I will pray…. and as you
come, begin to cry to Jesus : "Save my soul! Forgive my sins! Have
mercy on me O Lord!! I come to You tonight O Lord! I don't want my sins
to separate between me and You! Your word says you receive sinners.
I've come to You! Save my soul! Receive me O Lord! Have mercy on me!
Become my Lord! Become my Saviour!" Call on Him as you come! And come
from all over the place! Jesus is calling you! He's ready to receive
sinners! He's ready to make you a brand new creature. Come to Him now!
The Lord is calling you! Come on now! The Lord is calling you! Come
from all over the place! Hurry up now! You have only one minute left!
Hurry up! The Lord is calling you. This is the day of salvation and
brethren, let us begin to pray for these people – that the Almighty God
will save their souls; that He will be merciful unto them. Let's call
on the Almighty God to wash away their sins and write their names in
the Book of Life! Let's pray for them, brethren, let's pray for them.
Come, those who want to give their lives to Jesus. The Lord is calling
you – come and surrender your life! The gates of mercy are still open!
The Lord is saying, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy
laden and I will give you rest" Come to Him now! The Lord will be
merciful unto you! Pray and ask God to wash you in His Blood! Pray from
the bottom of your heart!! Pray the Lord is calling you now. Say,"
Lord, have mercy on me – Lord have mercy on me, Save my soul! Save my
soul! Forgive my sins. Please Lord forgive my sins! Have mercy on me O
Lord!! I come before You, I'm crying to You Lord for salvation! Save my
soul! O Lord! Save my soul! Have mercy on me! My Father and my God!"
keep coming! Keep coming! Those of you who are still coming Hurry up!
This is the day of salvation! Pray! Open your mouth! Call on the
Almighty God Ask Him to save your soul. Ask Him to wash you from your
sins. Sin is a dangerous thing. Ask the Lord to forgive you. Ask Him to
wash you in His Blood.
Now Father, You said, "Whosoever will
come unto me I will in no wise cast out." These people have come now.
Receive them in Jesus Name! (Amen!) Whatever may be their former sins –
forgive them in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) Wash them in Your Blood in Jesus'
Name! (Amen!) Write their names in the Book of Life in Jesus' Name!
(Amen!) Let them become brand new creatures in You in Jesus' Name!
(Amen!) and from tonight onwards let them be true children of God
(Amen!) Thank You my Father! Thank You Lord! Every miracle you are
going to perform tonight – give them their own in Jesus' Name! (Amen!)
In Jesus Name we have prayed! Amen! (Amen!) Praise the Lord! Alleluia!
(Alleluia!)
Lord abide with me! Don't leave me alone! I can't
carry my burdens alone – I can't even go on this journey alone! Abide
with me! O Lord! Abide with me! Let's talk to the Lord! Abide with me!
Help of the helpless – abide with me! Oh! Yes, Lord abide with me!
Father!
we cry to You tonight, everyone of us as one! Father! abide with us!
(Amen!) For the rest of our lives abide with us! (Amen!) Anywhere we go
abide with us that Your Name might be glorified in Jesus' mighty Name
we have prayed Amen! (Amen!) Praise the Lord! Alleluia! Praise Jesus!
One
more prayer for Nigeria – and I want you to pray this prayer with all
your might – just say, "Father!, any enemies of Nigeria, within and
without, uproot them!!! " Go ahead! Talk to the Almighty God! "Any
enemy of Nigeria within or without, uproot them O Lord! Any enemy of
Nigeria within or without, uproot them to the glory of Your Holy Name
My Father and my God! Any enemy of Nigeria that may remain within or
without uproot them Lord! that Your Name might be glorified! In Jesus'
mighty Name we have prayed!" (Amen!)
Father! we Thank You for
Nigeria. Thank You because it is time for our healings; the time for
deliverance of Nigeria has come Glory be to Your Holy Name! Thank You
for the good works that You have started to do in Nigeria! Complete the
work quickly in Jesus' Name! And every plant that You did not plant in
this nation, uproot in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) Every enemy of Nigeria,
within or without, uproot them in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) The lost glories
of Nigeria, restore in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) Bless our President (Amen!)
Help him O Lord!(Amen!) and glorify Your Name in Jesus' mighty Name we
have prayed! Amen! (Amen!) Praise the Lord!
In Matthew 13 verse
54, the Bible said, "Bcos of His mighty works and wisdom the people
were astonished." In Matthew 15 verse 29-31 the Lord says He made the
dumb to speak and I hope thee dumb here are hearing me tonight because
when the word comes you better jump and claim our own! He made the dumb
to speak, He made the maimed whole.. he made the lame to walk. He made
the blind to see and He caused the people to be astonished. In Mark 2
verses 1-12 when Jesus raised up that man who was brought in by four
people. The people were astonished. When He went to Jairus' house in
Mark 5 verse 35-42, when Jesus got to Jairus' house and raised up a
girl that was already dead, there was an astonishment. In Mark 1 from
verse 23 to 27, the Bible said, "He cast out demons with authority." He
could speak and say, "Demons get out!" and that is the end of the
matter and the people around will be astonished. In Mark 4 from verses
35-41 after Jesus spoke a sentence and the storm was stilled, the Bible
said, the disciples came to Him and said: "What manner of man is this
that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
But you see, if we
are talking about our Jesus, people will say, "What do you expect them
to say, they are His followers!" That is why I like to hear the
testimony of idol worshippers concerning Jesus. Let us turn to the
testimony of Nebuchadnezzar – he wasn't a Jew, he wasn't related to
Jesus Christ in any way but hear his testimony in Daniel 4 verses 1-3.
I will just read verse 3 because of time: He said, "How great are his
signs and how mighty are his wonders, his kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom and his dominion is from generation to generation!" Oh, some
years later one of his successors in Daniel 6 verses 26 and 27 also
gave a testimony concerning our God. Let's just read verse 27 there –
it said, "He delivereth and restoreth and worketh signs and wonders in
heaven and earth." He's a wonder-working God! And He's going to perform
wonders in some peoples life tonight. He has done several wonders in my
life and I believe it is your turn! I say, I believe it is your turn!
(Amen!) I've told you this one before: one of my sons came, I mean, one
of my sons in the ministry and he was telling me all the good things
that God has done in his life and I kept on saying "Glory to God!"
Alleluia! Praise God" After some time he stopped. He said, "Ah!, Daddy,
I'm the only one talking about what God has done! You have not said
anything!" I looked at him and smiled and said, "If I tell you what God
is doing for me you will say God is partial. That's why I keep my mouth
shut!" There is somebody here tonight because of what God will begin to
do in your life – from morning to evening will not be enough to share
your testimony! (Amen!)
Now, not only can He perform wonders for
you He can perform wonders through you! He can turn you to a channel of
blessing. When you read Acts 6 verse 8, the Bible tells us how God took
Stephen, ordinary Stephen – he was full of the Holy Ghost and of faith
– and the Almighty God said "God performed wonders through him." And as
the preacher who preached the first tonight said, "It does not mean you
have to be a GO before God can use you!" The Almighty God is going to
begin to use somebody here from tonight onwards! (Amen!) You see the
work that God wants to do in the world, no one man can do it. Many of
you don't know the reason why you are coming to the Holy Ghost Service.
Some of you are not sick! I mean, God had healed you 5, 6 years ago and
yet you can't miss the Holy Ghost Service. You just keep coming! Even
when there is fuel shortage you will come! There was one young man who
trekked all the way from Lagos to the Holy Ghost Camp! And you don't
know why you are doing it! I have news for you! Faith cometh by hearing!
The
God who did that for Peter can do the same thing for you! (Amen!) How
do I know? How do I know that God wants to turn you to a
wonder-producing person? You see when a woman has a baby, the baby
loves milk and the mother has plenty of milk. In those days when we
were rearing children, I noticed that at times the breast will be so
full of milk that the mother will say, "Baby, please take a little!"
The Almighty God's breasts are so full of milk and He's saying,
"Adeboye, take a little! Take a little more Take a little more!" The
All-Sufficient One is saying, "Please you people, hurry up! I want to
turn you to wonder-producing people!" I travelled recently and I got to
Gibraltar and we were having a nice time looking at the Rock of
Gibraltar ecetera; suddenly I saw something that destroyed my joy –
there was a mosque built there with 10 million pounds!!! Few people are
using it – 10 million pounds. One person built it – one person! I said,
"Lord, what is this?" ?And the answer I got was "You people are too
slow! Particularly you Nigerians." Some of you are even afraid to
prosper! "O God prosper me!" All you are asking for is one million
because if it is more than that you will go and marry a second wife!!
You don't have a vision for taking the whole world for Jesus Christ!
"God! Anoint me!" All you are asking for is "Let me be able to heal
somebody with fever!" If we're going to take the whole world for Jesus
we need extraordinary anointing and God is more than willing! He keeps
on saying, "Who will I send? – Who will go for me???" So that if you
can go, signs will follow. I'm going to ask you a question tonight. Be
careful how you answer! Are you a candidate for signs and wonders? I'm
not just talking about you receiving miracles from God now; I'm talking
about the Almighty God using you to perform signs and wonders! Is there
a candidate here tonight for signs and wonders?
Then stand on
your feet and raise your two hands to the Almighty God! Tell Him,
"Lord, I am ready, I am willing, I want to be a candidate for signs and
wonders! I am ready O Lord!! Anoint me my Father and my God!! Make me a
candidate for signs and wonders! Make me a candidate for signs and
wonders! Lord, make me a candidate for signs and wonders! Beginning
from today my Lord and my God! I am here O Glory be to God! Lord Thank
You Saviour! Alleluia! Father! Blessed be Your Name! Make me a
candidate for signs and wonders, a candidate for signs and wonders for
the rest of my life! Empower me like never before! In Jesus' mighty
Name we have prayed!
I want you to talk to the Almighty God and
say, "Father! fill me to overflowing with your power! Father! fill me
to overflowing with your power! Father! fill me to overflowing with
your power! Father! fill me to overflowing with your power! Anointing
power! Anointing power! Anointing power! Anointing power! Anointing
power! Anointing power!" In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed!
Show
the world that you are alive in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) Your Word says
with God nothing shall be impossible (Amen!) and Your Word says for
those who believe – all things are possible! These people came tonight
because they believe – therefore Father, that which the doctor says are
impossible, all those things that the doctor says are impossible in the
lives of these your children my Father and my God! make possible now in
Jesus' Name! (Amen!). Thank You Father! Thank You because I know it is
done. Glory be to Your Name! Amen! (Amen!)
That last prayer is
this – Father!, we are in the last quarter of the year. My Lord and my
Saviour every promise that you had had for me this year – fulfil them
now! Begin to pray! We are in the last quarter of this year O Lord!!
All the promises you had made for me this year Father, begin to bring
them to pass! Begin to bring them to pass! This is the last quarter O
Lord!! O Lord! every promise that You had made concerning this year, O
Lord! and even promises that I've heard from before now, bring them to
pass! bring them to pass! bring them to pass Lord! Before this year
runs out let my restoration be full that Your Name might be glorified!
O Thank You Father!! Thank You Lord! Every promise that You made my
Lord and my Saviour! concerning me, concerning Your church, concerning
this nation, concerning all Your children here, concerning my family
Lord bring them to pass! We are in the last quarter O Lord! the year is
running to an end! Glorify Your Name O Lord! and we will praise you for
it. Thank You Jesus! Blessed be Your Holy Name! Lord Thank You my Lord
and my Saviour! In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed!
Glory be
to Your Holy Name! Glory be to Your Holy Name! We pray in Jesus' mighty
Name! Amen! (Amen!) Let's give the Lord a big hand! Thank You Father!
Glory be to You! You may be seated!
Message by Pastor E. A. Adeboye