67TH RCCG ANNUAL CONVENTION (WELCOME SERVICE)
67TH RCCG ANNUAL CONVENTION (WELCOME SERVICE)
THEME: “AND GOD SAID”
MINISTERING: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
PLENARY SESSION 1 TOPIC: HEARKEN DILIGENTLY
DATE: 6TH AUGUST, 2019
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-7
- Let’s lift our hands to the Most High God and Bless His Holy Name. Give Him Glory, Give Him Honour, give Him Adoration. Bless Him for what He has done for you thus far. Give Him all Glory and Honour for what He is yet to do for you.
Praise Him, Praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Bless the Ancient of Days. He is Worthy to be Praised! Magnify His Holy Name, there is no one like Him. He is the Light of the world. And when He says “Let there be Light”; there must be Light! Praise Him, He is Worthy to be Praised, He is Worthy to be Magnified! Praise Him, Give Him all Glory, give Him all Honour. Praise Him in advanced for what He is about to do this week in your life! Bless Him; He is Worthy to be Praised, He is Worthy to be Adored. Magnify His Holy Name.
Thank You Father, Hallelujah! In Jesus Mighty Name we Worshiped – Amen!
- Lift your voice loud and clear and say Father; open my EARS, let me HEAR from YOU during this Convention. Go ahead talk to Almighty God.
Thank You Father, in Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
- Now I want you to join your hands together (at this moment I want you to pray for your neighbour) and say Father: During this Convention, please SPEAK to my neighbour. Open your mouth and talk to the Almighty God.
Thank You Father, in Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
SONG
Worthy, Worthy
Is the Lamb,
Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb,
Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb,
That Was Slain (Glory)
Glory, Hallelujah,
Glory, Hallelujah,
Glory, Hallelujah,
Praise The Lord!
OPENING PRAYER
Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending – The One Who Was, the One Who is, the One Who is to come; The Almighty! Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Our Maker, our Savior, our Provider, our Healer, our Defender, our Hope of Glory, our Joy, our All in All – Glory be to Your Holy Name! Please, accept our Worship in Jesus Name.
Thank You for the Past Conventions, Thank You for what You are about to do Today, Thank You for what you will do during this Convention; please, accept our worship in Jesus Name.
Father, during this Convention, please open our EARS, let us HEAR from YOU. And Speak into our lives, Speak into situations and just let all be well.
Once again we Thank You for all those who have already come – Thank You for journey mercies. Thank You for those are already on the way – Thank You because You will bring them safely too. Please accept our Worship in Jesus Name.
Thank You Almighty God; In Jesus Mighty Name we have prayed – Amen!
Let someone shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
Shake hands with three (3) or four (4) or five (5) people and say: Welcome! God bless you in Jesus Name.
And then you may please be seated, with a shout of Hallelujah to the Almighty God!
One of my children has a saying: The one who gets the biggest Miracle is the one whose Hallelujah is the loudest – Amen!
BIRTH REPORT:
Well, to start us off, in this Convention – as at 6pm (this evening); the number of babies already born is twenty three (23). That’s interesting because we started off with seven (7) boys. And now the total number is eleven (11) boys and twelve (12) girls.
Well, let the boys shout “Praise the Lord!”. And let the girls shout Hallelujah!
And we already have a set of twins among them. Glory be to God!
SANITATION REPORT:
We will not be taking the Sanitation Report today. Because you have just come. So we expect that before tomorrow, you would have tidied up all your surroundings. But as from tomorrow, we would begin to announce those who are cleanest and those who are dirtiest.
So please, take the Sanitation of your Hostel (of your surroundings) very, very seriously. Because God is in His Camp – and He doesn’t want to see any dirty thing among us.
… Do I hear Amen to that? – Amen!!!
I want say “Welcome” to all of you!
I will be introducing our Speaker tomorrow – when all of them would already be in.
But this is a very, very Special Convention and the Theme says: “GOD SAID!”
… And God is going to speak to someone among us.
Whoever that fellow is, let me hear your Amen (Loud and Clear) – AMEN!
But tonight; am going to speak to you for just a very brief period. Because I know many of you have travelled a very long distance; and you need to go and settle down.
From tomorrow, we would be able to spread our wings a little more.
BIBLE TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 28: 1-7
… As we consider the Topic: “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY “
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
… If that is for you, let Him hear your Amen – AMEN!
“HEARKEN DILIGENTLY”:
The word ‘HEARKEN’ is different from the work “listen”.
To hearken means to LISTEN as if your life depends on it.
It means to Listen with rapt attention with FULL concentration – paying attention to every words, every details – knowing fully well that if you don’t; you will suffer for it!
HEARKEN! is not ordinary listening. It is listening intently, listening as if your life depends on it.
Way back some forty three (43) years ago, I was traveling outside Nigeria (for the first time). I have never been inside an Aeroplane before. I was been sent by the University of Lagos to go and deliver a Message in Sierra Leone. I was afraid (because I have never gone out before).
And somebody came and then gave me Instructions – When you get to the Airport (I have never been to the Airport before); look for this Sign (of Nigeria Airways), give them your Ticket, they will give you something called a Boarding Pass. Do this, do that.
When you get to Sierra Leone, you will go and take a Ferry. You will pass through Customs, pass through Immigrations.
… Those words: Customs, Immigrations – they were just English words to me.
Then when you pass through that, then you will do this, you will do that! – I HEARKENED (I didn’t just listened). I paid attention to every words, every statement.
As a matter of fact when the one counselling me finished; I said: “If you don’t mind, can you repeat what you have just said?”
Tell your neighbour: This week, you must HEARKEN DILIGENTLY – not casually.
You are to Hearken Diligently with all your strength, with all your ability. You did not come this far to play!
Many of you have travelled Miles, Kilometers. Some of you came by Air, some of you came by Land, some of you came my Water, some of you came by Rail – You are not here to PLAY!
If you see a neighbour who is joking, wasting time; ignore him or her. Tell him or her: I have come to “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY”.
Because I will tell you the Truth as your friend and Daddy – If your life does not change by the end of this week drastically then there is very little hope for you. It is that serous!
This is not another Convention; this is a “VERY SPECIAL CONVENTION”.
When God gave us the Theme for this Convention (last year); I was Dazed!
What kind of Theme is this?
I saw something HANGING – “AND GOD SAID”.
… Said What?
If the Theme has been something like – “Let there be Light”. We would understand! If the Theme has been something like – “Behold He Comes”, we would understand!
But the Theme: “AND GOD SAID?”
… That puts me on my toes.
And if you has been here during the Minister’s Conference that preceded this Convention, you would have realised – This is a Convention like no other!
Please help me tell your neighbour: “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY!”
Now, if you “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY” to God this week; “WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN?”
- You will be BLESSED.
Because in Deuteronomy 38:1-2; it says:
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.”
When you read Genesis 26:1-14; you would discovered that Isaac didn’t become so blessed simply because he sowed – but because he HEARKENED to God; who told him “DON’T go to Egypt, stay in Gerar”.
… He HEARKENED!
When you read 2 Kings 4:1-7; the Bible tells us the story of a widow (who was heavily in debt) and the creditors were coming to sell her sons. When she cried to the Man of God for help – Thank God she HEARKENED!
Because the Man of God began to talk to her in details: Go home, borrow empty vessels from your neighbours (borrow not a few), shut the door on you and your children. Begin to pour out the oil. Set aside that which is full.
… Step by step; by step!
If she has gone home, borrowed empty vessels. And instead of shutting the door on herself and her sons; began to pour out the oil – the oil would not have flowed.
… HEARKEN DILIGENTLY! Pay attention to every words.
I can guarantee you, if you will “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY”; even before tomorrow morning; you will already be singing a New Song.
I have told you before, the story of one great Man of God; we were in a Meeting like this; it was Offering Time! And God spoke to him; I want you to give a Thousand Naira (N1,000) – that was in the days when a thousand (N1,000) was big.
… Those days will come back in Jesus Name – Amen.
And he said, NO! I can’t give a thousand Naira (N1,000). Five hundred Naira (N500) is all I can give. God didn’t force him. He gave Five hundred Naira (N500).
Some couple of days later a lady came and brought him an offering of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000). He was glad – oh Thank God my Harvest have come speedily.
But as the lady got to the door, she turned and said: Sir, I want to apologise. Actually, I wanted to bring you one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) but something occurred, and I had to spend fifty thousand naira (N50,000).
And God reminded the Man of God: I asked you to give a thousand naira (N1,000); you gave five hundred naira (N500).
… What you gave I multiplied by hundred (100) and gave it back to you.
Tell your neighbour: HEARKEN DILIGENTLY!
- You will be HEALED.
I have no doubt at all that Healings that will occur during this Convention would be more than anybody can count.
WHY? – Because Psalms 107:20 says: “He sent his word, and HEALED them…”
If by the time God is sending His Words to heal you; you got distracted – the Words will still come, but it will miss the target.
When you read Mark 10:46-52; you would understand that Bartimeus got his Miracle because he had heard that Jesus was passing by. He had never attended any Jesus Christ’s Meetings before. But he heard heard about His ability to Heal the sick; about His ability to Perform Miracles – He has heard!
So when his day came and he heard that Jesus Christ was passing by, he grabbed his opportunity.
For someone listening to me (or reading), even by tomorrow evening – you will be sharing your Testimonies.
When you read Matthew 8:5-13; the Centurion came to Jesus Christ and said: Help me, my servant is in trouble; I need Healing for my servant.
Jesus Christ said: I will come and heal him. He said No sir – You don’t need to come, Speak a Word – just one Word and my servant shall be made whole.
I stand here today as a Representative of the Most High God – and am Speaking a Word to someone: You shall be HEALED this week – Amen!
- If you “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY”; not only will you be healed: You will REMAIN HEALTHY.
Exodus 15:26 says: “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”
It is possible never to know sickness again. And I know there are at least two (2) people here tonight (myself and somebody else) who will never know sickness again – Amen!
Because we will “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY” to the the Lord.
- If you HEARKEN DILIGENTLY to the Voice of the Lord thy God; You will be VICTORIOUS.
He said it in the Text that we read – Deuteronomy 28:7, it says: “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.”
You are not the one who will do the smiting; He said leave it to me – I will deal with your enemies.
He said that when they come against you one (1) way, they will flee how many ways? – SEVEN (7) WAYS!
Some people have said Sir, why don’t you reply all your enemies?
There is no need!
All I need to do is to “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY” to the Voice of the Lord my God.
I decree to someone here tonight (or reading); as you begin to HEARKEN to the Almighty God as from today – You will have VICTORY without a fight.
Don’t just listen, HEARKEN, then not only will you be Victorious; You will REMAIN VICTORIOUS.
Because Psalms 91:1-10 tells you what will happen if you will just Abide – you dwell with the Most High! “You abide under the Shadow of the Almighty; He said it doesn’t matter what evil may be happening to your right, to your left; it won’t come near you”.
… That’s God who said so!
“HEARKEN DILIGENTLY”, you will be Victorious and you will remain Victorious.
- HEARKEN DILIGENTLY, and you will PROSPER.
The same Deuteronomy 28, by the time you read verse 11-12; the Bible says: “God will bless you SO MUCH, you will be Lending to Nations’.
It is God who said so!
It doesn’t matter what some people may tell you. Some people would tell you that if you are a Christian you are supposed to die poor.
… Tell the devil – “You are a liar”.
My God SAID: “If you “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY”, you will lend to Nations and you will not borrow”.
… That’s is what HE SAID!
I want you to help me tell your neighbour: I don’t know about you, but I refuse to die poor!
You can’t do the Work of God without money.
You cannot organize this kind of Program without money.
And those people who are trying to convince you not to do anything that is going to bring Divine Prosperity to you – they are not your friends!
Say is one more time – I refuse to die poor!
He says, if you will “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY” to His Words; He will Prosper you so much, so that you will be Lending to Nations.
We cannot take the Gospel to all the nooks and crannies of the world without money!
… And the money is going to come into your pockets first!
I didn’t hear you – AMEN!
That is why He said: Give and you shall be given; sow bountifully and you will reap bountifully.
… Principles are of God – He is the One who said so!
- HEARKENS DILIGENTLY and you will be PROMOTED.
I’m not the one saying so. He is the One who said so in the same Deuteronomy 28:13.
After He said, “Hearken Diligently” (in verse 1); He said in verse 13: “You will be Head and not the Tail; you shall be ABOVE ONLY and you will never be beneath.
And what is the meaning of that?
He is saying if you hearken diligently to the Voice of the Lord your God, not only will you be Promoted; You will REMAIN PROMOTED.
Why? – Because Promotion comes from God. He’s the One who Promotes!
Let me conclude (because I don’t want to take too much of your time tonight).
Whether the enemy likes it or not; in the Name of the One who sent me – you will reach the TOP!
HEARKEN DILIGENTLY and surrender to Jesus Willingly and Completely!
It doesn’t matter what any Philosopher may say; Romans 6:23 is CLEAR: “For the wages of sin is death.”
It is God Who said so in His Words.
But He also says in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Come to Him, come to Him Willingly. Surrender to Him and say bye bye to a a life of sin.
And the Bible says: The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son, will wipe away all your sins.
… That’s what God SAID!
And if you don’t surrender to Him willingly – believe it or not, one day you are still going to bow to Him and say Jesus Christ You are Lord.
WHY? It is written: at the Name of Jesus every knew must bow!
And instead of doing it by forced, why don’t you do it willingly?
I will tell only one story and then you go and pray!
Some of you have heard the story before – I had an in-law (he has gone to be with the Lord now).
He was a very big man, very, very successful. And anytime I had an opportunity of meeting him, I would Witness to him. He was a very nice man!
You are very nice, give your life to Jesus so that He would forgive all your sins and you would not only enjoy this world; you would enjoy Heaven.
One day, my wife and I went to visit him at home. And as usual, I began to witness to him. Then said: in-law! I said Sir. He said follow me – Yes Sir!
… Because in our culture, we have very high respect for our in-laws.
Then he began to take me through his house – through his mansion: In one room, there are Freezers! Open one (1) Freezer Goats (roasted whole); another freezer Turkey (roasted whole) another freezer, something else (roasted whole). He took me round the Mansion!
By the time we returned, he said to me: In-law, I said Sir. You say you have Jesus Christ? I said Yes Sir! Do you have all these things? I said No Sir. He said: Stop talking to me about Jesus Christ – go and talk to the poor! They need Him, I don’t! – I said, Yes Sir.
But six (6) months later (at that time I was still a worker at the University of Lagos); I returned from the Campus and I saw somebody sitting in my Living Room, and the fellow looked like my in-law (looked like him). I had to look closely to be sure it was him.
Because all the rosy cheeks were gone! He had emaciated.
Ah, in-law, what is the problem?
And he told me the story – the Accountant in the Office where he is the Managing Director colluded with the Internal Auditor and with the Typist; they brought a cheque for him to sign. And he signed.
After he signed, they added one (1) zero at a critical point. And moved millions of Naira out of the Company (at a time when the Naira was stronger than the Dollar). And then they disappeared from the Company.
And now, when the fraud was dictated, they said this is your signature sir.
He said Yes Sir. Where is the Money? And he was facing a long jail term. He was facing loosing everything he ever had.
… That was when he came to me.
OK In-law, what do you want me to do?
He said: I want you to pray!
I said, in whose Name?
He said, in the Name of Jesus, of course!
But you don’t need him! Oh, he said – that was then! This is now!
I didn’t have to preach long; he gave his life to Jesus Christ. And then I said come and eat, he said: I don’t eat pepper.
What of all the food in the house? He said he can only eat when there is no trouble.
ALTAR CALL
Surrender to Jesus tonight (while reading now) don’t wait till tomorrow – Tomorrow might be too late!
So am going to count from one (1) to twelve (12) – because I know the Auditorium is already full. Before I say twelve (12) make sure you are standing before me.
So you must run to come and surrender your life to him.
If you don’t surrender Willingly, you must surrender by Force! At the Name of Jesus Christ, every knees would bow! Whether you do it Willingly or you don’t do it Willingly. But if you come now – He will save your soul, He will have Mercy on you and His Blood will wipe away your sins and your life will begin afresh.
So am counting now…
Thank you those of you who are clapping – your hands will never be empty!
Now those of you who are still on the way just keep coming; make sure you get here before I finish praying. You are not late yet, keep coming.
But those of you already in front, lift your voices to the Almighty God in your own language, just tell Him: I have come to surrender my life to you now! Please, save my soul, forgive all my sins, let your Blood wash myle clean and give me a Brand New Beginning oh Lord – Give me a BRAND NEW BEGINNING! And I will do your Will from now on.
And the rest of us please, let us stretch our hands to our New brothers and sisters and intercede for them. That the One who saved our souls, would save their own souls also.. Pray God will give them Genuine Salvation tonight. God will give them a Brand New Beginning. Let us pray for them, let us intercede for them.
And those of you still on the way; just hurry up now. Because very soon I will be praying for Salvation. And Prayerful come. Ask the Almighty God to be Merciful unto you. Ask Him save your soul, ask Him to forgive all your sins. Wash you Clean with His Powerful Blood. Ask Him to become your Lord and Saviour. Promise Him that you would serve Him – you would Serve Him!
Thank You Father, in Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
PRAYER FOR SALVATION:
Almighty and Most Merciful Father, I just want to Thank You for Your Words. And I want to Thank You for all these Your Children that have come forward tonight to surrender their lives to You. Please remember Your Promise that whosoever will come unto You; You will in no wise cast out. They have come to You now Father – Please receive them in Jesus’ Name.
Let Your Blood wash away their sins. Save their souls Lord and write their names in the “Book of Life”. Receive them into the Family of God. Father I pray that from now on, anytime they call on You, You would answer them by Fire in Jesus’ Name.
And I pray that they will serve You till the end of their lives!
Thank You Almighty God; in Jesus Mighty Name we have prayed – Amen!
Now those of you in front, I really want to rejoice with you. Let me hear you shout a really really big Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
By the Grace of God, from now on I will be Praying for you. So am going to need your Names, Address and your Prayer Requests.
So you are going to stay where you are – the Counsellors will handover to you a card – which I want you to fill as quickly as possible. And then pass it back to the Counsellors. If you can’t fill the card yourself, ask one of the Counsellors to help you (and they will do so).
But you will stay where you are , while they are attending to you. And you can join us in the prayers that we are about to pray.
The rest of us – How many of you believe that God is going to hear you tonight?
Alright, if you believe that, stand on your feet and shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
Now lift your voices to Him loud and clear, say Father: I will “HEARKEN DILIGENTLY” to Your Voice. Every blessing that You have Promised me – release my own to me. Open your mouth and talk to the Almighty God.
Thank you so much for staying all through to read.
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