MANY ARE GIVING UP ON LIFE IN THEIR NUMBERS TODAY ACROSS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
THE REASON WHY SUICIDE IS ON THE INCREASE IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GIVING UP ON LIFE
ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD IS WHAT GETS YOU ON THE GLORY SIDE IN THE DAY OF GLOOMINESS
IT IS REPORTED THAT IN SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TODAY, PEOPLE STEAL FOOD. IT WASN’T SO BEFORE.
GREAT DELIGHT IN KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENT GETS YOU AND ME ON THE SIDE OF PLENTY IN THE DAYS OF FAMINE
WE ARE IN GREAT DAYS OF CONTRAST IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, DETERMINE WHICH SIDE YOU ARE.
THE WORLD IS HEADING FOR THE REALM OF SORROW NEVER KNOWN IN HISTORY, BUT IT IS ORDAINED FOR US AN ERA OF GREAT JOY.
THE DAY OF TROUBLE FOR THE WORLD IS THE DAY OF TRIUMPH FOR THE SAINTS.
THE LAST DAYS ARE DAYS OF GREAT DEPRESSIONS AND SAME TIME CELEBRATIONS.
THE LAST DAYS ARE DAYS OF SORROW AND GREAT JOY
IT’S NOT THE LIGHT THAT WE HAVE THAT GETS DARKNESS TO CLEAR THE WAY BUT THE LIGHT WE WALK IN.
TRIUMPHANT LIVING IS GUARANTEED AS WE ENGAGE IN THE BUSINESS OF SERVING GOD FAITHFULLY AND FRUITFULLY.
YOUR CHOICE TO SERVE GOD WILL EXEMPT YOU FROM THE PLAGUES OF LIFE.
GREAT LIGHT WILL RESULT INTO GREAT FAITH WHICH IN TURN QUENCHES ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE devil.
FERVENCY IN SERVING THE LORD IS A BIG TIME BUSINESS.
– Bishop David Oyedepo on “THE LAST DAYS ARE DAYS OF GREAT CONTRASTS” at October 2023 Leadership Empowerment Summit || LFC Canaanland || 7th October 2023
I was in a meeting back in 1977 and this man was teaching and I felt a literal touch on my head. Something broke loose. So He touches us by His Word. We were in that weekly meeting in the early days of the ministry and one of us had this haemorrhage, he was also a medical student. Church Gist. Then he felt a touch while the Word was going on, went to the toilet and for the first time in six years, there was no blood in his faeces. You are going to have a touch this morning that will launch you into a new phase of your life. The days of the torment and struggles will be over in your life. Luke 5:17. Virtue was going forth as He was teaching and healing them.
It is a very unique teaching this morning and I would like you to please listen because he will touch you for a turnaround. It is captioned “THE LAST DAYS ARE DAYS OF GREAT CONTRAST”. Malachi 4:1-2. All the earth is burning like an oven and there are people that are exempted from the heat. They are going forward and growing up. Church Gist. Everything was burning down and changing levels. We are in the last days, the days of great contrasts. According to scriptures, the last days are days of gloominess and glory. Joel 2:1-4. A day of gloominess and a day of glory at the same time. Who are these folks that are on the glory side? Joel 2:11. Enlistment in the army of the Lord is what gets you on the glory side in the day of gloominess.
2. A day of gross darkness and great light at the same time.
Exodus 10:21-23. A day of gross darkness and great light. Matthew 4:16. We are in the last days, the days of great contrasts. Who is on the Lord’s side is the question right now. That determines which side you find yourself on. Isaiah 60:1-3. Walking as children of light and according to the light of God’s Word is the way to come on the other side of gross darkness, not knowing what next to do, days of great confusion, perplexity, despair. Church Gist. Many are giving up on life in their numbers today across the nations of the world. The reason why suicide is on the increase is because people are giving up on life.
3. The last days are the days of famine and plenty at the same time.
It is reported that in some European countries today, people steal food. It wasn’t so before. They steal cars en masse. You park your car and it is gone. Days of famine and plenty at the same time. Psalm 37:18-19. What is the fear of the Lord? Great delight in keeping His commandments. Psalm 112:1-3. Great delight in keeping His commandment gets you and me on the side of plenty in the days of famine. 1 Kings 17. We understand the story of the Widow of Zarephath who was gathering wood to bake the last cake and prepare to die. Church Gist. Then came Elijah and said, “Make for me first”. She was feeding fat for three and half years by just coming on the side of delightsome obedience. The pot of flour did not dry up, the cruse of oil never failed until the Lord sent rain upon the earth. Delightsome!
A time is coming Sir you will get money in your hand and you will not get food to buy, you have money but there is no food to buy. Church Gist. It happened in those days in Israel they had to import food to eat, families were importing food! Government couldn’t import food! There are plenty of money in the midst of famine, Jacob said: ‘Take double money when you are going, take double money’. There was no problem with the money but there was nowhere to buy the food. There was nowhere to buy flour in the days of the Widow of Zarephath, nowhere to buy oil but she was feeding fat in famine. 1 Kings 17:8-15.
4. Days of trouble and triumph.
2 Kings 19:1-7. Isaiah said: ‘Relax’, it’s your day of triumph! The day of trouble is your day of triumph!! And God did something interesting, an Angel went forth and slew 84,000 of the Assyrian army, they woke up in the morning they were all dead men, the big-headed King returned back to his place and was slain by his two sons, they killed him in the temple while worshipping his idol. You shall not need to shoot an arrow here o, he shall not go into this City, the same way he came he will return. Church Gist. The day of trouble for the world is the day of triumph for the saints, the day of trouble for this world is the day of triumph for the saint!! ‘Be of good cheer’, He said: ‘I have overcome the world’, don’t mind it. We are in great days of contrast in the body of Christ, determine which side you be and do that now. Now in Genesis 47:15-27, same time of economic drought but Israel dwelt in the Land of Egypt, the same Country in the Country of Goshen and they had possessions and grew and multiplied exceedingly, that’s covenant exemption from the day of troubles. Everything was burnt down, people were offering themselves for sale and yet the people were growing and multiplying exceedingly.
5. The Last days are days of sorrow and great joy.
We were told here in 1 Samuel 30 when they came back from war and discovered that the enemies had invaded their land, carried away their wives and their sons and daughters. They wept until there was not enough strength anymore to weep, that is deep sorrow. Church Gist. 1 Samuel 30:1-4. And then God showed up and David recovered all! Day of sorrow and day of great joy, same time! Matthew 24:8. The world is heading for the realm of sorrow never known in history, praise God! But it is ordained for us an era of great joy.
6. The Last days are days of great depressions and same time celebrations.
Joel 2:2-6. Now, in the midst of these, God will be executing plan and purpose for the Church – Great depression, great celebration! Joel 2:21. Church Gist. In the midst of great depression, great joy! Rejoice and be glad! Why is he rejoicing? What’s happening? Joel 2:25-26. In the midst of this great depression there will be great celebration among God’s people.
7. The Last days are the days of devastations and exemptions.
There shall be diverse collapse of institutions, businesses, vocations globally Sir; not in one country or another. Church Gist. There will be no First World, Second World (Laughing). Watch it, it’s almost here. Exodus 9:1-4.
-A thousand businesses may fall on your side, ten thousand on your right side, it shall not come near you.
Days of devastations and days of glorious exemptions all at the same time. So the same thing that will be very dreadful, but you are not part of it. So we need to know that these things are coming to pass but God has a plan to exempt us from all these plagues. Church Gist. What happened in Egypt they are plagues. He said: ‘I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh’, they are plagues! Plague is hidden there! Diverse plagues shall be coming upon this generation. The exemption was premised on their heart to serve God. Exodus 4:22-23. Sir, your getting on the positive side of this is an avow determination, decision, covenant to serve God.
No Pharaoh can keep you bound when you are all out for Jesus. No Pharaoh can derail you when you are set to serve God. I saw this exemption in 1983 after a supposedly failed Crusade, Citywide Revival and Healing Week for the City. Church Gist. Highest attendance was 63, but on Monday we were celebrating God and worshipping Him for His Presence. We saw a few people saved, the last day, one person got saved so and then the Lord opened me to Joel 2 and I began to talk about the future of the body of Christ. A great army is arising in the midst of holocaust; the world has never known them before. Here we are today, I can tell you, God has ordained you for an exemption.
-You will not be part of this devastation, you will not be part of the sorrow that is multiplying in the world. Church Gist. You will never know depression if you will take a stand for Jesus today and not fake it. Exodus 4:22-23.
Your choice to serve Him will exempt you. Job 36:11. You saw how God exempted His people from the following:
– Frogs which connotes shame. Frog was upon their bedroom, upon their bodies. You can imagine frog on your shoulder shitting on you. Frogs everywhere! Exodus 8:3-4, 5-12.
– Flies. He exempted them from flies which connote stench. Church Gist. Flies come around when something is stinky somewhere. Exodus 8:20-23. They (Israelites) were not part of it.
– Massive death of livestock like we saw earlier. It connotes business collapse. Exodus 9:1-6.
– Boils which connote all manner of sickness and disease that the magicians could not stand before him. Boils all over…in the head, in the nose, everywhere. Exodus 23:25-26. You watch all these, they have their cure in committed, dedicated stewardship. All these plagues… you’re exempted from them by committing yourself genuinely to fruitful and faithful stewardship.
– Hailstone which connotes devastation. Malachi 3:17-18. Malachi 4:1,19. Church Gist. You’re serving Him, He said “I’ll distinguish you, I’ll exempt you, I’ll spare you, you won’t be part of the devastation.”
– Gross darkness here connotes distress that result in weeping and gnashing of teeth. Church Gist. Matthew 8:10-12. If you check all through Scriptures, darkness connotes distress, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But what’s the way out?
1. Be committed to putting the Word to work which is the cure for shame. Frog connotes shame. The cure is putting the Word to work. Matthew 7:24-27, Proverbs 3:35. You want to be free from shame? Be committed to putting the Word to work as a lifestyle.
2. What’s the cure for stench? Be committed to walking in the Light and you’ll continue to shine. God says “this is the way to go” and you’re going there. “This is what I demand of you” and you subscribe to it. Isaiah 60:1.
3. What’s the cure for business collapse? Matthew 6:33. Church Gist. Psalms 34:10. Make God and the interest of His Kingdom your priority for living, everything will be working together for your good. Romans 8:28, Matthew 28:36-40.
4. What’s the cure for all manner of sickness and disease? Exodus 23:25-26. Church Gist. John 15:1-2. Everyone reconciling the world back to God is an ambassador of Christ and every ambassador of Christ is ordained for healthy living. Proverbs 13:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20. Church Gist. Every ambassador of Christ is entitled to healthy living. Therefore from now, you won’t know the meaning of sickness anymore. It will be far from your tabernacle, far from your children, far from your grandchildren in the name of Jesus.
5. Serving God exempts us from devastations. Church Gist. Revelation 3:10-12. If you’ll be committed to serving God, He’ll exempt you from the days of temptation. They are here already. Malachi 3:16-18.
6. The answer to great darkness is great light. With great light, gross darkness will clear the way. Church Gist. It’s not the light we have that gets darkness to clear the way but the light we walk in. James 1:22-25. Your days of blessings are here. Just be devoted and committed to putting the Word to work as a lifestyle. You won’t know distress. It is great light that results in great faith. No one doubts what he can see. That man has just lost one of his servant…he said I know that your Word is enough to get him up. He said go as you have believed and so shall it be for you and he recovered the self same hour. Christ was saying I’ve never found so great faith, no not in Israel. Great light will result into great faith. Great faith will quench all the fiery darts of the devil. You’ll never suffer devastation again. We study to enhance the intensity of the light of God in our lives so great faith can arise and then we command great victory in the day of battle. It’s your turn at last.
How is Serving God a big time business? Many people are involved just like a religious hobby. Some are involved to satisfy their leadership role. Maybe they’re cell ministers, maybe they’re service group leaders, maybe they’re pastors. How’s serving God a big time business? Jesus defined it as business. Luke 2:49. Church Gist. We’ve not made a business out of it, Jesus founded it as business. Serving God’s interest is the Father’s business. Romans 12:11. Fervency in serving the Lord is big time business. Church Gist. Romans 12:12. Get fervent about Kingdom matters. You’re in a big time business.
WHAT MAKES SERVING GOD A BIG TIME BUSINESS?
1. It empowers believers for triumphant living. Luke 10:19. Triumphant living is guaranteed as we engage in the business of serving God faithfully and fruitfully. We’re not only faithful, we’re generating results.
2: It unleashes divine favour which empowers the unusual like miracle marriages, miracle babies, miracle jobs, talk about it. Psalms 102:13-15. Fearful favour attends to men and women that favour the matters of the Kingdom faithfully and fruitfully. Church Gist. It unleashes divine favour. Luke 22:35.
3: It secures divine health. Serving God faithfully and fruitfully bearing fruits secures divine health. Proverbs 13:17. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.
4: It engenders supernatural breakthroughs. Peter gave his boat to Jesus and Jesus in response said “Launch your net into the deep”. Luke 5:4,5. Peter had that experience of net breaking, boat sinking dimension breakthrough. Church Gist. Serving God engenders supernatural breakthroughs. What the world is looking for, they are running up and down, pillar to post. Serving God in truth and in deed engenders supernatural breakthroughs.
-That is your next level.
-Breakthroughs without stress, breakthroughs without sweat.
-You are having that in Jesus name.
Luke 5:5-8. Serving God engenders supernatural breakthroughs. Daniel 12:3. It makes stars.
5: Serving God enthrones believers. Proverbs 8:15,16. Proverbs 11:30. Wisdom enthrones so serving God in truth and in deed in the area of soul winning makes a wise believer and by that wisdom, God enthrones him supernaturally. Church Gist. He enthrones him supernaturally. It works. Praise God.
6: Serving God puts the believer in command of the supernatural. Serving God puts you and I in command of the supernatural. Signs follow people, they don’t sit with people. Mark 16:17. It is going that puts a believer in command of signs and wonders. Church Gist. People on the go don’t cry for signs and wonders. They are already themselves a sign and a wonder. There are people who are looking for signs and there are those who are signs themselves. Their presence connotes signs and wonders, their steps connote signs and wonders. Please, hear what I’m saying. Mark 16:17,20. You have to be on the go for signs to follow you. Church Gist. So, it follows people on the go, not in your room, not on your cushion chairs, no.
We were in this crusade one time and there was this man that was set free from the spirit of insanity and we took him to the camp where we were. The following morning, that evil spirit came back on him, he became very wild and they sent for me. Church Gist. I went there and said “What’s the matter? Leave him” because they were holding him and he was throwing them up and down…and I pointed my finger at him. Jude 1:6. The Word of life just came through me instantly and he breathed out, all the demons left. Signs and wonders follow people on the go not in your bedroom. You are in command of the supernatural as you remain on the go for Jesus.
7: Serving God makes us eligible for divine wages. John 4:36. Luke 10:7. It makes believers eligible for divine wages which covers everything of interest to you. Luke 22:35.
8: Serving God turns giants out of ordinary believers. Psalm 89:20-24. You are in service, you enjoy fresh oil.
Serving God secures access to fresh oil than 100 days of prayers. Serving God commits God to put fresh oil on your life so you can keep serving him because labourers are few. Church Gist. So, when you are committed to serving God, empowerment is not for show, it’s for service. Empowerment is not for show, it’s for service. Acts 1:8. Praying for empowerment without commitment to serving God is wasteful, He won’t answer. Empowerment in the Kingdom is not for show, it’s for service. David enjoyed fresh oil because of his commitment to serving God and the interest of His Kingdom. Church Gist. The anointing came on him when he confronted Goliath and brought him down. He was serving God’s interest. He wasn’t interested in any negotiation, “What will you give me, you’ll give me a wife, I don’t need a wife but this insult must stop” He was serving the interest of the Kingdom of God.
2 Samuel 18:3.When he returned from the slaughter of Goliath they made him the chief of defense for the nation and everybody subscribed to him. Serving God’s interest stirred the little giant in him.
-No matter how tiny anyone maybe today, your commitment to serving God and the interest of His Kingdom will make a difference.
Finally and most importantly, serving God secures divine presence which will always make a difference any day, anywhere, any time. Luke 10:1. Mark 16:20. Serving God secures divine presence which will always make a difference anywhere, any day and any time. Church Gist. That is the greatest return on spiritual stewardship…divine presence. Romans 8:32. Psalm 24:7. Psalm 114:7. The things that trouble others tremble before you because of God’s presence that you carry. So, serving God secures for us divine presence that will always make the difference any day, any time, anywhere.
We got to one of those nations in those days and this notorious witch had earlier arrived before we came in and they met her at the airport with pomp and pageantry, everybody was dancing for the devil. Church Gist. We came in we had no idea, I had no idea. We got into that hotel and as soon as we arrived she packed her luggage and left unceremoniously. The national newspaper carried it. Divine presence will always make a difference anywhere, any time, any day and that we secure by serving Him. John 8:29.
-My prayer is that no one will fail in this business.
Serving God is a business with unfathomable returns, incomparable returns.
-It’s your turn to experience it greater than ever before in the name of Jesus.
So, see your time, your energy, your resources as investments. Church Gist. As what? See them as investments sir. You are not whiling away time, see them as investments. You are making calls to your contacts, see them as investments. You spend time on the altar of prayers, see it as an investment. You are out in outreach, see it as an investment. Isaiah 45:19. 1st Corinthians 15:58.
Job 36:11.
See your engagement as investment, it would change your attitude. It would change your disposition, it would renew your zeal. See your engagement as raw investment, to change your perspective forever. Church Gist. My prayer for us as leaders in one level or another is for God to give us grace to be an example to others as we engage in this awesome season and not only in this season, for life. My covenant of 1976 is still working mightily in me as if it happened yesterday.
– May you stay on fire all the days of your life.
– May serving God become your delight as a new lifestyle.
– May you live above discouragements all your days.
1st John 5:3. With a genuine passion for God, you’re okay. You keep moving like a roller coaster. 1st Corinthians 15:58. I knew 1976 that my labor was not in vain, I knew I was investing into destiny, investing into eternity. Hebrews 13:7. Church Gist. I have never been tempted to borrow since 1981 that He told me that’s not part of His agenda for my life. I’ve not gone begging once. I’ve not lacked what to eat in my family once. God is not a liar, just reposition and see the wonders of God in your life. Serving God is not a punishment, it’s not a burden, it’s a blessing. Serving God is a privilege, you’re not serving a man neither are you serving a Church, you are serving Christ.
– It’s your turn for a change of story.
Now think on it as we close, look at this Church for instance, when have you seen us praying material oriented prayer, “Oh God, send us money, we are going to India” not once sir. Church Gist. One day I just announced, I said “well some people are here, you want to give a vehicle to the Lord, meet us there”…and we got 87 buses on the same day. There was no special Preaching.
– God is on your side.
There are Churches to follow, there are leaders to follow. If you want their kind of results then follow their steps. I have never had struggle for anything that results in advancement. When God commends your stewardship he advances you. He changes our level based on our commitment to stewardship. Stay faithful. Church Gist. Luke 19:17-21. Every well done from God changes a believers position. Stop saying well done to yourself, let God be the one to say well done to you. Every time God commends, He changes the story of the commended. 2nd Corinthians 10:18.
– Many would take cover under your canopy, as God keeps changing your level.
We were not prepared to come to Canaanland, what I said is “let’s allocate this land to farmers in our Church until we are ready” and He said this tabernacle shall be dedicated 18th of September 1999 and He was telling us 17th of September 1998. We did it! Change of level came from Him, we didn’t program it. He changes our level as he commends our faithfulness and fruitfulness in stewardship. Luke 19:20. You need results, we all need results. It’s not enough to be faithful, you must be fruitful. You will not lack result in this Operation. Church Gist. One of our daughter’s said “you said any one that brings a soul to Church next Sunday, should watch out for a miracle”…and she worked hard during the week and brought a soul back to Church…and then by Monday, the miracle exploded. Simple, God rewards results obtained, not efforts made. Endeavor to obtain results. Endeavor a change of level, plan it, work it out in your thinking, that’s the way to go.
– You are going forward.
Finally! Nobody’s undedication can make your dedication of no effect. Mind yourself. Take heed to yourself. You know what to do, you do it. Nobody’s lack of dedication can make your dedication of no effect. Nobody’s unbelieve can make your Faith ineffective. Everyone shall live by his faith. Everyone’s dedication would determine his own distinction. Don’t let others pull you down. We had a rumor 1996, I was in my office in the early morning like this preparing for our anointing service at the Breakthrough seminar and the Lord walked up to my office and He said “it’s time to get the aircraft”…and I announced it I said “God just spoke to me this morning.” He said “it’s time to get the aircraft”. In 6 months the aircraft landed. If you fly by chance you would soon stop, when the cost comes on you. People hardly fly straight for 10 years. Let him be the one to lift you and no devil can bring you down. When God sets you up, no devil can bring you down. When God rewards you, no devil can unreward you. When God honors you, no devil can put you to shame. Church Gist. Win His commendation, that’s the key to a change of story, the key to exemption from this last days of horror. Secure God’s commendation. Get to the point where you secure God’s strong blessing. I once gave a sacrifice for my family and the Lord said to me “My son David, even if you don’t want to be rich, it’s too late”. That’s a sworn blessing, when God swears a blessing, it sticks. Sir one hour of genuine prayer would win any soul.
Stand to your feet everybody, give the Lord a biggest hand of Praise. Amen! Now watch, you are not exempted from the days of famine by you skill or strength or anointing but by walking in the fear of God as a lifestyle. It’s not about where you live. There’s no nation without people on the street with no one to cater for them.
– You are changing level.
Serving God faithfully and fruitfully exempts us from the horrors of the day. Amen. Lift up your two hands everyone and ask God for the grace for faithful and fruitful stewardship.
#BishopDavidOpedepo
#LeadershipEmpowermentSummit
#7thOctober2023
#LFCWorldwide
#CovenantHighways
#ChurchGist
