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HOPE RISING 4th of February, 2011Let’s begin to bless his holy name, give him glory, give him honor, give him adoration, bless his holy name. He is worthy to be praised, he is worthy to be adored, he is worthy to be magnified, Give him glory, praise his name; bless him, praise him, bless him. Give the Almighty God praised today, give him all glory give him all honor, give him all adoration, he is worthy to be praised, there is no one like him, he is the one in you that will give you the hope of glory. Give him glory brethren, worship him, He is worthy to be praised. Thank him for yesterday, thank him for today, thank him for tomorrow, give him all glory, give him all honour, we bless you Lord. You are worthy to be praised, you are worthy to be adored, you are worthy to be magnified, blessed be your holy name Oh Lord, glory be to your holy name. I want you to lift your voice to him and say father, please pay special attention to me tonight… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Lift your voice to him and say father, tonight turn the tide in my favor… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Lift your voice to him and say Father, throughout this year, let me walk through open doors… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Lift your voice to him and say Father, throughout this year, let me operate under wide open heavens… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Lift your voice to him and say Father, send down revival and let it begin with me; let’s talk to the Almighty God. Revive your church oh lord, let there be revival all over the world; revival of prayer, of serving you as I have to, revival of holiness, revival of purity. Send down oh Lord…. in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Now pray for your neighbors so join your hand together and say father, your child that I am holding, surprise him tonight, give him a pleasant surprise … in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. We are serving the God of miracles; I know, yes I know halleluiah! We are serving the God of wonders; I know, yes I know halleluiah! I am serving the king of glory; I know yes I know 2ce
Eternal Lord of Glory we bless your name, alpha and omega, we bow before you. The beginning and the ending we worship you. the Rock of ages, the holy one of Israel, the ancient of days, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the unchangeable changer, glory be to your holy name. Greater that the greatest, better than the best, richer than the richest, holier than the holiest, older than the oldest, wiser than the wisest. Glory be to your holy name. Accept our worship in Jesus name. Tonight, in the life of all your children gathered here, let the tide begin to turn; in our favor, let the tide begin to turn. Turn the table against the enemy, show your power tonight, show your glory tonight, show your love tonight, show your mercy tonight, save souls tonight, heal tonight, deliver tonight, let there be miracles tonight, let there be signs tonight, let there be major testimonies tonight, let there be restoration tonight, let there be joy tonight, at the end of everything, let your name be glorified, thank you Almighty God even as you send revival to us, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Let somebody shout halleluiah! 1 king 18 v 41 -45 and Elijah said unto Ahab, get thee up, eat and drink for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of the Carmel, and he cast himself upon the earth, and he put his face between his knees. And said to his servant, go up now and look towards the sea. And he went up and looked and said. There is nothing. And he said go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh times that he said, behold there arises a little cloud out of the sea like a man’s hand. And he said go up, say unto Ahab, prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stops thee not. And he came to pass, that in the mean while that the heaven was black with clouds and winds and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. When we talk about hope rising, we are talking about an incidence happening, that show that at long last, the tide is beginning to turn. That a blessing or a breakthrough or a miracle is at hand. In 1 Samuel 1 v 9 – 18 Hannah who have been going to Shiloh all this years and have been praying and praying and nothing had happened, but on a particular day, a man of God noticed her and thought that she was drunk, began to speak to her and she explained herself and the man of God said go in peace, may the Lord God of Israel grant your petition. From that moment onward, Hannah knew the tide had turned. Hope began to rise in her and the bible says she was no longer sad. She wasn’t pregnant in the church there, abut something had happened, an incident had happened, that told her clearly that the tide has started to turn. There is somebody here tonight, even as you are listening, something will happen that the tide has started to turn for you. In Mark 10 v 46- 52 Bartimeus have been sitting by the way side, begging for a long time but one day, Jesus was passing by. He began to cry, Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me, they tried to stop him…. Suddenly he heard a sound, “be of good cheer, he calleth thee”. Bartimeus eyes were not opened but he threw away his garment because something within him told him, at long last, the tide is turning, at long last the miracle you are hoping for is about to happen, at long last that garment of shame that you have been wearing forty year, you won’t have to wear it again. An incident happened that told Bartimeus, my day has come and the hope in him began to rise. I believe there is someone one here tonight, the most high God is going to pay special attention to you. In Act 3 v 1 – 8, that Lay man by the beautiful gate of the temple, have been there begging all these day, but one day came, he saw two men; Peter and John, passing by and as usual he begged for harm, but then something happened, suddenly these two men, passed him by because they had no money, but then they came and they said look on us. From the moment they say look on us, hope began to rise in him, well he thought he was going to get a big offering, but what he got was much more than he bargained for. When they say look on us and joy leapt up in his heart and hope in him began to rise, he wasn’t walking yet, he wasn’t leaping yet, but hope rose and before long, what started as a little hope became a mighty miracle. Am believing God with someone here tonight, that you are not going to see a man, you are going to see Jesus himself and very soon you will be walking, you will be leaping. Now in the text that we read, we just want to use that as a case study; there have been no rain for more than three years, but suddenly Elijah said, “I have heard the sound of abundance of rain”. When he said that, there was no cloud, no wind was blowing, everything was as before. But he said he heard something and the one who said he heard something happened to be a prophet of God, but after he said he had something, he did something very strange, he went to the top of the mountain, fell on his face and put his face between his thigh, because he didn’t want to look at circumstances, he just wanted to live by faith and he began to cry to God, somebody is going to cry to God tonight and God is going to answer you. Then he told his servant, servant, I am not going to look up, so you have to help me, go to the sea, tell me what you see there. The boy went and came back first time he said there is nothing there sir, he said go back and he continued to pray, came back second time, there is nothing there sir, the boy kept going, then the seventh time, the boy said I saw something, “a cloud, that is so small it just about the size of a man’s hand” but it was rising! Elijah said ha, glory be to God. There is somebody here today, by the time you live in the morning. Your song will be all is well. Let us look at that story very quickly, first of all the man of God heard something, Amos 3 v 7 says our God will not do anything without revealing to his servant the prophet first. In Revelation 2 v 7 says he who has ear to ear, let him ear what the spirit is saying to the church. Because the bible makes it clear that it is not everybody who has earring ear. The man of God heard something, by the grace of God at the beginning of this year I heard something. And number two, after the man of God heard something, he said what he heard, he announced what he heard, he prophesied what he heard. At a time when everything looked dried and bleak, he said he heard the sound of abundance of rain. Amos 3 v 8 says when the lion roars who will not be afraid, when God has spoken who will not prophecy. I told you at the beginning of this year, it doesn’t matter what may be happening, all will be well! How many of you heard that one? How many of you believed it? I can assure you all will be well. 2 Peter 1 v 21 says that men of God spoke as they are moved by the spirit of God and 2 Chronicle 20 v 20 says if you believe God you will be establish, if you believe his prophet you will prosper. How many of you believe all will be well? If you believe let me hear you shout another halleluiah! A man of God heard something and he spoke it out, prophecy it. I can assure you I heard from God that beginning from February year 2011 hope will begin to rise. So Elijah heard and he prophesied, but then intense prayer follows. Why must he pray? He already heard, he knew what he heard, he had been hearing from God for a long time, so why is he praying again? Why must we pray tonight? Why do we need to fast and pray this month? After all God had already said all will be well and he doesn’t lie? Many of the things he said, we are already seeing, so why don’t we just sit down and relax? Psalm 115 v 3 says our God is in the heaven, he does as he pleases, he is theAlmightyGod, he is the sovereign God, in 1 Samuel 2 v 30 he said to Eli, I said indeed that your house and your father house, shall stand before me forever, he said but now I say, I am not saying so anymore. He said I said it and he said I am not saying it anymore, he said if you don’t like arrest me let us see. Elijah knows God; that he is the Almighty, he can do and undo, he can make and unmake, he can speak and he can say am not saying so anymore, however Elijah also knows 2 Chronicle 7 v 14 says if my people that are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will heal their land, Elijah knows yes God is sovereign, if you will pray, if you will humble yourself and pray he will answer. Who is that fellow that God will answer tonight? If it is you tell him it is me. The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said your first rain is about to fall soon and many will follow. The man of God heard and then he prophesied and he began intense pray, he threw himself on the ground , he humbled him selves intense prayer, but then he did something extra, he added action to his prayer, diligent action, he told the servant, keep going, keep checking. James 2 v 14- 17 tells us that faith without works is dead. Hebrews 11 v 6 tells us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Those who diligently seek him! The tide is turning, but you needed to act, not just pray. You pray and act. You need a job, you must write application and check whether they receive your application. Find out when is the time for interview, put action to your prayer. You are a student and you say all is well, you have to study, don’t just pray, don’t just sing choruses, don’t just make positive confessions, you have to study. I have told you before, some student said but the bible says the Holy Spirit can do all things for us, so why do we need to bother study again? I said if you fail; the Holy Spirit will comfort you, he will tell you my son, don’t worry, you have failed this time because you didn’t study, but tomorrow will be alright, tomorrow you will study and then I will remind you of the things you have learnt. You want tomorrow to be alright as a student, you must study. My professor told me in 1964 he said you have to go over the same things ten times if you want to remember everything. No matter how brilliant you think you are , the first time you read you think you have assimilated all, you close the book and try to remember. You have to go over and over again. You want to reach the top? You must acquire a skill. Whatever you do you must be good at it, if you are a tailor, be a good tailor. If you are a carpenter be good at it. God is not going to prosper anybody who is lazy, anyone who is sloppy. He is looking for diligent, hardworking skilled people. A friend of mine introduce his brother to me, he said this my brother has just qualified as a tailor and he is very good, please patronize him. I gave him material to sow a trouser for me, he so mutilated what I gave him! I told all my friends; this man is not a tailor he is a barber, he knows how to reduce mountains to nothing, learn a skill be good at what you are doing, maybe that is the tide that is beginning to turn for you, that you go and learn a trade and be skilled at whatever you do. The Lord says there is somebody here tonight, he said when your adversary is celebrating; he will hear a news that will cause him to freeze. Then the seventh time, God has a timetable for everything, Ecclesiastes 3 v 1 -8 tells us that God has his time table, everything he does, he does to time. In 2king 5 v 1 -14 the man of God told Naaman, deep yourself seven times in Jordan. The first time he came up a leper, fifth time he was still a leper, sixth time he was still a leper, but thank God when he came out the seventh time, he came with brand new skin. Later tonight, we are going to pray, I am going to give you seven prayer points. By the time we get to the seventh prayer point. By the time you will be saying the seven prayers; you will get up on your feet and say Hope rising! Daddy says, that there is someone here tonight, he said the doors that the enemy shut against you, he will uproot them so that they will never be able to shut again. God has a timetable, but for somebody the time is now, because in Psalm 112 v 13 says thou will arise and have mercy on Zion, because the time to favor her has come. Then the seventh time, the young man saw a little crowd, like the fist of a man. Whenever God wants do something great, he always started small, the mustard seed is the smallest among seeds, but the mustard tree is a giant. God always begin mighty things in very, very small that is why Zachariah 4 v 10 says don’t despise the days of small beginnings. The beginning may be small, don’t let that bother, because in Job 8 v 7 the bible gives the assurance, though your beginnings might be small, your latter end shall surely be great, what is happening to you tonight might be just one little phrase that you will hear, maybe just a sentence from my preaching or maybe you’ve already caught something from the song, or maybe what the Bishop preacher spoke about, maybe you are the Mephibosheth that the king will send for, maybe you have already heard something, or maybe when you hear the prayer point and you will say that must be me . It may be a very small beginning, but by the time God finishes with you everybody will know that the Almighty God has visited you. Then he said that small cloud was rising, that is the beauty of it all. When hope is rising, there is no limit to where you can go in rising. The Lord says there is someone here tonight, he said this year; every member of your family will have at least one major testimonies. Now when we talk about rising, we have various ways something can rise; it can be pushed up, we have examples in the bible of those who rose, who were pushed up. Take Moses for example In Exodus 4 v 10 -17 God said you are going to be a deliverer, you will deliver my nation. He said God I am not going, God said okay I will show you miracles, he showed him first miracle, second miracle, he showed him third miracle. He said ‘God I am not going’, God has to pushed him up. He has to push up Joshua if you read Joshua 1 v 1 -8, three times, God had to say to Joshua, be strong and be of good courage, be strong and be of good courage, the third time God had to say it angrily, … he had to push him up. What about Gideon in Judges 6 v 11 -16 God said you are my man that I have chosen, he said no, no! It can’t be me, God had to push him up. Those of you that the Almighty God had been planning to promote, and you said no, no God leave me alone, may he push you up today in Jesus name. Another way things could rise, is to pull it up, Psalm 40 v 1 -3 he said he brought me out of the miry clay and set my feet on the rock to stay. Pulled up! In 1Samuel 16 v 11 – 13, God pulled up David, he didn’t even know what was happening, he just saw himself being anointed as king. Pulled up! I know there is someone here tonight that the Almighty God is going to pull up, if you are the one, let me hear you say amen loud and clear. The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said there have been some swellings in your armpit, painful, so suspicious, the Lord asked me to tell you, and before the sun rises they will be gone. And the Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said because of the decision t you took at the beginning of this year to serve me like never before; he said very soon miracles will become a daily occurrence in your life. The third way something could rise, is to be carried up, not pushed up, not pulled up but carried up. The bible talks about people mounting with wings as eagles Isaiah 40 v 31 and in 2 king 2 v 11 the bible said Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven, he was carried to heaven and then we see a classical example of someone that was carried high . The Lord said that there is a woman here tonight, that that which Satan planted in your womb has been uprooted. Daddy ask me to tell somebody, he said be of good courage, because that which collapse shall be rebuilt. In 1 king 1 v 11 – 40, Solomon was just playing having fun in the palace, he didn’t know what was going on but the high priest and his mother, and they had already concluded a plan. And they went n to King David and his mother said to David, ‘you promise that my son will be king after you” and David tried to remember when did I promise this woman? There is no record in the bible that David made that promise! Bathsheba said you promised. David said maybe because am getting old am forgetting things, in any case if you say I promise, but I can’t remember when. As they were discussing that the prophet came in, so what are we waiting for, let somebody bring Solomon, Solomon, daddy is calling you and he came, what is going on here? Kneel down you are now the king. Me! King! I can’t even calculate very well, how I can be king; even I know I am not bright. Whether you are bright or not you are king. That is why when God visited him what do you want he said God, jus t give me wisdom, I don’t know how they make me a king but they have made me the King, God just give me wisdom. I want to prophesy to the life of somebody here; that the position you don’t deserve the Almighty God will give it to you. And when you get there, the wisdom to cope he will release unto you. So there are three ways to rising, pull up, pulled and then carried up! But then there was something about this cloud as it was rising, it was also spreading, because the bible say very soon that small cloud, that rose like the fist of a man covered the whole sky. I prophecy to somebody here today, not only will your blessing will be great, it will spread throughout the whole world. Whatever is of God will start small, but it will keep growing, keep growing. Mark 4 v 28 it said the earth brings for the fruit of its own, first its blade, then the ear and then the full corn. Mark 4 v 28 the earth brings for fruit of itself but it does it step by step, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn I the ear. It may start small but it doesn’t remain small, the lay man started by rising, walking, then leaping and the praising God. Somebody here is here tonight, your greatest worry is you constantly have sex in the dream, God said it will never happen again. The Lord said there is someone here tonight; he said I will help you exceed your wildest dream. Genesis 26 v 12 -14 told us how God dealt with Isaac, the man wax great and then he went forward and then he grew until he became very great. that is the way God does it; he take you from nothing to great and he let that greatness spread and it will keep rising until great becomes very great and then very great becomes the envy of a nation. So the cloud rose and spread until it covers the whole sky, and then the bible says and there was a great rain, the major point here that I want you to please take not of seriously is that it is what goes up that come down. Something must go up to bring something down. Psalm 57 v 5 -7 tells us that when praise goes up blessing will get down, it says let all the people praise thee, then God our God will bless us and the whole earth will fear him. Many of you don’t know the reason why I keep on asking you to shout halleluiah! When praise goes up, blessing comes down. Number two when worship goes up; healings comes down. go through the scriptures, almost everyone who got a major healing from God, started by worshipping him, Matthew 8 v 1 -3, the Leper came to Jesus, before he asked for anything, he worshiped him. Mark 5 v 22 – 24 before Jarius asked for help, he feel down before Jesus and worship him. Those who don’t know how to worship God are robbing themselves, if you are too big to worship him, then you are too big to be healed. When worship goes up healings come down. The Lord said there is someone here tonight; you came here expecting something great, the Lord asked me to assure you, you will not be disappointed. Daddy says there is a woman here, a pregnant woman he asked me to tell you, stop worrying; your day of delivery will be easy. Number three, when prayers go up; deliverance comes down Act 12 v 5 -11 people prayed and deliverance came for Peter. Matthew 15 v 21 – 28 a woman prayed and deliverance came for her daughter. When prayers go up; deliverance will come down! When an uncommon offering goes up, divine visitation will come down 2 chronicles 1 v 6 -15 Solomon sent up an uncommon sacrifice and God himself came down. Misers don’t know what they are missing, they missed divine visitation. Malachi 3 v 10 -11 when all tithes go up; open heavens comes down. When tithe goes up open heaven come down Number six, when first fruit increase goes up, unlimited returns come down. According to Proverb 3 v 8-9 honour God with your first fruit, he will send down an unlimited return. Number seven, when first fruit sacrifice goes up, not increase but the whole first fruit goes as a sacrifice; irreversible blessing blessings come down. The Lord says there is someone here tonight; he said my gifts within you will begin to operate more powerful in you more than ever before. The Lord said there is someone here tonight, he said what I have in store for you, is far greater than human understanding. Genesis 22 v 1 – 18 when Abraham sacrifice Isaac, he didn’t kill him but he was willing to, he was willing to surrender Isaac completely to God, God swore, he said by myself have I swore, whatever happens not the future, he said in blessing i will bless you, in multiplying in will multiply you. When first fruit sacrifice fruit goes up, irreversible blessing come down. Number eight, Isaiah 1 v 19 tells us that when obedience goes up; the good of the land comes down, if you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land. Number nine, when you begin to seek the Lord, when the Lord see that your heart is determined to seek him abundance comes down. Psalm 34 v 10 the young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall never lack good things. Number ten Matthew 6 v 25 – 33 when you are seeking God’s kingdom, all needs will be met, he said seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Let me conclude so that we can have time to pray, Mathew 4 v 17 tells us when repentance goes up; the kingdom of God comes down, he said repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, you can have all the benefit that the kingdom of God can give; salvation, healing, joy, victory, all kinds of blessing that are embedded in the kingdom of God, it can be yours provided you repent first. Repentance must go up before the kingdom of God can come down. Jesus said to Nicodemus you must be born again if you are to see the kingdom of God, if you are not born again you cannot partake of that kingdom. That is why I want to encourage those who are here tonight who have not given your life to Jesus, you better do so, do so because time is running out, Jesus will soon return, he will soon return to established his kingdom on earth, all the signs that we are seeing are all telling us that the end is near; wars, rumors of war, floods, earth quake, fire destroying things, all kinds of things that are happening. Telling us that the end is near and you can only be part of that kingdom if you are born again. You have an opportunity to night to come and surrender your lives to Jesus; I am willing to pay for your salvation. I am willing to ask the Almighty God to forgive you all your sin that might even be the turning point for you that will cause your hope to begin to rise. If you have not given your life to Jesus come now. As you come begin to pray, ask God to be merciful unto you, ask him to save your soul, ask him to be cleanse you in his blood, promise him that from now on you will receive him as your Lord and savior for the rest of your life... in Jesus mighty name we have prayed Eternal rock of ages we want to thank you for your word, We thank you for these children who have come forward tonight; you promise oh! Lord that whosoever will come unto you, you will not cast out. They have come to you now please release them in Jesus name. Be merciful unto them in Jesus, let your blood wipe away their sin in Jesus name, save their souls tonight and write their names in the book of life. Father, I pray that beginning from now, anytime they call on you, father answer them in Jesus name, thank you father, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Now is time for prayer, Elijah was the one who heard and he was the one who pray the violent of the prayer 1. Praise God for the previous answer he has given to your prayer 2. Father if there is any sin at all that can hinder my prayers tonight, father, please forgive; I will not annoy you again. 3. Father, remember your promises to me, fulfill them speedily 4. Father, don’t let the enemy triumph over me. That enemy it may be sickness, poverty or demon, don’t let the enemy triumph over me. 5. Father, let my victory be total don’t let the enemy share your glory. 6. Father, let my rain begin to fall now 7. Father, bless me and make me a blessing to my nation, promote me and help me to promote others, help me and make me a help to others 8. You can add your own prayer point. Go ahead and talk to God for the next one hour… in Jesus mighty name we have prayed, we thank you for all the prayers you have answered in the past, accept our thanks in Jesus name. Father, we bless your name, we thank you for the prayers you have answered in the past. We know you are the unchangeable Lord, if you have answered in the past, we know you will answer again, accept our thanks in Jesus name. Father, if there be any sin whatsoever in the life of your children that could stand between us and the miracles we need, please forgive in Jesus name. That blood that cleanses from all sins let it cover all our sins in Jesus name. Concerning all of us who are here today, all your promises fulfill them in Jesus name. Fulfill them speedily in Jesus name. Every one of you here today, in that name that is above every other name, the enemy will not triumph over you. No matter how hard they tried, the enemy will not overcome you. In the wonderful name of Jesus, your victory shall be total; your victory shall be complete. The glory of God in your life shall be full. Beginning from now, your rain shall begin to fall; In your home there will be showers of blessings, your places of work, there will be showers of blessings, in your churches, there will be showers of blessing. The name of Almighty God will bless you and you will become a blessing, he will use you to bless your nation. The Almighty God himself will promote you, he will lift you up, he will carry you up, everything holding you down, he will destroy. And he will use you to promote others. The Almighty God will send help you; he will help you in the morning, he will help me in the afternoon, he will help you in the evening, he will help you in the night time. From sources known and unknown, he will send help to you, and he will use you to help others. All your private requests; he will change them to testimonies, beginning from now your hope will keep rising, you will become great, you will move forward, you will grow, you will become very great, you will become then envy of your nation, position you don’t even deserve, God will take you there. this will be the beginning of your joy and you will never know sorrow again and you too will serve the Lord, more than ever before you will serve the Lord. So shall it be in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Let somebody shout halleluiah!
Pastor E. A. Adeboye
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