THERE ARE NO CEILINGS ON OUR DESTINY AS MINISTERS BUT WE ONLY ARRIVE THERE STEP BY STEP.
I SAT UNDER THE MINISTRY OF YONGGI CHO TO BE TUTORED ON CHURCH GROWTH, DEVOURING HIS MATERIALS AND WE BEGAN TO REPLICATE THOSE THINGS.
NO ONE EVER ARRIVES AT A FUTURE THAT HE CANNOT SEE AND NO ONE ARRIVES AT A FUTURE HE IS NOT PREPARED FOR.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW WE DON’T KNOW, WHAT WE WON’T LEARN WE CAN’T KNOW AND WHAT WE DON’T KNOW WE WILL PAY FOR IT.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR KNOWLEDGE IN THE ADVENTURE OF LIFE.
‘NEXT LEVEL’ IS NOT SOMEBODY’S AMBITION OR ASPIRATIONS, IT IS THE HERITAGE OF THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD
WHEN GOD SAID HE WAS GOING TO SET ME UP ABOVE ALL NATIONS WE WERE ABOUT 40 PEOPLE IN CHURCH
TODAY WE HAVE REPRESENTATIONS FROM ABOUT 66 NATIONS APART FROM THOSE ONLINE ACROSS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD
NOT KNOWING WHAT GOD SAYS TO DO OR NOT BEING WILLING TO DO IT, IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES
EVERY ENCOUNTER WITH THE WORD WHEN PUT TO WORK OPENS A NEW CHAPTER TO THE DESTINY OF EVERY MINISTRY
WHAT WE PREACH WILL NEVER BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR WHAT WE DO. IT IS APPLIED REVELATION – OBEDIENCE OF FAITH – THAT WORKS
GOD IS EVER COMMITTED TO OUR CONTINUOUS PROGRESS. STAGNANT WATER STINKS!
WE MUST POSSESS ‘NEXT LEVELS’ MENTALITY TO KEEP EXPERIENCING ADVANCEMENT IN OUR WALK WITH GOD
MINISTRY IS FAST TURNING INTO AN INDUSTRY.
PEOPLE NOW SIT DOWN LIKE CEO OVER A COMPANY IN THE NAME OF MINISTRY. THAT IS NOT IT.
THE FEAR OF GOD IS GOING OFF VERY FAST FROM THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I SAW A STRONG SPIRIT OF DELUSION MAKING PEOPLE BELIEVE A LIE. APOSTASY IS CREEPING IN.
THERE IS ALMOST NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHRISTIANITY OF TODAY AND UNBELIEVERS.
DEPART FROM INIQUITY, DO NOT APPROPRIATE RIGHTEOUSNESS. THERE IS NO DAY FORNICATION WILL BE EQUAL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
-Bishop David Oyedepo on ‘UNVEILING OUR NEXT LEVELS HERITAGE IN MINISTRY’ at 2023 International Ministers Conference || Covenant University Chapel, Canaanland, Ota.
Let me also join to welcome every one of us here into His Presence and to expect an encounter with Him for our desired change of levels as ordained by Him. Let me start by first saying that no one ever arrives at a future that he cannot see Genesis 13:14-15. In the same vein, no one arrives at a future he is not prepared for 2 Chronicles 27:6. Church Gist. I caught a statement several years ago in South Africa on a billboard, it reads: ‘Knowledge: The new currency of the world’. It’s a strongly Biblical statement, ‘My people go into captivity because they have no knowledge’ Isaiah 5:13, Daniel 11:32b. What we don’t know we don’t know, what we won’t learn we can’t know and what we don’t know we will pay for it. There is no substitute for knowledge in the adventure of life – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Hosea 4:6.
-My prayer according to Psalms 118:27 is that God will show us Light here and by that Light we will keep changing levels in the Name of Jesus Christ.
No price is too much for knowledge, let’s go for it. I sat under the Ministry of Yonggi Cho to be tutored on Church Growth and I did that for several years with utmost delight devouring His materials and asking the Holy Spirit to help me to understand what he is talking about and in no time, we began to replicate those things and others are replicating them today by being committed to learning how it works. Church Gist. Tonight, I will be taking us on what I captioned ‘UNVEILING OUR NEXT LEVEL’S HERITAGE IN MINISTRY’.
‘Next level’ is not ambition, it is not aspirations, it is the heritage of the Just, the Just implies ‘The Justified’. The Justified implies ‘The Redeemed of the Lord’. So, ‘Next level’ is not somebody’s ambitions or aspirations, it is the heritage of The Redeemed of the Lord Proverbs 4:18. Destiny in the Kingdom is as far as one’s eyes can see Genesis 13:14 – Whatever God says to Abraham He says to us by redemption because you are now the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the Promise. Church Gist. The path of everyone preserved by the Lord including Ministers is ordained to shine brighter and brighter to the perfect day, so where you are is a stepping stone, you are not at your bus stop.
-Your greatest and brightest days are still ahead.
Now, let’s try and see some pictures of what pertains to us in redemption Matthew 11:11. Now what that does is this, the sum of all the Old Testament things whether Ministry, industry or vocation, none possesses anything near the potential that the Redeemed carries. The greatest things in the Old Testament will never compare with the potentials loaded in those in the New Testament Matthew 11:11. That tells you and me how unlimited God’s agenda is – We have a destiny of no limits in Christ John 14:12. Church Gist. But we are only led on this journey from one phase to another by the Spirit of the Lord. We need to see this, there are no ceilings on our destiny as Ministers but we only arrive there step by step and little by little Exodus 23:30 and Deuteronomy 7:22. God takes us little by little to keep us safe as He takes us on.
We are loaded with redemptive virtues with capacity to set us above all nations of the Earth. What we are trying to define tonight is the reality of next levels. We must possess this next levels mentality to keep experiencing advancement in our walk with God. The Lord said to me years ago from Deuteronomy 28:1, “My Son David, there’s a place for you at the top if you are interested.” I said, “Yes Lord I am interested.” Church Gist. He said, “Whatever I tell you to do, do it.” What? Just to listen to what you are saying and do it? Above all nations of the Earth! Today we have representations from about 66 nations out here – Above all nations of the Earth – apart from those online across the nations of the world. It is knowing what he says to do that the problem lies and for some that know it, not being willing to do it – that is why we are where we are. There are no limits to our destiny as ministries.
God will not stop advancing us until we back out. Hebrews 10:38. The levels will stop when we back out. We have an ever growing destiny in redemption. 2 Corinthians 3:18. Every encounter with the Word when put to work opens a new chapter to the destiny of every ministry. This is what makes our destiny in ministry an adventure and not a destination. Church Gist. We are just on the move. As we are not tired moving with God he will not be tired moving us forward. Isaiah 60:1-3, 8, 22. You’re just moving – as the light keeps shining brighter, you’re moving forward, you’re gaining speed, heights.
God is ever committed to our continuous progress. “Tell them that they go forward.” There is no situation under Heaven that is permitted to keep us at the same spot. Church Gist. Here is the Red sea in front, Pharaoh’s army behind, “Tell them that they go forward.” God never lead backward; he leads forward.
– From this time on, you never suffer a set back any more in your life!
Deuteronomy 2:3; Micah 2:10. God is always interested in our advancement, our forward movement. Stagnant water stinks!
– No ministry here will stink!
That’s how redemption provides a platform for us for unending progress. We have been justified by the blood of Jesus and the path of the justified is like a shining light is ordained to shine more and more until the perfect day. Church Gist. As mentioned earlier, revelation is what empowers our access into realms of next levels. New light – new height. Through applied revelation a little one can become a thousand and a small one a strong nation. It is not what we know that changes us; it is what we do with what we know that does. James 1:22. ‘Be ye doers of the Word and not preachers only …’ What we preach is not a substitute for what we do. What we preach will never be a substitute for what we do. Luke 6:49; Luke 6:46 – by what he does. It is applied revelation that works. James 1:22-25. Applied revelation simply means obedience of faith which is the covenant launching pad into next levels. Deuteronomy 28:1. Little by little but you are going above all nations of the Earth. Church Gist. When God spoke those words to me we were about 40 people in Church but he was going to set me up above all nations. Little by little by little by little. You just don’t get tired doing what he says to do at any time, at all times.
– That’s where you are going!
Let’s look at seven keys to experiencing next levels in ministry. After Peter declared Jesus as the son of the living God, He said “I give unto you the keys of the Kingdom” (Matthew 16:19).
KEY 1 TO EXPERIENCING NEXT LEVELS IN MINISTRY: Embrace The Fear Of God As A Lifestyle.
That is going off very fast from the Body of Christ. Everybody is saying today you don’t need to do anything, God has done everything. Your behaviour is not important. That you stole does not mean God does not love you, He still loves you. You find all kinds of things. I saw a strong spirit of delusion making people believe a lie. Apostasy is creeping in. There is almost no difference between Christianity today and unbelievers. People are struggling for survival in ministry today to pose that it is working when it is not working. You better watch it. Joseph testified ‘But I fear God’ and we saw his level changing under most adverse circumstances. Church Gist. As a slave, he became the heir of the family. As a prisoner, he became an official of the prison. As a slave and an ex-convict, he became a Prime Minister. How? By the fear of God. Those who fear God always fare well in life. Another foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save us from our sins. Not to justify our sins. The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal. 2 Timothy 2:19-21. Depart from iniquity, not appropriate righteousness. There is no day fornication will be equal to righteousness. There is no day adultery will be equal to righteousness. There is no day stealing will be equal to righteousness. No matter who is teaching you what. You can’t rewrite the Bible. Where the fear of God stops is where your level stops changing. So make your choice.
They could not find anything amiss in the life of Daniel. For he was a faithful man and there was no error in him. He was far above all the other Presidents. What is the fear of God? The fear of God is to hate evil. Proverbs 8:13. Church Gist. It is to hate evil not to justify evil. Job was a man that feared God and eschewed evil. He was a perfect man. Please get this at the onset. Where the fear of God stops in anyone’s life and ministry is where his level stops changing.
KEY 2 TO EXPERIENCING NEXT LEVELS IN MINISTRY: Possess A Next Level Mentality.
For as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Proverbs 23:7. Genesis 13:15.
KEY 3 TO EXPERIENCING NEXT LEVELS IN MINISTRY: Continue To Put The Word To Work.
Isaiah 60:1. John 8:12. We are to walk in the light. We are not to just have the light, we are to walk in the light. The light you have in your box can’t help you on the outside. You put the light out and walk in it. John 12:35-36. Church Gist. The Word you know and you are not putting it to work will not work. Whatever He tells you to, do what? Do it. John 2:5. The good news is something is breaking forth in your life this time.
KEY 4 TO EXPERIENCING NEXT LEVELS IN MINISTRY: Continue To Serve God and the Interest of His Kingdom as a priority.
Ministry is fast turning into an industry. People sit down as C.E.O. over a company in the name of ministry. That is not it. Jesus said I am in your midst as one that serves. Whosoever will be the greatest among you let him be the servant of all. Only workers are entitled to change of level, not leaders. Luke 19:13 – Occupy till I come. Church Gist. He gave them a pound each and left. He came back in verse 17 and one of the servants said I made ten more. He said well done thou good and faithful servant. You have been faithful, now have authority over ten cities. Change of level to servants, not leaders.
Many Pastors are not changing levels because they are not servants, they are not serving, people are serving them. Church Gist. Continue to serve God and the interest of His Kingdom as a priority. Not what to have or what to input, what to inject, what to add.
5. Continue to trust in the Lord to confirm His Word. Job 8:7. Continue to trust the Lord to confirm His Word as you serve. Whatever is not done of Faith is sin. If you don’t believe in what God says He will do for doing what He asked you to do, then you won’t have it. 1 Corinthians 9:10. Church Gist. Everyone is a partaker of His hope. Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the substance of things expected. What Faith does is to substantiate your expectations. Continue to trust in the Lord to confirm His Word and then, you’re on course.
Remember I said earlier, what you don’t know, you don’t know; what you won’t learn, you can’t know and what you don’t know, you pay for it. Psalm 125:1-5. It’s when our Faith is in question that the enemy has his way. Psalm 125:2-3. Church Gist. So, keep trusting the Lord to make good His Word in your life as you keep doing what He says to do. He never lies. I said, your God never lies.
– can I have you say with me; “my God never lies, He’s not a man that He should lie or a man that he should repent. My God never lies, I’m too sure. Whatever He says He will do, that He will do”.
– praise the Lord.
6. Remain fervently on duty in pursuit of your calling. Romans 12:11. Luke 6:46-48. He will change his level supernaturally as he meets him on duty. Church Gist. We must be met on duty, not as busybody in other men’s matters. Study to be quiet and do your own business, ministry is not politics. 1 Corinthians 7:20,24.
7. Continue to celebrate the faithfulness of God no matter what. God gave me a global ministry by election of grace. “The hour has come to liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the Word of Faith”, wonderful. Church Gist. But there was a particular service in 1984 where there was only 2 people present in a midweek service and they were staff. One was praying, the other one was saying Amen. Global ministry. There was a Sunday we had 10 naira income, 10 naira offering. If somebody had a need of 10 naira that day, we’d give it to him. Global ministry. Church Gist. Continue to celebrate the faithfulness of God no matter what. We never saw one musical instrument until 1986. We were in a batcher in a city and we were very excited about it, “this is the largest grass cathdral in the world, if you see anyone bigger than this, let me know”. The floor was not paved. Church Gist. Continue to celebrate the faithfulness of God no matter what. When we were dancing in that place, you will find dust dancing with us, everybody is rising up. Continue to celebrate the faithfulness of God, no matter what. Church Gist. This is a global ministry, not only that but a generational ministry. He said, “the destiny of this age has been committed to your hands” and yet, what? Is it how it is? People had all the room in their lives to laugh because you would find, “Living Faith World outreach Centre”, world? in this corner? That was it. Church Gist. Continue to celebrate the faithfulness of God no matter what. Habakkuk 3:17-19. How many are ready to change level here? So, rejoice in the Lord!
Now, when the Church ministry started in Kaduna, my wife was still in Ilorin, anytime I went back there was a lot of joy, not fake, not fabricated joy, lot of joy. The first day she came to Church in Kaduna, we were 19 people or 21 that day. She didn’t know that service has ended, she thought we were still doing Sunday school because you couldn’t marry the joy with the number, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation, the LORD will make my feet like hind’s feet and make me to walk upon my high places. Church Gist. I have never frowned at low number, no! That Jesus went to town and brought people by Himself, He went to town and brought 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, there are other Churches He would have taken them to but He brought them here, let’s give Him thanks, Amen! Well, in the last 12 weeks we had in our Church, prophetic weeks of harvest, my team brought in 8,700 people into Church, 12 weeks! Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. It’s your turn for a change of story.
Understand this thing because without the key to a door, you will be struggling with the door for life. We need the keys. I once told you a story, my grandmother forgot me in the room and went to the market in those days and the door was shut. There was no access, nobody was around, I cried, nobody would answer, I hit the door, nobody answered. I got tired, I slept. Church Gist. Without a key, you will live a frustrated life. I slept hungry, tired, heat, all kinds because there was no key. There was no key but I give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and what is this key? Knowledge! Luke 11:52. The key of knowledge!!! Revelation is key to our advancement in life. Revelation is key to our forward movement in life. Let’s value revelation, let’s apply ourselves to revelation, let’s work on the Word, let’s put the Word to work and things will keep working for us. I am sure something has broken lose tonight. How many have been blessed? Give the LORD a big hand of praise!
We should all agree that if the foundation is faulty, the righteous can do nothing and the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, the knowledge of the holy is understanding. We must come back to base, we must come back to the root. You can’t disconnect from the root and want to still keep bearing fruits. Church Gist. We must get back to the root. The fear of God is fundamental to making the most of our adventure in life. The fear of the LORD is fundamental, it is a non-negotiable requirement, no matter the Greek and the Hebrew that they are putting together, it won’t work!!! How many believe there is heaven? Do you believe there is heaven? How many believe that there are requirements for accessing heaven? Church Gist. You still have it in your Bible? You have not removed it? Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, then he set out a catalogue of the disqualifiers, is there in your Bible, did you tear it? No! No! The goodnews tonight is that your next levels must have its foundation in the fear of the LORD, your next levels must have its foundation in the fear of the LORD, no games, no gimmicks, no playing pranks, no!
In conclusion, every step we take in life, is either taking us closer or farther from our glorious destiny. Every decision we make is either to our advantage or disadvantage. Jeremiah 2:13. Let’s get back to base, let’s get back to what God is saying. Read that through to verse 17 and you will discover that we are responsible for most of the undoings of our lives. Let’s put things back, we are in for the best of time. Can I tell you this? Satan is all out to stop this move of the Spirit and we must stand up to it and stop him from having his way. Church Gist. No ministry here shall go down the drain! No minister here will be put out of priesthood in the name of Jesus. Please stand to your feet everybody and lift up your two hands and give God thanks for light. If anything has dropped in for you tonight that you are going to work on, lift up your two hands and begin to appropriate those stuff, rekindle your fear in my life LORD, let pleasing you become my meat in Jesus precious name, we have prayed. Church Gist. Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is what? A reproach to any people, any people. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow up like the cedar in Lebanon, he shall still bring forth fruits in old age. He shall be fat and flourishing to show that the LORD is upright, He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
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