MINISTERING: PASTOR EZEKIEL A. ODEYEMI (ASSISTANT GENERAL OVERSEER – EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THE PASTOR IN CHARGE OF REGION 10, ABUJA)
THEME: “HIS POWER AND GLORY”
DATE: 2ND OCTOBER, 2019
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-25
Our God is the Only One who has all POWERS, the Only One you have come to meet during the Youth Convention this year!
If you truly believe He was already waiting for you before you came here, rise up on your feet and shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
I like us to wave our hands to the God of the whole Universe; the Lover of our souls, the Keeper of our lives. Just wave your hands to Him and Bless His Holy Name.
The One who has preserved you till this moment; the One who sent you to this world for a Purpose. The One who has ensured that His Purposes shall be fulfilled in your life. Let Him hear your voice today, Exalt Him, Worship Him and Honour Him!
Because this is your DAY! At last, that day you have been waiting for is here. Something new is about to happen to you. The God of Heaven and Earth Himself, is about to BREAK THROUGH for you!
You are about to leave this place in Newness of life. You are about to touch the Heaven, and the Heaven is about to touch you. Just make sure you begin to worship Him. Bless Him (3ce)! Bless Him for such a great opportunity to listen to the Word of LIFE; to be IMPARTED by Him again!
LORD, we Honour You, Lord we Worship You! We appreciate You Lord. King of Glory, Lover of our soul; Same yesterday, today and forever! We Appreciate You (2ce). Thank You (3ce). We Worship You Lord. Be Thou Exalted for ever!
SONG:
Oh Lord My God
How Excellent is Your Name
In all the Earth
How Excellent is Your Name.
Thank You Father! blessed be Your Name Oh Lord, we Appreciate You and Honour You.
WORD OF KNOWLEDGE:
The Lord opened my eyes and I saw somebody; I saw Ferocious DOGS surrounding you. They edged you in. You could not move, you could not make progress; they tied you down!
And the Lord told me: these DOGS, are representing various Covenants that you have entered into (in the PAST). And these COVENANTS, are now working again your Destiny.
But the Lord asked me to tell you – ALL these DOGS, He has separated from your life tonight – Amen!
OPENING PRAYER
Glorious Father, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Lover of our soul, Ancient of days, the Wonderful, the Counselor, the One that sits upon the Highest Throne of the whole Universe; the One who speaks and it is done!
Thank You for this Year’s Convention of Your YOUTHS. Thank You for what You have done thus far. Thank You for our father in the Lord and our mother in the Lord. Thank You for all the Facilitators – who have Ministered to our lives. Thank You Lord for all our Officers – who have been managing our Affairs. Father accept our Thanks and Praises in the Name of Jesus!
We have every reasons to appreciate You: Last Year we were here, You fed us with the Word of Life -You ministered to our souls; You kept us alive to see yet another Year; between last Year and this Year, several Youths have had all kind of experiences in this Country and many of them are not on the Land of the living.
But Lord, we are here! We are on our feet – no one carried us here. We appreciate You Lord for this! We Bless Your Name! Body, Soul and Spirit You have kept us. Father, accept and Thanks and Praises in the Name of JESUS!
My Father, there is no doubt about it, that You are about to begin a New Set of Breakthroughs in our lives; from the Theme of this Youth Convention, we know without any doubt: as YOUR POWER AND YOUR GLORY will break forth in our lives – we shall Breakforth in Power and Glory in the Name of JESUS!
Tonight, Daddy Minister to us again: You are the Only One who has the word of Life – Let Your Words reach us in the Name of JESU’S!
It doesn’t matter how far away we may be. It doesn’t matter what has happened before now, in our lives. In a way no one can understand; let this Words bring Restoration and a New Beginning for all of us, in the Name of JESUS!
And at the end of everything: let Your Name and Your Name alone be Glorified.
Thank You Father! In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
… And everybody will SAY…. – AMEN!
Let the living shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
I will like you to shake hands with at least ten (10) people and tell then: You are welcome, I can see the Glory of God upon your life. This will be the best day in your life. You are welcome to the FIRST DAY of your Glorious Future: You are welcome! Welcome to a New Beginning.
Thank You Jesus! Blessed be Your Name oh Lord – Hallelujah!
… And then you can have your seat.
Amen and AMEN!
I heard a Man of God saying some Years ago; he said he is an “Itinerant Preacher” -a Travelling Preacher. But he cannot Minister to a “Travelling Audience”.
And so in the same way, I believe when you settle down – when you sit down with your Bible and your Notebook in your hand (not walking to and fro); you will be able to capture some things the Lord wants to deposit into your life.
I will like to recommend to you: this is not the time to walk to and fro! This is the time to concentrate (to focus)! Because if He sends His Words and you don’t capture it; the Words will not be able to benefit you.
And you have not come to this particular place, just to be part of the number. I have Good News for you – the Living God Himself is the One who led you here! And He led you here because He is about yo begin something New in your life.
I like you to tell your neighbour (on my behalf): God is about to begin something New in your life.
I want to use this opportunity to Thank God on behalf of our father in the Lord, and our mother in the Lord: for their passion for the Youths. And for all they are investing into the lives of the Future Generation!
I salute their courage, their doggedness to ensure that the next Generation is not left behind. And that the Fire that has been burning – the Revival Fire over this Church (for all these decades) will not be put off in the coming Generation.
I am trusting God that in your Generation, the Fire will burn brighter, in the Name of Jesus!
I also want to Thank God for our beloved AGO in Charge of Youth Affairs and his precious wife; for the privilege that they are giving to us to stand here as a Guest Speaker tonight!
I want to Thank God for the Grace of God upon his life; and the Grace the Lord has given to him to oversee the Youths of this Mission all over the world.
… That Grace will be on the increase, in the Name of Jesus!
“LEADING SELF TO LEAD OTHERS”!
You must not forget that the Theme for the Youth Convention for this Year, 2019 is “HIS POWER AND GLORY “.
And I know without any doubt; through this particular Convention, God is about to deposit fresh Anointing, (fresh Power) upon you, which will break through in unprecedented Glory.
If that will be your experience, let me hear your real Amen – Amen!
For this to happen, because you are not just ordinary Youths, you are Leaders among your people; you are Delegates from various Parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; from various Chapters of our Campus Fellowships – from all over the world, from all over the place.
You are the one that God is sending forth to go back to the various Parishes and Chapters: to begin something new. To carry Fire to them. To carry the Power that you are going to receive on this particular Camp Ground, to various Parishes.
That is the reason why God wants to impart your life in a very Special ways. Such that by the time you return home, everyone will know ‘you are a Solution Carrier”.
And that is the reason why I want you to approach this particular Convention with Purpose. I want you to approach it in such a way that even God will know “Oh, this My daughter, this My son, for the first time has decided to be serious”.
At your your age, may I inform you; you have no reason to be unserious! Others may say, you are young. But you know it yourself, that every day, you are getting older!
That is why every time you are celebrating your Birthday, even if it is 18, even if it is 30, even if it is 40. Any time you are celebrating your Birthday, nobody ask you “How YOUNG are you?”
What do they say? – How OLD are you?
So it doesn’t matter whatever age you are at this point in time; you are OLD enough to be serious!
If you have never been serious in your life, and all that you have been doing is to while away time. It has become necessary – expedient for you to know: whatever time you have wasted in the Past, God can forgive you.
But He cannot forgive you if you begin to waste time anymore; He will hold you responsible!
Thank God for the prayers the AGO (Admin) Prayed for us (just as I was coming in). And I believe, God has decided to give, several of us here New Beginnings today!
May you have, and may you utilize that New Beginning, in the Name of Jesus – Amen!
“LEADING SELF TO LEAD OTHERS”.
This is a Topic of a lifetime! If there is one Topic you must pay attention to, concerning your future: This is the Topic!
There is no limit to what you can become (in the scheme of things) as far as God is concerned. But the only Limiting Factor is the Topic of tonight!
If you cannot LEAD yourself; it doesn’t matter what God plans – YOU WILL FRUSTRATE IT.
I know, there are several of us who have thought, that witches and wizards are the ones who are troubling my life. There are several of us who had thought – Oh! Our Aggressors are eternal.
There are several of us who have thought: Oh! I don’t know what is happening in my life; confusion all over the place.
Only few has ever come to the realization that the greatest enemy we might have, is the one that is seated within you – YOU!
The greatest Adversary you might need to contend with, is YOU!
And so, when I saw this Topic, I Glorified God on your behalf; because now, you will BREAK THROUGH.
I CORINTHIANS 9:24- 25;
- Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
- And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Apostle Paul, at a certain period in his life had to put some things down for us – He saw the Athletes: he saw the way they prepared to win gold, to win silver, to win bronze. He saw what they were going through!
A race that will take only about 10 seconds, 12 seconds, 15 seconds, few minutes! They take a whole year to prepare for it.
And Paul suddenly realised, this is the secret to my future; this is the Secret that I have been waiting for! These people deny themselves several things in other to ensure that their Future will be made manifest; so that they will not be failures.
… And so, he highlights that particular reason for us!
He said “they run several people, only one is going to win the prize” – just like that! Twenty (20) people are competing; they know only one (1) will win the Prize.
But they all prepare to be the one – they are temperate in all things! They control themselves, they denied themselves: because of ordinary Present, ordinary Award that will pass away!
He compares them to ourselves: who are running the Race of Life – who are running our Race to Heaven. And he said, even though they are running; they are running for what will pass away. But we, we are running for what will not pass away.
And if they could do all that, in order that they should be their best; how much more should we!
My Brother, my Sister: get ready for your Future, because God is about to launch you out, to achieve what He has always had in mind for you.
It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed before now; I am so confident that with this particular Convention: you will never fail again!
“LEADING SELF” is term for self MASTERY SELF (2ce); it’s another term for SELF LEADERSHIP – for Personal Leadership!
There have been several Theories that have been propounded to facilitate the study of Leadership. But few of these Theories, have ever focused in SELF LEADERSHIP.
Many times what you would hear is: How you will at the Top; How you will be at the Front and others will follow you.
Many times, when you think of Leadership, you never thought about the No. 1 person to Lead – which is YOURSELF! You never thought about that. You think about: the people in your Group, the people in your Units, the people around you, who must take instructions from you!
… But here you are, you are – you don’t take Instructions from anybody – not even from God!
No wonder you have had failures, over and over again! You don’t know what is happening! What is happening is: YOU LACK SELF LEADERSHIP.
It is possible that as you are seated here today; your mind has been wondering, Oh Boy – what is wrong with you? Maybe you have had to say that once in a while. Maybe you have even asked people!
My friend, what is wrong with you is: you lack SELF LEADERSHIP.
I want you to turn to your neighbour and tell him or her: Is it possible you lack Self Leadership? Please ask very well!
I need to tell you, the truth is: “it is much easier to lead others than to LEAD one’s self” – Much Easier!
The truth is, it takes Years of been exposed to Leadership Modems and Leadership Practices; before you can begin to lead others.
Just observing people Leading, doing one thing or the other in Organizations, you also can be able to pick up one (1) or two (2) things; or some skills here and there – and you begin to Lead!
But, may I tell you today; it takes the whole of a lifetime, before you can Lead Yourself.
Truth is (and this is very important); “No one has any right to Lead others, or to even venture to be called a Leader – who has not learnt to Lead himself or herself”. No one! Not you!
Truth is: if you cannot Lead Yourself, others will never take you serious. And, they won’t follow you!
Ooh! Anytime you call for a meeting they will be there! But you would have noticed, that several times, they treat your words as “Empty Ranting of an unserious fellow”.
Why? Because they can see, you don’t have what it takes to led others! Truth is; if you cannot lead yourself, you will not have the ability of leading others.
… I hope you are listening to me?
If you can’t lead yourself, no one wants to Partner with you. Why? – Because you cannot be trusted.
Truth is: if you cannot lead yourself, you will not be Faithful on the long run. Truth is: if you cannot lead yourself; little Power will corrupt you.
That is the reason why, when you are given little responsibility to accompanied authority. All of a sudden, you become Bigger than usual – bigger than yourself.
That is why when I Minister to people on Campus; our beloved sons and daughters, who are Leaders at the Campus Fellowship. I always tell them: ‘my friend, at the age of 20, people are already calling you ‘Papa and Mama’. They want to kill you.
What do you know, to be called a ‘Papa?’ You have not even earned the First Degree that will give you a leverage to be able to do something here in life! And all of a sudden, they have adorned you with a Garment of a ‘Papa’.
Ooh! You may be excited about it. You may even look at people like us; you may say: We don’t understand that we are ‘Obsoletes!’ You may say: in your own time it wasn’t like that. In our time it is different.
But may I tell you (and I want you to open your ears very well) an African adage says: “What a young man cannot see even when he climbs a stair, the old man will see, where he is seated!”
What you cannot see about the next ten (10) Years of your life; the next twenty (20) Years of your life; the next thirty (30) Years of your life; I can see it already.
And I can tell you: if you don’t know how to handle POWER now; Power will kill you!
Truth is (and listen to this); If you cannot Lead Yourself Opportunities will be the Burial Ground for your Destiny!
Truth is: If you cannot Lead Yourself, while others are Soaring, and achieving great results in life. You will remain a ‘Crawling Individual and a Member of a Cheer Group forever!’
Truth is: If you cannot Lead Yourself, God cannot follow you to Battle – because you will disappoint Him.
Truth is: if you cannot Lead Yourself, you cannot GO FAR in life!
I hope your ears are opening up now? I hope you can now realise the reason why you are where you are? I hope you can now see the individual who has been responsible for the failures you have had in the Past?
I hope all of a sudden, your life is making meaning now? I hope you will be able to take and appropriate Resolution; and you will be able to tell Yourself: ‘Wake up Boy! Don’t become a mere story’.
Don’t become an Ordinary Member of a Cheer Group: God sent you into the world to become an Achiever! The Sign of Greatness is already upon your life.
He is here to release POWER AND GLORY upon you. But if you cannot Lead Yourself; you cannot go far!
I will be looking at some examples in the Bible; of certain Individuals (Individuals that you have ready know some things about (that you have Preached about!)
Individuals that have challenged us over and over again.
1. SAMSON: I will start with Samson –
Judges 13: 2-5 and verse 24-25;
We find a beautiful story of a young man before he was born, there was an Angelic Visitation to the mother. This woman has been waiting upon the Lord for quite some time. She did not know that God was preparing her womb for a great son.
Several of you seated here today, who were born into Christian families – you were born into Greatness (you know it Yourself). Your mother has told you stories (just like the mother of Samson told him stories).
You know it Yourself – your parents had a Covenant with God before you came forth. You are not an ordinary child! It was not by mistake that you were born into the family of a Pastor.
But I know, several of you who had cursed Yourself – that you were born into the family of Pastor;
… May you not be another Samson in your Generation – Amen! I can’t hear that Amen well Amen – AMEN!
The Lord said about this young man: “He will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines”.
Before God sent you to the world, He had decided: you are a Deliverer for your Generation – you are not an Ordinary Person!
If somebody has told you that you are nothing; anytime anybody tells you that, turn back and tell them – “I am sent here to be a Deliverer”.
Turn to your neighbour and say: “I am sent here to be a Deliverer”. Please say it very well!
Judges 13:24, the Bible says: “And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.”
“And the child GREW” Physically he was growing, and the Presence of God was with him. And the Lord Blessed him!
… But he still ended a failure!
Blessings alone, are not enough! You may have Blessings, you may have money – you may be born into wealth, you may be born into opportunities. And yet in all, you end up a failure.
Judges 13:25 says: “And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
The Spirit of the Lord was moving him; the POWER of God was upon him. Many of you are Praying for Anointing. Samson didn’t Pray for Anointing – he was Born Anointed! He had no excuse to fail; yet he failed!
A man who was raised up to be a one man Army for the Living God. A man who will lift up his hands, and kill a thousand adversaries at the same time.
Several times I have asked myself: What is it the other people were looking for, when he was killing others? He killed No. 1, he killed No. 2; if it were you, will you still be there?
Ah! It was not their fault; the Anointing upon Samson was so high, that it is not only strong to kill them; it was also strong to tie them down.
They couldn’t move, the Anointing of God was pushing them to go and die.
That was Power! This man was exceptionally Powerful; yet he failed!
I want you to turn to your Neighbour, say: May you not fail like Samson.
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM OF SAMSON? – Samson LOVED Strange Women!
It is possible that as you are seated here, that is your problem! Ooh! You say, ‘am a young man; oh Boy, everyone is running after me!’ It will not be long before you will know – you are the Samson of the 21st Century.
Ooh! ‘Am still a young Girl, I have what it takes ; am beautiful, pretty. Everybody is running after me!’. And then you are dating twenty (20) people at the same time.
Listen to me, it will not be long before you discover: you are the Most foolish Lady of this Generation!
Samson had everything going for him; he could Lead himself. Any time he saw anything, he must have it. Any time! He pressed the parents: I want a Philistine to marry!
Time and again, we will tell our children: you can only marry a BELIEVER. They will say; ‘Dad, Mum – you don’t understand!’ We love each other.
… Each time they talk about Love, I used to think that Love is something that they buy from the market.
They don’t know, what you are calling ‘Love’ today. In one (1) year, it would have become hatred. You will so much hate each other, that you want to kill yourselves.
… May you not FAIL!
That young man, with the Power of God upon his life; he was bound (he was chained). They plugged out his eyes; he was grinding corn – working for his enemies.
There are many of you, by now (even at your young age) – because those who are younger than you in other Nations, they are accomplishing things! Even within this Country (Nigeria) there are those younger than you, who are accomplishing things already!
Even at your age; you should be an Achiever! But, you cannot Lead yourself. You are given an opportunity to work in a place, laziness has killed you!
You are given an opportunity to focus on accomplishing something; you will spend twelve (12) hours of your life on the screen – playing Computer Games, Watching European Football, as if as you are watching the Football, money is already been dropped into your account!
Listen to me: it is foolishness of the highest order, for someone to be earning money playing; and you, you are losing money watching!
… He could not lead himself!
Could you tell your neighbour, “Please lead yourself! Please say it very well.
Do you know, my Dear; the moment you begin to understand what am saying tonight – there are several of you, who think ‘Oh, I am ready for Leadership: as you are listening to me now, all of a sudden, you discover ‘you have not even started the journey of your life’.
“…I want to Lead, I want to Lead. Give me an opportunity to lead!”
All of a sudden you discovered: you cannot even lead one man. How can you Lead a Group? You can’t Lead one woman, and then you are saying that we should commit to you, the lives of other people.
Your own life is in jeopardy, and you want to Lead others. All of a sudden it will occur to you: ‘I need to work on myself’.
And may I tell you – it doesn’t matter what has happened (where you have failed). God knows why He is bringing this Topic to you.
If you resolve within you: ‘I won’t end like Samson did!.’ I tell you, that Resolution alone will wake up something in you!
That GIANT that has been bound in your life, that giant of yourself – that strongman who is supposed to be achieving things on Earth here: Every chain that has bound you, be broken in the Name of Jesus – Amen!
2. SAUL – the King had unusual privilege.
Saul was searching for the loss Asses of his father; God was searching for a King for his people Israel.
And God saw this young man, who was obedient to his father. And God was saying ‘oh, if this young man is obedient to his father, he will be obedient to Me’.
… That was all that God was expecting from him – that OBEDIENCE – But he failed!
He failed when it was crucial! He failed because all of a sudden, he became bigger than God!
There are many of you who do not know ‘that success is more difficult to manage than failure’. There are many of you who think ‘Ooh! Just let me have enough money, the world will know, there is a Rich Woman here!’
Many of you think that your problem is really, really you have not been in a position to exercise what you know; to manifest your potential. NO! The moment success comes, you have a greater challenge in your life.
Success came upon Saul: all of a sudden, God couldn’t lead him again – because he had not learnt to LEAD HIMSELF.
It doesn’t matter what you are going to accomplish after now; may I tell you – Don’t ever, allow it to get into your head (that you can do what you like).
Don’t forget, the very day that a river forgets its origin, it begins to dry up!
So Saul the King (a man who had been hearing God); a man who had been Leading people to Vctory. He began to lose in the battles of life. He became an underachiever – he became a failure.
Envy and jealousy was written all over him. Hatred for David and for the things that God loved, was the order of the day in his life. He could not stand any other to succeed!
Whenever you begin to discover that you are getting jealous over other people’s achievements; you are already walking on the Path of Saul the King!
There are some of you, when the people around you begin to succeed; you look for a way to run them down. You talk about them, behind them; you destroy their Character, you discourage them: Instead of Pushing them forward. Instead of Helping them. Instead of motivating them to greater achievements.
Listen! “Any time you bring someone down; you are also DOWN”.
Saul did not know, that he was pinned down; Saul did not know that God has finished with him – and so one day, he had a battle to fight (as usual); he sought God – God didn’t answer him.
Ah! My friend; Hmmm! One of the Books I have ever read, that has helped my life – that has challenged my life; the Man of God said in that Book, he said:
“I will prefer that the Power of God will rest upon me for only five (5) minutes; than to have all the wealth of the world!”
… Because he knew what the Power of God could do!
When God left Saul (the King) he became EMPTY; Light became darkness! A man who had been hearing God – that God had been Leading, he had to seek for the Witch of Endor; he had to seek for the Occults; he had to seek for secret powers!
When you look at the television or the satellite today, you see the Manifestations of all kinds of Powers. People who started well.
… Some of them starred well, but they have derailed.
Because they could not hear God again; they have to seek for the occults! They have to seek for secret powers – for dark powers. They have to seek for the witches and wizards.
A lot of them are now operating in the Power of witchcrafts. And you might look at them and say: Ooh! They are working signs and wonders. NO! They are working ‘Lying wonders’.
That is the reason why, in your own Generation, you must make up your mind ‘I am going to be attached to the God of the whole Universe, for the rest of my life’.
For as long as you are attached to Him, you will be with Him, He will Lead you, you will have Victory. And every moment of your Life, you will keep making Progress – Amen!
… Let your Amen be louder: AMEN!!!
This same Saul who started well, died among his enemies; just like Samson.
… May you not die before your time, in the Name of Jesus – Amen!
3. DAVID – was raised up by God; a man after God’s heart!
Ooh! God loved David. God gave him Victory. God gave him Victory so that the Kingdom of Israel extended to the point where God had Promised Joshua, where God had Promised Abraham.
God kept extending the Kingdom in the hands of David. Wherever he turned he was having Victory. And the Bible says (and this is important) 2 Samuel 11:1; the Bible says: “And it came to pass, after the Year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”
… David began to delegate what he was supposed to do!
I have told several of our Pastors from time to time: God expects us to be involved in Prayer and in the Ministering of the Word. We cannot delegate Prayer!
When you are no more Praying for your life, for your Future and for your Ministry. When you delegate what is important to your life: your failure begins little by little.
Tell your neighbour: Don’t delegate Prayer! Please say it very well. Say it again…
The Bible revealed to us from that Passage – David was sleeping when he should be fighting. He had delegated Victory to other people.
… And if you delegate Victory, that means you have prepared for defeat!
The Bible says in
Proverbs 6:9-1;
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
David was sleeping; instead of him Praying and seeking the face of God. And being at the War Front – it wasn’t long before he FELL into immorality; and God turned against him.
His best friend became his worst enemy!
May God not turn against you! It doesn’t matter what you have my friend; it doesn’t matter your Property: the day that God turns against you – the whole world has turned against you.
It is because God is on your side, that things are working for you. The moment He is no more on your side; everything will work against you.
Even the air that you are breathing; even the Ground on which you are walking: everything will walk against you.
From that moment on, David began to have serious problem – Serious Problem!
LEADING SELF! I like you to tell your neighbour on my behalf: Please, Lead yourself! Please say it very well.
4. ABSALOM – that handsome young man
In fact, you described Absalom, the Bible did not use ‘handsome’ – like we will say, a man is handsome. The Bible says: he was ‘Beautiful’.
He had everything going for him. He was a Prince (a King in the waiting); he had money, he had influenced, he had beauty, had London hairs.
… Mine oh mine! He had everything beautiful around him.
But, there is an element in the life of Absalom, that is enough to destroy his Destiny!
2 Samuel 15:1-6;
Absalom prepared for himself Chariots, he raised himself up to the level of a King: he had not become King. He had not been declared King.
There are several people in our Fellowships, several people in our Chapters, in our Churches, in our Parishes, who will raise themselves up; they will begin to act as the Leader.
In fact, some of them – they will begin to act as the Pastor. The Pastor in the waiting! He is not the Pastor ooh! But all of a sudden, even the Pastor must come and take instructions from him.
Listen to me: you are operating in the Spirit of Absalom!
Absalom raised up himself. He will sit at the King’s gate; he knew how to plan rebellion. When people came to see the King, he will tell them: “My brother, where are you coming from?”
You know those people that want to win your heart, they know how to warm themselves into your hearts.
“My brother, where are you coming from?” Eh! I am from so, so Tribe. Ah! Mine of mine! You travelled from such a long distance to come and see the King? – What is your problem?
Sir! These and these are my issues. Oh God! Can you see, you have a very Good case. But there is nobody that the King had deputised to Act and to Answer people like you. Ah! If only I could have opportunity: Wooow! The whole Israel will know.
He began to win the hearts of the people. He began to win their hearts. He thought he was smart! And you know, when people are behaving that way, God will not kill them immediately.
He began to walk into their hearts: and the people were saying – they will come back and say, Ah! I met one Prince today. I have never seen a Prince like that.
They were the ones campaigning for him – if only we will have Absalom: Absalom the next King! And God was watching. God pushed him, and pushed him until he finished himself!
And he died a gruesome death! Until the very hair that was his beauty was what God used to hang him.
Listen to me: you think you are smart, your smartness will hang you! – That was Absalom.
The Bible says, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel: his father didn’t know! The man after God’s heart was sitting on the Throne, doing the little that he could do.
The man who was not after God’s heart, was stealing the hearts of the people. God was watching!
Do you know, the reason why you are not rising is because there is a spirit of rebellion is in you.
Anywhere God finds the spirit of Rebellion, God always fights it.
The first sin in Heaven was the sin of rebellion. And that was the reason why He cast out Lucifer. That was the sin of rebellion! It’s the same sin of rebellion in you – I know several Youths carry the spirit of rebellion.
It is your time to think seriously tonight. There is a reason why God is sending me to you: You have a Glorious Destiny delivered to you; but you are about to destroy it by rebellion.
David should have killed Saul: he had every opportunity. He was a better fighter than Saul. He said: I can’t put my hand on the Lord’s Anointed!
Anyone God puts on the Throne at a certain point in time; Support him! If you put your hands against him, the Hands of the Almighty will be against you forever.
5. SOLOMON –
1 Chronicles 28:9; “And thou, Solomon my son, (this was David) know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”
God told Solomon through his father David, this is the direction to go; this is what will guide you to the end of your life – “Seek God, know Him, match after Him, thirst after Him, as David your father did: do all to Please Him all the time”.
For as long as Solomon was Pleasing God; everything was working for him. And then, Solomon put his hands not into what God had done for him, Not into reality of who God is.
He did not seek after God anymore: wealth has come, and Wealth has a way of taking up your heart.
I look at you at this point in time; several of you, No employments. But may I tell you, one (1) Year – the Lord will open ways for you; money will begin to come!
I am not talking about small money (3ce). Stretch your hands, stretch your hands here: Money will begin to come to you!
Do you know the first Test that God will give you? – It is the Test on Tithes and Offering.
There are many of you now; your Teachers are on the Social Media. Your Teachers are no more the Spoken Words of God. Your Teachers are those who have no records with God; no history with God: who has no records in the Annals of Heaven!
Your Teachers are those who do not know their way; and you are following them. And when somebody doesn’t know the way and you are following him – both of you, you will end where you are not expecting.
… They are now the ones speaking into your life and teaching you things.
The First Test God will give you, is the Test of Tithes and Offering: Jesus Christ said, you can’t serve God and Mammon!
One day, I was reading that particular portion of the Bible, and after I have read it for several times, that day, all of a sudden, my eyes were opened.
Why is Jesus Christ comparing God and Mammon? The Bible says “God is a Spirit!” It means He was comparing Spirit with spirits: it means there is a spirit behind money, called Mammon.
And that if you don’t serve God (Who is the True Spirit); you will end up serving Mammon (who is a false spirit).
And if Mammon takes over your life; it doesn’t matter which position you occupy in Ministry and in Church: the moment Mammon takes over your life, God Exits (He leaves you alone). And so many lives today, have been taken over by Mammon!
I was listening to a Man of God in this Country (Nigeria) – I won’t mention his name. People who knew him, they said he can raise money through any Passage of the Bible:
When he picks a Passage of the Bible; (any Passage of the Bible) by the time he has Preached it five (5) minutes, he is already raising money. Somewhere along the line, God reached out to him. God showed him Himself:
He became empty – with all the wealth, with all the money that he had gathered. He began to seek God. And then he came back with a confession. And in his confession he said: he knew in those days, if Satan comes to Church, he will collect money from him.
There are many of you today who thought we are sold out to God; you don’t know that you are already sold out to Mammon: Mammon has taken over your life. Things that money can buy, and money cannot buy, have taken over your life!
And they are running your life now for you. Your life is now measured by what you have; not by your connection with the Living God.
… Solomon got to that level!
Solomon said and I like you to listen to this. Ecclesiastes 2:8-11;
8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Anything that he desired, he had! Until he ended up with one thousand (1,000) women in his life – Anything whatsoever!
Your problem is not money, your problem is not wealth – but how you will LEAD YOURSELF when those things come!
They are coming: Will the money that God is going to release to you destroy you or make you? Will the Money, make you humble or make you arrogant and proud? Will the money, turn you against the Community, turn you against God; or will it draw you nearer to God?
That is a decision that nobody can make for you tonight; you must make it yourself. You have got to make that decision very quickly before money comes!
Because I am very sure, having come to this particular Convention – Money must come!
Samuel told Saul (listen to this) he said, as you depart from here, you will meet some men who are going to Bethel for worship: they carry their gifts – they carry the things they will use to worship God. But he said, when they meet you – they will release to you what is in their hands.
God is asking me to tell somebody, as you leave this particular Camp Ground; beginning from now – every single day, you will receive a GIFT!
But I want you to help me tell your neighbour: When money comes, make sure your Lead Yourself first.
And so Solomon was able to tell us in Ecclesiastes 11:9;
“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”
Rejoice Youths! “I am still a Youth, Young Adult. I have strength”. Yea! It is our time, those old people they don’t understand us.”
No problem, we are old! It will not be long before you discovered that those old people they know some things that kept them, over the Years!
It won’t be long, those who are wise, they study those who have succeeded, in other to know the reasons why they succeeded.
You have no experience about life. What do have to tell you that you can succeed when you have not studied those who have succeeded?
Ooh! Solomon said: I was greater than anyone before me: richer, wiser. Why he was saying that, he didn’t know when he crossed from Wisdom to Folly.
It may be, you have crossed from wisdom to folly; if you only Lead Yourself, foolishness can be replaced with wisdom.
Oh! Let me begin to round up: I think you have heard enough tonight
So the question comes; as we begin to wrap up this particular Message – LEADING YOURSELF:
WHAT MUST I DO TO LEAD MYSELF? What is the way forward?
Now, I have discovered where I have tripped. I have discovered my folly. I have discovered why things were not working;
WHAT MUST I DO FOR NOW?
1. 2 Corinthians 13:5 EXAMINE YOURSELF.
Paul didn’t say, “go and meet your Pastor to examine you”. As you are seated here, if your Pastor should appear, and they should sit besides each of you one by one:
Your Pastor will write great recommendations for you; for you come on Wednesday, and you have not waited for Friday. It means there is a level of Commitment that you have, that others don’t have.
Your Pastor will be proud of you. If your Pastor was to examine you, he will give you 100%. Possibly he will give you 105%. But here you are, you know yourself, who you are – EXAMINE yourself!
Tell your neighbour: Examine yourself! Please say it very well.
2. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (the Passage that we started with). Verse 25 says;
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
APPLY SELF CONTROL for now!
At every point in time when you are about to take a decision; ask yourself a question: “Is this the best Alternative for now?’ Will this Decision add value to my life? Is it the Decision that God has recommended according in His Words?
Have I heard God clearly and plainly? Am I been mould by myself? Or am I been moulded by the Words of God? Am I another Samson? Another Saul the King? Am I another Absalom of my Generation?
You have to be template – Self control. You draw back; ask a question before you launch out! So that you will not end – “a Crawling individual”.
3. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (Am rounding up quickly)!
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.”
As you behold God, and you behold Him in His Word, Transformation is taking place in your life! As you are contemplating in the Glory of God.
As you see what the Word of God says concerning your life; as you see what the Word of God says about those who have gone before you.
As you spend Time Meditating and Contemplation on the Words of God; you are being Transformed from within. Because it is what happens from within you, that will manifest outside!
There are some people who have said: ‘what I put on doesn’t matter; it is what is inside of me!’
And I have always tell them: “what is outside of you is a Manifestation of what’s inside of you:”.
4. James 1:22-25;
But be the Doers of the Word and not hearers only!
You have been listening to me for over one hour! And God is saying: Son/Daughter, the past one hour of your life something has dropped into you – Be DOERS of it!
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only – because if you are just Hearers, you will be deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
But when women, when they stand before a mirror: anything that is wrong with them – with their powder, with their makeup. What do they do?
They begin to correct it immediately! They spend so much time before the mirror. Not that they want to correct the mirror; but they want to correct themselves.
Several of you; when you look at the Words of God, you begin to say: the Word doesn’t mean that! You begin to correct to correct the Word – the Greek and the Hebrews are different! You begin to correct the Word.
You must know, you cannot correct the Mirror; it is the Mirror that must correct you!
Stand up on your feet, my Friend!
Thank You Jesus! I just want you to wave your hands to the Living God. I want you to Bless His Name.
… This is one of the longest Sermons I have Preached in a long time!
And I know that God has a reason why He kept me here, He didn’t allow me to stop.
It is because your Destiny is too crucial! God is saying, your Destiny must Blossom!
I want you to Thank Him: just Thank Him, and say Lord I Thank You! Lord. I Thank You that you love me so much! I can’t imagine that You can love me like this.
Thank You Father; Thank You (repeatedly)! I
appreciate You Lord, Blessed be Your Name Lord. Thank You!
May Your Name be Glorified for ever! In Jesus Mighty Name we have worshipped – Amen!
Revelation 2 :2-5 (I will not read the whole thing);
God said there, about a Church – the Church at Ephesus. He said, “I know your works”: the Living God is looking at you right now, my friend – I know who you are, I know you better than yourself!
That is why I have told you to Examine yourself. Don’t wait until anyone examines you. I know your works!
And there is somebody here tonight who is saying: I can hide from everyone; I can’t hide from God. It is true am in Church; but I want Christ to be born in me.
I don’t just want to be part of the Number; and not just a figure in the Church. I want a record in Heaven. I want God is my life. I want the Light of the whole Universe to lighten my life.
I am tired of pretence; I want to be real, I want Jesus, I want JESUS!
I just want you to begin to walk out from wherever you are at this point in time. Don’t wait for anybody, just begin to walk out and come to Him now! Wherever you are, begin to come!
… I want JESUS! I am tired of pretence. Please make sure you come quickly, my time is far spent!
I don’t care what anybody may think; I don’t care what my neighbour may say – I want Jesus!
The Light of the whole Universe is here tonight to lighten your darkness; the Creator of your destiny is here tonight; He is the One who has sent me to you. Your Destiny is too Glorious to fail, too Glorious! That is the reason He wants to release Power and Glory upon it.
Don’t allow anyone to stop you; this is your Night!
Thank You my Father! Thank You Jesus. Oh! Blessed be Your Name Lord. Lord we Honour You (repeatedly).
This is the Night! Your Destiny is too Precious to be aborted.
PRAYERS:
Thank You Jesus! You are going to Pray one Prayer tonight (wherever you are):
- Say Heavenly Father; the ability to Lead Myself, deposit it in me today!
… Call upon the Living God for yourself: it is what you ask a him, He will do for you – Examine yourself if you be in the Faith
And it shall be so, in Jesus’ Name – Amen! Let your Amen be louder.
2.Say Heavenly Father, everything that is in me; every compromise, every evil habits; every sin, everything that I have rationalise before now; my Father, remove it from my life today!
Those things, like in the life of Samson, that he didn’t deal with; Those things, like in the life of Saul the King , that he didn’t deal with; Those things, like in the life of David, that he didn’t deal with; Those things, like in the life of Absalom, that he didn’t deal with; Those things, like in the life of Solomon…
My Father, that they didn’t deal with! I am here to deal with them tonight. My destiny is too Precious. My Father, I dare not fail; I can’t avoid to fail.
Whatever I have that am barren before now, I come before You oh Lord, I am here to deal with it finally, once and for all.
… That’s the Prayer you are Praying tonight. It is a Prayer of Consecration and Prayer of New Beginning.
Destroy the old man in me, release the New Self; I want to live in the Newness of life for You beginning from now!
Call upon the Lord, if you don’t Lead yourself, you have no right to lead others. If you don’t lead yourself you cannot go too far in life.
Call upon the Lord: my Father, I don’t want to waste resources of my life, I don’t want the opportunities that You have given to me to be the Burial Ground of my destiny.
My Father, because of your Love, that same love that had preserved me till now, let the same love lead me on, going forward.
Thank You Father! In Jesus Mighty Name, we have Prayed – Amen!
This is not a Prayer you Pray for few minutes and you stop! I have to stop you because the Organizers have to do one (1) or two (2) things before you go to bed.
If I were you, this is a Prayer I will pray until something happens to me. You have all the opportunity on this Camp Ground. This is a place where Prayers are answered.
You must not come down from this Mountain until a clChange has taken place!
Am about to Pray for you now. I will begin by Praying for our brothers and sisters in front
CLOSING PRAYER:
My Father and my God I want to Thank You for the privilege, the opportunity that You have given to us tonight, to hear this Word of Life. We Thank You, because You love us with Eternal Love. Accept our Thanks and Praise in the Name of JESUS!
Your sons and daughters that are in front; who have responded to this call. Who have said, ‘I want JESUS!’ Who have opened their hearts unto You; and they are saying they want JESUS to take over their lives right now.
Lord of Heaven and Earth I Pray; Lord Jesus You will take over their lives, in the Name of Jesus!
My Father and my God we Pray, You will write their names in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. Everyone of them, who has listened to this Words of life, their lives will never remain the same, in the Name of JESUS!
My Father, even as they have made this decision, let today be the first day of their Best Life, in the Name of JESUS!
And I Pray, that with this decision that they have made; they will serve you for the rest of their lives. They will become GIANTS in Your House.
Thank You my Father! Blessed be Your Name!
We Pray for ourselves, for everyone who is on this Camp Ground who has heard this Words, for everyone who is watching online or reading now; we Pray: Precious Father as they read, You will transform their lives in the Name of Jesus!
As we have heard You tonight; the Transformation that You have started: Father we Pray You will Perfect it, in the Name of Jesus!
Everyone of us shall become what You want us to be, in the Name of Jesus!
Thank You Heavenly Father, Blessed be Your Name!
And in Heaven we Pray; none is us shall be found wanting. In JESUS Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!
… Everybody will say a Glorious Amen -AMEN!
Place don’t go yet! Those of you in front, there is a Counsellor who is going to direct you. There are Pastors who will take down your names for out father in the Lord, who will be Praying for you beginning from today!
All we want will be your Names and your address. So that we will be able to keep following up with you. I can assure you, something New is beginning in your life now – Amen.
… Please if you are clapping for Jesus, please do it very well. If the Lord has blessed you make sure you clap your hands for Him!
WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY!!!
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COMPILATIONS BY:
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