THE THEME FOR JANUARY 2025 IS GLORY AHEAD
ONE OF MY SONS GAVE A TESTIMONY DURING THE ABUJA HOLY GHOST SERVICE IN NOVEMBER. WHEN THE ALMIGHTY GOD ENTERED INTO HIS MOM, SHE VOMITED A LIVE WALL GECKO
THE MOMENT GOD BRINGS YOU INTO SALVATION, IT IS EVIDENCE THAT HE HAS CHOSEN YOU TO BE ONE OF HIS SOLDIERS
THE LIFESTYLE OF A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS A LIFESTYLE OF JOY BECAUSE THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.
YOU HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF HELP FROM GOD AND THE HELP WILL COME INSTANTLY
THE LORD SAID, UP TILL THIS MOMENT YOU HAVEN’T ASKED ME ANYTHING; ASK TILL YOUR JOY BE FULL!
THE LIFESTYLE OF A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER. YOU ARE NOT A WEAKLING, YOU HAVE POWER.
THE LIFESTYLE OF A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS OF FAITH. GOD HONORS FAITH; STOP BEING A DOUBTER AND BE A MAN OF FAITH
THE LIFESTYLE OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS A LIFE OF DISCIPLINE – NEXT YEAR IN THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, WE WILL BE FASTING FOR 100 DAYS
AS A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, YOU ARE COMMANDED TO KEEP MARCHING FORWARD BECAUSE THERE IS A GOAL – A CROWN IS WAITING FOR YOU
A TRUE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER EXHIBITS THE LIFESTYLE OF PRAISE
A SOLDIER OF CHRIST NEVER GRUMBLES, THEY DON’T COMPLAIN, THEY ARE ALWAYS PRAISING GOD.
DO I HEAR SOMEBODY SAY BEFORE I GET HOME, EVERY AGENT OF THE DEVIL IN MY HOUSE MUST PACK OUT.
BY THE TIME THEY HAVE KEPT MY SON IN DETENTION FOR DAYS, BITTEN BY MOSQUITOES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS, HE WAS READY TO MOVE THIS MOUNTAIN.
THE LORD SAID, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, SOMEBODY WILL BE SINGING
IF YOU READ JOSHUA 10:1-11, YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT OUR LORD IS THE FIRST ONE TO THROW BOMBS.
AS A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU MUST NEVER, NEVER RUN FROM THE ENEMY.
IF YOU COME AGAINST A MOUNTAIN, YOU ARE NOT TO TURN BACK, YOU’RE TO MOVE THE MOUNTAIN
Pastor E. A. Adeboye on “ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS” || RCCG Holy Ghost Congress 2024 || 14th December 2024 || Day 5 Evening Service
Let somebody shout hallelujah. Shake hands with one or two people and tell him or her, I’ve already received my own. Church Gist. And then you may please be seated, except those born in the month of December. You are born in the month of December, let me hear you shout hallelujah.
- PRAYERS –
The January Holy Ghost service of course will be in January. And the theme for January 2025 is Glory Ahead. So tell the fellow next to you, whether the devil likes it or not, I’m going to see the new year. Church Gist. On December the 31st, there will be a crossover service here.
Of course you hold your own in your various churches. But for those who choose to attend the service here. We will start with the Holy Communion service. Church Gist. And that will be the last Holy Communion service of the year. And it will be followed by a service of songs.
What do you think of this choir? Aren’t they wonderful? Let’s give the Lord a big round of applause for them. Church Gist. We’re having, as you probably guessed, three services combined into one tonight. The Holy Ghost service, followed by Holy Communion service, Followed by anointing service. We’re already blessed. But all that has happened is mere introduction.
By the time we finish here tonight, even the devil will know he’s in trouble. Let’s go straight to the word of God. Church Gist. I will try to be as brief as possible because of other services.
Philippians 3:7-14. Our theme is Onward, Christian Soldiers. Three words. Onward, Christian, Soldiers. We have already learned, those of us who were here from Monday, that praise is a weapon of warfare, which is why we kept on praising God and praising God. Church Gist. Many of you may not know it, that tonight, particularly when the choir was ministering, hands that have been bound have been loosed, legs that the enemy had anchored have been loosed.
We have learned that the worst thing that can happen to anyone is for your ally to join your enemies. Only come if you are proud. So we had already learned that of all our weaknesses, the one that can turn God against us straight away is pride. Church Gist. And then we have learned that a sick soldier is of no use to the Commander-in-Chief.
So we said that your Commander-in-Chief is very, very eager to heal you. And then, of course, we learnt yesterday that almost all your problems are related to forces of darkness, and that if there is light, things will change for the better. Church Gist. And like the testimony, you heard somebody shouted, let there be light, and a snake escaped from the house.
We all know that a snake is a representative of Satan. It might be a good idea if you shout, let there be light tonight. Church Gist. Because there might be some snakes inside of you.
One of my sons gave a testimony during the Abuja Holyghost service in November. When the Almighty God entered into his mom, she vomited a live wall gecko. Church Gist. I don’t know what is hiding in you. Please let me hear you shout, let there be light.
demons don’t appear on x-ray because they are not made of flesh and blood like you and I. Church Gist. But I am saying one more time, that if you don’t mind, if there is anything planted in you that is not planted by God, please let me hear you shout, let there be light tonight. If I can hear you shout, let there be light tonight, one more time. A night like this comes only once in a lifetime.
A husband complained that he is not understanding the kind of wife he had. So we discussed and I asked the lady, what is the thing that your husband said is happening? Church Gist. She said, don’t mind him. His mother is the witch, not me. I said, of course, I agree. Then the Holy Spirit has asked me to say, could you tell me your most frequent dream? Well, usually I just find myself among snakes. And the snakes will be playing with me. They look as if they are my children. And there is nothing in you.
Everything that is in you, all of you who are listening to me, that is not of God. Let me hear you shout, let there be light. Church Gist. Onward Christian Soldiers.
Who is a Christian? According to 2 Corinthians 5:17. The Christian is a new creature, who is now in Christ, who has surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, who has been washed by the blood of the Lamb, and is now completely new. Church Gist. In his ways, in his thoughts, in his actions, he is new. It is not like he used to be. He is born again.
Now, who is a soldier? Particularly of Christ now. A soldier of Christ is someone chosen by Christ. As soon as he is born again, he is chosen by Christ. Church Gist. As a matter of fact, to be born again at all, you must have been chosen.
In John 6:44. Jesus Christ said, No man can come unto me, except my Father draws him. It does not matter how great the preacher may be, when he gives the altar call, if God is not drawing you, you will not come. Church Gist. So, if you gave your life to Jesus Christ, it is because God has drawn you. And the moment He drew you to salvation, He chooses you to be part of his army.
John 15:16. Made it abundantly clear. In the Army of Christ, there are no volunteers. He said, you have not chosen me, I have chosen you. Church Gist. The moment God brings you into salvation, it is evidence that He has chosen you to be one of His soldiers.
In 2 Timothy 2:3-4. If you are a child of God, you are chosen to be a Soldier of Christ, chosen by Him. Church Gist. You don’t volunteer to be in the Army of the Lord. He chooses you.
So, if you are a true child of God, thoroughly saved, not a pretender, you immediately cease to be a civilian. You become a Soldier of Christ. Church Gist. So, all of you who are Soldiers of Christ, according to the definition I’ve given you now, wave your hand and shout hallelujah.
Now, the moment you join the Army of Christ, He is going to train you. Church Gist. He is going to take you through what the military calls boot camp.
In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 that I mentioned earlier, He says you will have to endure hardness. He didn’t say hardship, He said hardness. Church Gist. When you say what is the difference between a soldier and a civilian? The difference between a soldier and a civilian is that the soldier has been trained and has been toughened. Then they become warriors.
But let me go straight to the fact that if you are a Christian Soldier you come under a Commander-in-Chief. Church Gist. Our Commander-in-Chief is the one who is called the Lord of Hosts. Psalm 24:7-10 And the Bible describes Him that He is strong.
Isaiah 40:28-31. He is so strong that he neither sleeps nor slumbers. He never gets tired. Church Gist. He is described as mighty. He is not just mighty, He is the Almighty. Jeremiah 32:27. He can do all things. There is nothing too hard for him.
He is not just mighty. He is mighty in battle. Our Commander-in-Chief, our God, is not a civilian. Church Gist. Exodus 15:3. Says, the Lord is a man of war. The Lord is His name. He is called the Lord of hosts.
Host in Heaven, Host on earth, Host under the earth.
According to Philippians 2:10, In the air there’s no fighter like Him. If you read Joshua 10:1-11, you will discover that our Lord is the first one to throw bombs. Church Gist. So if there is any force that is trying to threaten you and they say it’s a force by air, our Commander–in–Chief will bomb them.
Online, there’s no soldier like Him. Numbers 16:23-34, when He wants to fight by land, all He has to do is tell the ground to open its mouth and swallow His enemies. Church Gist. Which is good news for somebody here tonight. Because every enemy that followed you here, unless they get out very quickly, the ground is going to swallow them up.
I say there’s no fighter like Him. Exodus 14:21-28. It tells you, when it comes to fighting by sea, there’s no fighter like Him. So I have good news for those of you who are being tormented by marine spirits. Church Gist. You won’t hear about them anymore.
I’ve done that much to tell you a Christian Soldier must never be afraid because your Commander-in-Chief is absolutely in charge. Church Gist. Now let’s go to the operative word tonight. Onward, Christian soldier. It’s saying to you, from now in your life, It must be forward ever.
The Commander-in-Chief never expects you to go backward. In Exodus 14:1-28. When the children of Israel looked back and they saw the armies of Pharoah, what God said to Moses is tell the children of Israel to move forward. Church Gist. He didn’t say, tell them to go backward.
As a Christian soldier, you need to know that you must never, never run from the enemy. The elders have a saying, It is he who runs that is chased. Church Gist. In the name that’s above every other name, you will never run from the enemy again.
And when you read Ephesians 6:10-18, where the Bible was describing for us, the armor of God.
You will discover there is no armor for your back. There is one for your head, one for your chest, for your hands, for your feet, but nothing provided for your back. Church Gist. Because you are never, never to run.
So I want you to tell your neighbor, stop running. Say it loud and clear. Onward Christian soldier means forward ever. And it says, no stopping. Keep moving forward. Church Gist. What if I come against an obstacle? Keep moving forward.
If you come against a wall. Like in Joshua 6:20. If you find yourself facing a wall, all you need to do to pull it down is to shout halleluyah. Church Gist. Every war, that the enemy has directed against your progress is going to fall tonight provided you can shout one big halleluyah.
If you come against a mountain, you are not to turn back, you’re to move the mountain. Church Gist. Mark 11:23-24. You command the mountain to move and the mountain will move.
I don’t want to tell you many testimonies tonight because we have a long way to go. But I just want to remind you because it will be relevant to somebody in particular. Church Gist. One of my sons who was living in the same house, a different flat but in the same house with a herbalist told me that the herbalist was disturbing him. And I told him to move the herbalist.
You are not the one to look for a new flat. He is the one who should move, it is darkness that must run from light. But he didn’t listen to me and then one day police came and arrested him because the herbalist had reported him to the police. Church Gist. That at night this fellow will be holding meetings in his flat.
So they arrested him for holding prayer meeting in his flat. When he finally came out, I told him whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven. Church Gist. Whatever you reject will be rejected. Can I hear somebody say I forbid suffering?
Do I hear somebody say before I get home, every agent of the devil in my house must pack out. Why don’t you say it as if you mean it? Amen. Church Gist. By the time they have kept my son in detention for days, bitten by mosquitoes and all kinds of things, he was ready to move this mountain.
Open your mouth loud and clear, and say, I am a Soldier of Christ. Every mountain blocking my way, move tonight. Church Gist. No backward movement, no stopping. No surrender.
In Daniel 3:1-end. Thank You Father. Church Gist. The Lord said, before the end of the year, somebody will be singing. And the song will be…
– SINGING –
Who is the one who will be singing that song? Let me hear you shout a big Halleluya. Church Gist. And Daddy asked me to tell you, we will hear your testimony.
In Daniel 3:1-30 – because they refused to bow, they also refused to burn.
- I decree in the name that is above every other name, the fire that the enemy may have built for you, will roast them themselves!
Forward ever, no stopping, no surrender, no compromise. In Daniel 6:1-end, the enemy tried to get Daniel to compromise, to stop what he had been doing for God, stop praying. He said not only will I pray I will pray in such a way you will see me praying. You know the story. Church Gist. He refused to compromise and those who thought they could finish him said, “now, the Lions will do the job.” But he came out of the lion’s den and the lion finished those who would have finished him.
- I have good news for a soldier of Christ: if any person or group of persons have been holding meetings to destroy you, you will shout for Joy when you hear of their ending!
So onward Christian Soldier, forward ever backward never, no stopping, no surrender, no retreat, no compromise, no truce with the enemy. You need to get this one deep into you. Now when you go forward – Why are you commanded to keep marching forward? because there is a goal in front. In the text that I read to you, He said, “I am pressing on because I want to get something.” What was it he’s stretching forward to get? Church Gist. By the time you read 2 Timothy 4:6-8, by the time he finally reached his goal, he released a secret to us – there’s a crown waiting. When we go to the University why are we studying so hard? Why do we study at night at a time when we should be sleeping? Because we want something. Why do you find soldiers going from one battle to another? When you see some generals, you will see them wearing so many medals. There is a goal for you. There’s a crown waiting for you and in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, you will not miss your own crown!
Now let me talk very briefly. What is to be the lifestyle of a Christian Soldier? How do you know a true Christian Soldier? The lifestyle of a Christian Soldier is a lifestyle of Praise. Psalm 34:1. We learn from the giant killer David, he said, “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” A soldier of Christ never grumbles, they don’t complain, they are always praising God. Somebody said, why are you always shouting Hallelujah Pastor Adeboye? Church Gist. A lifestyle of a Christian Soldier is a lifestyle of praise and I’ve taught us before even when prayer fails praise will not fail. You can hardly find anyone who got a breakthrough who had not worshipped God first and since this is your own night of breakthrough, I would have given you minutes to praise God but because of time I will say one more time shout hallelujah!
Lifestyle of the Christian Soldier
- Daddy says, someone has seen droplets of blessings but he should get ready for showers of blessings. The Lord asked me to tell you something before the Word will come. Church Gist. You’ve heard it before: one great man of God came to visit me and he began to tell all the things that God have been doing for him, “God did this God did that God did that,” and I kept on saying “glory be to God glory.” Then all of a sudden he turned around and said, “Sir, I’m the only one who has been talking you have not said anything that God did for you.” I said, “ah Sir, if I were to tell you what God has been doing for me you will say God is partial.” The Lord asked me to tell you somebody: by the time you begin to tell of what He has done for you, your neighbor will say God is partial!
The lifestyle of a Christian Soldier is a lifestyle of prayer. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “you are to pray without ceasing.” Pray without ceasing. The lifestyle of a Christian Soldier is a life of power. A Christian Soldier is not a weakling. The one who called you has empowered you. In Mark 3:13-15 – those that He chose, He gave them power. You are not a weakling, you have power. You may not realize it but you have power and from now on you must use that power. Use the power to heal, use the power to cast out demons. Church Gist. Until you begin to make use of the power you might not even realize you have the power. In the hymn – special song for the Congress, the Bible tells you have power to do exploits for God. I want to encourage you when you leave this Congress, begin to use your power. Miracles will begin to follow, wherever you go joy will go. Miracles will follow is a lifestyle of power.
The lifestyle of a Christian soldier is a lifestyle of faith. This is very very crucial because the Bible says the just shall live by faith. God said it four times in the Bible – the just shall live by faith – and I just want to thank God for one of the testimonies we had tonight of the woman who came, bought clothes for children, bought the wrapping something to back the children, joined those who were bringing forth children even though she had been barren for donkey years, dance with them, returned to the husband and told him, “I have received mine.” Is anybody here tonight who has already received something?
God honors faith. May I say to somebody tonight, be it unto you according to your faith! Stop being a doubter, be a man and woman of faith. Church Gist. You are a soldier of Christ. Believe me honestly, with God nothing shall be impossible. Tell your neighbor, my own will not be impossible with God.
I will tell you a story because we’re going to do something to demonstrate your faith tonight. I received a phone call from Zambia, “Daddy your daughter our pastor had had a terrible motor accident. I’ve just come out of the hospital to phone you because there’s no way she can survive. The doctors have said she will die.” I said, na lie! “Oh Daddy you don’t seem to get what I’m talking about. Her head has been battered, she’s going to die.” I said, na lie! Church Gist. They said even if we take her by air ambulance to South Africa for specialist attention, she will even die before getting there anyway. I said, na lie! They said even if she lives because of the situation of the brain, she will never be able to be able to do anything at all again. I said, na lie! She’s here today, doing marvelous works in the Arab countries!
So I want you to do something, I want you to do something. If you can stand I want you to stand and begin to say in the mighty name of Jesus, the plan of the devil concerning my life, na lie!
Prayers
The lifestyle of the Christian Soldier is a life of discipline. In 2 Corinthians 11:27, Paul the Apostle said, I fasted often; I fasted often. Don’t be surprised there will be those who will counter me very quickly. All that the Bible said is, the just shall live by faith. It didn’t say, the just shall live by fasting. It may just surprise you though that people like Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights and when something happened that didn’t allow him to achieve his goal, he went back and did another 40 days and 40 nights. Church Gist. It will surprise you that somebody like Elijah fasted 40 days and 40 nights and even the Lord Jesus Christ himself who was God in the flesh fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Well, I am telling you this because as Soldiers of Christ in the coming year at least those of you in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, you’re going to be fasting for 100 days. Some people said, “hey” for joy, some people said “hey he has come again.” Those of you who said hey for Joy shout hallelujah! We’re going to fast because we are Soldiers of Christ. Church Gist. It’s going to be voluntary but the last time we fasted a 100 days was 10 years ago. Some of us can remember where we were 10 years ago and we know where we are today.
- I have good news for somebody: next year is going to be a new beginning for someone! Then let me just jump all other actions that we see in the life of a Christian soldier and conclude with this one for a moment.
The lifestyle of a Christian Soldier is a lifestyle of joy because the Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is your strength. Church Gist. It’s a life of joy because it’s a life of hope. In Joel 2:26-27, God repeated twice he said, “my people shall never be ashamed.”
- I decree tonight you will never know shame again!
Why is it a life of joy? It is because it’s a life where you have assurance of divine help. In Psalm 50:14-15, God promised that if you call on Him in the time of trouble, he said I will answer you, I will deliver you and you will glorify me. You have the assurance of help from the Almighty – the one who never fails. Not only do you have the assurance of help from God, the help will come instantly. Church Gist. Psalm 46:1-3 tells us that our God is the ever present help in time of trouble. He’s our refuge, our strength. Help comes from Him the very moment that we need it. If anybody is in need of help, tonight you will get it before we get out of here!
I have had the privilege of visiting Heads of States practically all over the world and I know what you go through before you can get into the presence of the Head of State. All the protocol, all the security checks, at their own invitation o, they are the ones asking you to come. In some cases you can’t even go in with your Biro pen. They will check you and check you and check you and by the time you get there, I mean even before you get there, they have already started looking at the clock. Church Gist. Then I realized that when I want to visit Jesus, there is no protocol. Nobody has to check me, I don’t have to wait in the reception hall. How long does it take me to get into the presence of Jesus? Instantly! If I want to talk to Jesus now, maybe the only thing I need to do to attract his attention is to shout hallelujah! How long do I have to stay in His presence? Nobody’s coming to drag me out, if I want to stay with Him from now till tomorrow night, I am welcome. Church Gist. It’s a life of joy, it’s a life of freedom, it’s a life that nobody else can control. You know what? Jesus Christ said in John 16:24 …
- The Lord asked me to tell someone: as long as there is water in the ocean, my oil will never dry on your head!
- The Lord said, up till this moment you haven’t asked me anything; ask till your joy be full!
- You know I have good news for somebody; you will never weep again! If you ever weep, it will be weeping for joy!
Tonight, you’re going to ask God for certain things. I’m going to give you a period when you will pray and tonight don’t ask for small things. Ask God for big things. He’s here, he’s going to answer prayers tonight. Church Gist. He has promised us a jamboree of miracles and I am going to get as many as possible for myself. I’ve always said it: self first is not selfishness. What God said is: love your neighbor as yourself. You know what that means? First of all love yourself and then use that measure of the love you have for yourself to love your neighbor. So I told a friend of mine once: seek to be number one and then wish your neighbor the very best. I have no objection for you also being next to number one. Is anybody here tonight who would like to be number one? Church Gist. Anyone here who wants to be the best? Anyone who wants to be the highest? Anyone who wants to finish well? Then let Hallelujah be louder than that of your friend. You’re going to pray for just few minutes because we need to move on to the Holy Communion Service but you want to write down the following prayer points.
Prayer points
- Father, thank you for choosing me.
- Father, tonight perfect my healing.
- Father, the bridge between me and the world, destroy it so that I do not go back into the world.
- Father, for the rest of my life let me move constantly forward
- Father, let me end well and strong.
——- prayers—–
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