THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF PETER - 3 5th of February, 1999

Pleasant Surprises in the House of Praise

Thank You Lord! Let somebody shout "Alleluia!" (Alleluia!) Daddy told me and said. "This night will be a night of pleasant surprises." (Amen!) O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder consider all…………..Worship the Almighty God! Worship the King of Kings! Thank You Lord! Alleluia! O Thank You Savior! Thank You Jesus! Blessed, Blessed, Blessed, Blessed, Blessed be Your Holy Name Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Alleluia! Thank You! Blessed, Blessed, Blessed, Blessed, Blessed be Your Holy Name! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Alleluia! Thank You Father! Thank You Lord! O we bless You Lord of Heaven and earth, we bless You O Lord of Heaven and earth……………. Ah! Thank You Lord! Thank You Father! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Amen!

The Lord says there's someone here tonight; He says He's going to wipe the tears off your eyes! (Amen!)

The Lord says there's someone here tonight; you are expecting a very important letter. The Lord asked me to tell you - it will contain good news! (Amen!)

The Lord says there's a sister here tonight, your husband has prepared the letter of divorce. Daddy asked me to tell you - I have torn the letter. (Amen!)

Father we just want to bless Your Name tonight! We want to give you all glory and honour because You are wonderful! You are good! Because You are kind! Because You are powerful! Because You are mighty! Because You are glorious! Because You are worthy! Glory be to Your Holy Name! Thank You for Lekki '98! We will praise You! We will adore You! We will glorify Your Name! We will bless You Lord! Accept our thanks in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) Tonight Father, visit us again (Amen!) - with joy (Amen!) - with salvation (Amen!) - with healings (Amen!) - with deliverance (Amen!) - with victory (Amen!) - visit us again in Jesus' Name! At the end of everything - take all the glory again! (Amen!) In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed! Let somebody shout "Alleluia!" (Alleluia!) Shake hands with one or two people and say, "Get ready for surprises!" And then you may be seated, God bless you! Its all right you can give the Lord a big hand - He deserves it! Amen!

We are continuing our study on the Holy Spirit in the life of Peter. And we are going to a brand new series with Acts 3 v 1 - 8 and while you are opening your Bibles to Acts 3 I am sure you have noticed that we have some visitors in our midst. I have a delegation from Sheffield. Like the fellow introducing the singers said - from "Ilu Oyinbo". We'll be introducing them to you later on but I'm sure they are welcome in our midst. I say they are welcome in our midst! Glory be to God!

Acts 3 v 1-8 says,

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:1- 8 (KJV)

Somebody will go home today walking and leaping and praising God (Amen!)

We will want to study this particular story in some very great detail. I don't know how long it will take us - maybe it will take us the whole year because this is a story that is loaded with gems. Let's take verse 1 and see how far we can go with that verse today.

The Bible says, "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple." Let's just stop there and see if we can cover that much ground.

Now ….that will tell us that a story had been coming before and now they are linking it with "now". Now after the incident that happened before something new is happening. What is the newest thing that happened that led to "now"? Oh that was the Day of Pentecost of course… "And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come all the disciples were with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven. Suddenly miracles will come into the life of somebody. (Amen!) And a sound from heaven like of a rushing, mighty wind - and the wind of the Holy Spirit will blow tonight. (Amen!)

Then the Holy Spirit came like fire, broke Himself to pieces so that there was enough fire for each fellow that was present. Which is why I am sure that all those who are children of God here tonight will not go away empty-handed. (Amen!) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit as the fire sat on them and they began to overflow. Some people will overflow with joy today! (Amen!) They were speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. So now here it's talking to us about something that had just happened in the life of Peter and John.

Let's start with Peter. Who was Peter before the Day of Pentecost? Oh! We know him.  He hasn't got any good records.  He was a fearful fellow.  In Matthew 14 v 28-32 He's the one who said he wanted to walk on water like the Lord and began to sink. Of course he was wise enough to cry out for help. At least we learnt something from him that when you are in trouble just cry out for help. I mean if that day he had tried to repeat the Lord's prayer by the time he finished with 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name' he would have taken a gallon or two of water. Is there anybody here in need of a miracle tonight? Let me hear you shout "Help Lord!" (Help Lord!)

So he was a fearful fellow but he had enough wisdom to cry when he needed help. He was an unstable fellow. One time he's up, another time he's down. In Matthew 16 v13-23 Oh! Once he was saying to Jesus "You are the Christ" and the Lord turned to him and said, "Ah! Blessed are thou Simon". Next minute he said to the Lord "You are not going to suffer and die!" And the Lord turned to him and said. "Get thee behind me Satan!" So one moment he's up, the next moment he's right down in the valley.

In Matthew 19 v 27-29 he was a champion worrier - worrier - he worries…He's so anxious about tomorrow. He's like some people I know. They are worried that they won't get a job. When they get the job they worry that they will lose the job. They worry that they will not be promoted. When they are promoted they worry about somebody who wants to take the chair from them. They worry that nobody will marry them. When somebody shows up to marry them they worry whether it's the right fellow or not. When they finally marry they worry whether they have taken the right decision or not. They worry whether they will ever get pregnant. When they get pregnant they worry whether they will ever deliver. They are like Peter… always worrying about the future. He turned to the Lord he said, "We have left all and we are following You. Now how about our future?"

In Matthew 26 v 31 -3 Oh…. Peter can boast! He really was a champion boaster. Jesus Christ turned to the disciples and said, "All of you will desert me tonight." Peter said, "Me? Ah! Hey! Lord! Do You know who You are talking to? If all these run away… You can count on me Lord!" The Lord said," Ah! Before the cock crows twice you will deny…" "Oh, Lord! Who are You talking to? Even if I have to die with You, I will go with You anywhere Lord!"

In Matthew 26 v 69 - 75 he scored the highest point when it comes to denying Jesus Christ. I mean it got to a point where he swore, "If ever I knew Him let the ground open and swallow me up!"

So before Pentecost Peter was fearful, unstable always worrying, always boasting and Christ denying. But after Pentecost, when that fire came on him as it's going to come on you today (Amen!) he became an entirely different person. I mean, he changed so radically he himself, could not even recognize himself! The Bible says in Acts 4 v 13 it said, "When they beheld the boldness of Peter and John they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." His boldness became so clear that it could not be hidden.

 And when you read Acts 11 v 1-18 after he had gone to the house of Cornelius and the congregation gathered together and the Apostles began to query him, "Why should you go to the house of a Gentile?" He stood solid as a rock. He said, "The Spirit bade me go" full stop. Peter was no longer the one who is up today down tomorrow. He said, "Listen brethren, you can think what you like, you can say what you like. The Spirit bade me go and I went. Full stop. " The unstable Peter became the Solid One. And when you read Acts 12 v 5-7 (Thank You Lord!)

The Lord says someone is saying, "God will You please baptize me in the Holy Spirit tonight." He said, "Your request shall be granted." (Amen!)

In Acts 12 v 5-7 when they were going to kill Peter the following day he had become so peaceful, so unruffled about the future he was sleeping soundly between two soldiers who chained him. The Bible says an angel came into the prison with bright light. Peter didn't even know. The angel had to really beat him to wake him up! This was a different Peter from the one who said, "Lord, how about my future?" And when you read Acts 3 v 12-13 you will discover that the boastful Peter had gone. When he raised the lame man and people gathered together he looked at them, he said, "Why are you looking at me like this? you thought I am the miracle-worker?" He said, "No. It is somebody else who did the work." Now he was giving the glory to God.

And when you look at Acts 4 v 10-12 the one who used to deny Jesus Christ was now saying, "Jesus Christ whom you crucified, you wicked people, the same Jesus you crucified God had raised Him from the dead - God had raised Him from the dead and it is through him that this lame man is standing before you whole! Let me tell you in case you don't know - there is no other name given unto men by which anybody could be saved!" The man who said, "I didn't know Jesus." before said now, "Eh! He's the only Saviour!" Peter after Pentecost was different from Peter before Pentecost. He's now bold, solid, peaceful, humble and Christ-affirming. I pray that the fire of the Holy Ghost will come upon you tonight in Jesus' Name! (Amen!)

What about John? Before Pentecost Ho-ho! Even the Lord called him "The son of thunder!" He has fiery temper. It's not the kind of anger you want to stay near at all. I mean in Mark 3 v17 the Lord called him and his brother James "sons of thunder". And they proved it. In Luke 9 v 51- 56 when the Lord was going to Jerusalem and they sent the disciples ahead to a Samaritan village to ask for accommodation and those people said, "You are a Jew. We are Samaritans - how can you stay in our village? No accommodation!" Ehehh …When they brought the report back James and John heard. "Lord! You just stand aside! Let us call down fire and burn those people up! Let's show them! Let's show them our power!" Thank God for Jesus Christ! Pray that the power you receive you will not use it to destroy people (Amen!) but you will use it to win souls!

And then Pentecost came and John became an entirely different person. I mean, when you read his epistles, if you read 1 John 4 for example, from verse 7 - 12, you will not believe it is the son of thunder talking. It is the son of love speaking here. He kept on saying "Beloved…. Let us love one another because love is of God…He who does not love does not know God for God is love…." In 6 verses he mentions 'love, beloved and things like that' 14 times! Because when the fire of the Holy Spirit came a heart of stone had been changed to a heart of flesh and I pray tonight that those of you with hearts of stones when the fire comes that stone will melt in Jesus' name (Amen!)

So now the Bible says Peter and John…. Now why are these two people brought together to our notice? Well, number one, they were members of the inner circle of Jesus Christ. There were three in that inner circle - Peter, James and John. In fact if there should be any surprise in this story it is "Where is James?" Because these three they were with the Lord Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. They saw His resurrection power. Anytime He was going to raise somebody from the dead - they were there. In fact, when He was raising Jairus' daughter from the dead they were the only three that were allowed to come in. You can find that in Mark 5 v 35-37.

They saw His glory, they saw His power and they saw His sorrow too. They saw Him in His time of weakness. His time of distress, when He was crying to God saying, "Lord! Take away this cup from me!" The three were there. In Matthew 26 v 36-38. In fact Jesus invited them to watch with him. They were His prayer partners - even though they fell asleep when they were supposed to be praying!

But then out of these 3 there was a relationship between Peter and John even before Jesus died. I mean, if you read John 13 v 21-26 at the Last Supper when Jesus Christ was saying somebody was going to betray Him and they were all asking "Who? Who?" Peter beckoned to John and said - "If He doesn't tell anyone, he will tell you. Please ask Him, ask Him for us…" and you know the rest of the story. There was a link already between Peter and John.

Now after Jesus died and rose from the dead the link grew stronger. If you read John 20 v 1-8 there's a very interesting story there. When Jesus rose from the dead and Mary Magdalene discovered that He had risen from the dead and came and told the Apostles. Two people among the Apostles ran to the tomb. Who are the two? Peter and John…and each time I read the story I always laugh because John is the one who wrote the story for us and he told us that he outran Peter! He said the two of us ran but I beat him! I got there before him! He said, "Well, I didn't enter because I know he's an older man. I allowed him to go in first but I beat him there!" He repeated it 2 times and I wonder why are you telling us this John? He's telling us Peter may be the leader but when it comes to running I beat him!" So they had a link and the two of them remained closely knit for the rest of their lives. My prayer is that that fellow who is going to be your partner in the Holy Ghost God will show you today. (Amen!) Peter was the leader but John was the beloved and the two of them forged a link.

And now - the Bible now went on to say "Peter and John went up together into the temple." Let's spend some time looking today looking at what is the temple because many of us don't even know why we need to go to church at all! We don't know why we have to come to a place like this - why can't we just sit down at home - after all God is everywhere? What is the temple?

Number one - it is the House of Prayer. In Matthew 21v 12 - 13 Jesus Christ said, "It is written - my House shall be called the House of Prayer." Because Isaiah said it in Isaiah 56 v 7 that "My house shall be called the house of prayer for all people." And the Bible says according to David in Psalm 65 v 2 - it said, "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." We have come here today to the One who hears prayers. And I pray that every prayer uttered here today will be answered in Jesus' Name! (Amen!)

But it is not just the House of Prayer it is also the House of Healings. If you read Matthew 21 v 14, after Jesus Christ cleared all those who were selling and buying in the temple and said, "My House shall be called a House of Prayer," the Bible said - the sick came unto him and were healed. I pray that every sick fellow here today will be healed in Jesus' Name! (Amen!).

In Matthew 12 v 9-13 the Bible said Jesus went into the temple or synagogue and He met there a man with a withered hand and there were some big scholars who felt you shouldn't heal in the temple, you shouldn't heal on Sabbath. I've had some people challenging me before……"All you people who claim that you have the power to heal, why don't you go to the hospital and heal everybody there? Why do they have to come to Redemption Camp to be healed? God can heal anywhere!" I agree with that but He specifically heals in the temple. When he said, "Will You heal this man with the withered hand?" He said, "Man, come out, stretch forth your hand and it was made whole as the other one."

In the same Matthew 12 v 22-23 the Bible says there was a man who was both blind and dumb and the Lord healed him that he both saw and spoke. My prayer today is that since you managed to come into His temple, whatever may be the nature of your sickness, you won't take it back with you in Jesus' Name! (Amen!)

And then the temple is also the House of Sacrifice. Everyone who wants to sacrifice anything has to take the sacrifice somewhere. At least in Yorubaland we know if you want to sacrifice to the Devil you take it to the crossroad. If you want to sacrifice to some witches and wizards you go and put it behind an iroko tree. And I don't know some other cultures but at least I know that of my own.

But in 2 Chronicles 7 v 12 the Lord says, "In this house I will accept sacrifice." In the temple God says He will accept sacrifice. In fact the Bible says when you are coming into the temple of God you should not come empty-handed because He wants to accept your sacrifice.

A friend of mine used to say whenever he wants to take an offering, he will say, "If you have none borrow from your neighbour so that when they are putting in the something God will see you doing something too!" And he said, "It will not be long before you too will be lending to others!" It is my prayer that whatever may be the sacrifices that you have to give to the Almighty God today, it will be accepted of Him (Amen!)

The temple is the House of Knowledge, a house of education. In Psalm 27 verse 4 David made it clear that in the House of the Lord you can behold the beauty of the Almighty God and I pray that you will see His glory today in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) But he went on to say, 'Not only do I want to stay in His house to behold His beauty, I also want to be there to enquire of Him." In other words, if you have any query for God bring the query to the temple. "God! Why have you not done this for me?" Come and ask Him in the temple. He will answer you. And when you come into His temple you receive revelations. He will begin to tell you certain things that you will not learn at home.

The temple is also a House where Goodness and Mercy abound. In Psalm 23 v 6 the Bible says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me - for how long? - all the days of my life…and why? …Because I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever" There is a song I love so much - I wish my own voice were as beautiful … it doesn't matter, I will croak it a little. It says,

 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life (2ce)….. and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and I will feast at the table set for me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days, all the days of my life."

That song says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me - all the days of my life and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever and I will feast at the table set for me." Whether the enemy likes it or not when you are in the House of the Lord the table that is set before you, nothing can tamper with it. (Amen!)

And the temple is the House of Grace. Hebrews 4v15-16 calls the temple "the throne of grace" where you can go to obtain grace and mercy in the time of need. So we see that the temple is not just an ordinary house. It is the House of Prayer, it is the House of Healing, it is the House of Sacrifice, it is the House of Education and Knowledge, it is the House of Goodness and Mercy and it is the House of Grace.

But it's much more than that - much, much more - in fact if we want to call the house, the temple, any particular name we would probably it - the House of Praise and Power. House of Praise and Power. When you read 2 Chronicles 5 v 1. I think I better read that one to you - verses 13 and 14 because I want to show you certain things there very quickly…. 2 Chronicles 5 v 13 -14, you will suddenly discover why David said he was glad when they said let us go into the house of the Lord. "It came even to pass as the trumpeters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and praised the Lord saying, For He is good and His mercy endureth forever, that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." The glory of the Almighty God is going to fill this place tonight. (Amen!)

But we are going to do things slightly differently tonight. So for the next few minutes if thing are not the way you expect that's okay Because He said anyway that tonight will be a night of pleasant surprises. And it might be a good idea if the band began to move closer to their instruments.

The first thing you notice here is that the house, the temple, is the House of Praise. The Bible says in Psalm 22 v 3 that God inhabits the praises of Israel. It's also the House of Thanksgiving because it says here - they were praising God and they were thanking Him. In fact David says in Psalm 100 v 4, he said, "I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my mouth, I will enter His courts with praise, I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad, He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. I will enter…." Glory be to God! Thank You Father! God bless you! You may be seated! - even though you may be standing soon but sit down meanwhile.

It's the House of Praise; it's the House of Thanksgiving and it's the House of Unity - trumpeters, singers, musicians, they were as one man, they did everything in one accord, they co-operated. That reminds me of the origin of clapping. If you read Psalm 47 v 1 says, "Clap your hands all ye people!" Thank you very much! Amen!

Let me tell you the origin of clapping. One day the fingers woke up and they heard the birds singing and they said, "Oh God! We too would love to sing, we would love to praise you. They made all kinds of movements and no sound came but suddenly they said, "If two of us would co-operate maybe we might produce some sound…" Alleluia! So one finger was co-operating with another finger and they discovered, "Oh! I'm making some sound!" And they found that maybe - "Oh! In that case if one finger would co-operate with one hand maybe we would produce some sound." So if you lift your left hand and you begin to tap it with one finger - then you increase it to two fingers and then to three fingers and then to four fingers and then to two hands… Glory be to God!

So we find that the House of God, the temple is a House of Praise, a House of Thanksgiving, a House of Unity and when there is unity, miracles happen and then you find that if the trumpet is making its noise - do I hear from the trumpeter? - That's all right… and we add to that the cymbals and we add to that the guitars and the organs and we add to that the drums! It becomes clear that the House of God is a House of Noise… Amen!

But it is not just an ordinary noise - it's a joyful noise. That's why that song says - "Clap your hands O ye people! Shout unto God with a loud voice of praise! Clap your hands O ye people…….." God bless you! You may be seated! Now when this noise was going on the trumpets, the cymbals, the instruments off music were saying something - "For He is good and His mercy endureth forever." So the temple, the House of God is a House of Testimonies and if you have no testimonies before when you come to the House of God you will get testimonies.

David said in Psalm 22 v 22, he said, "I will praise thee in the congregation." In Psalm 26 v 12 he said, "I will bless the Lord in the congregation" and then in Psalm 89 v 1, he said, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. With my mouth…………"

And then we have another song - the one that many of us will know will seem to combine all the things together - testimony, shouting, clapping, praising, thanking……. It says, "What the Lord has done for me, I cannot tell it all…. He saved me and washed me in His blood…." Come on give the Lord a big hand, come on! Alleluia! Glory be to God! Thank You Father! God bless you! You may be seated!

The temple is the house where the glory of God manifests itself, where the cloud of glory can be seen. And that is where you find powerful manifestations of the Lord. The Bible said as the people began to praise Him; as they were making mighty, joyful noise unto Him, God could not restrain Himself - He left His throne and came in, the glory of the Lord filled the temple - even the priests ran out. And if the priests ran out you can be sure demons had gone long before!

I remember years ago, and I am praying that God would restore those days to us today, (Amen!)

We had no guitars then, we had no drums - all we had was our hands and our voices but we could praise God in those days and I remember we were having a convention and we were praising the Lord and there was one Alhaji who had just given his life to Jesus; came all the way from Ilorin. When the praise was hot, he fell down and vomited a charm and that charm was something alive and the charm was crawling away and he was running after it trying to swallow it back! How many of you remember that day? Yeah, you were there then! We had to restrain him; "No - this one has come out of you! You are not going to swallow this one!" I mean, I remember those days, when a woman wanted to shout 'Alleluia!' and she vomited a worm that had been troubling her for years! I remember those days when while we were praising God, a woman ran out of the church and went to the gate of the church and began to call her friend who brought her to the convention: "Mama Lagbaja! Mama Lagbaja! Bring my bag! Bring my bag!" "What are you doing there?" She said, "I am going home!" "If you are going home come and take your bag!" She said, "I can't come because there is fire there!!" There will be fire here tonight!

I mean, the Bible tells us in Luke 4 v 33-36, it said, "When Jesus came into the temple there was a man there who had an evil force, demons in him. When they saw Jesus coming in, when they saw the King of glory walking in they screamed - "What have we to do with you? Have you come to torture us?" And He said, "Shut up and get out." But today several demonized people are comfortable in our churches. Why? Because we do not praise God sufficiently to bring down the glory. But things will change as from tonight! (Amen!) Are you ready to praise Him! Let me hear you shout "Alleluia!" (Alleluia!)

The Bible says, "Let God arise and His enemies be scattered……..Let God, Let God arise…." I know many of us don't have guitars, even if we have, we don't know how to play. The Bible says we are to praise God with a 10-stringed instrument - you have 10 fingers and I want you to use those hands today. I want you to praise Him with those hands today….. "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!…"…… Thank You Lord!

Now the Lord says there's someone here tonight who injured his kneecap in an accident and the Lord said He has given you a brand new one (Amen!)

 He also said there's someone here who's getting a new bladder so that the frequent urination that had been bothering you is over now! (Amen!)

We want to sing a little more and dance a little more. This is a day of pleasant surprises…….Jesus is Alpha, Alpha and Omega, I will praise Him for He is Alpha and Omega…………His Name is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus J-E-S-U-S He is the King!……..."

Pray and violently…..

Number One. Jesus, rule in my life. Come along, talk to the Almighty God. Jesus, You are the King of Kings, You are the Lord of Lords! Rule in my life! Rule supreme in my life! In my life reign, rule, control take absolute control! You are the King of Kings! You are the Lord of Lords! You are the I AM that I AM, You are the Ancient of Days! Reign supreme in my life. Yes Lord Because You are the King of Kings, You are the Lord of Lords, You are the Omnipotent God Your Word is final! Rule supreme in my life! Oh yes Lord! Blessed be the Name of the Lord! You are the King of Kings! Your are the Lord of Lords! Rule supreme in my life beginning from now and for the rest of my life just reign supreme. Rule every aspect of my life Lord! Yes, Lord! Thank You Jesus! Glory be to God! Alleluia! Father Blessed be Your Holy Name! Thank You Lord! Amen!

Now you will talk to the Lord and tell Him that there can't be two captains in the same ship. There cannot be two kings in the same kingdom. Because I have asked you to rule in my life - sickness, poverty, demons, sorrow must get out and get out now, now, now, now in the Name of Jesus! Because I have asked the Lord Jesus to rule in my life - sickness, disease, poverty, failure, demons, sorrow everything that is demonic you must get out now, now! There cannot be two kings in the same kingdom. The Almighty God cannot rule and Satan rule - no way! No way! So sickness get out of my body in the mighty name of Jesus!

At the beginning of this year the Lord told us that February will be the crucial month of this year. Now I want you to pray, particularly those of you who have been fasting, - that this month will be crucial for joy, crucial for victory, crucial for blessing, crucial for progress, crucial for promotion, crucial for testimonies, crucial for miracles, crucial for signs, crucial for wonders in my life, in my family, in Nigeria, in the church of God! Come along; talk to the Almighty God now!

In the mighty Name of Jesus! Let this month be the crucial month for me - of joy, of victory; of blessings, of promotion, of holiness, of purity, of power, of anointing….Oooh yes Lord! Of a closer walk with You...a crucial month of breakthroughs Lord! Let this month be crucial…. Crucially good, crucially wonderful, crucially glorious, crucially successful, crucially powerful…crucial in anointing, crucial in progress, crucial in promotion, crucial in revelations…Lord God Almighty! …Crucial in a closer walk with You, in a closer, closer walk with the Almighty God, in a greater understanding of You Father! Let it be crucial, crucial to the glory of Your Name!……Blessed be the Name of the Lord!……. Let it be crucial for me Lord! Crucially successful, crucially powerful, crucially glorious! Ooooh! Yes Lord! Let it be crucial in a number of mighty breakthroughs - in anointing, in power, in success, in progress, in promotion!

Those of you who know how to pray in tongues you are going to help those who are yet to be born in the Holy Spirit now. You are going to join hands with somebody on your right and somebody on your left and you are going to keep on praying in tongues and let the fire fall on everyone! The rest of you you begin to praise God and let the Holy Spirit take over! ……..Oh, yes Lord! Let the fire fall O Lord on everyone now! Alleluia! Thank You Father! Thank You Lord! Glory be to Your Name! In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed! ……..Holy Spirit move me now, make my life whole again, Spirit move over me, Spirit move over me………. Thank You Jesus! Blessed be Your Name! Alleluia! Thank You Father! Thank You Lord! Thank You Jesus! Alleluia! Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Alleluia! Glory be to God! Alleluia! Thank You Lord! Amen! Thank You Father!

The Lord says the fire of the Holy Spirit is melting cancer right now! (Amen!) Every form of growth they are all melting now! "Holy Spirit move me now, make my life whole again. Spirit move over me, Spirit move over me………" Thank You Jesus! Thank You Father! Alleluia! Father Glory be to God!

The Lord says there's someone here today - at last the tide has turned for you now. (Amen!)

 The Lord says there's someone here, there's a woman here, if a stranger sees you he will say, "Safe delivery!" and yet you are not pregnant. The Lord says that which is taking the place of a baby I your womb has been removed now! (Amen!)

The Lord says there's a student here you are probably the dullest in your class. The Lord asked me to tell you, beginning from now, you will lead in the class! (Amen!)

Alleluia! Blessed be Your Name! Father we just want to glorify You. We know today is a special one and we know its going to be…. Thank You Father! Glory be to Your Holy Name!

Daddy says if you will continue to praise me like you've done today, I will make this the beginning of great things for you. (Amen!)

Oh yes Lord! We will praise You, we will adore You, we will magnify Your Name, we will bless You Lord because You are worthy! You are worthy! You are worthy! You are worthy! You are worthy! You are worthy O Lord! You are worthy my Father and my God! You are worthy King of Glory! You are worthy! Blessed be Your Name forever more! Thank You Jesus! Glory be to Your Name! In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed! ah! Let somebody shout "Alleluia!" (Alleluia!)

Well, shake hands with one or two people and say, "It's me God is talking to you know! It's me, it's me God is talking to!" God bless you! You may be seated! Are you ready for more? I didn't hear your "Yes!" We want to continue by looking at our study of the temple.

It is interesting that the temple is a sample of what is in heaven. In Exodus 25 v 8 - 9 the Bible tells us that when the first temple was to be built God told Moses, "Follow the pattern I will show you. Just follow the pattern of what I will show you." So to fully understand what goes on in a temple all we need to do is find out what they are doing up there in heaven. And it would be very amazing to you that in heaven there is almost non-stop worship! Of course, I've gone through the whole Scriptures, I think there was only one prayer request, only once when I saw people pray in heaven. When the saints, those who are the martyrs, those who had been killed for the cause of Christ, called on God and said, "Avenge us!" All the other times they were worshipping God.

And I've shared with my brethren before…. It is us who changed the title of the worship time in the church to 'service'. It used to be 'Morning Worship', 'Evening Worship' but we changed it to 'Morning Service', 'Evening Service'. Now we're going to look at seven groups of people in heaven quickly and see how they worship God or what it is they are doing over there. Now they'll be a little bit of singing along the line. Now, if you don't know the song - just hum it…. And eh, remember the Bible says you are free to make a joyful noise! I remember the first time I went to America and I didn't understand any of their choruses - as they were singing their own, I was singing my own! After all I was just making a joyful noise unto the Lord! But I am sure there are some of them you will recognize and you will be able to key in.

In Isaiah 6 v 1-3, Isaiah saw the heavens open. He saw the Lord. He saw Him high and lifted up and His train filled the temple and the angels were crying what? "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!" I'm sure you know that song…."I see the Lord, I see the Lord, He's high and lifted up and His train filled the temple, the angels cry "Holy", the angels cry "Holy", the angels cry "Holy is the Lord". It has a Yoruba version……. Somebody asked me, he said, "why is it that each time you want to start Holy Ghost Service you love to sing 'Holy, holy, holy'?" That's what they sing in heaven! I just want to be like those ones in heaven. And so the angels are always crying 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…."

And when you go to Revelations 4 v 8 you'll find there are certain beings there, the Bible calls them the Living Beings. Only four of them. There are only four of them. We would not fully understand who or what they are until we get to heaven but I'm sure we will get there in Jesus' Name! (Amen!) When they too want to worship God they sing a song similar to that of the angels….. 'Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty early in the morning our song shall rise to thee….'

And then the third group of people,  are called 'twenty-four elders'. If you want to hear their own song, whenever they want to sing, you find their song in Revelation 4 v 9-11. It is from them that we got the song…'Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory, honour and power, for Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created……' Any time they want to worship the Lord they remove their crowns and lay it at the feet of Jesus. Then they say, 'These crowns we're wearing, we do not deserve these crowns! You put the crowns on our head! You are the only One worthy to be praised!"

And then once in a while, the twenty-four elders and the four living beings will form a combined choir. And when they combine to form a choir, their song you will find in Revelation 5 v 8-10. It is from them we got the song….."Worthy, worthy, is the Lamb, Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Glory Alleluia!. Glory Alleluia! Glory Alleluia! Praise the Lord!"

And then once in a while the twenty-four elders, the four living beings and all the angels they form a combined choir and when they want to sing their own song, Because they have a special anthem for that combined choir, you will find their anthem in Revelation 7. Verses 11 - 12. It is from them we got the song….."Amen, Amen, blessings and glory, wisdom, thanksgiving and honour, power and might be unto our God forever and ever Amen………"

But then once in a while the angels will keep quiet just for some minutes. The twenty-four elders will keep quiet just for some minutes. The four living beings will keep quiet for a minute because the Church Triumphant - those who have been born again, who have die and are now in heaven - they want to sing, and those people in heaven say, "Let's listen to them." And you find their song in Revelation 7 v 9 - 10 and their own song is…."Salvation to our God who's seated on the throne and to the Lamb for ever more." If you have been paying attention to these songs you'll find that is only we human beings who talk about salvation because angels don't need salvation, the four living beings they never left heaven…. We are the people who sinned and brought Jesus all the way to come and die for us.

But the greatest of all is when all these choir combine, when we have what we call the Mass Choir of Heaven! And their song is in Revelation 5 v 13. I will read that one to you. It says, "And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that is in them, heard I say, blessing and honour and glory and power be unto him that is seated upon the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever." It is from them we got that song - "Blessings and honour and glory and praise, and glory and praise, Blessings and honour and glory and praise be unto Christ the Lord."

So you find that regularly either the angels are singing "Holy, holy, holy…" or the four living beings are saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…" or the twenty-four elders are singing, "Thou art worthy…." Or the twenty-four elders combine with the four living beings to say, "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb.." or the twenty-four elders, the living beings and the angels combine to sing, "Amen and Amen, Amen, blessings and glory….." or the Church Triumphant is singing. "Salvation to our God….." or the Mass Choir is singing, "Blessings and honour……"

There is never a time when heaven is silent. That is why those of you who don't like noise, I'm sorry, there's no room for you in heaven because heaven is a noisy place. Is there anybody going to heaven here? How about making a little bit of noise!!! I just want to invite you to worship Him with me for some minutes… just to practice for what is coming later on in heaven. After all if a good mother loves her daughter she will prepare her for her husband's house. Heaven is my husband's house. Jesus Christ is my husband and I've just told you what goes on in His house and I think we need to begin to prepare.

But in addition to that the Lord spoke to me some days ago. You remember very well in June last year God did something spectacular for Nigeria, something wonderful. And after God did it He spoke to me and He said, "Son, watch - nobody will thank me." He said, "They won't thank me - watch." I quickly told my Pastors, I said, "Well at least in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, let's thank Him." Some days ago the Lord reminded me - He said, "Didn't I tell you! That's why the problems that would have been over long ago are still there - because they did not recognize that I gave them deliverance! They are still using their brain. 'Oh, if the price of fuel will go up - the queues will disappear!" The fuel price has gone up and the queues have gone longer! Well, I said, "Lord but.. We will praise You. I know, we will praise You!"

And then suddenly He said, "Oh, that's not even where I'm going. The question I want to ask you - is this all the praise I'm going to get for Lekki '98?" Ohh! So I said, "Next Holy Ghost Service Lord, we will praise You!" Because brethren, just think for a while… the most conservative estimate said that the people who came to Lekki were in excess of 5.5 million! CNN said it was 7.2 but even forget, forget all those big numbers. Let us assume that there are only two million people. Two million people gathered together at night! No stealing! No death! Not a single accident! Now, who in his right senses will not know that this must be God! In one night more than half a million souls were saved - in one single night! In one night there were so many miracles it was impossible to take all the testimonies and not only that, the miracles continue, maybe you will hear some of them tonight.

One blind man came from the North to Lekki '98. His eyes were not opened and he was not happy when he was going. On the way, the two eyes popped open! Not only that, three people were in a car. One of them was a soldier who was discharged because of a sickness that refused to heal. They did not come to Lekki but somebody gave them the tape. As the tape was playing all three of them received miracles! So God said, "Son, we are not talking about Nigeria now, we are talking about you, you….. is this all the praise I am going to get for Lekki?" Now I have already promised God, I said, "Lord, as far as I'm concerned I will praise You until Lekki '99, and then I will continue to praise you for '98 and '99 after that one!"

So is there anybody here tonight ready to worship God with me? There is a song it says, "Emmanuel, Emmanuel, My Lord Emmanuel," Do you know it? Emmanuel, Emmanuel, My Lord Emmanuel….The King of Kings! The Lord of Lords!! Emmanuel, My Lord Emmanuel……. Sorry, the Lord is saying, "No instruments….. Thank You Daddy! ….. He just wants to hear our voice. Thank You Lord! "Be Thou exalted O Lord above the heavens, Be Thou exalted O Lord above the heavens! Let Thy glory be upon all the earth, Let Thy glory be upon all the earth…. Be Thou exalted O Lord……….Baba, baba, baba, baba, ese o baba, ese o baba, awa dupe baba………Oluwa ti se o, edumare so oro mi dayo….. Now you can put your hands together…….Oluwa ti se o, baba wa ti se……… Thank You Father! Instruments, He says you can come in now……….E wa ba mi jo…….Thank You Lord! Glory be to Your Name! Thank You Saviour! Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Daddy says, "I am listening. I am listening." All glory be to God. "Alleluia! is our heavenly language……… Alleluia! Thank You Lord!

Daddy says I should allow you to sing a song of your own so that we can combine all of it and it will become a joyful noise to Him. So you think of your own song. Sing your own and I will sing my own!……………………………..Glory be to God! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Daddy says…Amen!…..He says, "Son can you hear the sound?" He says, "So will the sound of the rain of blessing be when it begins to fall!" Daddy says, "today you are thanking me for mercy drops! Showers of blessings will follow!" (Amen!) Thank You Daddy!

Now He says there are all kinds of healings taking place right now. Daddy says, today, among you here gathered here, He's going to raise a thousand millionaires!

Thank You Father! Blessed be Your Holy Name! Thank You Lord! Blessed be Your Name! "Blessed be Your Name, Blessed be Your Name O Lord! Blessed be Your Name, Blessed be Your Name O Lord! Alleluia! Blessed be Your Name, Blessed be Your Name O Lord! Blessed be Your Name, Blessed be Your Name O Lord! Alleluia! O Blessed be Your Name, Blessed be Your Name O Lord! Blessed be Your Name, Blessed be Your Name O Lord!" Oh yes Father, we bless Your Name, we give You glory, we give You honour, we give You adoration! You are good, You are kind, You are wonderful, You are powerful, You are glorious, You are Holy, Oh! You are the Almighty! Glory be to Your Holy Name Lord! Please receive our praise, receive our worship. We will continue to worship You. We will thank You for ever. And Lord, on behalf of Nigeria, Thank You! Thank You Lord! Thank You Father! Thank You! All Your children here are saying Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You so much! Glory be to Your Name! And on behalf of Your church we are saying Thank You. Thank You for Lekki '98! Thank You Lord! Thank You! All Your children are saying Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Father! Glory be to Your Holy Name! In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed! Amen! (Amen!) Let somebody shout "Alleluia!" (Alleluia!)

Let's be seated we still have an hour to go you never can tell what He will still do. And by the way workers don't forget we will be meeting at five fifteen. We are going to show the Devil the way out of Nigeria - by the grace of God! (Amen!) But in the meantime we will just have our thanksgiving service. And I think this time round we should do it with all our hearts. We will remain seated but we believe the band will lead us and give us beautiful worship songs as we thank the Almighty God. The ushers will help us. Over to you………….

Father You are worthy to be praised. Thank You very, very much. Thank You for Your love, Thank You for Your kindness, Thank You for Your gentleness. It is Your gentleness that has made us great. Glory be to Your Holy Name Lord! (Amen!) This is the thanksgiving offering of Your children, receive it O Lord. (Amen!) Bless it. (Amen!) Sanctify it. (Amen!) Use it for Your glory. (Amen!) And Father, forever we will praise You. (Amen!) In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed! Amen! (Amen!) Let somebody shout "Alleluia!" (Alleluia!)

Let's give those children a big clap offering for some very good singing. Thank you very much. Thank you…. Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord for everything You had done! Thank You Jesus! Thank You! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord for every thing You have done! Thank You Saviour! Thank You! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord for everything You have done... …We are saying Thank You Jesus! Thank You my Lord... x 4ce Thank You! Thank You! Thank You Saviour! Thank You my Lord…….. Baba o,,,,,,

Father we bless Your Name. What a glorious night! What a powerful night! What a night of beautiful surprises Glory be to Your Holy Name Lord! (Amen!) I commit Your children to Your hands as they go. Go with them! (Amen!) Just keep on prospering them! (Amen!) Even on the way, let miracles happen! (Amen!) At home, let miracles continue! (Amen!) By the time we meet next month, let everybody have at least one big miracle or testimony or the other! (Amen!) Thank You Father! Glory be to Your Name! In Jesus' mighty Name we have prayed! (Amen!). Father, we present to You all the prayer requests of Your children. Those written and those not written. Everyone of them let them become testimonies! (Amen!) Before Monday let them become testimonies! (Amen!) So that Your Name will be glorified more! (Amen!) Thank You my Father! Glory be to Your Name for we pray In Jesus' mighty Name! (Amen!)

Now I know there's someone here tonight whose blessing is the greatest..... Now if you are the one let me hear you shout Alleluia!

ALLELUIA!