THIS CHURCH IS NOT A MAN MADE CHURCH, IT IS A JESUS CHURCH.
WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES IN MAKING KNOWN THE WORD OF GOD.
NO ONE HAS A CREDIT OVER THE GROWTH, THE EXPANSION, THE EXPLOSION OF THIS CHURCH. JESUS HAS IT.
THE DAY I WILL MAKE MYSELF THINK (UNDER ANY demonic OPPRESSION) THAT I AM BEHIND THE GROWTH OF THIS CHURCH, WON’T MEET ME ON THIS EARTH
THIS CHURCH STARTED IN DECEMBER 1983, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RATE OF GROWTH IN MARCH.
PEOPLE ARE TOO PATIENT WITH NOTHING HAPPENING
ARCHBISHOP BENSON IDAHOSA’S OLUBADAN CRUSADE STIRRED MY PASSION FOR MIRACLES
GENUINE INQUIRIES LEAD INTO DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
ENCOUNTERS ARE REAL AND THEY CHANGE PEOPLE’S STORIES AS THEY ENGAGE WITH IT
EVERY MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM REVEALED TO YOU AND ME IS TO ADVANCE THE COURSE OF OUR DESTINY IN LIFE
EVERY COMMISSION IS A POTTER’S HOUSE WHERE GOD GIVES SHAPE TO THE LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE
WE HAVE OUR ALLOCATIONS OF GOD IN THIS COMMISSION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE ON BOARD
GENUINE CONNECTIVITY IS THE ONLY GUARANTEE FOR ACCESS TO THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN THIS COMMISSION
WHATEVER IS DONE AGAINST THIS CHURCH IS DONE AGAINST CHRIST.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM MOST SENSITIVE ABOUT IS WORKING AGAINST GOD’s DOINGS IN A CHURCH.
THE CONTENT OF THE BIBLE LIVES ABOVE ALL CIVILIZATION THAT WILL EVER BE.
GOD’s BLESSINGS WILL ALWAYS TRAIL OUR OBEDIENCE.
WHEN YOU HONOUR GOD, HE HONOURS YOU IN RETURN AND WHEN GOD HONOURS A MAN, NO devil CAN PUT HIM TO SHAME.
PEOPLE PREVAIL BY THE BLESSINGS OF FATHERS WHERE OTHERS TRAVAIL.
- Bishop David Oyedepo at April 2024 Leadership Empowerment Summit || LFC Canaanland || 6th April 2024.
Just a quick follow up to what we heard as I welcome all our leaders across the nations of the world to this session. God-passionate lifestyle is a covenant platform for securing encounters with God. John 14:21. So a God-passionate lifestyle secures access to encounters with God. What a time we are in, in these 40 days prophetic season of the post resurrection appearance of Christ. As our passion rises, we provoke His appearance. What is an encounter about? An encounter is the unveiling of Kingdom mysteries as it relates to you and I. Jesus prayed, heavens came down and told Him about the gruesome crucifixion ahead of Him. Church Gist. Luke 9:28-35. Every encounter unveils a dimension of the mysteries of the Kingdom as it relates to us. Acts 1:3. An encounter brings us into things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. It is not a euphoria, it is not an ectasy. No! The reason why an encounter with God opens a new chapter to the life of every believer. 2 Corinthians 3:18. Every genuine encounter with God opens a new chapter from one level of glory to another to the believer. So it is not a thing about what they are teaching. Many of us have experienced that in our lives. Certain light came through and what used to be an uphill task became a walkover. You encounter certain things in the world that impact so massively on you, you can’t forget. Whenever God appears, He shows us new light. Psalm 36:9. God is light, when He shows up, He sheds new light on our hearts. Psalm 118:27. Psalm 16:11. He shows the path of life as we encounter Him.
For example, I was out on a five day prayer, fasting and searching for what God has in stock. What I needed to know as I was getting ready to step into full time ministry. I call that experience ‘The Mount of Transfiguration’. It is akin to John’s experience when he went to the Isle of Patmos for the Word of the Lord. Revelation 1:10. I came to a point where I heard heaven sing with my ears, I wasn’t sleeping. The richest voices I ever heard in my life. Rich baritone voices! For the Word. So it is not enough to go searching, Lord why is this area not working in my life? Genuine questions will always provoke answers from Him. Why is this cell not growing? He shows up. What must I do to deliver my own portion in this prophetic agenda? Church Gist. He shows up. Amazing things happened in that place. ‘I have not designed life for ups and downs’ and that is the natural concept of man. The firmament cannot be so bright without dark spots. So they are expecting dark spots all the time. Jesus blasted that on that mountain from Proverbs 4:18. ‘You don’t need to know any man to scale the utmost heights in life, my son. Just know me.’ Daniel 11:32. Our immunity came through on that mountain, what a pace setting encounter that came through an enquiry from the Lord.
That was before me ever thinking of a church ministry, He said “The living faith is the winning faith. The winning faith is the acting faith and that is the faith of God.” That was where I heard, “Son, you are absolutely responsible for the outcome of your life.” What a Word. Church Gist. I was not looking for who to blame. From Isaiah 51:1-3. I was there for the Word of the Lord and I returned with the Word of the Lord.
Again, I went out with four of my co-labourers in a camp, we were preparing for the Commissioning Service. “Thank you Jesus, thank you for all the help we have received. Now show up in this meeting. Make yourself known” and on the third day we were on the mat in that camp and He opened my eyes to Psalm 34:5, “My son, you have two eyes, can you make one to look up and the other to look down?” We went for a marching order. Now we are going in, what are the things we must go with? Then He showed up again. “My son, you have two eyes, can you make one to look up and the other to look down?” I checked, it didn’t work. “Any time you are looking on to man, never claim to be looking on to me but fix your eyes on me, you will never be ashamed.” I call that the Law of Absolute Dependence on God. Church Gist. What a good God. Without that law we will be estrangled, we will be stranded. If God cannot do it, leave it undone. Absolute dependence. Whatever you can’t give, we don’t need. Wherever you can’t take us to, we mustn’t get there. Absolute dependency. They call it trust. Psalm 125:1.
So encounters result out of a heart for God and the interests of His Kingdom. More often than not, we come upon encounters through enquiries. Habbakuk 2:1-2. Church Gist. Don’t wait for things, if they are not happening ask why are they not happening? Let it be genuine from your heart, not to be known and be great and be applauded.
Then came the big one and this applies to all of us. Why is this Church not growing? Wait a minute. The Church started December 1983, I was concerned about the rate of growth in March. People are too patient with nothing happening. They are too patient. How can you be in a cell for one or two years and not one soul is added and you have not bothered to ask why so as to know the way forward. Why is this Church not growing? This is not a question to ask on the dining table. Let’s get ahead on a three day fast. So three of us did and on the third day, the Master showed up. “Stand up and follow me.” Raw encounter! Did I see Him? No. Nobody sees Him and lives. Stand up and follow me. Church Gist. I heard Him so I followed Him. We got to a point, life! Afternoon time, not that I dreamt. Turn back here and I did. He opened my eyes and I saw a layer of thick darkness on the roof of the church. This is what the devil is using to misinterpret what I, Jesus, is doing in this church. He is the builder of His Church. So come on boy, deal with that. I said, “You foul spirit of darkness. There is a light that shines in darkness and darkness can’t handle it. Get off that roof right now in the name of Jesus.” You have heard me share this story forever and it hasn’t been edited. You don’t edit experience. My grammar may not be sound but you understand what I am talking about. I heard Him.
He said to me, “Now wait a minute. When I came to the world. Someone had to tell someone else ‘come and see’. Get to town and tell them, come and see what Jesus is doing in this place.” This Church is not a man made Church, it is a Jesus Church. That was the encounter of March 1984. We have not followed cunningly devised fables in making known to us the Word of God. No one has a credit over the growth, the expansion, the explosion of this Church. Jesus has it. The day I will make myself think under any demonic oppression that I did, won’t meet me on this earth. I met Him, He showed up to me. He showed that He owns it. You can’t fabricate experience. Church Gist. You can’t copy experience. He said, “Third, keep sowing the seeds.” Good time with Jesus. “And as the grass grows, the sheep will come for it.” What is the seed? Life applicable teachings of the Word of God. The seed is the Word of God. Luke 8:11. He was teaching me in that encounter oh, life, not that I took a note, when He teaches, the heart burns. His Words burn the heart.
Then He said finally, “and keep the grass green and the sheep will lie down there”. Psalm 23:2. That’s why the heavy come-and-see chariots have been moving for over 40 years. It was 40 last month. Church Gist. You’ll say, “why are they printing everyday?” That’s what we are told to do, we’ve been printing everyday, we give you everyday. We see you everyday, we give you everyday. You say, “you gave me yesterday”. Yes, get again today. (Laughs). Come and see what Jesus is doing. So, you see our tracts, see Jesus, come and see Jesus. Church Gist. More often than not Sir, it’s inquiries, genuine inquiries that lead into encounters.
I was so overwhelmed with passion as I saw that awesome video documentary of the Olubadan Stadium crusade that was hosted by Archbishop Benson Idahosa. Church Gist. I saw with my eyes as the commentator was making a statement, people were arriving at the stadium, 6am, 7am for a crusade at 6pm. I saw people carrying full grown adults on the back – the man carrying is almost getting sick as the one that is being carried. I said, “Jesus, help me to be part of this solution”. I saw the man of God came on the platform, while he was still speaking, miracles everywhere. Church Gist. Massive interruptions. I turned off the light, it was in the night, I said, “Jesus, help me to be a part of the solution to the plague of this suffering masses. Help me Jesus, help me. I want to be a part of the solution”. Sir, He walked in. Jesus walked in. You’re members of the family, I can tell you my walk with God, it’s not fabricated. Church Gist. Jesus walked in, then I heard this walking steps of the Master on the carpet. You know you hardly hear that. So majestic. Now, light was off but I wasn’t scared. I was filled with awe and I knew when He got to my back and put His hand on my back and something like warm water ran down my spine. I sensed the power of the Holy Ghost all over me. Church Gist. It was a Saturday morning like this, got to Church on Sunday and explosion, eruption. There was no time to wait for the message, it was in the welcoming of people that explosion started. That culminated in what we call Pentecost flames with all manner of miracles. It was a stepping up in the school of the supernatural. Church Gist. Holes in the skull filled. Someone with a withered hand in one of those meetings from an industrial accident, he was working with NEPA. So, he had a withered hand, he fell from the pole or something and someone walked up to him in the service and held that hand and stretched it forth. An invisible guest, Jesus. Someone had a domestic accident, fire burn with blisters everywhere, someone walked up to him, an invisible guest, “rise up, embrace me”. The person rose up, all the effect of the fire burn was gone.
- come on, give the Lord praise.
Encounters are real, that’s the story. Encounters are real and they change people’s stories as they engage with it. We have quite a number of days in this prophetic season of the appliance of the resurrection of Christ, please take advantage with a burning passion to secure an encounter. Church Gist. Every mystery of the Kingdom revealed to you and me is to advance the course of our destiny in life. Can I thank God enough forever till I go to Heaven for the light he shed on my heart from Mathew 6:33? I can’t. That gave my life bearing, gave it shape. Church Gist. Can I thank Him enough for showing me that the Holy Ghost is a person that is out to lead and guide our steps on the safe path of life? No, I can’t. And that is 48 years ago.
- Something that will stay with you for life must happen this time as you position yourself for it.
For the few minutes we have, every commission is a potter’s house where God gives shape to the lives of His people. Jeremiah 18:2,6. Church Gist. So, He gives our lives shape in the potter’s house. He gives shape to our destiny in the potter’s house. That’s why every house of God has set divine allocations for distribution. Psalm 132:13-16. So, there are provisions allocated to every potter’s house, to every apostolic ministry and they are for free distribution to those who desire them. Psalm 65:4. Church Gist. There’s a goodness, some set of goodness allotted to every house that Jesus built. Can I hear your Amen? When you get to a shopping mall and you’re in the driving lot or the parking lot, you see people coming out with mattress, that means, it is sold there. Is it indeed? You don’t have to be asking, “excuse me, do they sell mattress?” You see him coming out with mattress from there, it’s sold there. Church Gist. You find him coming out with a toddler’s bicycle, three leg or tricycle, you know it is sold there. So, if you see what people come out with from any ministry, that’s what they sell in that ministry. That’s what’s allocated to that ministry. So, we have our allocations of God in this commission that is available to everyone on board. Church Gist. Now, listen to me, that you’re at the airport building does not entitle you to what they serve on board the aircraft. You have to get on board to qualify for it.
- may each one be genuinely connected, spiritually connected to God’s agenda in this commission so you can become a partaker of those blessings.
“As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave you”, so he became a partaker of what Elijah carried. Genuine connectivity is the only guarantee for access. Church Gist. Getting onboard is the only guarantee to be served on the menu and other blessings they offer in the air. You can’t get it on the ground. If you come out one moment before the flight took off, that’s all. You can’t say, “can I have my something so I can take it home?” You can’t take it home. Church Gist. Here in this Commission, as we all should know, God stocks the following goodness for free distribution to those who are on board:
- Unflinching faith in the Word. Every bonafide Winner is a faith-filled believer. Liberation from all operations of the devil, so, we testify everyday – “Jesus broke the siege, something turned in my life, that spell was broken, that curse was taken away, i became free”. Church Gist. He stocks signs and wonders here. Wonders without number, all kinds including the raising of the dead. Not by Pastors this time, by members of the Church by reason of the faith at work in them and by response to the signal of the Holy Spirit. Signs and wonders of all kinds. Church Gist. Breakthroughs in all our endeavours. They are the things he stocks here that becomes the portion of every bonafide Winner.
- You won’t lack them!
In those days, they used to give us some souvenirs (while) flying (I don’t know whether they still do it now) but you know, I know KCM or (what is it) KLM and all that, they have things they give you that you use as decorations in your house. Whether they still do it or not, I don’t know. But there are things you come back with from being onboard. After eating the food, after drinking the water, after ringing the bell that they should bring you more and more and they can’t say no because you are onboard. (Laughs) Bring my grape, juice and bring me, okay no, orange now. Add orange to it. Now, add mango to it. Church Gist. You have mango? Add it to it. You are onboard, you are entitled…The air hostess can’t say, ‘it’s enough.’ It’s not enough until you are satisfied. You say, bring me tea. You say, no. What tea do you have? White tea – no! You don’t have green tea? No. Look for green tea. I need green tea. You can say that while onboard, you can’t say that in the airport building. You can’t call KLM staff and say, ‘come, bring me tea.’ He says, for what? (Laughs) You say, ‘I’m coming onboard’ – when you get onboard…Amen!
Refuse to sell off your birthright. You are not brought Here by chance. Here, He stocks financial fortune provenly so even within the Ministry itself. Church Gist. Here, He stocks healing, health and wholeness stopping the harassment of sickness and disease.
He stocks divine wisdom Here, giving you what to do in moving forward in life. We have seen marital breakthroughs as one of the things He stocks Here, supernatural fruitfulness, securing of our glorious destiny and many more. Church Gist. Here, He stocks hitch free marriage. I mean there are many people in this Church that are experiencing that today. Stress-free marriage, singing, joyful, praising marriage – He stocks it Here.
All we need is genuine connectivity as individuals so as to stay onboard this flight where you begin to enjoy all that He serves Here. Church Gist. God is ever committed to confirm access to His goodness in this House if we will get connected to the truth He unveils Here. His blessings will always trail our obedience.
Simple, humourous illustration – “love your wife as Christ loves the Church.” ‘God, you don’t know my wife. Nobody can love my wife, not even you.’ ‘Una well-done.’ ‘Wife, submit yourself to your husband – oh, never. Not in this age. These are all the archaic things that Papa teaches.’ I didn’t write the Bible so don’t blame me but I know it lives and abides forever and you can’t do anything against but for the truth. I know. Church Gist. So, don’t blame me, blame the Author of the Bible (blame God). Nothing in that Book will ever become archaic or outdated. The content of that Book lives above all civilization that will ever be. Over to you.
Some are not members of this Family but they got onboard and they are being served what He serves Here. You might be in a plane that is all Asians and you are the only African, that does not mean you will miss out on what they serve there. Fellow co-labourers get onboard and stay onboard. Church Gist. Get onboard and stay onboard! Whatever God serves Here is freely available to anyone that is genuinely committed and connected to what is taught, then you can begin to experience what He has packaged. Give the Lord a big hand of praise!
—PRAYERS—
- To all my co-labourers across the nations of the World, I decree your unimpeded access to all that Jesus stocks Here!
Now listen, it means whatever is done against this Church is done against Christ. “Why persecutest thou me? Who are thou O Lord? I’m Jesus. Church Gist. No, we are dealing with the Church.” He said, “I’m Jesus.” It’s not a scare, it’s a warning. ‘It’s a hard thing for any man to kick against the pricks.’ It’s a warning.
One of the things I am most sensitive about is working against God’s doings in a Church. No! You say, “it’s not the Church of Christ” and it’s the Church of Christ – then, you are in trouble. We are all answerable to God at the end of our days. Church Gist. Don’t do anything against this Church. In the secrecy of your heart, don’t. Don’t wish a crash of this Church. You don’t survive an air crash when you are onboard. Don’t cause your mouth to cause your flesh to sin. Ecclesiastes 5:6.
—PRAYERS—
Now, the agenda for before the first half of the year is over, is still in place. I like you to open up your faith as sons and daughters of a House of faith and take your own stand in it. Church Gist. So, He can be glorified at the end of the day.
- The doubling of the attendance of our Churches between now and the end of June is a reality! I said it’s a reality.
- Grace to take your place in it, grace to be an encourager of others, grace to be a promoter of this agenda, come-on now, lift up your two hands and receive it right now!
—PRAYERS—
- Be blessed of the Lord – you and your household!
- May the rewards of your stewardship impact on your children, your children’s children in their generations!
- May your righteousness remain intact!
- May we all make Heaven in grand styles!
- The former things God has overlooked and now commands that every man should repent. Church Gist. May your new stand today remain in place till Jesus returns!
- Now, Lord, I pray for any wounded soldier in this Commission – Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
- Again, for anyone that may be sick among us that is not in this Summit today across the nations of the World, I curse the root of that sickness! I curse the root of that disease!
- Everyone appointed to death, good news, the graves are opened!
- Good news, the graves are opened in the name of Jesus!
- May every step taken this Month be steps forward!
- In your stewardship, steps forward!
- In your business and career, steps forward!
- In your family, steps forward in the name of Jesus! So shall it be in Jesus name!
- Well, may I say this to you? Church Gist. You have honoured Jesus with your presence today, expect to be honoured back in return!
- You will never know shame in your life!
- You will never see shame in your life!
- It will not be the identity of your family!
- No more shame, no more reproach!
Those who honour God, He honours them in return and when God honours a man, no devil can put him to shame.
- The days of shame and reproach, they are over in everyone’s life! So shall it be!
- Be blessed!
People prevail by the blessings of fathers where others travail.
- Therefore by the blessings of the fatherhood of this House, be blessed and by these blessings, prevail where others travail!
- It shall be again, a year of good reports all-round for everyone of us!
- Thank you Father in Jesus name!
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