JULY HOLY GHOST SERVICE
THEME: SWIMMING IN GLORY (PART 7): BORN TO BE GREAT
5TH JULY, 2019.
BY: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
Thank You Father.
Just lift your hands to the most high God and begin to bless His holy name
Give Him glory, give Him honour, give Him adoration
Bless Him that you are seeing the second half of this year
Give Him glory for January, for February, for March, for April, for June;
Bless His holy that thus far He has kept you
The One who has brought you to the second half of this year is able to see you through the whole year.
Praise Him
Adore Him
Magnify His holy name
Praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords
Worship Him
Glorify His holy name
Praise Him from the bottom of your heart
Magnify His holy name
He is worthy; He is worthy to be praised
He is worthy to be praised.
Thank You Father.
In Jesus mighty name we worshipped.
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name O Lord
Hallelujah
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name O Lord.
(Blessed be thy name)
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name O Lord
Hallelujah
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name
Blessed be thy name O Lord.
(Mighty is thy name)
Mighty is Your name
Mighty is Your name
Mighty is Your name O Lord
Hallelujah
Mighty is Your name
Mighty is Your name
Mighty is Your name O Lord
(Holy is Your name)
Holy is Your name
Holy is Your name
Holy is Your name O Lord
Hallelujah
Holy is Your name
Holy is Your name
Holy is Your name O Lord.
(Jesus is Your name)
Jesus is Your name
Jesus is Your name
Jesus is Your name O Lord
Hallelujah
Jesus is Your name
Jesus is Your name
Jesus is Your name O Lord.
King of kings and Lord of lords, the Ancient of days, our Maker, our Provider, our Healer, our Redeemer, our Joy, our Strength, our Friend, our Help, our Hope, our Future, our All in all, our Greatness, glory be to Your holy name. Thank You for January Lord, thank You for February, thank You for March, thank You for April, thank You for May, thank You for June, thank You for July, please accept our worship in Jesus name. Tonight, in a very very special way visit Your children. Everything standing between us and greatness destroy tonight. The purpose for which you created us fulfill tonight. All over the world where Your children are listening now, my Father and my God, I ask that Your Holy Spirit will come down and do something new in all our lives. By the time the sun rises tomorrow Father let every one of us sing a new song. Thank You Almighty.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Amen.
Let somebody shout hallelujah.
Shake hands with one or two Ambassadors’ of Christ and say: Your Excellency, God will make you great.
And then you may please be seated.
God bless you.
Luke chapter 1 from verse 26 to 33:
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
My son who spoke before me had given you a very beautiful presentation on the Lord Jesus Christ; I will only add just a little to what he had said.
But as usual let us begin with those of us who might not yet be truly born again.
Long before your birth every one of us present here God had decreed greatness for you
It is a decree
Like I said earlier on, when He was speaking in Genesis chapter 1 verse 28, the first time He spoke to our fore-fathers He said be blessed, be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it and have dominion;
You can be greater than that.
And when God speaks it is done.
Psalm 33 verses 8 and 9 – let the whole earth fear before Him while He spake and it is done
Because He is not a man that He should lie – Numbers 23 verse 19
So before we were born God had decreed that we should be great.
And according to Isaiah 55 verse 10 to 11, He said His word will not return to Me void.
In Mark chapter 13 verse 31, He said even if heaven and earth passed away His word will not pass away.
So anyone born into this world can go right back to that original pronouncement of God and claim greatness.
However, not all people who are born great become great.
The Bible is full of several examples of those who are born great but they never become great.
For example Cain – Genesis 4 from verse 1 to 14 – he was the first born of the human race.
If anybody deserves to be great, Cain deserves to be great; but at the end of his life he ended up a vagabond.
He was born to be great but he ended up a vagabond.
Another example – the children of Eli:
Their father was a high priest of most high God and God has said, God Himself said to Eli that his household will forever be a household of Priest;
But then the children of Eli began to behave in a certain manner that causes the Almighty God who speaks and it is done to say in 1Samuel chapter 2 from verse 30 to 36: He said, I said indeed;
God said I AM the One who said so I didn’t send a prophet: to you Eli that you, your father’s house shall stand before me forever;
He said but now I say be it far from Me; He say I change my mind – I AM the Almighty God, I AM Sovereign;
I said it, I say I don’t say it anymore.
May I pray for somebody here today every good thing that God has promised you will not be cancel.
God went further to say to Eli, He said a day is coming that anyone who is of the linage of Eli will be going to Pastors to beg for bread -they were the people who were supposed to be in charge.
Because God said those who honour Me I will honour.
Let me give you another example: take this man called Gehazi; one of the biggest losers in the world.
He became the private secretary of Elisha;
You know Elisha he was an extremely powerful man of God (we will probably talk about him more later)
Why?
Because he got the double portion of the spirit of Elijah
And by divine arrangement, Gehazi ended up becoming his servant, in line to collect the double portion of the spirit of Elisha; but he blew it.
2Kings chapter 5 verse 20 to 27, he ended up becoming a patriot saint of lepers.
Now let me tell just one more example – Judas Iscariot as the number loser of the whole world.
Acts chapter 1 verse 15 to 20, Peter said concerning Judas Iscariot; he says this man was with us, he obtained the same ministry with us, he cast out demons, he performs miracles but he ended up committing suicide.
What do all these people have in common?
Sin – that is all.
You see, the Bible says in Isaiah 59 verses 1 and 2, he said, the hand of the Lord is not shorten that He cannot save; neither His ear heavy that He cannot hear;
But he said sin, sin can separate between you and your God.
Take the example of a young man called Joseph in Genesis chapter 39 (you can read the story there)
Joseph was born to be great
God showed him while he was still young that every member of his family will come and bow down before for him
The brethren became angry; this is not going to happen; they said they will kill him before they see it happening;
And God moved him from one step to another –
They sold him into slavery; got to the house of Potiphar and he was doing wonderfully well there.
And one day the wife of Potiphar looked at him and says this handsome young man come and lay with me.
You know what Joseph said, how can I do this thing and sin against God?
He said to the woman, don’t truncate my destiny.
Listen to me those of you who are still living in sin, you are born to be great but you may never become great unless you get rid of sin in your life.
The beauty thing is, the word of God says in 1John chapter 1 verse 7: the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sins; all sins!
So when you come to Jesus and His blood washes away your sins then your way to greatness is open.
But if you refuse to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, you continue in your sin, you will only be hearing of greatness, you won’t make it.
I will tell you a story and I won’t mention names – you put two and two together you may get the answer.
One great humanly speaking man in Nigeria was pursuing a particular project and I was minding my own business –
Small boy, minding his own business, when God spoke to me and said: so so so so wants to become so so so so and it can only be if he will surrender his life to Me.
I said, what do You want me to do about it?
He said tell him.
Haa!
How will I be able to tell him; I cannot reach him?
He said I know.
But you can reach those who can reach him.
Okay.
So I told somebody that I know can reach him
And they reached him and they told him what I said.
You know what he said?
He said that will be difficult.
I say fine; I have done my assignment.
He touched the goal but he never got it.
He saw the thrown but he never sat on it.
Sin is an insulator; it can block your way to greatness.
So if you are here tonight and you have not yet surrender your life to Jesus Christ and you want the blood of Jesus to wash away your sins so that your way to greatness can be open.
I am going to count from one to ten and before I say ten run and come and stand before me.
I will cry to the Almighty God for you – to save your soul, to wash away your sins – and then your way to greatness will open.
I am counting now
One, two, three, four, five,
You are born to be great but sin can block the way and there is only one remedy for sin, the blood of Jesus washes from all sins; if you come to Him He will wash you clean and your way to greatness will be open.
Six, seven, eight, nine
Amen
Well, those of you who are already in front and those of you who are still on the way cry to the Almighty God and say Lord Jesus save my soul, save my soul; have mercy on me, let Your blood wash away my sins; I will serve You for the rest of my life; wash me clean and become my Lord and my Saviour.
Talk to Him in your own language and the rest of us let us stretch our hands to our new brothers and sisters and intercede for them.
Pray that the one who saved your soul will save their own souls also. Cry to God for them. Pray that the blood of Jesus Christ will wash them clean. Intercede for them. And those of you who might still be on the way keep coming; make sure you get here before I finish praying. Come, you are not late yet; don’t stop; I know some of you are coming from a fairly long distance, keep coming, keep coming; today is your day of salvation, come now, let the blood of Jesus wash away your sins and open doors to your greatness. Let us intercede for them one more time and then I will pray. Pray that God will have mercy on them that He will forgive all their sins that He will give them a brand new beginning that all things may become new for them. Thank You Father. Those of you who are still on the way you have to hurry up because I am about to pray; make sure you get here before I finish praying.
In Jesus mighty we have prayed.
My Father and my God I just to say thank You for Your word and I want to thank You for these people who have come forward to surrender their lives to you; Father, please receive them in Jesus’ name; let Your blood wipe away all their sins; save their souls; write their names in the book of life; receive them into the family of God. And Father I am praying that beginning from now on anytime they call on You You will answer them by fire. Thank You Almighty God.
In Jesus mighty name we have prayed.
Amen.
Now those of you who have come forward I want to rejoice with you because from now on by the grace of God I will be praying for you.
So I am going to need your names, your address and your prayer request.
The Counselors will give you a card which I want you to fill very quickly and then you will return it to them
We will wait for you for two/three minutes before we continue.
Congratulations.
Thank you very much.
The man called William Shakespeare wrote in one of his place
He said some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
I repeat: some are born great, some achieve greatness (that is they become great as result of their own efforts),
And some have greatness thrust upon them (I mean they were not preparing for greatness but circumstance took greatness and landed it on them)
And you will find all these categories in the Bible.
Let us start with those who are born great:
Jacob before he was born at all – in Roman chapter 9 from verse 10 to 13, the Bible says when the mother was pregnant and there were twins in the womb;
Two children of the same mother, in the womb at the same time; they have not done good or bad, they were not yet born but God had already said the elder will serve the younger.
He said because Jacob I love, Esau I hate.
When we talk about being born great, the elders (the African elders) they have a proverb, they said the Elephant never gives birth to a dwarf; they said the child of an Elephant will be like an elephant
The day the child of an elephant is born he is already bigger than a goat – born great.
The day the child of a lion is born, a king is born.
It may look small; you may even be able to play with it if the mother is not around but a king is born.
Before Samson was born in Judges Chapter 13 from verse 2 to 5, God had already said a deliverer is about to be born.
By the time Solomon was born in 2Samuel chapter 12 verse 24 to 25 the Bible said, the moment Solomon landed in this world God loved him.
So it is not wonder that he ended up being great; he was loved even before he landed.
And do you know the reason you have survived till this day that all the efforts of the enemies to kill you in your mother’s womb; kill you the moment you landed; kill you while you were in primary school etcetera etcetera
The reason you survived it all is because God loves you.
And because He loves you the Bible says you are more than a conqueror.
You are born to be great.
And then he says some people achieve greatness.
And we can have one or two example very quickly
I will try to be as brief as possible but there is a lot to be said tonight.
Elijah was not born great –
In 1Kings chapter 17 verse 1, the Bible said Elijah the Tishbite of the habitants of Gilead;
It did not mention his father’s name because his father name did not mean anything. He was born nobody.
But before Elijah died he became a terror to a king
You know the story, 1Kings chapter 21 verse 16 to 27 – when king Ahab saw Elijah coming he said you find me my enemy; he said I have found you
He was born a no body but several times he called down fire from heaven;
He achieved greatness.
There was a man of God, many of you will know him, when he was born he was so sickly that at a stage the mother got fed up with him and went a drop him on the dunghill; if you want to die, die; stop giving me trouble.
After three days the mother went to find out – is he already dead; has dog finished him! – and find that he was still breathing.
Okay!
So she took him back home.
Some of you don’t know who I am talking about – is the late Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa.
He shook the world, the gospel world; shook the world for Jesus Christ; he achieved greatness.
Or you consider David.
David was an unwanted child – you know his story.
The day they wanted to anoint king in his father’s house they did not even bring him forward.
But a came after he had finish lion, finish bear, finish goliath, long after he died a day came when Jesus was passing by and Bartimaeus said Jesus thou son of David
He achieved greatness.
Let me decree to somebody here tonight that in the Name that is above every other name, you will achieve greatness.
And then Shakespeare says there are some who had greatness thrust upon them – they were not looking for it; it was greatness that pursues them and overtook them.
I give you just two examples: Elisha
Elisha was minding his own business as a farmer – 1Kings chapter 19 from verse 19 to 21 – when all of a sudden a prophet was passing by and threw his mantle upon him.
Elisha was not asking for greatness, the greatness was thrust upon him.
I am talking of a man who became so powerful that when a king wanted to arrest him he sent a whole army and the army came and Elisha arrested them.
You want to read about Elisha, get my book: Arresting the Arresters tells; you will read the story about Elisha.
What about Peter – it is another example – he was a fisherman.
All he wanted to be in life was a fisherman but one day Jesus stepped into his boat and change his story.
In the Name that is above every other names Jesus will step into your boat tonight.
He had greatness thrust upon him.
I was not planning to be a pastor – Pastor!
If the day I got born again and some told me I was going to become a Pastor I would have backslide immediately without any doubt at all.
When my father-in-the-Lord finally told me couple of years later that I was going to be ordain a Pastor;
My wife and I we fasted for fourteen days praying to God that it will not happen.
Fourteen days!
Who wanted to be a pastor?
But then I have told you the story that once upon a time I went to a nation and then somehow I manage to see the President on Monday morning and he was supposed to see me for fifteen minutes;
Two hours later we were still drinking tea and talking; and he was supposed to be having cabinet meeting.
And one of his ministers’ say who is this fellow that is keeping the president busy on Monday morning?
And they said he is a Pastor from Nigeria.
He said, Pastor!
He is not even a Bishop.
Let me decree to somebody today, you will be great.
The Bible says when you become born again all things change.
2Corithinans chapter 5 verse 17 says therefore if any man be in Christ is a new creature; old things have passed away all things have become new.
You know the meaning of that even if you were not born again before or if you were not born great before the moment you surrender your life to Jesus Christ everything will change.
You become born great
Why?
Because you have a new Father.
John chapter 1 verse 11 t 12 says He came unto His own, His own received Him not but as many that received Him to them gave the power to become sons of God.
The day you become born again you have a new father.
Nobody may know your father’s name but the moment you are born again you become a child of God and your father, your new Father is called the most High – Psalm 91 verse 1
Psalm 91 verse 1 – he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Your Father is higher than the highest.
I have told you the story before of four boys who were playing at the Presidential lodge and as usual they began to boost about their fathers.
And the son of the President said my father is the greatest because my father is the head of state.
The second boy said but my father is greater than you father
He said how can that be?
He said because my father is your father’s physician; if he ask you father to stay in bed for one week, your father must obey.
The third boy said but my father is greater than the two fathers.
They said how come?
He said because my father is the witch-doctor looking after your fathers; he can kill your fathers.
And the forth boy whose father is a messenger said but my father is the greatest of all.
They looked at him say ha ha everybody is talking and you are talking.
He said because my father – not only can he kill but he can make alive.
They said we know your father
He said know you don’t know my father
I am talking about my Father in heaven – He can kill, He can make alive.
When you are born again you become the son of the most High God.
Every born again child of God let me hear you shout hallelujah.
Like the man who spoke before me said if you are born again you bear His name.
When you name a child you name him after his father.
And so you can use that name to clear obstacles…
Haa thank You Father.
The Lord said there is someone here who has been dreaming of coffins recently; coffin of different sizes – small, big, medium – and you are worried; Daddy asked me to tell that the coffins are not for you or your family.
Acts 11 verse 26 says that followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians in Antioch
Christian means someone belonging to Christ
You have your father’s name, you are a child of God and you can use that name.
And like the one who spoke before me said is a name that is above every other name; at the name of Jesus every knee must bow.
And like he told you, I have told you series of story about the power in the name of Jesus Christ – use it to cast out demons etcetera etcetera
I have told you the story of an America who wanted to come to our convention and decided to go through via Kenya;
He did not get the ticket of Nigeria before he got to Kenya;
Went to the embassy and they sat him there for a long time;
After hours somebody in the embassy say to him where do you say you are going anyway?
He said I am going to convention.
He said which convention?
The convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God
Which Redeem are you talking about?
Of Pastor Adeboye
Haa!
Why didn’t you say that at the beginning?
He said wait.
He went away, provided him with a big cup of tea and brought him some sandwiches and while he was eating fifteen minutes later his visa was ready because he mention a name
Somebody who wants to be great let me hear you shout Jesus.
When you are a Christian the blood of Jesus is flowing through you.
Because in John chapter 15 verse 5 He said I Am the vine you are the branches.
It is the blood that flows in the Vine that flows in the branches and there is tremendous power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
It is the blood according to Revelation chapter 12 from verse 10 to 11, is the blood that guarantees your victory over Satan.
So when you are born again you have a new father and so because you are a child of the Greatest you must become great.
And then if you are a child of God because of your new father, it becomes easy for you to achieve the greatness.
Why?
Because your father is the Almighty
In Jeremiah 32 verse 27, He said I AM the God of all flesh is anything too hard for Me?
In Luke chapter 1 verse 27 He said for with God nothing shall be impossible.
If God is your father, there is nothing you want to do that you cannot do.
Jesus Himself said in Mark chapter 9 verse 23: He said if only you can believe all things are possible for him that believes.
I pray in the name that is above every other name from now on no more impossibility for you.
Your father has been existing before mountains
That is while he said in Mark chapter 11 verse 22 to 23, He said you can command mountains to move and they will move.
Talking about achieving greatness you can command mountains to move.
Your Father’s dress heals the sick – Mark chapter 5…
Thank You Father.
I want to say amen to this before I tell you
Because Daddy says there is someone here tonight He said if nobody else will help you, I will.
Oh thank You Daddy.
I am grateful Lord.
The Lord asks me to tell somebody, He said I have told you before relax the storms will soon be over.
Your Father’s dress heals the sick – Mark chapter 5 verse 25 to 34
The woman with the issue said if I can just touch the hem of the garment of your Daddy, she said I will be made whole and she was made whole.
And so your own handkerchiefs can heal the sick also.
Acts chapter 19 verse 11 to 12, God performs special miracles through Paul.
If He can do it through Paul, He can do it through you
You can achieve greatness.
I have never forgotten the testimony of one of my daughters whose friend had cancer of the breast and she went there to the hospital; they were going to cut off the breast completely;
And said no problem you do what you need to do but let me drop this handkerchief on her before you take her for surgery;
She cried to the Almighty God: You are the miracle God, this handkerchief is coming from Your son, perform a miracle.
They cut of the breast; within three weeks a brand new one grew.
That God is your God; is no respecter of nobody.
I told you before I say very soon you my children everywhere you go miracles will begin to happen.
Some of you thought it was a joke that I was talking sweet until I read about that girl in Akure about a month or so ago who cause pandemonium in the whole town because she just went about healing the sick.
Your testimony will be greater than that.
You know in Mark chapter 4 verse 35 to 41, your Daddy decreed peace;
There was a storm and they woke up your Daddy, He said what is the trouble really?
They said can’t you see the storm, we are about to drown.
Okay, peace be still
And immediately everything was calm.
And you know it written in the Bible Job 22 verse 21 to 28, it says you too can decree a thing and it will be establish unto you.
In John 14 verse 12, He said the works that I do you shall do also and greater works than these shall you do.
It was Jesus who said so.
And just like my son who spoke before me said, the beauty of it is that wherever you go you carry the name of Jesus with you;
You cannot forget the name at home, anywhere you are the name is there.
So when you face a mountain you move it by using the name.
And he told you story about how he commanded a plane not to move until he got in.
When I heard the story I smiled;
Maybe you did not see me here I was listening to everything.
Because I have told you the story, I went to Ghana years ago, several years ago.
I finished what I was doing; my children that escorted me to the airport and since I was coming to Nigeria my car will be waiting to take me home and I emptied my pocket – I gave them all the money I had.
They left.
And I went to sit down in the waiting room and then they announced that the plane that was to take us to Nigerian will first of all take some people to Sierra-Leone and then come back for us.
I had no money on me and I was hungry.
There is a different between being hungry and fasting.
Those of you who know me when I fast I fast and when I eat, I eat.
I know some of you believe that I don’t eat.
Alright!
Invite me to your house.
Prepare big bowl pounded yam with combination okro soup and put all manners of meat there and in your dining room you will see the glory of God as a mountain will become a valley.
I may not have money put I have good appetite.
Those of you who can eat let me hear you shout hallelujah.
Those of you who cannot eat from tonight onward you will be able to eat in Jesus name.
So I was hungry; I had no money and I made a decree: I say all the senior officials of Ghana Airways, you will have no rest until I leave this place in Jesus name.
Few minutes later, every one of them in the senior something came rushing upstairs where we were seating;
Where are those going to Nigeria?
We said we are here.
As anybody give you something to eat?
We said no.
We have no food except this cake.
Half a cake is better than nothing and they slide the cake into pieces and gave each one of us one one slice;
Because I was hungry…, they gave us a bottle of coke;
Because I was hungry I finished that thing in a jiffy.
And the leader of the team came to me and said there is only one slice left, do you want more?
I said haa!
He gave me the last slice
And just as I was about to finish that they said the plane that was to go to Sierra-Leone will go to Nigeria first.
I say ehen, no you want to rest.
Every obstruction to your greatness, I decree tonight will be move in Jesus name.
Now, as for greatness being thrust upon you; what you need to do read Acts of Apostle chapter 1 verse 8, it says you will receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.
What is power?
Power is ability to do work.
Power is ability to achieve mighty things.
I mean like Acts of the Apostles chapter 8 verse 5 to 8, He talks about a young boy called Stephen
He was not thinking of greatness; he just joined a church and then he became filled with the Holy Spirit and they chose him to be an usher;
The called them deacon but he was to distribute food – he was an usher.
But then situation came that moved him out of the city into Samaria and he got there miracles began to happen.
In the Name that is above every other name, from tonight onward everywhere you go miracles will follow.
So, what am I trying to say?
If you are child of God because your Father is great, you are born to be great.
You might be a little lion like that beautiful song that the choir rendered but one day you are going to be like your Father – the big lion.
So you must pursue greatness vigorously; don’t settle for anything less.
Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 2 says you are to run with a vision
You must be willing to work hard for greatness.
Proverbs 22 verse 29 says seest thou a man diligent in his business? he will stand before kings and not before mean men.
You say I cannot see greatness around me
Hey, take the little you have and multiply it.
Remember the story of the talents – Matthew chapter 25 …
Thank You Father.
The Lord says there is someone here who had been pursuing something for a long time; He asked me to tell you that before the end of this year you will say at last.
At last!
At last!
Almighty God let that be me.
Daddy asks me explain something:
You know the word ‘wonderful’ is a combination of two words – wonder and full.
And a wonder; like somebody defined it years ago; he said a wonder is that which causes you to wonder.
That is a very funny interpretation.
But a wonder is actually that which causes you to open your mouth without wanting to.
A wonder is something that causes you to say haa!
Daddy asks me to tell somebody that very very soon a miracle is coming your way that will cause you to say ‘haa!’
Pursue greatness vigorously.
Like the brother who spoke before me said, be willing to pay the price for greatness.
Refuse to die small.
I have shared a story with you before – of Esau;
The day the father blessed his brother; the blessing that was met for him went to the brother.
When he came back he said haa, father, you said you have blessed my brother; he has stolen my blessing and his Papa said yes and he shall be blessed
He said okay
Have you no reserved blessing?
The father said I have already made him your lord.
Don’t you have anything left at all?
Don’t you have a left over blessing?
The father said you are going to serve him
But all the same when you are strong you will break the yoke off your neck.
He said fine; that is enough.
And he ran with that remnant of blessing; he began to work vigorously; he refused to die small.
Years past, Jacob who ran away from home was coming back and he sent a message to his brother with all kinds of gifts:
Go and tell my brother Esau that I am coming back home; hopefully with all this gifts he will look at me with favour.
And those people came back and said your brother is coming and he is coming with four hundred body guards.
Jacob said I am finished.
It was Jacob who had the big blessing; Esau got only a remnant
But the day Jacob had Esau was coming it was Jacob who was trembling not Esau.
I decree today that all those who think you will never become great will see you coming and they will tremble.
Esau came and he said what is the meaning of all these goats and sheep and…?
And Jacob said there are for you sir so that you can favour me
He looked at him and says I have enough; keep your own.
Everyone who thought you are going to come to them begging, in the Name that is above every other name, you will tell them I have more than you.
You must work for greatness.
You have to work hard; work hard; work hard.
I have told you my story again and again.
One of these days some of you will come and visit me at home, my village, and you will see for yourself.
I looked at my situation, my father was so poor and poor people called him poor and yet he had two wives and many children
I looked at the farm; this farm that was not enough to support my father, when he dies they are going to divide it among us;
I made up my mind I refuse to die in poverty.
Whatever is going to cost and I knew the only way out is to study – if I can just study.
I studied.
I gained admission to Ilesha Grammar school.
My mother, when the result came, called me inside the room and said you boy what are you trying to do?
You want to expose us to ridicule?
You know we had no money and you say you want to go to the grammar school?
And she said please my boy Christmas is coming I will buy a good dress forget about this
I said I don’t want Christmas dress; I want to go to school.
She said we have no money
I said you will find the money.
I am talking of 1955 so you will know how young I must be.
I told her I will not eat until you pay my deposit.
She thought I was joking.
First day I did not eat anything;
Second day I refuse to eat;
By the third day since I happen to be the only son she had;
Between her and my father they got the money for deposit.
And I kept on; through one method or the other I finished secondary school and I then gained admission into the University
And one school in Ondo State said we will sponsor you to go and study but they said they needed somebody for Mathematics
But English was my best subject but they need somebody for Mathematics.
Haha I am good in Mathematics too
So they said they will sponsor me for Mathematics but after my school I must come back and come and serve them for five years
I say no problem
I graduated, I went, I started serving; after two and the half years I became restless –
I am getting old; I don’t want to stop with B.Sc!
So I gained admission for M.Sc and I begged them let me go for Masters and after masters I will come back and finish my bond.
They never believed me
I came to the University of Lagos, finished my masters, ran back to go and serve them;
I became an embracement to them because I have bigger degree than my Principal; they never thought I will come back.
After another one and half years I said please let me go and finish my P.hD; I will come back
They say, go and don’t come back.
You will be great.
But you must be willing to pay the price
I told you before I was reading the Bible one day and I came across 1Corinthians chapter 12 verse 31 where its say covet earnestly the best gifts Read more
