I GOT 500 SUITS WHEN I TURNED SIXTY AND I GAVE ALL THE 500 SUITS OUT.
IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO GIVE, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND LOVE.
THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND LOVE DON’T STRUGGLE TO GIVE.
DON’T ALLOW YOUR FLESH RULE YOU. BE RULED BY THE WORD OF GOD.
BE PATIENT WITH PEOPLE. WHEN YOU’RE IMPATIENT YOU EASILY LOSE YOUR TEMPER.
THE REASON WHY MARRIED PEOPLE ARE DIVORCING IS LACK OF PATIENCE.
YOU MUST ACCEPT THE IMPERFECTION OF OTHERS.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES, LEARN TO FORGIVE. FORGIVENESS DOES NOT HOLD ON TO GRUDGES.
GOD’S KIND OF LOVE FORGIVES AND FORGETS.
LOVE IS PATIENT.
DIVINE LOVE IS A PEACEMAKER.
MY GREATEST SECRET IS LOVE.
IF WE DON’T LOVE ONE ANOTHER WE ARE NOT CHRISTIANS.
YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU ARE BAPTIZED OR CAN SPEAK IN TONGUES, YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN ONLY WHEN YOU LOVE OTHERS
THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE IS LOVE.
- Pastor David Ibiyeomie on ‘WHAT IS OUR TRUE IDENTITY?’ at Salvation Ministries Home of Success 27th Anniversary Celebration Service || 13th April 2024.
While preparing for the anniversary, I asked God ‘what do I have to preach?’. I didn’t want to preach a “fantastic” message. In deep meditation, He spoke to me in the very place where I know. He said, “Preach love. That is your greatest secret.” I said love for you? He said “No! This time love for people.” So I began to gather materials to prepare. So it is a message that I am going to preach what I live. Church Gist. That is the message for the anniversary. He gave me the topic and I am here to share it with you. We will try to make it brief because today is Saturday and so that men of God can go back home for their Sunday services. Everybody knows about love, people talk about love every day. We will find out if truly we know what love is.
Mark 12:30-31. Love Him with everything and then love your neighbour as yourself. The message is WHAT IS OUR TRUE IDENTITY? How will the world know us? John 13:34-35. If we don’t love one another we are not Christians. It is not my definition. You are not a Christian because you are baptized or can speak in tongues, you are a Christian only when you love others. He said you are not my disciples if you are not a person that loves others. Church Gist. It is only when we work in love that the world will know us as Christians. 1 Corinthians 2:9. I pray somebody will have understanding today, it will change your life forever. Love is a person and that person is God Himself. 1 John 4:8.
Many mistake it saying “I belong to a church, I am baptized therefore I am a genuine Christian.” No! God said that is not it. That you belong to a Church does not make you a Christian. 1 John 3:14-15. Church Gist. Even if you are born again and you live in hatred, you are off. 1 John 4:16-17, 20-21. When you begin to walk in love you don’t struggle for things to happen.
The love of God in our hearts is the true evidence that we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of His dear son, Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:13. Everyone can love. Romans 5:5. Everybody has it already, now God is saying give that love expression. If you are a child of God you already have it in your heart but give it expression. Church Gist. In the Old Testament, God wrote the love of God in a tablet, now he wants the love of God in our hearts because the Holy Ghost sheds it in our hearts. Love is from the heart. The most powerful force in the universe is love. Love is a universal language accepted in every nation. There is no nation where love will not break through.
A beggar in the United Kingdom, in London precisely, never smiles. This beggar had never laughed, so people were wondering why he was always frowning. Everybody passing kept wondering why he never laughed. Then a day came when a Christian stooped low and smiled at him, “How are you?” and for the first time, they saw him laugh. Everybody passing by was wondering what made this beggar laugh. Church Gist. They asked the Christian, “What did you do for this man to laugh?” The person laughed and said, love is a universal language. You only dropped money without asking him how he was. I asked him “How are you? And for the first time, he saw somebody show love so he opened his teeth and I introduced Christ to him. Love is a universal language. There is nowhere you go that love will not penetrate. It can break barriers that hard prayers of spiritual warfare can’t break. What love can do, 70 days of fasting may not do it.
1 Corinthians 13:13. I pray today as you walk in this understanding of God’s Word there is nothing that will stop you. God’s Word shows us how much value He places on us. John 3:16. You are of great value to God, He gave His only begotten son. Church Gist. To love someone is to place a high value on that person. Anyone you say I love, you are saying I place a high value on you. For God so loved, He gave His best. When you look at someone and say you love them, you are saying you place high value on them.
To love someone is to dethrone self and elevate the other person. One question each of us should ask, I said what? “Why do I love this person?” If it is the good looks, the talents, the mutual interest, all will not last. Church Gist. If you love the person because the person has a very fantastic look, he’s so tall, it will not last. “Oh! He speaks sound” It will not last. I ask you, why do you love who you love? I’ll be taking proof of genuine love for people. Church Gist. These are the proofs, if they are not there, forget it, you’ve not started.
One of my domestic staff, before service, we were together, he was trying to bring my clothes and I said to him “God told me to teach on love” He said “Daddy, can I tell you something? Everybody around you can preach love from what they have read but when you talk love, it enters our spirit because you are love. Church Gist. Don’t preach love, you are love. Don’t preach it. Others can preach it from books they read. You are the only one qualified for that topic.” He was just joking with me before service. Church Gist. I’m not preaching love, I live love…and God said to me “Preach this topic” You may fast more than me but you may not get my kind of result.
Many preach “Love God” They hardly preach “love people” Many love God but don’t love people and God said “If you say you love me…how can you say you love me when you don’t love the person you see” We take that part away. Church Gist. How can I think of a mechanic to give him an award? We can give big people. I was the one that said “This man should be rewarded” That’s a junior staff. Church Gist. The highest they would do, they’d just say “Well done. Thank you for being faithful” and the man would die in one room in one waterside.
Proofs of genuine love for people. These are the proofs. Church Gist. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
- I decree, as you walk in love, you will never fail.
What are the proofs of genuine love for people?
1: It takes no account of a suffered wrong. 1 Corinthians 13:5. This verse contains love’s thermometer. Love’s thermometer is there. Church Gist. If you are touchy, vengeful and resentful, always taking account of evil done to you, then you don’t understand love. Every small thing, you keep it, you don’t understand love. Church Gist. So, just look at yourself whether you fall into any of the categories.
- Love is a peacemaker.
A man called David, King Saul tried to kill him yet he wouldn’t harm Saul even when he had the opportunities. He saw from God’s Word: Touch not My anointed and do My prophet no harm. Church Gist. 1 Chronicles 16:22. Psalm 105:15. Because David saw it (from the Scriptures), he refused to touch Saul, God’s anointed. 1 Peter 4:8. Fervent charity! Divine love is a peacemaker. Hebrews 12:14. If you know what love is, even when there’s supposed to be crisis you make peace. Are you getting me? You will not go and flame the environment.
-I pray somebody will have understanding in the precious name of Jesus.
- True love always wants to give.
Love wants to contribute to another’s needs. John 3:16. So true love results in investment of time, effort and even finances in another (person). Struggling to give is an indication (that) you don’t understand love. Listen! Have you ever struggled to give? Many struggle to give. If they want to give, they give the leftover. If it’s clothes, it’s what they’re not wearing. You don’t understand love. When you understand love, you will not… Church Gist. I have never stayed in any hotel and my pastors going with me stay in another hotel, they stay in the same hotel with me – Anywhere in the World! Let the hotel be 8-Star, they will stay in that 8-Star. They may not stay in the same kind of room with me but it’s in the same hotel they will stay with me. I will not stay in a 5-Star hotel and any pastor travelling with me stays in a 3-Star hotel, they will stay in that 5-Star hotel. They may not stay in my kind of room, understand what I’m saying but they must stay in that hotel. Are you getting what I’m saying? You can’t be high up there, everybody following you is low, you will have crisis. Are you getting what I’m talking about?
No senior pastor working with me who has not travelled; not one country, countries. You saw us giving them houses. So I’m not preaching it! If you’re struggling to give… Some even struggle to give their spouse – a wife you marry, you’re struggling to give her something; your own wife? You have a problem. She bears your name, dropped her father’s name to your name, you’re struggling to give her something. Church Gist. She gave you her name, sold her name to you – Mrs. Something, you’re now struggling to… There are men who struggle, they say: ‘No’!! Even women too struggle to give their husbands, it’s both sides. You don’t understand love! Love gives with ease! I will buy some things, my wife will frown. I say: ‘Why you dey frown now? Which one you dey nah? Even if I make mistake you no like am, sorry’! She will frown. She will say: ‘You bought this bag before, why are you buying it again’? I say: ‘Sorry na, don’t bother na, sorry’! One day I got angry I said if you frown like this, I no go buy anything again oo (Laughing). But I will still buy, are you getting what I’m saying now? Love!
Young men are with me, they come to my room, I say: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven suits; carry! These are not coats oo, suits! (Laughing). They gave me five hundred (500) suits when I turned sixty and I gave all the five hundred (500) out. One day I came, I used to wear LV (Louis Vuitton) shoes, a young man used to buy it for me and I had hundred and something pairs of LV shoes and then I used to wear 44 and then my leg somehow was paining me, I now began to wear 45. So I said, carry all these LV shoes – 44, all! These are not cheap shoes, I said carry all. Some carry three, some carry two, some carry one, some carry another. Church Gist. Everybody was wearing it, I was happy. One day I came to Church, I saw a young man from head to toe. I saw him in Church he was wearing very dirty slippers so I said: ‘Follow me’! So I wore him from his head to toe so the following service he sat in front and crossed his legs (Laughing). I felt good that he was wearing everything! Pastors with me will come one day, I will give them watches, very expensive watches. One day I gave one, I didn’t know the price I gave him. I now saw it was fifty-nine thousand dollars. I said: ‘You have to give me back’. He said: ‘Papa, you don give me forget about…’ (Laughing). He said: ‘It’s too late you’ve already given me, don’t worry yourself’. If you’re struggling to give, you don’t understand love. Those who understand love don’t struggle to give. Shout hallelujah!
- Love is patient.
1 Corinthians 13:4. You must accept the imperfection of others. Everyone is in a process. Did you hear me? You didn’t get to where you are overnight. Love will make you to be patient with people. Are you getting what I’m saying? Oh! Most of them who are working with me, they came very shrewd, I was patient with them. They make mistakes I say: I… I didn’t say because you make mistake, get out!!! Today, some of them are seen as stars, they were not like that. They came very shrewd. 1 Corinthians 13:4. Church Gist. Even as married people, the reason why people are divorcing is lack of patience. Your wife gave you food and she made mistake, calm down. If the salt was too much, she was trying to show you love so that time she just thought of you, then she packed plenty salt and put inside. See it like that! Say: ‘My wife, this salt was too much oo next time’! Be patient with her. If there was no salt, in the process of talking to you, love made her, she forgot to put salt. See it like that! Be patient! With your husband too, be patient. You are not where you are overnight. Love!
I read a story of Florence Nightingale. She was a nurse, this woman was from a wealthy family. In 1845, her family was against her becoming a nurse. In 1854, she went to Turkey from Britain to help wounded soldiers from the Crimean War. When she got to the hospital doctors rejected her. Instead of giving her a job, they asked her to scrub the floor and clean blood on the floor. She was very patient! She had something to offer. When the casualties… because she went with some of her friends who went with her to Turkey. When the casualties were much and they needed nurses they now asked them to work at that point. And she was able to show her skills. Church Gist. Her lifestyle changed everything about the nursing profession. She was so sensitive to patients, she cared for patients; it led to the founding of Red Cross. Be patient with people! When you’re impatient you easily lose your temper. Patience is entering a dialogue to understand the other person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior. Be patient with people. Even with your children, be patient, even with a friend of yours be patient because love is patient. You ensure it’s not going to be… The reason why married people can’t endure is because they are not patient. ‘Oh!!! This person? I can’t take it’! Be patient! You didn’t get to where you are overnight, it’s a process! These are the proofs of love. Shout hallelujah! In case you don’t have any of them, go and work on yourself.
- Love forgives.
Ephesians 4:32. God’s kind of love forgives and forgets. Say with me: I will forgive like God. To say: ‘I have forgiven oo but I can’t forget’, you have not forgiven. You know? Some of us will say: ‘I have forgiven him but the thing he did to me oo, there is no how I can forget’. You’ve not forgiven. You don’t understand love. Isaiah 43:25. Don’t allow your flesh rule, you be ruled by the Word of God. Romans 13:4. The flesh will struggle but be ruled by the Word of God. Husbands and wives learn to forgive. Forgiveness does not hold on to grudges. Love does not keep records of wrongs and grudges. Your diary is for your events not to keep when your wife quarrelled you. Church Gist. Colossians 3:13. Even if two of you quarrel, Paul and Peter had a sharp contention of quarrelling, it didn’t affect the Gospel; they forgave each other. If it is today, they will go on social media. Let me say this: Love covers with silence. I’m going to explain what I mean by that! Cover others with love and correct also with love. You said: ‘I have forgiven him’. But what he did to you, you’ve told everybody. That’s not love. Those who love, they cover with what? Silence. ‘What happened’? You keep quiet. ‘Forget it, we have made peace’! But (not) ‘Come, I will tell you, this guy. Don’t mind what he’s preaching, we’re in the same office but he’s very useless’. Love covers with silence. Are you getting me? There are people who have hurt me but you won’t hear it from my mouth.
One day somebody abused me, abused me; oh my God! It’s remaining for him to say even the anointing is fake. He abused me and you know? God will test whether this thing you’re preaching is real. And I’ve just read a book by Kenneth Hagin, I just read it. And after he abused me somebody came and told me all the things he said. Then it didn’t take two hours, he now called me. He said: ‘Papa’! I said: ‘What is it’? He said: ‘Landlord just gave me notice to quit. I need your help’. Church Gist. And they just told me few minutes ago all the things he said so satan said: ‘Deal with him now, I think landlord has given him (quit notice). I think landlord said he should pack’. I said: ‘Shut up, I understand love’! I called, I said: ‘Look under, there is money’. That time I have not reached this level, that’s the level where you still keep money under bed. (Laughing). Now I can’t keep money under bed, Amen! I said: ‘Look! There are some money there’. He’s at the gate. I said: ‘Give it to him to pay his rent’.
Till today, he has been dodging me. It’s him that does not have the conscience now to face me because he knew I heard, he knew I heard the things he said. Please, don’t divorce and tell everybody what happened, that is madness! Love does not talk. You have children! If you say their mother is a thief, who are you abusing? Your children. You have your part (to play), keep quiet! Love covers with silence. Are you hearing me? You have left a ministry, don’t go talking everywhere. They paid you money when you were there, now you have left; you’re beginning to talk, everything there is bad. When they were paying you salary, why did you take the salary? You’re leaving? Church Gist. Leave quietly, go your way, it’s not by force. You know why? Unforgiveness is a hindrance to faith and prayer. Unforgiveness can also affect your health. If you look at Mark 11:23-25, if you don’t forgive, forget; the thing will not work. That’s why there are so many faith giants who are not getting results because faith worketh by love. Is that true? And there is a part of forgiveness, you should forgive yourself too. Many forgive people, they don’t forgive themselves. Philippians 3:13. Paul did terrible things, he wouldn’t have been able to preach if he didn’t forgive himself. Paul did so much terrible things but he said: ‘I forgive myself also’. One thing I do, I have to let go of the past of the mistakes I’ve made. Philippians 3:13-14.
-I pray today, the memory of everything tormenting you will go in the name of Jesus.
Many of us we forgive people but we don’t forgive ourselves. Every day you stay in your one small corner, put your hand on your jaw like one son wey say em yellow sissy dey for corner (Laughing). Put your hand for jaw. Your own no be money palava, your own na problem palava. He says: ‘How are you’? ‘(Hiss) Booboo’. You start crying. He says: ‘Why are you crying’? ‘Do you know four years ago’? Four years ago! Paul killed people and said: ‘I wrong no man’, Paul. 2 Corinthians 7:2. He said: ‘I wrong no one, I forgive myself, abeg you people, leave me alone’. That’s what Paul was saying. Church Gist. Do you know widows were looking at Paul when he was preaching? Just imagine the Church he went to, the widows will do like this (Illustrating): ‘Is it not this Man that killed people’? Some will even say it to his hearing: ‘Are you not the man who killed my husband’? Paul will just do as if he did not hear. He will say: ‘Forget it abeg’. So if you were Paul, you wouldn’t preach again? Because everywhere Paul went there’s no way one widow will not look at him and say: ‘So this Man who killed my husband is preaching’. Forgive yourself also. Shout hallelujah. 1 John 3:18-21. Forgive yourself for goodness sake, stop condemning yourself. Luke 17:3-4. Matthew 18:21-22.
- True love anticipates the needs of others.
Matthew 6:32. Ephesians 6:8. You know the meaning? Love is not self-seeking. You should know the needs of other people. Always consider other people not only yourself because whatever you make happen for others God will make happen for you. Love is not selfish. So you go somewhere and you like them to give you food early. So you like that? Then when people come, give them food early. Do you like (that) you have to beg before somebody gives to you? Church Gist. Do you like that kind of life? Then don’t wait for people to beg before you give (to them). You say: ‘He didn’t tell me he’s hungry’. He should tell you when he’s hungry when he has stayed in your house for five hours. Love anticipates the needs of what? Others. They know that this person needs this thing, are you getting what I’m talking about? Are you hearing me? They anticipate the needs of others. They know when this person needs something. Are you getting me? You don’t wait! Can you see your wife with a cloth torn and you wait for her to say: ‘Buy me clothes’? You should know that she needs new clothes. They anticipate the needs of others.
Every man who walks in love will just use his eyes to say: ‘This person needs this thing now’. All my domestic staff, I’m not making noise, all my domestic staff use cars, not one is trekking. The only one trekking, I said: ‘I will buy you a car’ because how can you be serving me at my level and be trekking? Even if you clean my shoes you have a car. You know why? I can call you anytime to come. Are you going to use which motor to come? If I say: ‘Come by 11:00’, you should leave your house and come. True? So what are you going to do? Should they beg me now before I now give them cars, no! Love anticipates the needs of others. Church Gist. I can look at the pastors working with me, with my eyes and I know that they need something. I say: ‘No! This guy! At this point of life, he should have his own life’. You see a man with 7 children staying in a three-bedroom flat, does he need to beg you? If God has blessed the ministry; get him a house! 7 children? With his own wife, so where will they stay? So visitor’s room, so four people plus three. Him and his wife? Then the remaining children. You should know the house cannot contain anymore. True? Love anticipates the needs of others. You know when somebody needs something. They don’t need to tell you, you know. Don’t you know? You! You say you love (Laughing). And you say: ‘God bless you’, thank you. That kind blessing, God no dey bless. I said love anticipates the needs of others, you know when somebody needs something. Say: I hear! Somebody in Church is moving with a torn shoe, you know he needs a shoe. You don’t need him to come and meet you and say: ‘I need shoes’. From the shoes you’ve seen, you know that you should give him one of your shoes. Are you getting what I’m talking about? That’s love. It’s not selfish. And whatever you make happen for others God will make happen for you.
- True love does not fear.
Fear is distrust and lack of confidence. 1 John 4:18. Something is missing when fear is present. There’s nothing to fear if that relationship is built on the Word of God. Church Gist. If there’s fear then it’s not built on the Word of God. If two of you are relating on the Word of God, there’s nothing to fear. Love does not entertain fear. Say: I hear! - True love is not envious.
1 Corinthians 13:4. Do we envy people? Yes. Don’t deceive yourself, it’s very common. Does the progress of someone affect you negatively? You don’t understand love. This is how you know: Has anybody shared testimony and inside you, you say: ‘Na, this one? Which one be testimony’? You don’t understand love. ‘I just got a house! I just built a house’. ‘It will fall’. You don’t understand love. You don’t envy no one. Romans 12:15. So if somebody is excited: ‘Oh! I just bought a car’! Rejoice! You too, you will buy your own very soon. ‘Oh! I just built a house’! Rejoice you will build your own very soon. You may not have a house today but just rejoice with the person. ‘Oh! Do you know? They gave me so, so thing’. Church Gist
Rejoice! You will get your own soon! Love does not envy. There are people who envy is their problem. ‘Eh! I just got married’! ‘Na only marriage be the thing’? As if dem quarrel you. Be excited and rejoice! Thank God for getting married then God will give you your own husband. ‘I just bought a car, look at this car they gave to me. Do you know it’s a gift’? ‘Do you know that guy is a thief’? You didn’t say he’s a thief since oo just because they gave him a car, he’s now a thief. The problem is envy! And it’s very common in the Body of Christ. I envy no one, I don’t bother about what anybody is preaching. Whatever you have is your own. I am contented and I envy nobody. I’m sure there’s no way you will say you’re perfect in all the nine. Except you have changed your name to Jesus Christ which you can’t, there must be one. Even if you’re doing it you are not complete, true? Maybe you’re doing all but somewhere you are not complete. Are you getting me now?
Don’t tell me I do all, it’s a lie. For God to say: ‘Teach this topic’, He told me to teach it oo, if it’s only me I will say: “The Help Of God!” He has helped us (for) 27 years. He said: ‘Don’t teach, tell them love – your secret for these 27 years’.
There are things I do, people around me will say: ‘Ah! You did this kind of thing, eh? This person does not like you. Church Gist. Why do you do that’? I say: ‘Puo! (Translated: ‘Get out’ in Igbo Language) Get out! What is your business? Is it your business’? Are you getting me? I sat with a man of God, he said: ‘Sir, I learned love from you. I’m with you and changing. I was not like this before, you have taught me love that now me too I want to practice your type’. I said: ‘Okay, try’. I said but you go read this Book oo because love cannot work without revelation because when the challenges will come, you will be angry. Has somebody offended you before and you want to revenge? You say: ‘Now, I will revenge’. You don’t understand love. David would have revenged when Saul was to kill him, he said I understand love. This Man is anointed, I’m not going to touch him.
- True love is not boastful or proud.
1 Corinthians 13:5. In my studies, sometimes, what people call boldness is rudeness. They’re not bold, they’re rude. When you understand love, even when you’re talking to somebody who is even a junior person, you pick your language. You don’t say: ‘You born fool’, you should know that person is created in the image of God. Love is not boastful, love is humble. Church Gist. Say: I hear. Especially when God has lifted you to a point of envy and junior men… because there are stupid people everywhere. And when stupid people provoke you, that’s when you know you understand love, you must pick your language. You’re correcting them but you must correct (them) with love. You don’t tell them If I did not employ you to work with me, who would have employed you?
Even husband tells wife: ‘If I did not marry you, who go marry you’? Your wife? Then why you go marry am? ‘They no born you well, are you not from a poor home? Where you people don’t even have chairs in your parlour? It’s when I married you that your father bought (the) first furniture’. You don’t understand love. That’s why God brought you to cover her nakedness. Church Gist. I saw something: ‘I’m He that giveth thee power to make wealth’, that means the wealth you have, He gave you the power to get it. So you cannot come out and say: ‘You know? Guys! You know? In this town, I’m the wealthiest’. God wants us to give Him all the glory when we are blessed. Deuteronomy 8:18. So when we are blessed, we should give all the glory. Brag on God, not on yourself. If you want to brag, brag on God, don’t brag on yourself. Shout hallelujah!
Let me say this in closing, God is willing to give His best because He has already given. Then why are certain things not happening in your life because the missing element is that you don’t have true love for people. Faith will not work if love is not working, as powerful as faith, it will never work if love is not working.
-As you demonstrate these qualities of love I see you excel in the name of Jesus.
Let me round off on this note, you are useless without love. Learn to love unconditionally. Church Gist. Everyone can love, including you. Follow God’s example by loving people. Romans 5:5.
-I unleash God’s power of love in you from now in the name of Jesus.
Now this is what love does and I want to be very practical and I’m done. Ephesians 3:17-19. You may know all the books, read everything, quote Scriptures, demonstrate, things (will) happen; you will not be exceptional yet. You know what God is saying? When you understand love, you carry God bodily. You don’t pray for a miracle, you are a miracle. You emit miracles! The secret of every man (who is) exceptional is love.
40 days fasting will not make you walk in the supernatural as a man who walks in love. I don’t struggle for miracles to happen. There is a humbling testimony I will not share it now I will share it after – a very humbling testimony. Testimony that is an anniversary gift! You will know that God just wants to prove that He is God not… Church Gist. A gift to Salvation Ministries by the hand of God which I will share in due season, it will not take the next two weeks you will hear the details. Very humbling testimony! Very big one! Something that people put their hand and struggle for, it came by the hand of God. Say: Love! You don’t know what you’re missing. Even as I’m talking now, some people, they are tying some people in their hearts, on this anniversary; they say: ‘No! Let Papa preach from now till tomorrow, let him preach anything em like. I no care about this preaching oo, I go do wetin I wan do’. That’s not how to be a Christian.
A Christian hears (the) truth and turns. The difference between Saul and David was they made mistakes but David had conscience, Saul had no conscience. Saul was telling God, You know? I did this… No! David said: The mistake I made it, but I’m ready to make a U-turn. But Saul was saying, you know? Even if you said I should kill, I brought this one now to make sacrifice. God said: ‘That’s not what I told you’. 1 Samuel 15:22. Walk in love! You will know that Christianity is sweet when you walk in love. If you walk in love He says, He dwells in you. God is what? (Love). So if you don’t walk in love, God can’t stay in you. Amos 3:3. God is love so when you don’t walk in love, God can’t work with you and when you walk in love He works in you. Church Gist. You just manifest God with ease. You say: ‘Be blessed’, the person just gets blessed. ‘Be healed’, the person gets healed. Church Gist. You say: ‘Things go well’, things (will) go well. You may fast for 40 days and be walking in bitterness. There are people who have fasted not because they are fasting oo. They are fasting because they want to compete with another man of God. So God says: ‘What? Are we in a competition’? He says: ‘Now! If this guy is commanding 500,000 people then when I fast I’m gonna command 1,000,000’. Are we in a competition? I told somebody, I said: I’m in Port Harcourt, another person may be in Akure, what are you bothering yourself, we are not in the same city. You are in your own city. Why are you bothering about what I’m doing here? You too follow your own na. They say: ‘Leave wetin they write for motor, enter motor’.
Do you know? People compete even the same parents, the same father and mother, they compete. What are you competing for? Our son is in Warri not so? Pastor Biodun is in Abuja, I’m in Port Harcourt. He’s in Port Harcourt. Even Port Harcourt is too big, one man can’t occupy in Port Harcourt. Only you go fit? He said: ‘Occupy till I come, is it only you’? Our fathers, they are in Ogun State. Ota. Baba Adeboye is in Ogun State too, I don’t know the village they call that One, Redemption Camp in fact there’s no village, Redemption Camp is the village. Canaanland is the village. Church Gist. Everybody has his own place. Two of them, they are in the same Ogun State, is it affecting anybody? But some people, by now Adeboye and Oyedepo would have been quarrelling. But they’re in the same place. Calm down! Nobody is a threat to you, walk in love. You will see that life will just go like this. I’ve told you what God told me, He said tell them your secret, don’t go preach another thing. I’ve given you the one He told me. My secret is love. These 27 years this is what I’ve been working with. Don’t think that it is too much fasting. You have been fasting too much before you die, stop!
-You won’t die in Jesus’ name.
He said tell them… they think it’s the fasting that is making… No!! I walk in love, this is my greatest secret. He’s the One! Only me! What I would have preached is: ‘Enjoying (The) Help Of God’ if it’s me, He said: ‘No! Tell them love, not love for Me; this time, love for people. Shout hallelujah!
You are going to pray one prayer: I will give expression to love. Everything fighting on my inside not to walk in the reality of love, I come against it. You put it to practice, it’s not ‘I preach love oo’. Even here we preach love, preaching love is different from practicing love. You can preach love! No! This one I preach now I don’t even know Bible, there are people who will preach love like this, you will copy note your hand will pain you. Are you getting me now? So it’s not eh point one, point two, philosophy one, philosophy two. I don’t preach love, I live love. I can look at somebody around me and I say: ‘I can see you’re not okay, something must be wrong with you’. Church Gist. You are seeing somebody working with you not laughing, you should know that something is wrong. Does he need to tell you? You say: ‘How are you’? He’s not smiling. ‘Are you okay’? ‘Sir….’ You should know something is wrong. At that point, you say: ‘Come! What is the problem’? And you should know that ‘moneria’ is worse than malaria. I can use my eyes to look at my domestic staff. When I see them I say: ‘No!!! Something is wrong with this person’. I saw one (of them) one day, I said: ‘What is wrong with you’? He had a health challenge but he didn’t want to talk. I said: ‘Something is wrong with you, my friend, go and do this surgery’. There are things to pray for, there are things to handle in the hospital. I said: ‘Go and do the surgery, forget it’. But I can imagine me pretending as if I don’t see him. (Illustrating). And he’s working for you when you have money. (Illustrating). You say: ‘God will heal you eh? In Jesus name’. (Laughing).
—-PRAYERS—-
Let me say this with all humility, if God has blessed you, giving to people does not reduce people. That you give to somebody around you does not make you to go down, don’t be stingy. Let me say this: If you’re too high and the people under you are not close to you, they will leave you no matter how anointed you are. The reason why they could not identify Peter and Jesus was because the clothes were almost alike. Church Gist. He said: ‘The only way you will recognize Him is when I kiss Him’. That means they were not wearing rags, they were almost wearing the same thing. So he said, you can’t identify Him oo because they all look alike. The only way you will know Him is that I will kiss Him. But there are places (where) you see the MD (Managing Director) here (referring to an upper position) his next person is here (referring to a lower position). How can you be using Cadillac and your own next person is using motorbike, he will stone you.
There’s no pastor of the senior ones who do not have a 4Runner (Jeep); with me, not one! And none of them have one car, they all have cars. They travel, they all travel. I can’t be travelling in a year and my pastor will not travel at least once. They may not travel at my pace but they must travel. True? Because if I keep travelling and all they travel is between Abuja and Lagos. Church Gist. One day, they will say: ‘Oga! So you, na only you wey know oyibo land’. I don’t preach love oo, I live it. In fact, if a pastor says he wants to go, the wife will call him: ‘You sure say God call you? In this Ministry? Think well oo. Na God dey speak to you or na you dey speak to yourself’. Because I don’t preach love, I’m not preaching it oo, this is what I live (love). There are things they won’t tell you because of time.
One day I just stayed during the hardship time. You know? Everything went up in Nigeria. I just stayed like that. I said: ‘No! Everything has gone up; if these people are still earning the same salary there’s no way some of them will not faint by the way’. I just came, I said: ‘Finance and all administrative staff, calculate, from the least staff to the rest, add something to their salary’. In the midst of hardship! They could not believe it, they said: ‘What kind of person is this’? So one of them said: ‘Sir, you no go die quick oo except somebody who will get your nature takes over from you’. He said before you leave, God will raise somebody who has your nature. Church Gist. He said: ‘You won’t die quick, your nature must rub on somebody who cares for people before you go’. Junior Staff were shocked. I said: ‘’Give every staff because things are getting tough’. Everybody knew (the) price of things went up if they earned the same salary they would be under pressure. And when somebody is under pressure the person won’t come out… I don’t mean money determines loyalty but at the same time, money has (an) effect. If God has blessed the work, money shouldn’t be your yardstick for working but at the same time, money has a role to play. I am comfortable by my level of life but some of them, they depend totally on their salaries. No matter what you preach, they don’t know how to give, so you must not leave them to die like that, is that true?
-May this thing inside this Man (Pastor David Ibiyeomie) rub on you in the name of Jesus.
Before I make altar call, I want your heart to open. What do you love in this Commission that God has done? I’m gonna pray, is there anything God has done you love here? You’ll get it. We get properties as somebody gets sweet. This Church gets property like sweet – By favour! You saw the Property of Alabama? That Property is a multi-million dollar property. The insurance of that property is 7 million dollars, insurance! That is the most, the strongest building in that area. Strongest! It’s a bomb-protective building. Church Gist. They built it as a place where if there is war, people should go and stay. The walls are cast, they’re not cement, they’re cast. You can’t hit the Wall and it falls. Protective building! The people did not take even tissue out of it, they gave it to us free. Are you getting what I am saying? And I didn’t know them until after they gave us before we went to meet them. And we have testimony again even today. Big one! We keep having testimonies! Land here is like water. Now let me tell you where it came from – I saw Adeboye got land, I saw Oyedepo got land and I rejoice with them, we just get lands, we don’t struggle. Do you like it? Psalm 44:3.
-Everyone that believed, the next property would come by favour!
Yes, you have built estates, it’s not enough. Can’t you build more? The ones who have estates everywhere are they different?
-Now, I declare! Everyone who is a part of this anniversary, you will not struggle to have properties. Church Gist. I declare, any part of the World! After this anniversary, before you come next year, properties will be like water to you in the name of Jesus.
I saw where God has shown so much grace upon my mentor, Oyedepo and I love it. I discovered love makes you love whatever somebody you love has. He doesn’t struggle for projects to be executed, no struggle! Church Gist. You will see with your eyes that millions and billions are in, no stress. I said: ‘I love this and with all humility before God, the same thing is happening to us’.
-Now, to everyone from today, the last loan you took will be the last in the name of Jesus. You will not need a loan to execute the project in the name of Jesus.
He said: Is Saul also among the prophets? Church Gist. So there’s an anointing when you celebrate with people. Is that true sir?
-Now in the name of Jesus, if we’re not under any pressure financially, pressure ends in your life.
If you think it does not work, look at this young man – Korede Komaiya. He said: ‘Sir, I love this anointing on your life’ and you see him swimming in the same anointing. We went to Biodun’s Church in Abuja – COZA. Biodun was not in the miraculous before, he had his own preaching with young people. Church Gist. And I got there and the Holy Ghost said to me: ‘Pray for him! That thing you carry, he wants it’ and he opened his heart. He said that Sunday after I left was the first Sunday he saw incredible miracles. He preaches his eh! You know that kind of young preaching before. He said: ‘Miracles, raw miracles! Raw! With ease’! If you think anointing is not contagious.
-Everyone whose heart is open, you don’t have to be a pastor. I decree, wherever you are in any part of the World, this Oil upon this Commission and upon my life, rub on you in the name of Jesus. Church Gist. Whatever good thing you lack in this Place; you said I love the way God, You’re doing it here. That’s why you came to celebrate. That good thing, you will have more in the name of Jesus!
Now listen! God sees my heart, I don’t wish you to be less than me. No!! I don’t wish you to be less than me, that’s not love. Love is that you should see something greater. Whatever testimony we have ever shared (that) you love, may God do bigger things in your life in the name of Jesus! Because of this celebration, I declare! No matter the disease, no matter the plague, I command it to end in your life. Church Gist. Everyone called barren, before this time next year, you’re with your children in the name of Jesus. Everyone whose heart desires to marry, before the next anniversary you’re married in the name of Jesus. Psalm 84:11. Anything good Salvation Ministries has that you love, receive your own in the name of Jesus. Everyone close to us, Maxwell, Biodun, K.K., everyone is into construction – big, big places. I’m close to Oyedepo, we’re close to the same father. Are you getting what I’m saying now? This family is a family of big things. When we want to build, no small building. Big building!
-Now! From this day, smallness has ended in your life!
God sees my heart, I can say it now: Only my wife and the people around me knew. I told them I said: ‘This time, I will not preach like other ones, I will prepare heavily’. I’ve been fasting throughout the week. Before (the) anniversary, me, I just fast for that day. I said: ‘Lord! I don’t want your people to come and go back the same way’. You know I can tell you because… Are you getting me now?
-Now in the name of Jesus! Whatever is your desire in this anniversary, I declare granted now! As we are celebrating, may you also have reason to celebrate. You will dance in the open in the name of Jesus. Your celebration has started. You will never have any reason to regret in the name of Jesus. Church Gist. Even the things I did not say from my heart, God bless you in the name of Jesus!!! No matter the disease, it must leave! No matter the terminal plague it must go! I command deaf ears open in the name of Jesus! I command dumb tongues loose in the name of Jesus. I curse that cancer in the name of Jesus. You are blessed!!! From today, may favour become your identity!
He said to me, you don’t lack favour all over the World, pray for My people.
-From my heart, there’s no nation you’ll step your foot on to, where men and women will not honour you in favour! From this meeting, favour will become your identity in the name of Jesus. Church Gist. Everyone owing, I decree, miracle debt cancellation. The Lord blesses you beyond any imagination of men. In the midst of hardship, you will have reasons to laugh. Your greatest testimonies will come this season. Before this time in 2025, your testimonies will be in catalogs in the name of Jesus. You are blessed.
—-PRAYERS—–
Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’ mighty name! I heard God say: Somebody who has an abandoned project, watch what will happen. Church Gist. Because of this Meeting, that project, you will finish it with God’s speed in the name of Jesus.
—–ALTAR CALL—-
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