you cannot be a winner unless you had fought a fight.
You don’t talk of winning unless there had been competition. life is warfare. So, we are at war – we must win – that means we must fight.
And so tonight, we are here to fight and to win.
Is there any winner in the house?
Are you ready to fight?
Because tonight I am going to call on you again and again to pray; and whenever I says, stand on your feet and let us pray;
Now, my text will be taking from 1Samuel 17 from verse 45 to 52;
And while you are opening your Bible, let me say thank you from the bottom of my heart - for all your prayers; for all your gifts; and my prayer is that next year, you will be able to do more.
And I want to say thank you very much to my wife. I am always amazed how she could have endured me all these years. I mean can you imagine tolerating somebody like me for some forty-nine years – definitely she is a Winner.
I was no easy meat before I got born again. After I became born-again again, I became tough meat of the other type - somehow she manage to cope – thank you my dear, God bless you – keep on winning.
And of course I want thank God for all my children: Biological and spiritual. Thank You for giving me so much joy. I pray that God will allow me to stay with you little longer.
1Samuel 17: 45 – 52
45 Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled.
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Nigeria.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran towards the army to meet the Philistine.
49 and David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon hi face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and too his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell doen by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
How do we know Winners?
They have certain characteristics, and I just want to mention seven of them in addition to all that we have already heard.
* The winning side is the Singing and Dancing side.
In 1Samuel 18 verse 6, when the children of Israel were returning from the defeat of the Philistines, they sang and they danced.
In Exodus 15 verse 1 to 21, when the children of Israel look back, and they saw the enemies of more than four hundred years drowned, they sang, they danced.
In Psalm 59 verse 16, David said, I will sing of thy power, I will sing of thy mercy, because you have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
I want to start by saying to somebody, on your way home tonight, you will be singing. Even in your vehicles, you will be dancing.
I don’t need to say too much about singing because I am sure you all sing.
But I will say a little bit about dancing, because some of you don’t dance. Maybe because of your position in society; but if you know the meaning of dancing, I am sure from now on, you will be dancing.
When you have a dog, and I have quite a few of them; when I travel and I return, the way my dog show their joy is by dancing. They danced round me. A dog says I know you are my owner, I am so glad to see you.
When you dance, you are saying to the Almighty God, I am proclaiming to anyone let them say what they like about me, I am showing to the world – God you are my owner.
In 2Samuel chapter 6 verse 14 to 22, the Bible says David dance before the Ark of Covenant and he dance just like any other ordinary man, in such a manner that the wife had to complain.
How can you be dancing like this; don’t you know you are the king!
What was it he said?
I am dancing before my God. I am dancing before the One who promoted me. I am dancing before the One who took the kingdom from your father and handed it over to me. I am dancing to the One who made me who I am.
It is interesting that he told the wife: You have not seen anything yet; I am just going to keep on dancing.
When we talk about winners, David, definitely will qualify to be one of them.
He was a singer; he was dancer.
So, when he wrote Psalm 23; if you study it very well, he is simply saying because I acknowledge God has my Owner, I can even enjoy in the presence of my enemies - My victory is such that even if the enemies are not dead, they are paralyzed
Dancers will always be Victors.
Now, I will remind you of just one testimony of a lady who was rejected in the hospital. They told her to go home and die; and we are having a crusade at Ebute-Metta, and as I was starting the preaching that day, I told the people that God said I should pray for no one today but that everybody who needed healing should dance.
I was preaching, then, they brought her.
Somebody told her, miracles are happening down there – go.
The children brought her in a car, she couldn’t get out of the car herself, and they came to Papa DGO please our mother is dying please pray for her.
Papa said, the word has gone out, no praying for anybody tonight.
If your mother wants to be heal, let her dance.
Haa! She cannot even stand.
Well! I have told you what God said.
So they brought her out – supported her on the right; supported her on the left.
They told her what was said – Dance.
And she was moving just a little to the right, a little to the left.
Suddenly the power of God hit her.
She pushed the fellow on the right away; push away the fellow on the left and kept on dancing.
Stand on your feet.
Lift your voice to the Almighty God, loud and clear, and say: Father, tonight put a new song in my mouth and give me something to dance about.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. Put a new song in my mouth. Give me something to dance about. Tonight! Put a new song in my mouth. Do something in my life that I will dance about for the rest of my life. Put a new song in my mouth and from now on LORD let me just keep on dancing for You. Give me something to dance about all the days of my life. I am a winner, so I must be singing and dancing – something to dance about for the rest of my life.
Amen.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
Number two: how do we know Winners?
* The winning side is always shouting and clapping.
Psalm 47 verse 1 says, clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with voice of triumph.
Amen.
He then went to say in verse 3: the reason why you should be shouting and clapping – he says, He will subdue the people under you and nations under your feet.
It took just one shout to bring down the wall of Jericho.
Thank you.
You know, one of my children who preached yesterday said if you want to be a winner you need to have understanding.
The Bishop who preached this evening, said, you want to be a winner – you must have understanding.
You see, if you read Revelation 19 chapter verse 6: it talks about what is going on in heaven. He said I heard the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters; as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hold on – I will release you in a moment.
Thank you.
Remember I have said it before that if you don’t like noise, don’t go to heaven because heaven is full of noise; and the people, the people who are in heaven, people who are in heaven, who are making this noise – they are Winners, and they were saying that the reason they were shouting is because the Omnipotent reign.
Omnipotent means the One who has all powers.
The One that was described in the Bible has the Lord mighty in battle; those people who were shouting because of the One who gave them victory…
And I can tell you several stories of those who got victory simply by shouting.
Some of you will remember of a woman who just found out whatever she ate, she vomited.
The Doctor did everything, they took all x-rays, everything; and there was nothing they find wrong with her but she kept on vomiting.
And then she came to one of our programs, all we said was that everybody should just shout a big hallelujah.
As she tries to shout, a worm came out of her mouth.
That worm did not appear on her x-ray; everything they could do, they have done, they didn’t detect anything. But the thing jumped out.
And I am decreeing to somebody here tonight, as my children will say, if your own hallelujah is louder than that of your neighbour…
Thank you. Amen. Amen.
…Anything that is not of God that has been hibernating in your body is gone now in Jesus’ name.
Now, what is the meaning of clapping?
Number one: it means you are full of joy.
Isaiah 55 verse 12; it says, you shall go forth with joy; you shall be led forth with peace; now peace means the war is over.
And then, it says, mountains and hills shall sing; they break forth into singing, and the trees shall clap their hands.
When they are rejoicing with you, even the trees will be clapping their hands.
But, I just want to explain to you two things about clapping; because some of your think it is small thing.
Bibles scholars, I mean those who really really know the Bible; I am always afraid of them; but occasionally they something that I like.
And one of them was explaining what God meant “clap your hands o ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triumph”.
He said what God meant when they study the thing very deeply is that God is saying: put your enemies between your two hands and jamb the hand together.
Now you understand.
Now, you can see that some people, it is the way they jamb their hands that tell their enemy that they are not serious – that they don’t want victory.
Amen.
Alright!
So, next time you hear clap your hands, you know what it means?
But there is second meaning to clapping, and I think I have told some of you long ago.
One day, the fingers, and they just look at the bird singing and they said we too we like to sing; but no matter how they wave in the air, no sound came.
Then by accident, two of them discover that if they co-operate, they can produce a sound.
And they discovered that if I co-operate with one finger other than myself, I get some sound.
So, the two hands held a meeting; let us co-operate. Let one finger co-operate with my hand; so one hand began to tap the hand and there was a little sound.
And two fingers joined, and there is a bigger sound.
Three fingers joined, and there is a better sound.
Four fingers joined, and there is a better sound.
Then, all fingers joined…
So, the meaning of clapping is that you are saying to God I will corporate with You.
You cannot corporate with God and loose – it is not possible.
So, I want you to stand on your feet, and I want you to pray a prayer; this prayer is going to be based on the shouting aspect of the shouting and clapping.
You will lift your voice to Him and say: Father, I will corporate with you, let my enemies hear a noise tonight.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. I will corporate with you O Lord, and I will be shouting unto you, let my enemies hear a noise tonight. Let them hear a noise from heaven – as I clap; as I shout. Let my enemies hear a noise from heaven. Let them hear a noise. Thank You Jesus
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
I know you want to continue but we are still going along.
* Winners are always bold and aggressive.
In 1Samuel 17 verse 48, the Bible says David ran towards the army to meet the Philistine.
I mean this young man was bold and he was aggressive.
You see, James chapter 4 verse 7, says, you are to resist the devil – you are the one to attack the devil; attack him, before he can attack you.
In Mathew 16 verse 18, the Almighty God promised that the gate of hell will not prevail against the church.
And as you have already learnt, gates don’t move; the gates stay where they are, it is your duty to resist them, to attack them; and when you do, the Bible say they will not be able to stand your assort.
The Bible asks you to cast out demons not to beg them.
You are the one to take the offensive to the enemy; not the enemy to you.
Many a times when I got a letter from children of God, ‘Daddy, the devil in not allowing me to rest’; the whole thing should be the other way round, the devil should be complaining that you are not allowing to rest.
Be bold, be bold, be bold - You are a conqueror – God is behind you - you cannot fail; you cannot loose.
The devil will only threaten; he has not got any powers left.
I have told the story before; when we got to this camp 1983, I woke up one night (we are very few on the ground), and as I was working around in the moon night, I looked up and I saw fire on one of the trees in front of my office then; I mean big fire on top of the tree.
So, I said, ha ha, one of these boys must have set fire to a tree; I went on my way.
But the following morning, I looked at the top of the tree, the leaves were green; there were no sign of fire at all.
Haa! haa! I know what I saw. I saw fire on top of this tree.
So, I spoke to our head carpenter then, Pastor Goke.
I said I saw something strange last night: I saw fire on top of this tree.
Haa! he said Daddy, we are afraid to tell you; we have been hearing noise going on inside the tree – noise.
I said, and you didn’t even tell me!
So, I called the young ones; Go and get your cutlass – this tree goes down today.
We have just started cutting the tree, when suddenly as if from nowhere, all the villagers gathered.
Don’t touch that tree; it is a tree you must never touch.
So we said, eh en, what will happen if we cut it?
Haa! if you cut the tree, it will stand up again; and when it stands, all of you who took part in the cutting, as tree is standing, you will be falling down dead.
The boys looked at me, I said cut the thing down: Is my Lord that won at the cross not the devil.
We cut down the tree, he never got up, and all those who cut down the tree that time, they are now elders in the church.
Rise on your feet.
Lift your voice to the Almighty God and say: Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, every evil tree in my family, send down fire from heaven and consume them all.
Go ahead open your mouth. You know there are some trees in your villages, in your family compound, harboring evil forces – is your duty to pull them down. Every evil tree, wherever you they may be in my home, in my place of work, in my husband’s house, in my wife’s house, every evil tree, Father, send down fire from heaven and consume tonight, consume tonight. Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
So shall it be in Jesus’ name.
You may please be seated.
You may not know of the tree on the camp, but I was visiting Lokoja sometimes ago; and right in the center of the town, the road bent round a tree.
So, I was asking my son then, why?
This tree is in the middle of the road in the town!
Oh! That is a tree that must never be touch.
I said why?
They said that…en! just don’t touch it.
I said good – this tree goes.
So I talk to my Father about it.
I finish my program, we came back home; and a huge storm broke out; By the following morning, the tree was on its side.
Every evil tree in your life will not see tomorrow morning.
Number four…
Thank You Father.
The Lord said there is some here tonight; He said I have never failed before, I will not let your case tarnish my record.
Thank You Father.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said right now the poor call you poor; He said very soon, the rich will call you rich.
Okay thank You Daddy.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said next time they ask you, when are you going to send out your own invitation, tell them very soon.
Number four.
* Winners are always persistent till the end
You know the popular saying: Quitters don’t win, Winners don’t quit.
True winners, they never stop at almost-successful.
David had already killed Goliath with the stone but he wasn’t satisfied.
Not only must Goliath die, he must never resurrect – that was while he cut off his head.
And I am believing God for you brother, and sister, the problems God will solve in your life tonight will never raise his head again.
Winners don’t want just-to-be healed; they want to be whole.
They don’t just want their debt paid; they want a situation they will never owe again.
Like in 2King chapter 4 verse 1 to 7. That widow not only paid off her debt, she had more than enough for the rest of her life.
I want to, on the basis of that, decree; every one of you tonight, when they talk about debt, you will say I don’t know what it so called.
Winners don’t want just to be fruitful; they want to be very fruitful.
Hannah didn’t just get a child; after she gave that one to God, she got extra five.
I have already spoken to my God; you know how much I love children, I have already told the Almighty God, before I am eighty year old, when children are having their own convention, they auditorium we are moving from will not contain the children alone.
So, those of you who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb; decide how many of them will be your own, and it is done in Jesus’ name.
Winners are tenacious; they are persistence.
They don’t want half a victory; they want total victory.
They don’t take no for an answer; they just keep on pressing forward until the victory comes.
I have told you the story of that woman, I will tell you again, so you can pray with understanding.
I finish convention, I was extremely tired, I got home, gather the people together, I said well, I am tired, I am going to sleep, I don’t want to be disturbed; so, let us pray – and I pray the kind of prayer you pray when you are tired.
“Father thank You for everything. See you tomorrow”.
And as I was lying down to rest, my wife came to knock at the door.
“Woman I told you I want to rest!”
There is a woman from the North with her children. Is daddy in?
Yes, is in; but he is not seeing anybody today.
Haa! She said who is talking about today.
He is in right?
Yes. She said ehen, I would seat down at this door; sooner or later, it doesn’t matter how many days, he will come out.
And they gave her food and she sat down and was eating – that was when my wife came and said, I know you are tired, you better add this tire to your tiredness.
So I had to get up.
And she said one thing, she said this head, is always refusing good thing; I just want you to touch it, then you can go back to your sleep.
Winners – they are like that.
God I won’t let you go unless You bless me; it doesn’t matter how long it is going to take: I will keep on praying; I will keep on pressing forward, I will keep on praising You; I will keep on shouting; I will keep on doing everything until You will answer me.
You remember the story of Jacob and that Angel that wrestled with him in Genesis 32 from verse 24 to 28 - the Almighty God said to him, let Me go.
He said, how can I let You go, I have not got what I wanted yet and he kept on pressing forward until he got his breakthrough.
There is somebody here tonight who is about to get breakthrough.
And so you are going to stand on your feet and you are going to pray a prayer; please pray it with all your heart; and say: Father, don’t stop fighting for me until none of my enemies remain.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. Don’t stop fighting for me until there is not a single one of my enemies left. Keep on fighting O Lord. Every sickness must go. Every disease must go. Every ache, every pain must disappear. Every financial headache must end. Don’t stop fighting for me O Lord, until there is none of my problems left. Keep fighting for me O Lord. Give me victory all the way; victory all the way; total and complete. Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
So shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
Number five.
* Winners are always submissive and obedient.
If you listen to the language of David in the text we read, he said, I come in the Name of the Lord of host; it is the Lord who will deliver you into my hand.
Everyone will know that the Lord does not save by spear and sword.
He just kept on saying the Lord, the Lord, the Lord.
And what is the meaning of ‘the Lord’?
Apart from being the owner, that is why we are talking of landlord – the owner of the house; the Lord is the one who must be obeyed. The one who must be obeyed!
One of the greatest winners of all times was Elijah.
He never lost a battle: enemies toiled with him, he will rather kill them or burn them alive.
But he was what you will call “A-yes man”.
The Lord said do this, he will say, yes Lord.
Go there - yes Lord.
Hid - yes Lord.
Show yourself - yes Lord.
He was a-yes man.
The day you get to that stage that whatever God says that is what I will do; your defeat will end that day.
Because Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 1 and 7 says, if you will harken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all that He commands you…
And He said in verse 7, He will cause the enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face. He says, if they come against you in one way and flee before thee seven ways.
The moment you learn to say: yes Lord; to become absolutely obedient as the Bishop told us earlier on; you will overcome sickness.
Exodus 15 verse 26, the obedient (100%), he said I will become your physician.
Be totally obedient to Him, He will turn your reproach to triumph; shame to victory.
John chapter 2 verse 1 to 11, in the wedding in Canaan of Galilee…
Thank You Father.
I think this one is for me, so I want to say amen to it before I tell you.
God is saying to someone here, He said I Am the One who kept you safety till now and I have not retired, don’t be afraid of the future.
Thank You Father.
We will pick it up from where I left… but He asked me to remind you of a story I told you some time ago.
I was praying in the camp and I have one of this modern touch-light with me – the touch-light that the one they call rechargeable that you can charge and then take it with you.
It was a very dark night, and so I went into the bush to be away from…, I want some quietness and there are so many people praying on the camp.
When I have gone far into the bush, suddenly the touch-light went completely out.
The battery that was charged loses all it power and it was a very dark night.
How do I get back to the camp – I was in the bush!
Then I remember what my teacher thought us when I was in primary school that if you find yourself in darkness suddenly, close your eye tight for about two minutes, when you open your eye again dark won’t be so dark anymore.
Well! Okay! So, I closed my eye for about two minutes. When I open my eyes, suddenly there was a big moon in the sky – almost like afternoon.
So, I walk easily back to the camp.
When I got to the camp, I looked up to see the moon, it was no longer there.
And I heard God said to me, I brought that one out specially for.
Now, I have told you the story because God ask me to tell someone here tonight: He said in your darkest hour I will send you light.
Haa! thank You Lord.
He asked me to tell someone based on the same story that from tonight onward, darkness will never hinder your progress again.
So, we are talking about John chapter 2 verse 1 to 11. When they ran out of win…, what got them victory that change the shame of the Bridegroom to celebration was what the mother said: whatever He says to you, do it.
When you are submissive to God and you are absolutely obedient to Him, your victory is certain.
I will tell you a story; it will mean something to some people.
It’s a testimony of a man of God. He became General Overseer as a young man and some of the elders in the church decided that they will bring him down.
So, anytime they were at the council meeting, they will be opposing and lying against him.
One day came; God said I will give you victory today.
But you must not say a single word until I tell you so.
So, this young man sat in the meeting, and one elder after another, lying against him and they know they were lying.
And you how difficult it is to keep quiet when people are lying against you.
But this young man had had God say ‘just keep your mouth shut’.
This people had been talking for more than one hour – on lie after another – then God spoke to His boy, tell them “every idle word that a man shall speak, he will give an account of it on the day of judgment”.
So, he said, brethren, I am speaking to you out of love, I am sure you know it is written that every word that we speak on earth will would give an account in the day of judgment.
From that day onward, nobody ever lied against him.
His victory became just permanent.
And I am believing God for someone tonight that this very evening God is about to silence you enemies permanently.
But you are going to pray a prayer.
You will lift your voice to the Almighty God (you don’t mind standing again); we are at the battle front this evening and we are going to win.
You lift your voice to Him and say: Father, I will obey You, silence all my enemies.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. I will obey You, silence all my enemies on a permanent basis. Silence them, silence them. Just shut their mouth on a permanent basis. Shut their mouth. As for me, I will obey You; I will do whatever You ask me to do, in Your own side of the bargains, silence the enemies permanently, permanently. Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
So shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
Number six had been well treated by the Bishop who spoke before me.
* Every winner is always grateful and they always pay their tithe.
From this we just found this in the life of another great winner, Abraham.
Genesis 14 verse 17 to 20: he was victorious, coming from winning a great battle - The first He did was he paid his tithe.
Long before as to any law to tithing, Abraham paid his tithe out of the gratitude to the God who gave him victory.
You see, how tithing comes into being a winner is that those who don’t pay their tithe live under a curse; and somebody who is cursed cannot win.
In Numbers 22 verse 1 to 8: a king sent for a prophet, come and curse Israel for me. There are so many for me: if you curse them, I will be able to overcome them.
But nobody can curse some that God has not cursed.
In Numbers 23 verse 5 to 8: the prophet said, how can I curse someone that God has not curse?
If you are robbing God of His tithe, according to Malachi chapter 3 verse 8 to 11, then you are living under the curse of God Himself.
And when God curses a man, it doesn’t matter how hard he tries, He will just keep on failing.
I have told the story of man before, every time he is about to succeed, the thing will slip out of his hands.
He woke up to realize that something is seriously wrong, because his friend in Abuja phoned him: Haa! thank God at last you have won this contract. We have written your letter, come and collect.
He jumped into the plain, before he landed in Abuja, the Managing Director called his friend: ‘that letter that we signed, I hope you have not yet delivered it, because we are not giving it to him anymore’.
Between Lagos and Abuja! The victory slipped out of his and again.
And when he came and said Daddy look at what has happen.
The Spirit of God said, ask him; because he was asking me there must be a curse in my life, cancel it.
…ask him, ‘do you pay your tithe?
Well...ehemm… I give whenever it is convenient.
How many winners are in the house?
How many of you want to remain winners forever?
You cannot afford to annoy God.
You cannot win when God is against you.
I have told you before when the Bible says: If God be for us who can be against us? Romans 8:31.
Any time I ask you the question; somebody will jump up and say nobody.
Open your Bible; read it.
Open the place: Romans 8:31
In my own Bible, when he says if God be for us, who can be against?
The end of that verse is question mark.
He did not write nobody there.
Why?
Because if God is for you, there is only one fellow who can be against you: and that is YOURSELF.
That is why they left the question hanging – if God is for you, the devil cannot be against you; demons cannot be against you; witch doctors cannot be against you, but you can be against yourself.
That is while you are going to pray your next prayer and you are going to pray it even harder than before.
You will stand on your feet and lift your voice loud and clear and say: Father, from tonight let me ceased to be my own enemy.
Open your mouth and pray. Let me cease to be my own enemy; let me cease to be my own enemy because I know if you are on my side, I will win, but if I am my own enemy what am I going to do. Don’t let me continue to be my own enemy. Don’t let me continue to be my own enemy; please Lord, don’t let me continue to be my own enemy. Thank You Lord.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
And I decree that every curse upon your life shall be destroyed.
Please be seated.
We are almost there now.
Number seven.
* Winners are always pure and holy.
Because in warfare you need an ally: it is an acceptable means of fighting a war; but when the battle is too fears for you, you get an ally.
Moment you get the victory – that is all that matters; and there is no better ally than the Lord of host.
One of my boys told us again yesterday, two people cannot walk together expect they be agreed.
Our God is a holy God.
You want Him to be your ally, you must be holy.
In Numbers 23, you can read it from verse 18 to 24.
When the king ask Balaam to come and curse Israel, he said I cannot curse them because God said I have looked, there is no iniquity in them; even the curse became a blessing.
Whereas, in Joshua chapter 7 from verse 1 to 12: when sin came into the camp of Israel; the God who had promise them that nobody will be able to withstand them, backed out.
I can assure you of one thing, if I don’t know anything else about God, I know this one – nothing is impossible with God.
There is no enemy so big that my God cannot finish.
He has Armies that you will not even think he is an army.
He fought a king with ordinary worms.
Worms ate him alive.
So, who is that enemy that can withstand you when God is really on your side?
He is a miracle working God – I have seen too much of Him to doubt Him.
I mean, just look around you, you will see His handwriting: Miracle Working God.
So, why then am I fighting a losing battle?
Examine yourself.
Find out where sin is in your life and get rid of it.
I have told the story before.
A woman came, somewhere from Osun to our program when we are still in the first auditorium
Because somebody told her, you go there, the G.O lay hands on you, you will become fruitful.
She came; in those days we are much much smaller; so, I could lay hands on everybody.
I lay hands on her; she fell under the anointing, she was on the ground for almost one hour.
And then, she came back the following year very angry.
They told me if I come, you will lay hands on me that I might even fall.
You lay hands on me and I even fell, and I am still here no child.
I was going to apologies when God said, ask her, - the question God ask me to ask her was a difficult one because this was quiet an important woman.
Almost trembling I said, please forgive me ma, but God said I should ask you, ‘apart from your husband, how many other boy friends have you?’
She said six.
Haa! and you want a child from my God.
How are we even going to know the father?
Husband plus six!
My God is a holy God.
I am believing God from all my heart that every one of you here tonight you will have a testimony. But that is if you get out of sin.
My God is a holy God. He gives miracles not magic.
It is the devil who can give you magic and say it doesn’t matter, you can continue to sin.
He can give you magic, knowing that he will be waiting for you in hell.
But my God will give you blessings without any sorrow added.
So, if you are will to say bye-bye to sin, this will be one night you will never forget for the rest of your life.
So, before we pray the few prayers that we have left to pray.
If there is any one here today who is not yet born again, come forward, come forward, let us pray for your salvation; let the blood of Jesus watch away your sins and let Him give you a new beginning.
It is only sin that can block your miracles tonight.
God is here with all His power to turn you to a winner.
So, I am going to count from one to twelve because I see some of you are very far away; before I say twelve, if you want to give your life to Jesus come and stand before me. I will pray for your salvation and then we will be able to go on from there.
One, two, now if you are coming from far off, you need to begin to come fast; three;
The Bible says, the hand of the Lord is not shorten that He cannot save neither His ear heavy that He cannot hear, but your sins and your iniquity can separate between you and your God so that He won’t hear.
So, if you want Him to hear you, to turn you into a winner, you must come to Him so that His blood can wash away your sins.
…four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,…
Like I see some of you very far away, just keep coming; don’t stop, keep coming, keep coming.
…ten, eleven
Just keep coming, I can see some of you still far away, just make sure you get here before I finish praying.
Those of you who are already in front, talk to the Almighty God. Ask Him to please have mercy on you and save your souls.
Ask Him to please forgive all your sins and wash you clean with His blood.
Tell Him you are surrendering to Him today and You want Him to become Your Lord and Saviour.
Tell Him You will serve Him for the rest of your life.
The rest of you who are coming on the way, keep talking to God. Ask Him to save your soul. Ask Him to forgive all your sins and promise Him you will serve Him.
And the rest of us, let us stretch our hands towards this people and pray for them – just for about two minutes, let us intercede for them – that the Almighty God who saved your soul will save their souls also.
Pray for them brethren; intercede for them; that the Saviour who saved your soul will save their own souls also.
Pray for them.
And those of you on the way just keep on coming, don’t stop.
I am about to pray but make sure you keep coming; the prayer will affect you too.
Thank You Father
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Ancient of days we bless Your holy name. We thank You for Your word. We thank You for this people who have come forward, please receive them in Jesus’ name. Let Your blood wash away their sins. Save their souls O Lord. Write their names in the book of life. And from now on, anytime they call on You, answer them by fire. Please Lord, don’t let them backslide; let them serve You till the very end.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Amen.
Now I want to rejoice with those of who have come forward tonight. I want to promise you that from now on I will be praying for you.
So, I am going to need your names, your address, and your prayer requests.
So, they will give you a card where you are; you will fill it very quickly and then give it back to the Counselors and then you can go back to you seats.
I promise you I will be praying of you.
I will wait for you few minutes to finish filling your forms before we proceed further.
The rest of us while we wait for our brothers and sisters, you can begin to thank God for what He has already done and there is still something else He will do before go.
So, keep on worshipping Him.
Now, we are going to, in the main time write down your prayer points which we will pray for few minutes, then I will do what God ask me to do tonight; we would then thank God and be on our way.
You want to write down your prayer points:
1. Praise Him that you belong to the winning side.
And the rest means serious warfare with yourself
2. You will say: Father, in the name of Jesus, I decree, every sickness, every disease in my family as a whole, leave tonight.
You want to attack the enemy now, go ahead and attack.
3. You will say: Father, in the name of Jesus, I decree, every agent of the devil in my home, get out tonight.
4. Every force standing in my way, be destroy tonight.
5. Face the devil himself squarely and say: Father, in the name of Jesus, I command Satan to take his dirty hands off me, of my family, of my finances, and of the church of God.
The rest of us, I give you ten minutes to pray these five prayers. Please pray them with all your heart.
It will be a good idea if you pray them standing.
Only ten minutes now. So, go ahead and pray with all your heart because your destiny depends on this.
Thank You.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
I want you to join hands with your neighbour now.
We are going to pray in agreement.
Those of you who came forward for prayers; I rejoiced with those of you who are carried forward who are walking now.
Just go back to your seats and the rest of you, you go back to your seat also, the anointing will continue his work even as you go.
Hold your neighbours hand and cry to the Almighty God.
Father, please arise and fight for this Your child.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. Father, arise, fight for this Your child; fight for this Your child. Almighty God arise, Lord of host arise, fight for this Your child. Almighty God arise, please arise and fight for this Your child; fight for this Your child. Almighty God please arise and fight for this Your child; fight for this Your child. Fight for this Your child O Lord. Fight for this Your child. Fight for this Your child. Thank You Father. O Yes! Fight for Your child.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Please still hold the hand of your neighbour; and say: Father, let this Your child become a perpetual winner, never to lose any battle again.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. This Your child make him a perpetual winner, don’t let him ever lose another battle; never lose a battle again. Thank You Father. Don’t let Your son ever lose a battle. O! blessed be Your holy name. Thank You my Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
We have two more prayers to pray, but, I will explain to you before you pray them.
I think it was 1981/2, I was visiting a town in Ondo State and one of my son said Daddy, I have a big factory but there is one doctor- a herbalist, who has built a shrine opposite my factory.
I don’t want to mention the name of the fellow because of what followed.
Let just call him doctor KK – that is not the name.
He said because of the evil that goes on in his shrine: children being use for rituals and so on, nobody wants to come near that place – they cannot come to my factory.
I said why don’t you report him to the Police he said, haa! he is highly connected.
So, we went.
And I stood on the balcony of the factory and raise my hand towards the shrine and I prayed a simple prayer.
Some days later, a thunder boat came from heaven…, because the shrine was under an Iroko tree; split the Iroko tree into piece, destroy the entire shrine
…and my son who was disappointed because all I did was raise my hand, he said, now I know the meaning.
I am going to raise my hands tonight because Daddy ask me to do so and then you will pray a prayer; that is number one.
Number two, which am sure some of you have heard before.
My home town is only 8km from Ife but the road joining my town to Ife was not built.
So, to go to Ife you had to go to Ilesha 20km and then go from Ilesha to Ife another 30-something km; so, it was an Israelite journey.
So, I went to visit home when I became General Overseer and they told me this is the only request we have – ‘we want the road to link use direct to Ife’
I asked what direction they want the road to take and I raise my hand.
Six month later, the Federal government decided to build a road.
And the journey of 50km became 8km.
I believe God is about to open direct road to success for someone here.
So, you are going to stand on your feet and your first prayer has I raise my hand is that the fire of God would descend tonight and everything that has been blocking your destiny must be destroyed.
Now before you pray; because many at times when we do things like this, you may thing we are joking.
I heard a testimony just a few days ago of someone who had had a very serious case with Government of America; and they have almost bankrupted him.
So, he told his friend and that friend said, I have a comb here that Daddy G.O bless. I can give it to you; you will comb your hair – comb away what you don’t want.
Few days later, not only do they dismiss the case, they ask the Government to pay him half a million dollars.
Don’t joke with whatever will do hear.
I am going to raise my hands now – pray with all your heart that: the Almighty God, my God, will send down fire and everything that have been blocking your destiny, be consumed tonight. And you keep praying until I stop you.
Okay! You can go ahead.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
I am going to lift my hands again; and your prayer this time around would be: Father, build me an express way to success.
Go ahead.
Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Beginning from now, your Israelites journey ends. From this moment onward, you will have direct access to success. You will have direct access to victory. And anyone or anything blocking your destiny will be gone before the sun rises. You will testify.
So shall it be.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Alright! If you receive your own let me hear you shout hallelujah.
Pastor E. A. Adeboye
You don’t talk of winning unless there had been competition. life is warfare. So, we are at war – we must win – that means we must fight.
And so tonight, we are here to fight and to win.
Is there any winner in the house?
Are you ready to fight?
Because tonight I am going to call on you again and again to pray; and whenever I says, stand on your feet and let us pray;
Now, my text will be taking from 1Samuel 17 from verse 45 to 52;
And while you are opening your Bible, let me say thank you from the bottom of my heart - for all your prayers; for all your gifts; and my prayer is that next year, you will be able to do more.
And I want to say thank you very much to my wife. I am always amazed how she could have endured me all these years. I mean can you imagine tolerating somebody like me for some forty-nine years – definitely she is a Winner.
I was no easy meat before I got born again. After I became born-again again, I became tough meat of the other type - somehow she manage to cope – thank you my dear, God bless you – keep on winning.
And of course I want thank God for all my children: Biological and spiritual. Thank You for giving me so much joy. I pray that God will allow me to stay with you little longer.
1Samuel 17: 45 – 52
45 Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled.
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Nigeria.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran towards the army to meet the Philistine.
49 and David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon hi face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and too his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell doen by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
How do we know Winners?
They have certain characteristics, and I just want to mention seven of them in addition to all that we have already heard.
* The winning side is the Singing and Dancing side.
In 1Samuel 18 verse 6, when the children of Israel were returning from the defeat of the Philistines, they sang and they danced.
In Exodus 15 verse 1 to 21, when the children of Israel look back, and they saw the enemies of more than four hundred years drowned, they sang, they danced.
In Psalm 59 verse 16, David said, I will sing of thy power, I will sing of thy mercy, because you have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
I want to start by saying to somebody, on your way home tonight, you will be singing. Even in your vehicles, you will be dancing.
I don’t need to say too much about singing because I am sure you all sing.
But I will say a little bit about dancing, because some of you don’t dance. Maybe because of your position in society; but if you know the meaning of dancing, I am sure from now on, you will be dancing.
When you have a dog, and I have quite a few of them; when I travel and I return, the way my dog show their joy is by dancing. They danced round me. A dog says I know you are my owner, I am so glad to see you.
When you dance, you are saying to the Almighty God, I am proclaiming to anyone let them say what they like about me, I am showing to the world – God you are my owner.
In 2Samuel chapter 6 verse 14 to 22, the Bible says David dance before the Ark of Covenant and he dance just like any other ordinary man, in such a manner that the wife had to complain.
How can you be dancing like this; don’t you know you are the king!
What was it he said?
I am dancing before my God. I am dancing before the One who promoted me. I am dancing before the One who took the kingdom from your father and handed it over to me. I am dancing to the One who made me who I am.
It is interesting that he told the wife: You have not seen anything yet; I am just going to keep on dancing.
When we talk about winners, David, definitely will qualify to be one of them.
He was a singer; he was dancer.
So, when he wrote Psalm 23; if you study it very well, he is simply saying because I acknowledge God has my Owner, I can even enjoy in the presence of my enemies - My victory is such that even if the enemies are not dead, they are paralyzed
Dancers will always be Victors.
Now, I will remind you of just one testimony of a lady who was rejected in the hospital. They told her to go home and die; and we are having a crusade at Ebute-Metta, and as I was starting the preaching that day, I told the people that God said I should pray for no one today but that everybody who needed healing should dance.
I was preaching, then, they brought her.
Somebody told her, miracles are happening down there – go.
The children brought her in a car, she couldn’t get out of the car herself, and they came to Papa DGO please our mother is dying please pray for her.
Papa said, the word has gone out, no praying for anybody tonight.
If your mother wants to be heal, let her dance.
Haa! She cannot even stand.
Well! I have told you what God said.
So they brought her out – supported her on the right; supported her on the left.
They told her what was said – Dance.
And she was moving just a little to the right, a little to the left.
Suddenly the power of God hit her.
She pushed the fellow on the right away; push away the fellow on the left and kept on dancing.
Stand on your feet.
Lift your voice to the Almighty God, loud and clear, and say: Father, tonight put a new song in my mouth and give me something to dance about.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. Put a new song in my mouth. Give me something to dance about. Tonight! Put a new song in my mouth. Do something in my life that I will dance about for the rest of my life. Put a new song in my mouth and from now on LORD let me just keep on dancing for You. Give me something to dance about all the days of my life. I am a winner, so I must be singing and dancing – something to dance about for the rest of my life.
Amen.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
Number two: how do we know Winners?
* The winning side is always shouting and clapping.
Psalm 47 verse 1 says, clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with voice of triumph.
Amen.
He then went to say in verse 3: the reason why you should be shouting and clapping – he says, He will subdue the people under you and nations under your feet.
It took just one shout to bring down the wall of Jericho.
Thank you.
You know, one of my children who preached yesterday said if you want to be a winner you need to have understanding.
The Bishop who preached this evening, said, you want to be a winner – you must have understanding.
You see, if you read Revelation 19 chapter verse 6: it talks about what is going on in heaven. He said I heard the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters; as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hold on – I will release you in a moment.
Thank you.
Remember I have said it before that if you don’t like noise, don’t go to heaven because heaven is full of noise; and the people, the people who are in heaven, people who are in heaven, who are making this noise – they are Winners, and they were saying that the reason they were shouting is because the Omnipotent reign.
Omnipotent means the One who has all powers.
The One that was described in the Bible has the Lord mighty in battle; those people who were shouting because of the One who gave them victory…
And I can tell you several stories of those who got victory simply by shouting.
Some of you will remember of a woman who just found out whatever she ate, she vomited.
The Doctor did everything, they took all x-rays, everything; and there was nothing they find wrong with her but she kept on vomiting.
And then she came to one of our programs, all we said was that everybody should just shout a big hallelujah.
As she tries to shout, a worm came out of her mouth.
That worm did not appear on her x-ray; everything they could do, they have done, they didn’t detect anything. But the thing jumped out.
And I am decreeing to somebody here tonight, as my children will say, if your own hallelujah is louder than that of your neighbour…
Thank you. Amen. Amen.
…Anything that is not of God that has been hibernating in your body is gone now in Jesus’ name.
Now, what is the meaning of clapping?
Number one: it means you are full of joy.
Isaiah 55 verse 12; it says, you shall go forth with joy; you shall be led forth with peace; now peace means the war is over.
And then, it says, mountains and hills shall sing; they break forth into singing, and the trees shall clap their hands.
When they are rejoicing with you, even the trees will be clapping their hands.
But, I just want to explain to you two things about clapping; because some of your think it is small thing.
Bibles scholars, I mean those who really really know the Bible; I am always afraid of them; but occasionally they something that I like.
And one of them was explaining what God meant “clap your hands o ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triumph”.
He said what God meant when they study the thing very deeply is that God is saying: put your enemies between your two hands and jamb the hand together.
Now you understand.
Now, you can see that some people, it is the way they jamb their hands that tell their enemy that they are not serious – that they don’t want victory.
Amen.
Alright!
So, next time you hear clap your hands, you know what it means?
But there is second meaning to clapping, and I think I have told some of you long ago.
One day, the fingers, and they just look at the bird singing and they said we too we like to sing; but no matter how they wave in the air, no sound came.
Then by accident, two of them discover that if they co-operate, they can produce a sound.
And they discovered that if I co-operate with one finger other than myself, I get some sound.
So, the two hands held a meeting; let us co-operate. Let one finger co-operate with my hand; so one hand began to tap the hand and there was a little sound.
And two fingers joined, and there is a bigger sound.
Three fingers joined, and there is a better sound.
Four fingers joined, and there is a better sound.
Then, all fingers joined…
So, the meaning of clapping is that you are saying to God I will corporate with You.
You cannot corporate with God and loose – it is not possible.
So, I want you to stand on your feet, and I want you to pray a prayer; this prayer is going to be based on the shouting aspect of the shouting and clapping.
You will lift your voice to Him and say: Father, I will corporate with you, let my enemies hear a noise tonight.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. I will corporate with you O Lord, and I will be shouting unto you, let my enemies hear a noise tonight. Let them hear a noise from heaven – as I clap; as I shout. Let my enemies hear a noise from heaven. Let them hear a noise. Thank You Jesus
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
I know you want to continue but we are still going along.
* Winners are always bold and aggressive.
In 1Samuel 17 verse 48, the Bible says David ran towards the army to meet the Philistine.
I mean this young man was bold and he was aggressive.
You see, James chapter 4 verse 7, says, you are to resist the devil – you are the one to attack the devil; attack him, before he can attack you.
In Mathew 16 verse 18, the Almighty God promised that the gate of hell will not prevail against the church.
And as you have already learnt, gates don’t move; the gates stay where they are, it is your duty to resist them, to attack them; and when you do, the Bible say they will not be able to stand your assort.
The Bible asks you to cast out demons not to beg them.
You are the one to take the offensive to the enemy; not the enemy to you.
Many a times when I got a letter from children of God, ‘Daddy, the devil in not allowing me to rest’; the whole thing should be the other way round, the devil should be complaining that you are not allowing to rest.
Be bold, be bold, be bold - You are a conqueror – God is behind you - you cannot fail; you cannot loose.
The devil will only threaten; he has not got any powers left.
I have told the story before; when we got to this camp 1983, I woke up one night (we are very few on the ground), and as I was working around in the moon night, I looked up and I saw fire on one of the trees in front of my office then; I mean big fire on top of the tree.
So, I said, ha ha, one of these boys must have set fire to a tree; I went on my way.
But the following morning, I looked at the top of the tree, the leaves were green; there were no sign of fire at all.
Haa! haa! I know what I saw. I saw fire on top of this tree.
So, I spoke to our head carpenter then, Pastor Goke.
I said I saw something strange last night: I saw fire on top of this tree.
Haa! he said Daddy, we are afraid to tell you; we have been hearing noise going on inside the tree – noise.
I said, and you didn’t even tell me!
So, I called the young ones; Go and get your cutlass – this tree goes down today.
We have just started cutting the tree, when suddenly as if from nowhere, all the villagers gathered.
Don’t touch that tree; it is a tree you must never touch.
So we said, eh en, what will happen if we cut it?
Haa! if you cut the tree, it will stand up again; and when it stands, all of you who took part in the cutting, as tree is standing, you will be falling down dead.
The boys looked at me, I said cut the thing down: Is my Lord that won at the cross not the devil.
We cut down the tree, he never got up, and all those who cut down the tree that time, they are now elders in the church.
Rise on your feet.
Lift your voice to the Almighty God and say: Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, every evil tree in my family, send down fire from heaven and consume them all.
Go ahead open your mouth. You know there are some trees in your villages, in your family compound, harboring evil forces – is your duty to pull them down. Every evil tree, wherever you they may be in my home, in my place of work, in my husband’s house, in my wife’s house, every evil tree, Father, send down fire from heaven and consume tonight, consume tonight. Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
So shall it be in Jesus’ name.
You may please be seated.
You may not know of the tree on the camp, but I was visiting Lokoja sometimes ago; and right in the center of the town, the road bent round a tree.
So, I was asking my son then, why?
This tree is in the middle of the road in the town!
Oh! That is a tree that must never be touch.
I said why?
They said that…en! just don’t touch it.
I said good – this tree goes.
So I talk to my Father about it.
I finish my program, we came back home; and a huge storm broke out; By the following morning, the tree was on its side.
Every evil tree in your life will not see tomorrow morning.
Number four…
Thank You Father.
The Lord said there is some here tonight; He said I have never failed before, I will not let your case tarnish my record.
Thank You Father.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said right now the poor call you poor; He said very soon, the rich will call you rich.
Okay thank You Daddy.
The Lord said there is someone here tonight, He said next time they ask you, when are you going to send out your own invitation, tell them very soon.
Number four.
* Winners are always persistent till the end
You know the popular saying: Quitters don’t win, Winners don’t quit.
True winners, they never stop at almost-successful.
David had already killed Goliath with the stone but he wasn’t satisfied.
Not only must Goliath die, he must never resurrect – that was while he cut off his head.
And I am believing God for you brother, and sister, the problems God will solve in your life tonight will never raise his head again.
Winners don’t want just-to-be healed; they want to be whole.
They don’t just want their debt paid; they want a situation they will never owe again.
Like in 2King chapter 4 verse 1 to 7. That widow not only paid off her debt, she had more than enough for the rest of her life.
I want to, on the basis of that, decree; every one of you tonight, when they talk about debt, you will say I don’t know what it so called.
Winners don’t want just to be fruitful; they want to be very fruitful.
Hannah didn’t just get a child; after she gave that one to God, she got extra five.
I have already spoken to my God; you know how much I love children, I have already told the Almighty God, before I am eighty year old, when children are having their own convention, they auditorium we are moving from will not contain the children alone.
So, those of you who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb; decide how many of them will be your own, and it is done in Jesus’ name.
Winners are tenacious; they are persistence.
They don’t want half a victory; they want total victory.
They don’t take no for an answer; they just keep on pressing forward until the victory comes.
I have told you the story of that woman, I will tell you again, so you can pray with understanding.
I finish convention, I was extremely tired, I got home, gather the people together, I said well, I am tired, I am going to sleep, I don’t want to be disturbed; so, let us pray – and I pray the kind of prayer you pray when you are tired.
“Father thank You for everything. See you tomorrow”.
And as I was lying down to rest, my wife came to knock at the door.
“Woman I told you I want to rest!”
There is a woman from the North with her children. Is daddy in?
Yes, is in; but he is not seeing anybody today.
Haa! She said who is talking about today.
He is in right?
Yes. She said ehen, I would seat down at this door; sooner or later, it doesn’t matter how many days, he will come out.
And they gave her food and she sat down and was eating – that was when my wife came and said, I know you are tired, you better add this tire to your tiredness.
So I had to get up.
And she said one thing, she said this head, is always refusing good thing; I just want you to touch it, then you can go back to your sleep.
Winners – they are like that.
God I won’t let you go unless You bless me; it doesn’t matter how long it is going to take: I will keep on praying; I will keep on pressing forward, I will keep on praising You; I will keep on shouting; I will keep on doing everything until You will answer me.
You remember the story of Jacob and that Angel that wrestled with him in Genesis 32 from verse 24 to 28 - the Almighty God said to him, let Me go.
He said, how can I let You go, I have not got what I wanted yet and he kept on pressing forward until he got his breakthrough.
There is somebody here tonight who is about to get breakthrough.
And so you are going to stand on your feet and you are going to pray a prayer; please pray it with all your heart; and say: Father, don’t stop fighting for me until none of my enemies remain.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. Don’t stop fighting for me until there is not a single one of my enemies left. Keep on fighting O Lord. Every sickness must go. Every disease must go. Every ache, every pain must disappear. Every financial headache must end. Don’t stop fighting for me O Lord, until there is none of my problems left. Keep fighting for me O Lord. Give me victory all the way; victory all the way; total and complete. Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
So shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
Number five.
* Winners are always submissive and obedient.
If you listen to the language of David in the text we read, he said, I come in the Name of the Lord of host; it is the Lord who will deliver you into my hand.
Everyone will know that the Lord does not save by spear and sword.
He just kept on saying the Lord, the Lord, the Lord.
And what is the meaning of ‘the Lord’?
Apart from being the owner, that is why we are talking of landlord – the owner of the house; the Lord is the one who must be obeyed. The one who must be obeyed!
One of the greatest winners of all times was Elijah.
He never lost a battle: enemies toiled with him, he will rather kill them or burn them alive.
But he was what you will call “A-yes man”.
The Lord said do this, he will say, yes Lord.
Go there - yes Lord.
Hid - yes Lord.
Show yourself - yes Lord.
He was a-yes man.
The day you get to that stage that whatever God says that is what I will do; your defeat will end that day.
Because Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 1 and 7 says, if you will harken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all that He commands you…
And He said in verse 7, He will cause the enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face. He says, if they come against you in one way and flee before thee seven ways.
The moment you learn to say: yes Lord; to become absolutely obedient as the Bishop told us earlier on; you will overcome sickness.
Exodus 15 verse 26, the obedient (100%), he said I will become your physician.
Be totally obedient to Him, He will turn your reproach to triumph; shame to victory.
John chapter 2 verse 1 to 11, in the wedding in Canaan of Galilee…
Thank You Father.
I think this one is for me, so I want to say amen to it before I tell you.
God is saying to someone here, He said I Am the One who kept you safety till now and I have not retired, don’t be afraid of the future.
Thank You Father.
We will pick it up from where I left… but He asked me to remind you of a story I told you some time ago.
I was praying in the camp and I have one of this modern touch-light with me – the touch-light that the one they call rechargeable that you can charge and then take it with you.
It was a very dark night, and so I went into the bush to be away from…, I want some quietness and there are so many people praying on the camp.
When I have gone far into the bush, suddenly the touch-light went completely out.
The battery that was charged loses all it power and it was a very dark night.
How do I get back to the camp – I was in the bush!
Then I remember what my teacher thought us when I was in primary school that if you find yourself in darkness suddenly, close your eye tight for about two minutes, when you open your eye again dark won’t be so dark anymore.
Well! Okay! So, I closed my eye for about two minutes. When I open my eyes, suddenly there was a big moon in the sky – almost like afternoon.
So, I walk easily back to the camp.
When I got to the camp, I looked up to see the moon, it was no longer there.
And I heard God said to me, I brought that one out specially for.
Now, I have told you the story because God ask me to tell someone here tonight: He said in your darkest hour I will send you light.
Haa! thank You Lord.
He asked me to tell someone based on the same story that from tonight onward, darkness will never hinder your progress again.
So, we are talking about John chapter 2 verse 1 to 11. When they ran out of win…, what got them victory that change the shame of the Bridegroom to celebration was what the mother said: whatever He says to you, do it.
When you are submissive to God and you are absolutely obedient to Him, your victory is certain.
I will tell you a story; it will mean something to some people.
It’s a testimony of a man of God. He became General Overseer as a young man and some of the elders in the church decided that they will bring him down.
So, anytime they were at the council meeting, they will be opposing and lying against him.
One day came; God said I will give you victory today.
But you must not say a single word until I tell you so.
So, this young man sat in the meeting, and one elder after another, lying against him and they know they were lying.
And you how difficult it is to keep quiet when people are lying against you.
But this young man had had God say ‘just keep your mouth shut’.
This people had been talking for more than one hour – on lie after another – then God spoke to His boy, tell them “every idle word that a man shall speak, he will give an account of it on the day of judgment”.
So, he said, brethren, I am speaking to you out of love, I am sure you know it is written that every word that we speak on earth will would give an account in the day of judgment.
From that day onward, nobody ever lied against him.
His victory became just permanent.
And I am believing God for someone tonight that this very evening God is about to silence you enemies permanently.
But you are going to pray a prayer.
You will lift your voice to the Almighty God (you don’t mind standing again); we are at the battle front this evening and we are going to win.
You lift your voice to Him and say: Father, I will obey You, silence all my enemies.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. I will obey You, silence all my enemies on a permanent basis. Silence them, silence them. Just shut their mouth on a permanent basis. Shut their mouth. As for me, I will obey You; I will do whatever You ask me to do, in Your own side of the bargains, silence the enemies permanently, permanently. Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
So shall it be in Jesus’ name.
Please be seated.
Number six had been well treated by the Bishop who spoke before me.
* Every winner is always grateful and they always pay their tithe.
From this we just found this in the life of another great winner, Abraham.
Genesis 14 verse 17 to 20: he was victorious, coming from winning a great battle - The first He did was he paid his tithe.
Long before as to any law to tithing, Abraham paid his tithe out of the gratitude to the God who gave him victory.
You see, how tithing comes into being a winner is that those who don’t pay their tithe live under a curse; and somebody who is cursed cannot win.
In Numbers 22 verse 1 to 8: a king sent for a prophet, come and curse Israel for me. There are so many for me: if you curse them, I will be able to overcome them.
But nobody can curse some that God has not cursed.
In Numbers 23 verse 5 to 8: the prophet said, how can I curse someone that God has not curse?
If you are robbing God of His tithe, according to Malachi chapter 3 verse 8 to 11, then you are living under the curse of God Himself.
And when God curses a man, it doesn’t matter how hard he tries, He will just keep on failing.
I have told the story of man before, every time he is about to succeed, the thing will slip out of his hands.
He woke up to realize that something is seriously wrong, because his friend in Abuja phoned him: Haa! thank God at last you have won this contract. We have written your letter, come and collect.
He jumped into the plain, before he landed in Abuja, the Managing Director called his friend: ‘that letter that we signed, I hope you have not yet delivered it, because we are not giving it to him anymore’.
Between Lagos and Abuja! The victory slipped out of his and again.
And when he came and said Daddy look at what has happen.
The Spirit of God said, ask him; because he was asking me there must be a curse in my life, cancel it.
…ask him, ‘do you pay your tithe?
Well...ehemm… I give whenever it is convenient.
How many winners are in the house?
How many of you want to remain winners forever?
You cannot afford to annoy God.
You cannot win when God is against you.
I have told you before when the Bible says: If God be for us who can be against us? Romans 8:31.
Any time I ask you the question; somebody will jump up and say nobody.
Open your Bible; read it.
Open the place: Romans 8:31
In my own Bible, when he says if God be for us, who can be against?
The end of that verse is question mark.
He did not write nobody there.
Why?
Because if God is for you, there is only one fellow who can be against you: and that is YOURSELF.
That is why they left the question hanging – if God is for you, the devil cannot be against you; demons cannot be against you; witch doctors cannot be against you, but you can be against yourself.
That is while you are going to pray your next prayer and you are going to pray it even harder than before.
You will stand on your feet and lift your voice loud and clear and say: Father, from tonight let me ceased to be my own enemy.
Open your mouth and pray. Let me cease to be my own enemy; let me cease to be my own enemy because I know if you are on my side, I will win, but if I am my own enemy what am I going to do. Don’t let me continue to be my own enemy. Don’t let me continue to be my own enemy; please Lord, don’t let me continue to be my own enemy. Thank You Lord.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
And I decree that every curse upon your life shall be destroyed.
Please be seated.
We are almost there now.
Number seven.
* Winners are always pure and holy.
Because in warfare you need an ally: it is an acceptable means of fighting a war; but when the battle is too fears for you, you get an ally.
Moment you get the victory – that is all that matters; and there is no better ally than the Lord of host.
One of my boys told us again yesterday, two people cannot walk together expect they be agreed.
Our God is a holy God.
You want Him to be your ally, you must be holy.
In Numbers 23, you can read it from verse 18 to 24.
When the king ask Balaam to come and curse Israel, he said I cannot curse them because God said I have looked, there is no iniquity in them; even the curse became a blessing.
Whereas, in Joshua chapter 7 from verse 1 to 12: when sin came into the camp of Israel; the God who had promise them that nobody will be able to withstand them, backed out.
I can assure you of one thing, if I don’t know anything else about God, I know this one – nothing is impossible with God.
There is no enemy so big that my God cannot finish.
He has Armies that you will not even think he is an army.
He fought a king with ordinary worms.
Worms ate him alive.
So, who is that enemy that can withstand you when God is really on your side?
He is a miracle working God – I have seen too much of Him to doubt Him.
I mean, just look around you, you will see His handwriting: Miracle Working God.
So, why then am I fighting a losing battle?
Examine yourself.
Find out where sin is in your life and get rid of it.
I have told the story before.
A woman came, somewhere from Osun to our program when we are still in the first auditorium
Because somebody told her, you go there, the G.O lay hands on you, you will become fruitful.
She came; in those days we are much much smaller; so, I could lay hands on everybody.
I lay hands on her; she fell under the anointing, she was on the ground for almost one hour.
And then, she came back the following year very angry.
They told me if I come, you will lay hands on me that I might even fall.
You lay hands on me and I even fell, and I am still here no child.
I was going to apologies when God said, ask her, - the question God ask me to ask her was a difficult one because this was quiet an important woman.
Almost trembling I said, please forgive me ma, but God said I should ask you, ‘apart from your husband, how many other boy friends have you?’
She said six.
Haa! and you want a child from my God.
How are we even going to know the father?
Husband plus six!
My God is a holy God.
I am believing God from all my heart that every one of you here tonight you will have a testimony. But that is if you get out of sin.
My God is a holy God. He gives miracles not magic.
It is the devil who can give you magic and say it doesn’t matter, you can continue to sin.
He can give you magic, knowing that he will be waiting for you in hell.
But my God will give you blessings without any sorrow added.
So, if you are will to say bye-bye to sin, this will be one night you will never forget for the rest of your life.
So, before we pray the few prayers that we have left to pray.
If there is any one here today who is not yet born again, come forward, come forward, let us pray for your salvation; let the blood of Jesus watch away your sins and let Him give you a new beginning.
It is only sin that can block your miracles tonight.
God is here with all His power to turn you to a winner.
So, I am going to count from one to twelve because I see some of you are very far away; before I say twelve, if you want to give your life to Jesus come and stand before me. I will pray for your salvation and then we will be able to go on from there.
One, two, now if you are coming from far off, you need to begin to come fast; three;
The Bible says, the hand of the Lord is not shorten that He cannot save neither His ear heavy that He cannot hear, but your sins and your iniquity can separate between you and your God so that He won’t hear.
So, if you want Him to hear you, to turn you into a winner, you must come to Him so that His blood can wash away your sins.
…four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,…
Like I see some of you very far away, just keep coming; don’t stop, keep coming, keep coming.
…ten, eleven
Just keep coming, I can see some of you still far away, just make sure you get here before I finish praying.
Those of you who are already in front, talk to the Almighty God. Ask Him to please have mercy on you and save your souls.
Ask Him to please forgive all your sins and wash you clean with His blood.
Tell Him you are surrendering to Him today and You want Him to become Your Lord and Saviour.
Tell Him You will serve Him for the rest of your life.
The rest of you who are coming on the way, keep talking to God. Ask Him to save your soul. Ask Him to forgive all your sins and promise Him you will serve Him.
And the rest of us, let us stretch our hands towards this people and pray for them – just for about two minutes, let us intercede for them – that the Almighty God who saved your soul will save their souls also.
Pray for them brethren; intercede for them; that the Saviour who saved your soul will save their own souls also.
Pray for them.
And those of you on the way just keep on coming, don’t stop.
I am about to pray but make sure you keep coming; the prayer will affect you too.
Thank You Father
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Ancient of days we bless Your holy name. We thank You for Your word. We thank You for this people who have come forward, please receive them in Jesus’ name. Let Your blood wash away their sins. Save their souls O Lord. Write their names in the book of life. And from now on, anytime they call on You, answer them by fire. Please Lord, don’t let them backslide; let them serve You till the very end.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Amen.
Now I want to rejoice with those of who have come forward tonight. I want to promise you that from now on I will be praying for you.
So, I am going to need your names, your address, and your prayer requests.
So, they will give you a card where you are; you will fill it very quickly and then give it back to the Counselors and then you can go back to you seats.
I promise you I will be praying of you.
I will wait for you few minutes to finish filling your forms before we proceed further.
The rest of us while we wait for our brothers and sisters, you can begin to thank God for what He has already done and there is still something else He will do before go.
So, keep on worshipping Him.
Now, we are going to, in the main time write down your prayer points which we will pray for few minutes, then I will do what God ask me to do tonight; we would then thank God and be on our way.
You want to write down your prayer points:
1. Praise Him that you belong to the winning side.
And the rest means serious warfare with yourself
2. You will say: Father, in the name of Jesus, I decree, every sickness, every disease in my family as a whole, leave tonight.
You want to attack the enemy now, go ahead and attack.
3. You will say: Father, in the name of Jesus, I decree, every agent of the devil in my home, get out tonight.
4. Every force standing in my way, be destroy tonight.
5. Face the devil himself squarely and say: Father, in the name of Jesus, I command Satan to take his dirty hands off me, of my family, of my finances, and of the church of God.
The rest of us, I give you ten minutes to pray these five prayers. Please pray them with all your heart.
It will be a good idea if you pray them standing.
Only ten minutes now. So, go ahead and pray with all your heart because your destiny depends on this.
Thank You.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
I want you to join hands with your neighbour now.
We are going to pray in agreement.
Those of you who came forward for prayers; I rejoiced with those of you who are carried forward who are walking now.
Just go back to your seats and the rest of you, you go back to your seat also, the anointing will continue his work even as you go.
Hold your neighbours hand and cry to the Almighty God.
Father, please arise and fight for this Your child.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. Father, arise, fight for this Your child; fight for this Your child. Almighty God arise, Lord of host arise, fight for this Your child. Almighty God arise, please arise and fight for this Your child; fight for this Your child. Almighty God please arise and fight for this Your child; fight for this Your child. Fight for this Your child O Lord. Fight for this Your child. Fight for this Your child. Thank You Father. O Yes! Fight for Your child.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Please still hold the hand of your neighbour; and say: Father, let this Your child become a perpetual winner, never to lose any battle again.
Go ahead talk to the Almighty God. This Your child make him a perpetual winner, don’t let him ever lose another battle; never lose a battle again. Thank You Father. Don’t let Your son ever lose a battle. O! blessed be Your holy name. Thank You my Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
And so shall it be in Jesus’ name.
We have two more prayers to pray, but, I will explain to you before you pray them.
I think it was 1981/2, I was visiting a town in Ondo State and one of my son said Daddy, I have a big factory but there is one doctor- a herbalist, who has built a shrine opposite my factory.
I don’t want to mention the name of the fellow because of what followed.
Let just call him doctor KK – that is not the name.
He said because of the evil that goes on in his shrine: children being use for rituals and so on, nobody wants to come near that place – they cannot come to my factory.
I said why don’t you report him to the Police he said, haa! he is highly connected.
So, we went.
And I stood on the balcony of the factory and raise my hand towards the shrine and I prayed a simple prayer.
Some days later, a thunder boat came from heaven…, because the shrine was under an Iroko tree; split the Iroko tree into piece, destroy the entire shrine
…and my son who was disappointed because all I did was raise my hand, he said, now I know the meaning.
I am going to raise my hands tonight because Daddy ask me to do so and then you will pray a prayer; that is number one.
Number two, which am sure some of you have heard before.
My home town is only 8km from Ife but the road joining my town to Ife was not built.
So, to go to Ife you had to go to Ilesha 20km and then go from Ilesha to Ife another 30-something km; so, it was an Israelite journey.
So, I went to visit home when I became General Overseer and they told me this is the only request we have – ‘we want the road to link use direct to Ife’
I asked what direction they want the road to take and I raise my hand.
Six month later, the Federal government decided to build a road.
And the journey of 50km became 8km.
I believe God is about to open direct road to success for someone here.
So, you are going to stand on your feet and your first prayer has I raise my hand is that the fire of God would descend tonight and everything that has been blocking your destiny must be destroyed.
Now before you pray; because many at times when we do things like this, you may thing we are joking.
I heard a testimony just a few days ago of someone who had had a very serious case with Government of America; and they have almost bankrupted him.
So, he told his friend and that friend said, I have a comb here that Daddy G.O bless. I can give it to you; you will comb your hair – comb away what you don’t want.
Few days later, not only do they dismiss the case, they ask the Government to pay him half a million dollars.
Don’t joke with whatever will do hear.
I am going to raise my hands now – pray with all your heart that: the Almighty God, my God, will send down fire and everything that have been blocking your destiny, be consumed tonight. And you keep praying until I stop you.
Okay! You can go ahead.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
I am going to lift my hands again; and your prayer this time around would be: Father, build me an express way to success.
Go ahead.
Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Beginning from now, your Israelites journey ends. From this moment onward, you will have direct access to success. You will have direct access to victory. And anyone or anything blocking your destiny will be gone before the sun rises. You will testify.
So shall it be.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Alright! If you receive your own let me hear you shout hallelujah.
Pastor E. A. Adeboye
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