EVERYONE OF US WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE DIVINE DIRECTION ALL THROUGH OUR JOURNEY IN LIFE
STOP POSING TO KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW.
THERE ARE TEACHING PRIESTS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, THEY ARE LIGHT BEARERS; KNOW THEM AND SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR TEACHINGS.
IF WE DIDN’T FOLLOW THE LEADING OF GOD FROM ILORIN TO KADUNA, WE’LL NEVER BE HERE
GOD LEADS US ABOUT TO EQUIP US FOR THE BATTLES AHEAD IN OUR PROMISED LAND
DIVINE DIRECTION MAY NOT LOOK SOUND BY HUMAN CONSIDERATION BUT IT’S ALWAYS THE MOST PROFITABLE WAY TO GO
GOD WITH ME IS THE MYSTERY BEHIND MY UNCHECKERED CONFIDENCE
WHO IS BUILDING THE ARK? AND WHO BUILT THE FAITH TABERNACLE? WHEN GOD LEADS, HE WORKS THROUGH THE LED.
THE FIRST YEAR WE CAME INTO CANAANLAND, OUR CHURCH INCOME INCREASED BY 186 MILLION.
WHEN GOD LEADS YOU, HE GIVES YOU ACCESS TO THE HIDDEN RICHES OF DARKN£SS.
ANY CHURCH HISTORY WHICH DOES NOT MENTION THIS MINISTRY IN THIS GENERATION IS A DISTORTED HISTORY.
TO BE RIGHT, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE WHITE. WITHOUT ANY FOREIGN INPUT, THE ARK IS GOING UP.
SOMEONE TORE HIS GREEN CARD WHEN HE HEARD ME SAY ‘THERE IS NO DEVALUED CURRENCY, JUST HAVE ENOUGH’
I WAS PRESENT AT THE DEDICATION OF HIS OFFICE BUILDING OF 12 FLOORS.
YOUR DESTINY IS NOT TIED TO A PLACE, IT’S TIED TO GOD!
– Bishop David Oyedepo on UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING DIVINE DIRECTION (1A) at Encounter With Destiny Service || 7th September 2025 || Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland || First Sunday Service ||
We begin our series on understanding the benefits of divine direction. It is important to start with this that every provision of scriptures is for our profiting when we engage with the conditions attached. Hebrews 4:2. Every provision of scriptures is packaged for our profiting. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Church Gist. Testimonies all around. The doctrines, corrections, reproofs of scriptures are profitable and the instructions of scriptures are the highways to our high places. That will first settle us, why we need divine direction for our supernatural profiting. For a value adding adventure.
The second thing I like to get across is that there are teaching priests in the Body of Christ. They are light bearers, they are not appointed on merit, they are all beneficiaries of election of grace. 2 Chronicles 15:3-6. Church Gist. They had no true God, they had no teaching priest who would show them the way to go and so they went into trouble. This is where meekness comes to play for anyone that desires to be guided. There are those placed over us that know what we don’t know and we can only know them by subscribing to their teachings.
That you got saved years ago doesn’t matter. Some fellows that fly us today, I was in ministry before they were born and they know what I don’t know. We went somewhere and the pilot said he was not going again. We had to beg him because we didn’t know how to go. I am older than him, I am more experienced than him but I had to beg him because I don’t know how to fly. This is the problem with spiritual things, people pose to know what they don’t know. “I have been in this church for how long, he is telling me nonsense.” Church Gist. I say you don’t know this thing Oga, I know you have been here for long. Can I go to court to stand for somebody? I won’t know what to say before the judge will lambast me. Who brought this bush man here? I will say sorry ma, they asked me to come and represent them. People just need to come down to know what they don’t know. There are some who have never heard the voice of God, so listen to those who have heard it. Let them tell you how to hear it. Go for tutorials. Otherwise, you won’t know it. You will be hearing yourself and saying God told you.
The Ethiopian Eunuch was a celebrated leader in Ethiopia , he was an official in government. Very intelligent. Philip was a fisherman. He asked him “Oga, understandest thou what thou readest?” He said “how can I, except some man guide me.” Okay, let me guide you. Fisherman was guiding a Minister of Finance. Church Gist. “You know something? Bishop and I were born the same day. I know him, so this is just luck, don’t worry.” Such don’t learn anything. I grew up on the stable of Hagin. Many around the world grew on that stable. We need to be very instructed because guesswork hardly works in this Kingdom. Hosea 4:6. We need a working knowledge of every vital subject in the Kingdom.
Many are biting their fingers now for wrong steps. Just took one step and the entire business crashed. While I was writing the book, Understanding The Power Of Divine Direction, I met one of those highly respected men and he was chatting with me. He told me he took a wrong step in 1985 and from that time his life and ministry went down. One wrong step after great years of exploits, everything went down. Church Gist. I wrote it in the Foreword of that book. You won’t take such a wrong step in your life. He said it from his mouth. Not that somebody said he said and he said it to me. So from his mouth to my ears and from my ears to my heart and I cried out for grace not to take a wrong step that will wreck all that God has put in my life.
– in the precious name of Jesus, The days of misdirection, delusion, confusion are over in your life.
Just like a sheep will always need a shepherd, no matter the age or experience, everyone of us will continue to require divine direction all through our journey in life. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the ones that will keep manifesting as sons of God. The Lord must remain our shepherd in order to make the most of our journey on earth. Church Gist. Psalm 23:1-6. As I follow His leading, He renders my enemies helpless. Can any opposition stand when God is coming? Amazing blessings. When the Lord guides us continually we are like a watered garden, like a spring of water which its waters fail not (Isaiah 58:11).
– You will not experience dry seasons again.
Any vision no matter how authentic will suffer frustration without access to divine direction. Why? Vision shows what is ahead but divine direction defines the steps to getting there. Many have genuine visions from God but they have no access to divine direction from God, so it remains a balloon vision because they cannot access it. Isaiah 48:17-18.
Isaiah 48:17-19. God is committed to teaching us how to get across what He’s leading us to. So, when He shows us a vision, He teaches us how to get across, how to see that vision realized. Church Gist. We have the total picture with a vision and then we have the steps defined by divine direction
Exodus 13:17. But He led them about by the way of the Red Sea and showed His mighty wonders as He did. One, he disabled Pharaoh’s Army from any further pursuit, they were all buried in the Red Sea. Church Gist. And He began to manifest His wonders to them by giving them two meals per day. Exodus 16:8. Bread in the morning, flesh in the evening, till they got to the City of Canaan. Exodus 16:35. He led them about to free them from war and brought them into open surprise from Heaven. Church Gist. They were not concerned about what to eat or what to drink. He was supplying them textile, I mean things to wear. They had no shopping centre, nowhere to buy anything from, they were not allowed to pass through any City. Church Gist. He led them about. God is leading you to fortune. So, beware of shortcuts. Exodus 13:17.
This God is wonderful. He led this ministry from Ilorin to Kaduna and He knew He was bringing us here oh but to bring us here at that time, we’d be wrestling with witches. Church Gist. But He led us about to bring us to His promised land. If we didn’t follow the leading, we’ll never get here. If we didn’t learn the things that we needed to learn, we’ll never get here. Praise God. By the time we got here, we had become Master of witches and wizards. I mean, tested and proven. Church Gist. The witches and wizards also knew that they were in for it. That’s why He leads us about to equip us for the battles ahead in our promised land. Deuteronomy 7:22. Allow God to lead you.
A friend of mine came and said, “no, you can’t be living in Ipaja, that’s not the size of your ministry”, he wanted to leave there but God delivered me. Are you talking of assignment or talking about size of ministry? No. One wrong step can wreck a whole destiny. Church Gist. When God says, “go to Agege”, you say, “no, no, no. Okay who will go to VI if we go to Agege?” Okay, be asking questions, they’ll punish you there and you’ll run back. (Laughs). Nothing will wreck your destiny. Proverbs 14:12. You won’t follow the way of death.
So, next to salvation sir, divine direction stands out as a great asset in the journey of life. Isaiah 48:21. Church Gist. Welcome to your Goshen era! It may be all dry around you but favour will gushing in your life!
Divine direction may not look sound by human consideration but it’s always the most profitable way to go. 2 Corinthians 11:3. Beware of his devices, “you’re a man of yourself, you should be able to decide what to do”, beware. Church Gist. “How can God tell you not to eat this fruit? Why? That’s what Himself eats when He comes. Eat it and be like Him. I tell you the truth, I always watch Him when He comes here”. Church Gist. He deceived Adam and Eve, stripped them naked and went away. No one here shall be stripped naked.
But following divine direction is a choice. Deuteronomy 30:19. It’s a choice we make. You will make that right choice! Now, just a little flashback. 1977, I was in the book of Jeremiah 29:11 and I was using Revised Standard Version then, there were not too many versions like we have today, all of them saying different things. Church Gist. Jeremiah 29:11(RSV). Good news! Your future is in His plan. So, settle down to locate His plan. My future is in His plan, I settle down to find His plan and He unveiled His plan. I embraced His plan and walking in His plan, I have zero regret. He said to me from the last Scripture, “my son, your future is not in your plan but in my plan”. Church Gist. Thank you Lord. “What I say to one, I say to all”, your future is not in your plan but in His plan.
Let’s look at 3 benefits of following divine direction.
1. Following divine direction secures for us divine presence. Luke 10:1-2. So, when God leads, He comes with the led. Luke 10:17-19. Church Gist. We enjoy divine presence following divine guidance. I’ve said it before, when God leads, He goes before the led. Isaiah 45:1-2. When God leads, He goes before the led. Two, He goes with the led. Mark 16:15-20. Can I tell you this? God with me is the mystery behind my confidence. All my enemies know. Church Gist. God with me is the mystery behind my uncheckered confidence. Three, when God leads, He walks through the led. Those who think they’re experts, no, they’re fronting for the one who led them. Philippians 2:13.
When God leads, He works for the led. So you’re clapping for him? No! You’re clapping for the One at work inside him. 1 Thessalonians 5:24. Church Gist. That is why they look like marvels because the One behind the doings does only marvelous things. Psalm 118:23. Now, can I tell you this: Who is building the Ark? This Church? This short man? He works for the led. That’s what makes life pleasurable when you’re following His leading.
-Your days of struggling for survival, they are over!
Now, who built this Tabernacle? This Church? Because the Church has no budget. Can it be extra budgetary? Church Gist. When He leads He goes with the led. Romans 8:31. So, everyone following His leading appears a marvel to his World.
-From now, men will marvel at you!
He tells you what business to go into, you’re just flying. You’re just soaring. I saw one of our pastors who was into Agric., I mean, I checked through the brochure! That would beat any standard anywhere in the World – ‘From our farm to your table’. Church Gist. He got it right inside the Church. To let you know I fancy that thing, it’s on my desk; I’d love to check it again.
-Your package is here.
Divine presence is the greatest asset in divine guidance.
2. It triggers supernatural breakthroughs.
The led will usually command supernatural breakthroughs because of the forces at work behind him and inside him. Church Gist. Psalm 24:7-10. And if God goes with the led? Which everlasting gate can stand on his way?
-Your days of being blocked without access and going forward is over in your life.
Isaiah 45:1-3. Maybe I should reflect, the first year we came into Canaan(land), our Church income increased by 186 million. That is, we should go down by the geography of this Place but the hidden riches of darkness… Come on now! When God leads you, He gives you access to the hidden riches of darkness. How many have heard me share that before? I mean they are not makeup stories, I mean they have been there. Church Gist. When God leads you! Anybody with some smart brain… because my own may not be that smart, will not come here for Church work. But when God leads, he gives you access to the hidden riches of darkness to prove that: “I AM the One that led you!” “Go to Agege”, it exploded! People were coming from every part of Lagos running just to secure a seat. When God leads! You can now say: “Lord! Look! I’m staying in Maryland. Agege? No! I don’t know the place!” Okay, go to where you know! He leads you to where the answer is.
-You won’t miss your steps.
Now, He may have shown you: “This is your Church!” You may now decide to stop in Abule Egba, Amen! And look for a Church that has “Living”. It may not be Living Faith, it may be “Living Water” just “Living!” I mean it’s your choice! Those two and a half tribes refused to enter the Promised Land, they said: “Oga Moses! Church Gist. This Place is not good enough for us!” He said: “You want to discourage the people out of order? That’s how your fathers did.” He said: “Okay, you will go with them and the 5? They’re coming back here. This is where we are staying, we are not going into any Promised Land.” They are the forgotten tribes of Israel. Listen up! They got consumed where they stayed. Allow Jesus to lead you! No one ever regrets being led by Him.
-You will never regret in your life.
God sent Paul to the gentiles, he was like a god to them. Supernatural breakthroughs! Within two years, the whole of Asia heard the Gospel, all kinds of testimonies because he followed His leadings. Church Gist. All the letters of Paul that formed the New Testament today were written to the gentiles. He was an unusual man in their midst because God sent him there. Galatians 2:8.
-May you not miss your place!
When God leads, supernatural breakthrough is the lot of the led. Church Gist. It accompanies the led. It manifests in the led.
-Your days of unexplainable but undeniable breakthrough is finally here.
3. When God leads, He renders our enemies helpless. Psalm 23:1-5. They were stirring, they were angry, they were gnashing their teeth. Psalm 23:6. Church Gist. When God leads, He renders our enemies what? Helpless.
-You won’t miss His leading! You will not miss His leading.
Isaiah 14:27. God’s purpose always secures God’s Hand and when He stretches forth His Hand, what devil in hell can turn it back.
-It’s your turn!
Misdirection can be costly if not deadly. You won’t suffer the plague of misdirection. Jeremiah 6:16-20. Church Gist. You know, when you miss it, God turns His back, He turns His back and things begin to go haywire. Not for you! 1 Samuel 15:22.
Let me round up with this. Only those who ask questions are entitled to answers. ‘Lord, which way? I have these 3 options before me. Church Gist. What are you asking me to do Jesus?’ Every sincere question of the heart will always secure an answer from the Lord for every child of God. Proverbs 3:5,6.
– It’s a great day for you.
– Anyone here going through a wrong path, may the light of today put you right in the name of Jesus.
—Prayers—
Very quickly, today is our Encounter With Destiny Service. Can I have you say with me, “I’m a child of destiny. I cannot afford to live like a destitute. I’m a child of destiny. I refuse to live like a destitute.” Church Gist. Now, from the mirror of the Word, we discover that every believer has amazing destiny in Christ, but accessible primarily by revelation. Genesis 13:14,15. God’s Word is likened to a mirror. James 1:22-25. God’s Word is the mirror that shows us God’s picture of us. We catch God’s picture of us from His Word.
What does the Word say concerning your destiny and my destiny?
1. Every child of God has a glorious destiny. Romans 8:29,30. So everyone justified by the blood of Jesus is justified to be glorified. Church Gist. You have, I have, same degree of a glorious destiny in Christ. 2 Peter 1:3. We are called to glory, not to shame. Glory and virtue, not shame and reproach, glory and honour, not shame and reproach. Can I have you say with me, “I have a glorious destiny in Christ.”
2. Every child of God has an enviable destiny in Christ. Genesis 26:12-14. Church Gist. Galatians 4:14. So, every child of God is ordained to be envied, not to be pitied.
– The days of pities around your life, they are finally over.
3. We have a royal destiny in Christ. Revelation 5:9,10. There is no disadvantaged or advantaged nation in redemption. He has made all nations of one blood. It doesn’t have to be white to right. Please, wake up! God has no special race, wake up! Church Gist. The same God over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, wake up! The Ark is going on without a foreign input, wake up! Don’t sell off your birthright for nonsense. The profit of the Earth is for all, even the king is served by the field.
– May this sink to you today oh!
One of my sons said he heard me say, 2002, that there is no devalued currency, just have enough. He had a green card in his hand, he tore it. Church Gist. I was there to dedicate his 12 floor office building. It’s this lopsided thinking that’s made many slaves of precious people, kings walking on foot, servants riding upon horses.
– Somebody’s story is changing.
Travelling is not an achievement. ‘I just came back from Canada’ That’s okay, you’re a tourist. ‘I’ll be going to Brazil tomorrow’ Well done. You can’t do more than air hostess do. There is nothing in traveling, your value is being in your place and doing His bidding. Church Gist. Can I hear your Amen? Can the history of the Church of Christ be written today in this generation with this place missing? That will be incomplete history, distorted history, apartheid history. In the same vein, things will rise from you that’s not found anywhere in the World. So, allow Jesus to lead you. Thank you, Jesus. Your destiny is not tied to a place, it’s tied to God. ‘Follow me and I will make you’ Don’t follow the vogue, ‘follow me, I will make you’ Church Gist. Some sold their business to travel, they travelled and met emptiness and they came back, no business, no house, they were not directed. Some are directed, they just arrived there as royalties, welcomed with two arms, not hiding from one corner, you say you’re looking for paper. My God. Thank you, Jesus.
– You may look like a slave today, but you’re standing on the throne tomorrow.
– You’re getting up on the throne tomorrow.
4. Say with me, “I have a pace setting destiny in Christ.” Because you’re the light of the world, you are to show the world the way to go. Church Gist. You have pace setting destiny in Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:9. So, wake up and explore. Explore the treasures that are hidden in your inside. Thank you, Jesus.
5. Finally, say with me, “I have a destiny of eternity with Christ” How many are sure of making Heaven? Come on, let me see your hand. Now, how many believe Heaven is real? Now, how many believe there are conditions to making it? Church Gist. Do you believe that? You better believe. There are conditions to fly from your country to another country, you believe that? Don’t let any body deceive you, if you flout the conditions, you have lost your place in it.
Heaven is the eternal rest home for the redeemed. 1 Corinthians 6:9.
– We shall make it together!
– I must make it!
But most people sell off their destiny through carelessness like Esau. I mean, the guy came back and he said he was very hungry. Jacob said, “you want red pottage? He said, yes – sell me your birthright, that’s where to begin from.” Church Gist. And he said, “what’s the birthright to me? I’m dying. Give me – I sell it.” He said, “swear – he said, I swear.” Genesis 25:29-33. That means he didn’t have to even deceive to collect the blessing. He collected it in that verse before he said, “bring me something to eat.” The man had sold it already.
Many have sold their birthright, they just sell it. “That’s okay, I thank God…” Yes, we also thank God. Church Gist. But what we are saying is that why must you lose so much when so much is inside you? You won’t miss it!
How Do People Sell Off Their Birthright?
1. Through ignorance of the truth concerning their redemption in Christ. They do not know the worth of their inheritance in redemption so it’s easy to sell it off. They say, “I don’t care.” Isaiah 5:13, John 8:32.
2. Some who have discovered their inheritance are so much in a hurry and they lose it. Proverbs 20:21. There is always a process. That’s why men hardly make anything much out of inheritance. Proverbs 13:11. Church Gist. Some are overly in a hurry living their future in the now thereby selling off their future; renting houses above their means so they keep renting and renting without being able to build.
3. Others miss their destiny through carnal comparison of themselves with others. 2 Corinthians 10:12. You have your life to live, there is a race set before each person. Run your race, don’t run another man’s race. Church Gist. Your fingerprint is unique, that shows the uniqueness of your destiny. Run your race and wish others well. If you got it, you got it for yourself. If you miss it, you missed it for yourself. Proverbs 9:9,12.
– May you grab this today and keep it for life in the name of Jesus!
Proverbs 27:8. To be called displaced is a horror. Church Gist. Don’t displace yourself from God’s agenda and you will be glad you followed. Focus on the race set before you.
Our destiny in the Kingdom is not a destination but an adventure. Proverbs 4:18. That’s how your life will be shining! 2 Corinthians 3:18…That shall be your new adventure! Church Gist. Destiny in the Kingdom is not a destination but an adventure.
Don’t place a ceiling on your destiny. Greater days lie ahead. But it delivers little by little. Exodus 23:30. Church Gist. As long as we let God continue to lead us, we end up in our high places.
– You are getting there!
– Where you are today is only a stepping stone to where God is taking you, He is taking you beyond your wildest imagination in the name of Jesus!
But every great destiny has a small beginning (please understand that) as we saw in Christ, our Lord and Saviour. “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a child not a man and thou shall call His name Emmanuel.” Church Gist. We saw how Christ began as a baby (Luke 2:10-12) in a manger. He grew to become an adolescent at the age of 12. Luke 2:47-49. He was declared to be the Son of God with power. Luke 9:35 and Romans 1:4.
Growth is a process towards accomplishment and fulfilment. But spiritual growth is vital to our rate of fulfillment of destiny. Luke 2:40. Please, get committed to feeding your spirit man with strength from the Word of God. Church Gist. “He waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.”
Spiritual growth is key to realizing our full potential in Christ. But how? Through continuous study of the Word. 2 Timothy 4:13, Acts 26:24. Church Gist. So stay spiritually minded because our inheritance is spiritual. We can only take delivery by spiritual means.
– Therefore in the name of Jesus Christ, I decree that every closed destiny opens up today!
– Every dying destiny is quickened back to life today!
– Every struggling destiny experiences supernatural breakthrough by the light encountered in this Service today in the name of Jesus!
When you know what belongs to you, it enhances your resistance against the contrary.
– You will not see shame again!
– You will not suffer reproach again!
– Your enviable destiny will start manifesting from now!
– Your mockers will go into hiding!
– They will join you to worship your God in the name of Jesus!
– Your level will never cease changing!
– It will continue until the perfect day; until Jesus comes!
– The week is declared a week of open destiny!
– Everywhere you have been rejected, they will now look for you in Jesus name!
#BishopDavidOyedepo
#LFCWorldwide
#EncounterWithDestinyService
#FaithTabernacleCanaanland
#2025NewEraYear
#7thSeptember2025
#SupersonicSunday
#ChurchGist
