Topic: The Foolishness of God [Sunday 7, August 2016]
Memorise: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. – 1 Corinthians 1:25
Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (KJV)
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Bible in One Year: 1 John 1-4, Psalms 30
MESSAGE:
Foolishness is commonly interpreted as the lack of a good sense of judgment. It has a range of synonyms that include folly, imprudence, stupidity, laziness and perverse in speech. In addition, it is frequently contrasted with wisdom, such that the fool is contrasted with the wise, and a fool is everything a wise person is not. The Bible presents wisdom as a divine gift from God, while foolishness characterises anyone that does not believe in God (Psalm 14:1). Consequent upon the above, it is unthinkable that foolishness will be tied to God for any reason. However, the Bible in 1 Corinthians 1:25 says;
"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
The Holy Spirit responded to the early Church with the above statement, as they tried to berate the message of the Gospel with the wrong assumption that the wisdom of the world is superior to the wisdom of God. The Word of God clearly states that what the people termed to be foolishness is much wiser than the wisdom of the world. The people of the world cannot relate with the wisdom of God because it is meaningless to them, they cannot understand the wisdom behind the principles and commandments of God. The thought of salvation from sin, the process of redemption, the mystery of the Holy Communion, water and the Holy Spirit baptism, speaking in tongues, and the power of fasting and prayer, are all like closed books to the people of the world. It is beyond their comprehension, they cannot simply relate with the wisdom behind spiritual matters. 1 Corinthians 3:19 says:
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 2:14 further says;
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
It takes a spiritual person to understand spiritual things. The inability of the world to comprehend the things of God is deliberate as God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. A person must first be born again, after which Kingdom matters become plain without any need for explanation. Indeed, the foolishness of God is wiser than men. Are you a bona fide member of the kingdom? Are you born again?
Prayer Point: Father, please fill me with a heavenly wisdom that the world cannot comprehend.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
SALUTARY IMPACT
SALUTARY IMPACT (HOSPITALITY AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT)CALL +33605867728
Sunday, 7 August 2016
Saturday, 6 August 2016
Open Heavens 6 August 2016: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power of Testimony
Topic: The Power of Testimony [Saturday 6, August 2016]
Memorise: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. – Revelation 12:11
Read: 1 Samuel 17:32-37 (KJV)
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 5 – 2 Peter 1-3, Psalms 29
MESSAGE:
Testimonies are assets in prayers that authenticate the reality of what God will do in your life. The power of testimonies put you above your problems and destroys all lies and deceits of the devil concerning all that the Almighty God has promised you.
“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” - Psalms 119:111
Those who give testimonies of what God does in their lives are committing God into sustaining what He has done. It is through the power of your testimony that your miracle becomes permanent. I decree that the Almighty God will do something great in your life that can never be hidden in Jesus’ name.
You need faith to receive all that God has promised, and one of the ways to bring those promises to fulfilment is by testifying of the goodness of the Lord. It is by faith that you receive boldness to come before the presence of the Almighty God to access your rightful blessings. All those who have done great things are people who are given to testifying of the deeds of God in their lives so that others can also ‘key’ into their encounters. David defeated Goliath before the physical battle by the word of testimony. He knew that by his experience and age, he was not fit enough to confront Goliath in a physical battle. Goliath cursed him, and he also cursed Goliath by the name of his God and that same God gave him the victory he testified about. When you come face to face with situations and circumstances that are beyond you, remember that there is a God that will never leave you nor forsake you. All you need to do is believe His plans for you and live it while waiting for it to come to pass. When battles rise against you, remind God of all His acts in your life and in the lives of others before now. You can be sure that He can repeat in your life whatever He has done for someone. If your medical report is not favourable, remember there is a God who has over turned the medical report of more critical situations and believe that yours will not be impossible for Him to do. When you remind God of all that He has done in the past, you are invoking His faithfulness and compelling Him to reproduce the act.
The people that know their God shall be strong and they shall do exploits. With the power of testimony, it becomes very easy to do great exploits. All you have to do is to know the God you serve. David knew the God he was serving. Daniel knew the God he was serving. Elijah knew the God he was serving. Esther knew the God she was serving. Joshua knew the God he was serving and he declared boldly that he was not among those who saw themselves as grasshoppers. He knew through the acts of His God that they were more than able to possess the land and enter into their promised destiny. You must not be afraid to dominate. You must see yourself as a champion who is triumphant. Your faith in His promises must never be shaken. You carry divinity and there is nothing in life that can conquer you. I decree that your testimonies shall overflow in Jesus’ name.
Key Point: Every closed mouth is equal to a closed destiny.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. – Revelation 12:11
Read: 1 Samuel 17:32-37 (KJV)
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 5 – 2 Peter 1-3, Psalms 29
MESSAGE:
Testimonies are assets in prayers that authenticate the reality of what God will do in your life. The power of testimonies put you above your problems and destroys all lies and deceits of the devil concerning all that the Almighty God has promised you.
“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” - Psalms 119:111
Those who give testimonies of what God does in their lives are committing God into sustaining what He has done. It is through the power of your testimony that your miracle becomes permanent. I decree that the Almighty God will do something great in your life that can never be hidden in Jesus’ name.
You need faith to receive all that God has promised, and one of the ways to bring those promises to fulfilment is by testifying of the goodness of the Lord. It is by faith that you receive boldness to come before the presence of the Almighty God to access your rightful blessings. All those who have done great things are people who are given to testifying of the deeds of God in their lives so that others can also ‘key’ into their encounters. David defeated Goliath before the physical battle by the word of testimony. He knew that by his experience and age, he was not fit enough to confront Goliath in a physical battle. Goliath cursed him, and he also cursed Goliath by the name of his God and that same God gave him the victory he testified about. When you come face to face with situations and circumstances that are beyond you, remember that there is a God that will never leave you nor forsake you. All you need to do is believe His plans for you and live it while waiting for it to come to pass. When battles rise against you, remind God of all His acts in your life and in the lives of others before now. You can be sure that He can repeat in your life whatever He has done for someone. If your medical report is not favourable, remember there is a God who has over turned the medical report of more critical situations and believe that yours will not be impossible for Him to do. When you remind God of all that He has done in the past, you are invoking His faithfulness and compelling Him to reproduce the act.
The people that know their God shall be strong and they shall do exploits. With the power of testimony, it becomes very easy to do great exploits. All you have to do is to know the God you serve. David knew the God he was serving. Daniel knew the God he was serving. Elijah knew the God he was serving. Esther knew the God she was serving. Joshua knew the God he was serving and he declared boldly that he was not among those who saw themselves as grasshoppers. He knew through the acts of His God that they were more than able to possess the land and enter into their promised destiny. You must not be afraid to dominate. You must see yourself as a champion who is triumphant. Your faith in His promises must never be shaken. You carry divinity and there is nothing in life that can conquer you. I decree that your testimonies shall overflow in Jesus’ name.
Key Point: Every closed mouth is equal to a closed destiny.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Friday, 5 August 2016
Popular Comedian Basketmouth shares his thought on CBN's new money transfer policy
Alert on Superbugs: A bigger threat than cancer by 2050?
Studies warn superbugs will kill 10 million people a year by 2050, making them a bigger killer than cancer.
In The Rise of India’s Superbugs, 101 East reporter Yaara Bou Melhem travels to India – ground zero for one of the most serious threats to global health in our time.
“Antibiotics have saved millions of young lives here but now a new threat has emerged,” says Melhem. “These drugs are no longer proving effective and instead are creating lethal superbugs that no antibiotics can treat.”
A recent study of newborns by one of the world’s leading microbiology researchers, professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, estimates 58,000 babies die in India, each year, from superbugs.
"India is absolutely in the front line for the problem of antibiotic resistance globally,” says professor Laxminarayan. “India has the highest number of newborns that die of drug resistance infections, which means an infection which could not be treated by the typical first line antibiotics.”
Professor Laxminarayan says it’s not just India’s overcrowding, poverty and poor sanitation that are creating superbugs here. “The biggest contributors are the misuse and overuse of antibiotics,” he says. “The country’s use of them is spiraling out of control.”
Using a hidden camera, Melhem documents how easy it is to buy antibiotics over the counter in India, without a prescription.
“I’m actually a little bit shocked at how easy that was,” she says afterwards. “Even though I was deliberately vague and didn’t really know what dosage I wanted or said that I only wanted a strip of the antibiotics, which is obviously not the full course.”
70 000 babies are born every day in India, more than any other country in the world. With their weak immune systems, newborns are most at risk from superbugs.
Dr. Vinod Paul, a leading paediatrician from All India Institute of Medical Science, has just completed a study on antibiotic resistance in 15,000 high-risk newborns in India, which will be published in the leading medical journal The Lancet later this year.
“We found that 60-80% of organisms that cause infections in newborns in our country are resistant to the kind of antibiotics that we normally use,” says Dr. Paul. “We are dealing with pathogens which are unusually tough and a fair proportion of them are now smarter than the antibiotics that we use on them.”
This isn’t just an Indian problem: NDM1 – an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to a broad range of antibiotics – was discovered seven years ago in a Swede who’d been travelling in India but has now spread to more than 70 countries. “In this age of international travel, superbugs can spread with alarming ease, threatening lives across the world,” says Melhem.
The Rise of India’s Superbugs premieres on Al Jazeera English at 2230 GMT on 11 August 2016 on 101 East, Al Jazeera’s award-winning weekly current affairs programme focusing on a diverse range of stories across Asia and the Pacific. It repeats on 12 August at 0930 GMT, 13 August at 0330 GMT, 14 August at 1630 GMT, and 15 August at 0530 GMT.
Flatimes
In The Rise of India’s Superbugs, 101 East reporter Yaara Bou Melhem travels to India – ground zero for one of the most serious threats to global health in our time.
“Antibiotics have saved millions of young lives here but now a new threat has emerged,” says Melhem. “These drugs are no longer proving effective and instead are creating lethal superbugs that no antibiotics can treat.”
A recent study of newborns by one of the world’s leading microbiology researchers, professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, estimates 58,000 babies die in India, each year, from superbugs.
"India is absolutely in the front line for the problem of antibiotic resistance globally,” says professor Laxminarayan. “India has the highest number of newborns that die of drug resistance infections, which means an infection which could not be treated by the typical first line antibiotics.”
Professor Laxminarayan says it’s not just India’s overcrowding, poverty and poor sanitation that are creating superbugs here. “The biggest contributors are the misuse and overuse of antibiotics,” he says. “The country’s use of them is spiraling out of control.”
Using a hidden camera, Melhem documents how easy it is to buy antibiotics over the counter in India, without a prescription.
“I’m actually a little bit shocked at how easy that was,” she says afterwards. “Even though I was deliberately vague and didn’t really know what dosage I wanted or said that I only wanted a strip of the antibiotics, which is obviously not the full course.”
70 000 babies are born every day in India, more than any other country in the world. With their weak immune systems, newborns are most at risk from superbugs.
Dr. Vinod Paul, a leading paediatrician from All India Institute of Medical Science, has just completed a study on antibiotic resistance in 15,000 high-risk newborns in India, which will be published in the leading medical journal The Lancet later this year.
“We found that 60-80% of organisms that cause infections in newborns in our country are resistant to the kind of antibiotics that we normally use,” says Dr. Paul. “We are dealing with pathogens which are unusually tough and a fair proportion of them are now smarter than the antibiotics that we use on them.”
This isn’t just an Indian problem: NDM1 – an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to a broad range of antibiotics – was discovered seven years ago in a Swede who’d been travelling in India but has now spread to more than 70 countries. “In this age of international travel, superbugs can spread with alarming ease, threatening lives across the world,” says Melhem.
The Rise of India’s Superbugs premieres on Al Jazeera English at 2230 GMT on 11 August 2016 on 101 East, Al Jazeera’s award-winning weekly current affairs programme focusing on a diverse range of stories across Asia and the Pacific. It repeats on 12 August at 0930 GMT, 13 August at 0330 GMT, 14 August at 1630 GMT, and 15 August at 0530 GMT.
Flatimes
Open Heavens 5 August 2016: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Stolen Bread?
Topic: Stolen Bread? [Friday 5, August 2016]
Memorise: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. – Proverbs 20:17
Read: Ephesians 4:28 (KJV)
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 1-4, Psalms 28
MESSAGE:
We live in a time when the nature of man is so selfish that all he does is think about himself continually. How much can I get? What will I gain? What do I have at stake? Of what interest will this be to me? This is why you see people transferring the resources meant for an entire nation into their private coffers. They are happy to collect the contract amount given for the construction of public roads only to complete such roads on paper alone. The better ones among them do a bad job and pocket the rest despite inflating the cost of completion. After all, they will not drive on such roads. When the Judgement of God comes upon those who do this, their ends are always terrible. Some of them use such monies to train their children in the best schools available and such children end up killing them. Some of them use such money to build estates and such estates become desolate in the future.
Lazy people look for any excuse not to work. They want cheap money. They want to live in luxury without paying the price. This is why you see a lot of value being eroded in the social system today. People are no longer ready to task their minds. Some people sit with their computers the whole day, looking for people to defraud. How do you think you can have an enduring blessing through such means? There are some market women who use unequal weights in the scale to measure what they sell to unsuspecting customers. If you do this, it is to your own peril. Such people will never be blessed by God. Some are involved in fraudulent business practices, exploiting others for their own gain. They think they are making it at the moment, but the truth is that such gains bring much sorrow. Lazy people who do not work will end in poverty because they lack understanding. Those who are sleeping when they should be working will end up serving those who are industrious.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7
As long as you choose to remain lazy, you will never encounter a divine touch, because God himself is hard working. One of the great virtues that fathers can leave for their children is a heritage of integrity. There is only one path to true increase and that is gathering wealth by honest means. It may take a longer time than you expected, but you can be sure that at the end, you will have peace of mind. There are things money cannot buy. Money cannot buy happiness and joy and this is why you need to understand that there is no need to play smart. The little you earn from what you do legitimately will attract the blessing of God, as opposed to those who earn millions by fraudulent means. The scripture says;
“Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” - Proverbs 28:6
Don’t envy sinners who are prosperous. It is foolishness to do so because you can easily tell what their end will be.
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” - Proverbs 13:11
Those who gather wealth unjustly are doing so in readiness for devourers. They will never be able to explain how they spend such money.
Key Point: Whatever you get non-legitimately cannot last.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. – Proverbs 20:17
Read: Ephesians 4:28 (KJV)
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 1-4, Psalms 28
MESSAGE:
We live in a time when the nature of man is so selfish that all he does is think about himself continually. How much can I get? What will I gain? What do I have at stake? Of what interest will this be to me? This is why you see people transferring the resources meant for an entire nation into their private coffers. They are happy to collect the contract amount given for the construction of public roads only to complete such roads on paper alone. The better ones among them do a bad job and pocket the rest despite inflating the cost of completion. After all, they will not drive on such roads. When the Judgement of God comes upon those who do this, their ends are always terrible. Some of them use such monies to train their children in the best schools available and such children end up killing them. Some of them use such money to build estates and such estates become desolate in the future.
Lazy people look for any excuse not to work. They want cheap money. They want to live in luxury without paying the price. This is why you see a lot of value being eroded in the social system today. People are no longer ready to task their minds. Some people sit with their computers the whole day, looking for people to defraud. How do you think you can have an enduring blessing through such means? There are some market women who use unequal weights in the scale to measure what they sell to unsuspecting customers. If you do this, it is to your own peril. Such people will never be blessed by God. Some are involved in fraudulent business practices, exploiting others for their own gain. They think they are making it at the moment, but the truth is that such gains bring much sorrow. Lazy people who do not work will end in poverty because they lack understanding. Those who are sleeping when they should be working will end up serving those who are industrious.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7
As long as you choose to remain lazy, you will never encounter a divine touch, because God himself is hard working. One of the great virtues that fathers can leave for their children is a heritage of integrity. There is only one path to true increase and that is gathering wealth by honest means. It may take a longer time than you expected, but you can be sure that at the end, you will have peace of mind. There are things money cannot buy. Money cannot buy happiness and joy and this is why you need to understand that there is no need to play smart. The little you earn from what you do legitimately will attract the blessing of God, as opposed to those who earn millions by fraudulent means. The scripture says;
“Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” - Proverbs 28:6
Don’t envy sinners who are prosperous. It is foolishness to do so because you can easily tell what their end will be.
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” - Proverbs 13:11
Those who gather wealth unjustly are doing so in readiness for devourers. They will never be able to explain how they spend such money.
Key Point: Whatever you get non-legitimately cannot last.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Thursday, 4 August 2016
firefighter who died saving lives during Emirates emergency accident laid to rest: Photo
Jassim Eissa Mohammed Hassan Al Balochi was buried today in Al Salehiya cemetery, Ras Al Khaimah. Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah attended the funeral.
Just Top 5 ways the current economic crisis is affecting the everyday life of Nigerians
It is no secret that the Nigerian economy is in crisis. In the last six months, the official Nigerian currency, Naira, has fallen by almost 50% and there has been an increasing change in the price of goods and services. With pay increases lagging behind and the inflation soaring, the wallet of most Nigerians continue to take a beating as the cost of living increases in just about every aspect of daily life.
Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal, lists the top 5 ways the crisis is affecting the everyday life of Nigerians.
Decreased job opportunities
From prospective civil servants to bricklayers just looking for an hour’s pay, citizens in the country are now faced with extreme difficulty in securing job opportunities as most employers can no longer afford to pay as much as they used and are instead laying off staff to ensure they maintain operations. Even marketers and sellers can no longer make as much sales as they used to and most have closed shop, as consumers now tend to buy less, switch to less-expensive substitutes or drive farther to find bargains.
Increase in cost of living
The recent times have witnessed significant increase in food, fuel and utility costs. This means that less money remains once these necessities are paid for, leaving little for savings or discretionary spending. While the effect of this hike in cost of living has affected almost all citizens in their daily life, the rising prices have hit the lower and middle classes especially hard. It is quite difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living when your paycheck is not growing at a similar rate.
Higher security risks
There are increased incidents of theft and kidnapping for ransom around the nation. It is getting hard to earn an honest living and some who feel like they have no other choice give in to different vices and extort money from others either by conning them, or forcefully taking it from them. The people, both rich and poor, are therefore more prone to security risks; and the culprits when caught, face the prospect of jail term.
Reduced access to credit and trade financing
The economic crisis in Nigeria is friendly to debtor’s but of huge disadvantage to creditors as thanks to the continued inflation, amount borrowed will eventually deteriorate in value so that the debtor pays back less money and the creditor receives less money. This has been harder for financial institutions, including banks to give out loans in recent times to prospective entrepreneurs and traders and as such, most are finding it hard to keep their businesses afloat or grow them any further than it already is.
Depression
The economic crisis has ensured the life of the average Nigerian is becoming more difficult by the day. A majority of Nigerians are suffering from depression and as such, are now finding it hard to go on with their daily lives. In a bid to make ends meet many stay on the hustle and are forced to manage all kinds of stress, from physical to emotional. This has led to an increase in death rate and a decrease in fertility rate in the country.
By Nkem Ndem, PR Associate at Jumia Travel
Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal, lists the top 5 ways the crisis is affecting the everyday life of Nigerians.
Decreased job opportunities
From prospective civil servants to bricklayers just looking for an hour’s pay, citizens in the country are now faced with extreme difficulty in securing job opportunities as most employers can no longer afford to pay as much as they used and are instead laying off staff to ensure they maintain operations. Even marketers and sellers can no longer make as much sales as they used to and most have closed shop, as consumers now tend to buy less, switch to less-expensive substitutes or drive farther to find bargains.
Increase in cost of living
The recent times have witnessed significant increase in food, fuel and utility costs. This means that less money remains once these necessities are paid for, leaving little for savings or discretionary spending. While the effect of this hike in cost of living has affected almost all citizens in their daily life, the rising prices have hit the lower and middle classes especially hard. It is quite difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living when your paycheck is not growing at a similar rate.
Higher security risks
There are increased incidents of theft and kidnapping for ransom around the nation. It is getting hard to earn an honest living and some who feel like they have no other choice give in to different vices and extort money from others either by conning them, or forcefully taking it from them. The people, both rich and poor, are therefore more prone to security risks; and the culprits when caught, face the prospect of jail term.
Reduced access to credit and trade financing
The economic crisis in Nigeria is friendly to debtor’s but of huge disadvantage to creditors as thanks to the continued inflation, amount borrowed will eventually deteriorate in value so that the debtor pays back less money and the creditor receives less money. This has been harder for financial institutions, including banks to give out loans in recent times to prospective entrepreneurs and traders and as such, most are finding it hard to keep their businesses afloat or grow them any further than it already is.
Depression
The economic crisis has ensured the life of the average Nigerian is becoming more difficult by the day. A majority of Nigerians are suffering from depression and as such, are now finding it hard to go on with their daily lives. In a bid to make ends meet many stay on the hustle and are forced to manage all kinds of stress, from physical to emotional. This has led to an increase in death rate and a decrease in fertility rate in the country.
By Nkem Ndem, PR Associate at Jumia Travel
Open Heavens 4 August 2016: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Believing Lies?
Topic: Believing Lies? [Thursday 4, August 2016]
Memorise: Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. – Psalms 120:2
Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-6 (KJV)
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Bible in One Year: James 1-5, Psalms 27
MESSAGE:
There are many heresies spreading around us today, unfortunately, there are lots of people believing them. This is why true ministers of the gospel cannot just fold their hands. They have to make efforts to counter the bad philosophies around with the absolute truth of God’s Word. There is no better time for us to be aware and guard ourselves from being led astray by these erroneous teachings. The Bible warns us that if not careful even the very elect will deviate from the truth and follow after the deceptions of devious men, who, by the way, are skillful in leading men astray. Some of these teachers are popular and some of them are widely sought after; but be not deceived, the Word and Truth of God is greater than the personal profile of any minister. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing in the church today (Matthew 7:15-20). They teach one thing and practice another. They appear to be speaking the truth but they are living in error. When they talk, their words are very smooth and there is no error in their presentations. They make a lot of noise but they lack depth. If you watch closely, you will see that their conduct is contrary to the principles of godly living. They come with all sorts of theologies that have no bearing with the Word of God. They justify unholy living with the illusion that it is impossible for anyone to live holy. They explain away the truth of God’s Word just to make sinners comfortable in their sins. There is no rebuke, no reprove and no correction in their theology. They preach so much about the place of grace and give so much motivation about people’s freewill and liberty, forgetting that the Christian calling is not a call to lawlessness. They preach against the validity of the 10 commandments in the era of grace. Some teach that once saved you are forever saved and there is no need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling as the Bible says in Philippians 2:12. Some ask why you need to fast at all, since Jesus said it is finished.
As a genuine minister and disciple of Jesus, there is the need for you to teach your members to be aware of these wrong teachings. The fact that many people listen to them do not mean they are approved of God. They are liars. You need to caution those in your church concerning heretic teachings that deny the fundamental principles of Christianity. Don’t allow your members to stray away from the truth. Expose them to the truth of God’s Word very often so that they can stand against the lies of the devil. Some churches have become mere social and entertainment centres where members only gather of fantasies and entertainment purposes. You cannot see them leading salvation prayers or asking lost souls to come to the altar to forsake their sins. Many people do not want to hear the truth of God’s Word and that is why the church is saturated today with many false and fake ministers. How can you be comfortable in a church where the pastor has two wives? What will you expect such pastors to tell their members? Some members prefer to run from one prophet to another who will ‘see things’ for them and deceive them that God has spoken when God has said nothing. They are looking for prophetic declarations from ‘great men of God’ even when they don’t know the spirit behind such declarations.
Action Point: Beware of wolves in sheep clothing.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. – Psalms 120:2
Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-6 (KJV)
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Bible in One Year: James 1-5, Psalms 27
MESSAGE:
There are many heresies spreading around us today, unfortunately, there are lots of people believing them. This is why true ministers of the gospel cannot just fold their hands. They have to make efforts to counter the bad philosophies around with the absolute truth of God’s Word. There is no better time for us to be aware and guard ourselves from being led astray by these erroneous teachings. The Bible warns us that if not careful even the very elect will deviate from the truth and follow after the deceptions of devious men, who, by the way, are skillful in leading men astray. Some of these teachers are popular and some of them are widely sought after; but be not deceived, the Word and Truth of God is greater than the personal profile of any minister. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing in the church today (Matthew 7:15-20). They teach one thing and practice another. They appear to be speaking the truth but they are living in error. When they talk, their words are very smooth and there is no error in their presentations. They make a lot of noise but they lack depth. If you watch closely, you will see that their conduct is contrary to the principles of godly living. They come with all sorts of theologies that have no bearing with the Word of God. They justify unholy living with the illusion that it is impossible for anyone to live holy. They explain away the truth of God’s Word just to make sinners comfortable in their sins. There is no rebuke, no reprove and no correction in their theology. They preach so much about the place of grace and give so much motivation about people’s freewill and liberty, forgetting that the Christian calling is not a call to lawlessness. They preach against the validity of the 10 commandments in the era of grace. Some teach that once saved you are forever saved and there is no need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling as the Bible says in Philippians 2:12. Some ask why you need to fast at all, since Jesus said it is finished.
As a genuine minister and disciple of Jesus, there is the need for you to teach your members to be aware of these wrong teachings. The fact that many people listen to them do not mean they are approved of God. They are liars. You need to caution those in your church concerning heretic teachings that deny the fundamental principles of Christianity. Don’t allow your members to stray away from the truth. Expose them to the truth of God’s Word very often so that they can stand against the lies of the devil. Some churches have become mere social and entertainment centres where members only gather of fantasies and entertainment purposes. You cannot see them leading salvation prayers or asking lost souls to come to the altar to forsake their sins. Many people do not want to hear the truth of God’s Word and that is why the church is saturated today with many false and fake ministers. How can you be comfortable in a church where the pastor has two wives? What will you expect such pastors to tell their members? Some members prefer to run from one prophet to another who will ‘see things’ for them and deceive them that God has spoken when God has said nothing. They are looking for prophetic declarations from ‘great men of God’ even when they don’t know the spirit behind such declarations.
Action Point: Beware of wolves in sheep clothing.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Notorious armed robbery kingpin in Calabar found with multiple matchete cuts and stab wounds: Photos
They say one day for the thief and one day for the owner! The body of a notorious kingpin identified as one
Papa Morino Monday, was found along Parliamentary Extension
Calabar, Cross River State.
'You'll probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country' Trump tells Obama
Pres. Buhari recieves former President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock: Photos
Open Heavens 3 August 2016: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Are you growing in Grace?
Topic: Are you growing in Grace? [Wednesday 3, August 2016]
Memorise: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:18
Read: Luke 2:39-40 (KJV)
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 11-13, Psalms 26
MESSAGE:
Show me a man that is doing great exploits in life and in ministry and I will show you a man that is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Almighty God. It is the grace of the Almighty God that makes us vessels of honour and beneficiaries of this grace; we need to continue to grow in it so that we will not run out of it. By virtue of our past, none of us will be qualified to be amongst the chosen of God, but the grace and mercy of God qualifies us. It was His grace that brought us salvation and not our works. It was the grace of God that blotted out the handwriting of the devil against all the sins we had committed. The devil stood to accuse us before the Almighty God, but His mercy stood in for us. Long ago when I was a lecturer in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, a woman brought her sick child to me for prayers as she had been told to come see me; a man of God. When she arrived and discovered that I was the man of God she was asked to see, she couldn’t hide her shock because she knew how bad I was in the past. Only the grace of God could have taken me from being a ‘great sinner’ to being a ‘man of God’. The moment we come to the truth of the gospel, there is an expectation from us. There is an expectation to live a life of holiness. A personal knowledge of God is necessary to enable us obtain His best for our lives. As God reveals Himself to us daily, we in turn, must reveal Him to others.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” - Ephesians 2:8
The grace of God is available in abundance, but must not be taken for granted. We must use the grace that we have received to be a blessing to others. The grace of God makes the forgiveness of sin possible. This is why every child of God must have a big heart to ‘let go’. You must not hold anything against anyone. Others may, but you cannot; because you are expected to be growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. The grace of God helps us to stand in the gap in the place of prayer. This makes it necessary for us to seek the face of God on behalf of those that God has committed to our trust. We must always remember that it is Jesus that has chosen us out of His own divine grace (John 15:16).
Despite the antecedents of Saul, God chose Him. Jeremiah was chosen and ordained even before his birth. With all these examples and stories of our time, it is wisdom to make the best choice of allowing God to have His way in our lives. We must glorify God in all we do. We must continue to grow in Him and never allow His investment to go to waste. We must justify His being interested in us by living holy and being a blessing to the Body of Christ with all the talents, abilities, endowments and gifts He has given us. Don’t allow yourself to be led astray by the immoral conduct of those who have given themselves to the lust of the flesh. It is the responsibility of every one to grow in the things of the Spirit and the motivation required for this has been given through the revelation of His grace through the cross.
Prayer Point: Father, cause me to grow daily in your grace and knowledge in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:18
Read: Luke 2:39-40 (KJV)
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 11-13, Psalms 26
MESSAGE:
Show me a man that is doing great exploits in life and in ministry and I will show you a man that is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Almighty God. It is the grace of the Almighty God that makes us vessels of honour and beneficiaries of this grace; we need to continue to grow in it so that we will not run out of it. By virtue of our past, none of us will be qualified to be amongst the chosen of God, but the grace and mercy of God qualifies us. It was His grace that brought us salvation and not our works. It was the grace of God that blotted out the handwriting of the devil against all the sins we had committed. The devil stood to accuse us before the Almighty God, but His mercy stood in for us. Long ago when I was a lecturer in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, a woman brought her sick child to me for prayers as she had been told to come see me; a man of God. When she arrived and discovered that I was the man of God she was asked to see, she couldn’t hide her shock because she knew how bad I was in the past. Only the grace of God could have taken me from being a ‘great sinner’ to being a ‘man of God’. The moment we come to the truth of the gospel, there is an expectation from us. There is an expectation to live a life of holiness. A personal knowledge of God is necessary to enable us obtain His best for our lives. As God reveals Himself to us daily, we in turn, must reveal Him to others.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” - Ephesians 2:8
The grace of God is available in abundance, but must not be taken for granted. We must use the grace that we have received to be a blessing to others. The grace of God makes the forgiveness of sin possible. This is why every child of God must have a big heart to ‘let go’. You must not hold anything against anyone. Others may, but you cannot; because you are expected to be growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. The grace of God helps us to stand in the gap in the place of prayer. This makes it necessary for us to seek the face of God on behalf of those that God has committed to our trust. We must always remember that it is Jesus that has chosen us out of His own divine grace (John 15:16).
Despite the antecedents of Saul, God chose Him. Jeremiah was chosen and ordained even before his birth. With all these examples and stories of our time, it is wisdom to make the best choice of allowing God to have His way in our lives. We must glorify God in all we do. We must continue to grow in Him and never allow His investment to go to waste. We must justify His being interested in us by living holy and being a blessing to the Body of Christ with all the talents, abilities, endowments and gifts He has given us. Don’t allow yourself to be led astray by the immoral conduct of those who have given themselves to the lust of the flesh. It is the responsibility of every one to grow in the things of the Spirit and the motivation required for this has been given through the revelation of His grace through the cross.
Prayer Point: Father, cause me to grow daily in your grace and knowledge in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
Don't marry a man who doesn't have a job- Pastor Adeboye advises women: Video
"Don't marry a man who has no job. Before God gave Adam Eve, he gave him a job. He said this is the garden, keep it. So those who come to you and say sister, thus saith the lord, you are going to be the star in my firmament, ask him what is his job.
Donald Trump camp says Clinton is 'linked to ISIS' organisation
Trump campaign seizes on five-week old report that French manufacturer Lafarge made deals with ISIS to keep its cement plant running
•Trump campaign blasted out release from advisor Stephen Miller saying Clinton 'refuses to tell the truth about radical Islam's war against people of different beliefs, lifestyles and values'
•Clinton Foundation accepted contribution from Lafarge valued at between $50,000 and $100,000
•Trump campaign says Clinton 'has accepted money from a company linked to ISIS'
•Claims she is tied to 'brutal' regimes 'more than any major presidential nominee in modern history'
Donald Trump's campaign, which has already blasted Hillary for failing to contain ISIS, is now charging she is 'linked' to the group because of a French company's contribution to the Clinton foundation.
“More than any major presidential nominee in modern history, Hillary Clinton is tied to brutal theocratic and Islamist regimes,' according to a statement by Trump campaign senior advisor Stephen Miller.
'Now we learn she has accepted money from a company linked to ISIS. All the while, she refuses to tell the truth about radical Islam's war against people of different beliefs, lifestyles and values.”
The campaign cited as evidence for its charge a June 21 report in France's Le Monde, which catalogues efforts by cement company Lafarge's efforts to maintain operation and protect workers at its Jalabiya cement works, near Aleppo.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3718928/Now-Trump-camp-says-Clinton-linked-ISIS-charges-Hillary-tied-brutal-theocratic-Islamist-regimes.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
•Trump campaign blasted out release from advisor Stephen Miller saying Clinton 'refuses to tell the truth about radical Islam's war against people of different beliefs, lifestyles and values'
•Clinton Foundation accepted contribution from Lafarge valued at between $50,000 and $100,000
•Trump campaign says Clinton 'has accepted money from a company linked to ISIS'
•Claims she is tied to 'brutal' regimes 'more than any major presidential nominee in modern history'
Donald Trump's campaign, which has already blasted Hillary for failing to contain ISIS, is now charging she is 'linked' to the group because of a French company's contribution to the Clinton foundation.
“More than any major presidential nominee in modern history, Hillary Clinton is tied to brutal theocratic and Islamist regimes,' according to a statement by Trump campaign senior advisor Stephen Miller.
'Now we learn she has accepted money from a company linked to ISIS. All the while, she refuses to tell the truth about radical Islam's war against people of different beliefs, lifestyles and values.”
The campaign cited as evidence for its charge a June 21 report in France's Le Monde, which catalogues efforts by cement company Lafarge's efforts to maintain operation and protect workers at its Jalabiya cement works, near Aleppo.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3718928/Now-Trump-camp-says-Clinton-linked-ISIS-charges-Hillary-tied-brutal-theocratic-Islamist-regimes.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Open Heavens 2 August 2016: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Come back Home
Topic: Come back Home [Tuesday 2, August 2016]
Memorise: There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. – Isaiah 48:22
Read: Isaiah 48:18-22 (KJV)
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 9-10, Psalms 25
MESSAGE:
There was a point in the life of the children of Israel when God had to bring to their remembrance what He had done for them. He had to draw their attention to their rebellion over the years starting from the point when He used Moses to deliver them from captivity. The children of Israel soon forgot the faithfulness of God and began to attribute their freedom and victory to idols. How easy it is for us to forget the investments of God in our lives. He delivered them from their afflictions. He made them partakers of His glorious presence. He guided them and led them through the wilderness. He never left them alone for a moment. He enlightened them and guided them to their destinations. Yet, they began to praise the idols they had made with their hands. God tried different methods to get their attention but they ignored Him. He sent them prophets and raised judges for them. He sent His servants to them to forewarn them of the consequences of their actions and occasionally appeared to them but they never listened until they met their destruction. They forgot the reason for which they were called ‘the people of God. They refused to retain God in their knowledge; they trusted in their idols and intellects, and as a result began to engage in what was not convenient until they lost the peace and joy of the living God.
This is also true of the time and days we live in. God wants us to come back to His love, despite our state of wickedness. God is still interested in having us to Himself for our good. There is great joy and happiness for those who repent and come back to God. The opportunity is here and I want you to take advantage of the grace of God that is available now. Choose good and not evil. Choose life and not death. Choose blessing and not curse. There can never be peace for a wicked man because he is a stranger and an enemy of God. There is no peace for those who stand in opposition to the Almighty God. They do so to their own peril. Unspeakable happiness and joy comes to those who align themselves with God but uneasiness, fear, sorrow, trouble and destruction comes to those who forget where He is bringing them from. When you are on the Lord’s side, there will be quietness, peace, calm and comfort because you are a friend to God and not an enemy.
Like the prodigal son, you may have wasted all that has been committed into your hands. You may have gone beyond where help can reach you but the grace of God is longer than the stretch of your iniquities, therefore return home. Remove rebellion from your heart. Let there be light and a change of heart. Make a fresh resolution that you won’t backslide again.
“Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!” - Psalms 81:13
As you make this strong decision, you will begin to see the peace you desire in your heart. All the good your heart has desired and all the comfort you have ever longed for becomes a reality. Your peace is a function of His presence in your life. Begin to relate with Him daily, praise and worship Him. See His Word as what you must feed on and obey Him even when you don’t seem to understand. As you do this, you will enjoy the prosperity and protection of the Almighty God. His blessings in your life will never be interrupted and you will continue to enjoy all that God has to give.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to return to you fully
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. – Isaiah 48:22
Read: Isaiah 48:18-22 (KJV)
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 9-10, Psalms 25
MESSAGE:
There was a point in the life of the children of Israel when God had to bring to their remembrance what He had done for them. He had to draw their attention to their rebellion over the years starting from the point when He used Moses to deliver them from captivity. The children of Israel soon forgot the faithfulness of God and began to attribute their freedom and victory to idols. How easy it is for us to forget the investments of God in our lives. He delivered them from their afflictions. He made them partakers of His glorious presence. He guided them and led them through the wilderness. He never left them alone for a moment. He enlightened them and guided them to their destinations. Yet, they began to praise the idols they had made with their hands. God tried different methods to get their attention but they ignored Him. He sent them prophets and raised judges for them. He sent His servants to them to forewarn them of the consequences of their actions and occasionally appeared to them but they never listened until they met their destruction. They forgot the reason for which they were called ‘the people of God. They refused to retain God in their knowledge; they trusted in their idols and intellects, and as a result began to engage in what was not convenient until they lost the peace and joy of the living God.
This is also true of the time and days we live in. God wants us to come back to His love, despite our state of wickedness. God is still interested in having us to Himself for our good. There is great joy and happiness for those who repent and come back to God. The opportunity is here and I want you to take advantage of the grace of God that is available now. Choose good and not evil. Choose life and not death. Choose blessing and not curse. There can never be peace for a wicked man because he is a stranger and an enemy of God. There is no peace for those who stand in opposition to the Almighty God. They do so to their own peril. Unspeakable happiness and joy comes to those who align themselves with God but uneasiness, fear, sorrow, trouble and destruction comes to those who forget where He is bringing them from. When you are on the Lord’s side, there will be quietness, peace, calm and comfort because you are a friend to God and not an enemy.
Like the prodigal son, you may have wasted all that has been committed into your hands. You may have gone beyond where help can reach you but the grace of God is longer than the stretch of your iniquities, therefore return home. Remove rebellion from your heart. Let there be light and a change of heart. Make a fresh resolution that you won’t backslide again.
“Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!” - Psalms 81:13
As you make this strong decision, you will begin to see the peace you desire in your heart. All the good your heart has desired and all the comfort you have ever longed for becomes a reality. Your peace is a function of His presence in your life. Begin to relate with Him daily, praise and worship Him. See His Word as what you must feed on and obey Him even when you don’t seem to understand. As you do this, you will enjoy the prosperity and protection of the Almighty God. His blessings in your life will never be interrupted and you will continue to enjoy all that God has to give.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to return to you fully
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
64th Annual Convention: RCCG announces measures for hitch-free programme
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has announced strict measures for a hitch-free 64th annual convention of the church, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 1, and run till Sunday, August 7. The convention, with the theme AMEN’ which literally means so shall it be, will be preceded by a four-day ministers’ conference which starts on Thursday.
In his welcome address, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, said: “Amen as we all know is one of the names of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are, therefore, coming into this convention to encounter the AMEN.”
A statement signed by Head, RCCG Media & Public Relations Department, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, said members, delegates and non-members were expected from about 190 countries where RCCG had presence. According to him, the word from Pastor Adeboye and other ministers would be robust, while music would be rich, as children, youth and adults would have roles to play. He then urged participants to take advantage of the numerous arrangements put in place to help them have a wonderful camp experience and a memorable time in the Lord’s presence.
Adegbiji said RCCG buses in the church’s colours would be at the headquarters of all RCCG Provinces in Lagos and South West Regions of Nigeria from yesterday to convey interested persons to the Redemption camp.
He added that Team Nehemiah had arranged LAG buses for shuttle services from the current Arena to the New 3×3 kilometer auditorium at Shimawa. On parking arrangements within the camp ground, Pastor Adegbiji explained that Car park G is strictly for Lagos worshippers while Odofin/Shimawa has been reserved for Ikorodu and members from Shagamu/Ibadan routes. Oloparun is for participants coming from Ogijo and exit to Lagos through Ikorodu; Shimawa is for vehicles coming from Shimawa and Ikorodu, while commercial buses are to park at a section of Shimawa Car Park
Source: www.vanguardngr.com
In his welcome address, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, said: “Amen as we all know is one of the names of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are, therefore, coming into this convention to encounter the AMEN.”
A statement signed by Head, RCCG Media & Public Relations Department, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, said members, delegates and non-members were expected from about 190 countries where RCCG had presence. According to him, the word from Pastor Adeboye and other ministers would be robust, while music would be rich, as children, youth and adults would have roles to play. He then urged participants to take advantage of the numerous arrangements put in place to help them have a wonderful camp experience and a memorable time in the Lord’s presence.
Adegbiji said RCCG buses in the church’s colours would be at the headquarters of all RCCG Provinces in Lagos and South West Regions of Nigeria from yesterday to convey interested persons to the Redemption camp.
He added that Team Nehemiah had arranged LAG buses for shuttle services from the current Arena to the New 3×3 kilometer auditorium at Shimawa. On parking arrangements within the camp ground, Pastor Adegbiji explained that Car park G is strictly for Lagos worshippers while Odofin/Shimawa has been reserved for Ikorodu and members from Shagamu/Ibadan routes. Oloparun is for participants coming from Ogijo and exit to Lagos through Ikorodu; Shimawa is for vehicles coming from Shimawa and Ikorodu, while commercial buses are to park at a section of Shimawa Car Park
Source: www.vanguardngr.com
Monday, 1 August 2016
Open Heavens 1 August 2016: Monday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Blessings from Above
Topic: Blessings from Above [Monday 1, August 2016]
Memorise: Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. – Deuteronomy 33:28
Read: Deuteronomy 33:27-29 (KJV)
27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 5:10-8:13, Psalms 24
MESSAGE:
There are different kinds of blessings, but there is a kind of blessing that comes from God alone. This is the blessing that has no boundary. It is from above where God sits to coordinate the affairs of His people. Today, the blessing of God will locate you wherever you are in Jesus’ name. If you must prosper the way God desires, you cannot afford to ignore the presence of God. Those who have succeeded exceedingly in life are those whose source of blessing is God. When the presence of God is with you, He causes whatever you lay your hands upon to prosper. With little effort, you enjoy great favour and you become a channel of blessings to others around you.
If you study the biblical men of faith; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you will notice that God was not only interested in giving them blessings that will be sufficient for them alone, He was interested in blessing them to a point that they become channels of blessings to others. Do you know God can bless you so much that your driver becomes a millionaire just from driving you? He told Abraham.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:” - Genesis 12:2
The blessing that came from above into the life of Abraham made a great nation out of him. That blessing gave him such a great name that there was no nation where his name was not known. The name attracted so many blessings to his life that he became a great possessor of vast expanses of land and today, his seed are all over the world. God can make you a man or woman of great wealth and power. No matter how dry your ground may be at the moment; He can raise greatness out of it and make your little one become a thousand. The outpouring of God’s blessing upon your life can move you beyond the point of daily provision and mere survival, to the point in which you become the talk of nations because of how frightening your blessings have become. Peter who toiled all night and caught nothing became the talk of the town when he experienced a net-breaking blessing. I have always said that a day is coming and that season is here for a reader of this devotional, that when you take your money to the bank, the bank manager will order that the branch be shut down for three days to other customers just because they are attending to you.
For you to achieve this level of blessing, you need to understand that it will not come easy, but you need not be discouraged because God is ever faithful and He knows the path to take you through to get there. God is the fountain of all honour and it is from Him that promotion comes. What you are going through at the moment may not show that you are a candidate for this kind of blessing but you need to know that the plan and purpose of God for your life cannot be denied. Your faith and obedience will be tried. You need to be separated and set aside for God alone. Those who forsake their sins and turn to God will get blessings that they never bargained for. You have to take your mind off the mundane things of this world and step up into the higher ground of what God is prepared to do with your life.
Key Point: Until there is a departure from the little things, there will be no discovery of greater things.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. – Deuteronomy 33:28
Read: Deuteronomy 33:27-29 (KJV)
27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 5:10-8:13, Psalms 24
MESSAGE:
There are different kinds of blessings, but there is a kind of blessing that comes from God alone. This is the blessing that has no boundary. It is from above where God sits to coordinate the affairs of His people. Today, the blessing of God will locate you wherever you are in Jesus’ name. If you must prosper the way God desires, you cannot afford to ignore the presence of God. Those who have succeeded exceedingly in life are those whose source of blessing is God. When the presence of God is with you, He causes whatever you lay your hands upon to prosper. With little effort, you enjoy great favour and you become a channel of blessings to others around you.
If you study the biblical men of faith; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you will notice that God was not only interested in giving them blessings that will be sufficient for them alone, He was interested in blessing them to a point that they become channels of blessings to others. Do you know God can bless you so much that your driver becomes a millionaire just from driving you? He told Abraham.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:” - Genesis 12:2
The blessing that came from above into the life of Abraham made a great nation out of him. That blessing gave him such a great name that there was no nation where his name was not known. The name attracted so many blessings to his life that he became a great possessor of vast expanses of land and today, his seed are all over the world. God can make you a man or woman of great wealth and power. No matter how dry your ground may be at the moment; He can raise greatness out of it and make your little one become a thousand. The outpouring of God’s blessing upon your life can move you beyond the point of daily provision and mere survival, to the point in which you become the talk of nations because of how frightening your blessings have become. Peter who toiled all night and caught nothing became the talk of the town when he experienced a net-breaking blessing. I have always said that a day is coming and that season is here for a reader of this devotional, that when you take your money to the bank, the bank manager will order that the branch be shut down for three days to other customers just because they are attending to you.
For you to achieve this level of blessing, you need to understand that it will not come easy, but you need not be discouraged because God is ever faithful and He knows the path to take you through to get there. God is the fountain of all honour and it is from Him that promotion comes. What you are going through at the moment may not show that you are a candidate for this kind of blessing but you need to know that the plan and purpose of God for your life cannot be denied. Your faith and obedience will be tried. You need to be separated and set aside for God alone. Those who forsake their sins and turn to God will get blessings that they never bargained for. You have to take your mind off the mundane things of this world and step up into the higher ground of what God is prepared to do with your life.
Key Point: Until there is a departure from the little things, there will be no discovery of greater things.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Happy new month to all my esteemed readers
Happy new month to all my readers all over the world. I wish you all more joy and unlimited happinesss. This month will bring out good seeds in us.
Thanks to you for the support.
Thanks to you for the support.
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Open Heavens 31 July 2016: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Divine Backing
Topic: Divine Backing [Sunday 31, July 2016]
Memorise: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. – Joshua 1:5
Read: Joshua 1:1-7 (KJV)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 1:1-5:9, Psalms 23
MESSAGE:
Divine backing is the support you receive supernaturally from the Almighty God. Without divine backing, hardly can any man succeed in life. This is because demonic activities in the world are out to frustrate mankind. The Bible says:
“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” - Revelation 12:12
In the memory verse for today, God encouraged Joshua to take up the spiritual mandate of leading His people to the Promised Land. Joshua was assured of divine backing when the Lord said:
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” - Joshua 1:5
God repeatedly encouraged Joshua to be courageous. No wonder he did great exploits in the Name of the Lord. When David faced Goliath, it was divine backing that saw him through the fight against the experienced giant. In response to the giant’s curses, David said:
“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 Israel.” – 1 Samuel 17:46
David, prior to this time had been enjoying divine backing. It was this divine backing that enabled him to kill a lion and a bear that wanted to steal his father’s livestock. Beloved, you too will enjoy divine backing if you surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Even as a believer, for you to enjoy divine backing, particularly in the ministry, you need to be broken and live in obedience to the Word of God. Jesus said:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:16
Jesus chose you to win souls to His Kingdom and He promised to back you up by providing everything you request for. May the Lord give you supernatural support and the backing you need to succeed in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please support me in all I do in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. – Joshua 1:5
Read: Joshua 1:1-7 (KJV)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 1:1-5:9, Psalms 23
MESSAGE:
Divine backing is the support you receive supernaturally from the Almighty God. Without divine backing, hardly can any man succeed in life. This is because demonic activities in the world are out to frustrate mankind. The Bible says:
“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” - Revelation 12:12
In the memory verse for today, God encouraged Joshua to take up the spiritual mandate of leading His people to the Promised Land. Joshua was assured of divine backing when the Lord said:
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” - Joshua 1:5
God repeatedly encouraged Joshua to be courageous. No wonder he did great exploits in the Name of the Lord. When David faced Goliath, it was divine backing that saw him through the fight against the experienced giant. In response to the giant’s curses, David said:
“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 Israel.” – 1 Samuel 17:46
David, prior to this time had been enjoying divine backing. It was this divine backing that enabled him to kill a lion and a bear that wanted to steal his father’s livestock. Beloved, you too will enjoy divine backing if you surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Even as a believer, for you to enjoy divine backing, particularly in the ministry, you need to be broken and live in obedience to the Word of God. Jesus said:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:16
Jesus chose you to win souls to His Kingdom and He promised to back you up by providing everything you request for. May the Lord give you supernatural support and the backing you need to succeed in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please support me in all I do in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
#SaveMayowa Ahmed: The generosity and the good will of Nigerians and the rot in the system
Within three days, kind Nigerians had come together and donated 85 million Naira to a stage 4 cancer patient, Mayowa Ahmed.
I have never seen such benevolence before. This noble gesture exonerates Nigerians mostly portrayed negatively in the media abroad. It also shows that Nigerians both home and abroad, can set positive examples in all spheres of our society.
Unfortunately, most times, anything to do with huge amount of money ends up in a mess. I am not particularly going to express my opinion about the alleged scam involving the Ahmed family, but what concerns me is the rottenness exposed by this mess.
The campaign led by the "Alakada" actress Toyin Aimakhu with the trending hashtag #SaveMayowa exposed the level of decay in our country, which can be traced to poor governance in the past. Government of any country must ensure they put in place necessary infrastructures for its citizens; such as good hospitals, roads and transportation. The saga highlights the need for transparency not just for those in government but every citizen of our great nation. The APC led government is working tirelessly to achieve this.
Why are we unable to get definite answers from our doctors within the country and there is always the need to get second opinion abroad. In western countries like the United Kingdom, statistics shows that up to 5,000 doctors are Nigerians. These countries including the United States have many Nigerians occupying positions as top doctors, matrons, lawyers, teachers, politicians and are leading in their various fields.
Fighting corruption certainly does not end with the government alone, but citizens ought to be honest in their dealings. I pray for Mayowa Ahmed. God certainly still is in the business of healing people and will heal Mayowa totally. I just hope the funds are used for its sole purpose.
By Adenike Lucas
I have never seen such benevolence before. This noble gesture exonerates Nigerians mostly portrayed negatively in the media abroad. It also shows that Nigerians both home and abroad, can set positive examples in all spheres of our society.
Unfortunately, most times, anything to do with huge amount of money ends up in a mess. I am not particularly going to express my opinion about the alleged scam involving the Ahmed family, but what concerns me is the rottenness exposed by this mess.
The campaign led by the "Alakada" actress Toyin Aimakhu with the trending hashtag #SaveMayowa exposed the level of decay in our country, which can be traced to poor governance in the past. Government of any country must ensure they put in place necessary infrastructures for its citizens; such as good hospitals, roads and transportation. The saga highlights the need for transparency not just for those in government but every citizen of our great nation. The APC led government is working tirelessly to achieve this.
Why are we unable to get definite answers from our doctors within the country and there is always the need to get second opinion abroad. In western countries like the United Kingdom, statistics shows that up to 5,000 doctors are Nigerians. These countries including the United States have many Nigerians occupying positions as top doctors, matrons, lawyers, teachers, politicians and are leading in their various fields.
Fighting corruption certainly does not end with the government alone, but citizens ought to be honest in their dealings. I pray for Mayowa Ahmed. God certainly still is in the business of healing people and will heal Mayowa totally. I just hope the funds are used for its sole purpose.
By Adenike Lucas
Saturday, 30 July 2016
The Fajuyi Spirit - By Femi Fani-Kayode
On Friday 29th of July 2016, Femi Fani Kayode gave a master piece on Late Fajuyi. Read and enjoy
Fifty years ago today, on July 29th 1966, a man by the name of Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi gave his life in defence of our country and the then Head of State, General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi. His killers were a group of northern army officers who participated in the so-called northern "revenge coup" of July 29th 1966. No less than 300 Igbo army officers were slaughtered that night together with a handful of yoruba soldiers, including Fajuyi.
Major General Fajuyi was a yoruba man who opted to die in defence of an igbo Head of State. This was not only honorable and courageous but it was also unique and unprecedented. He was a selfless hero and a man that we shall honor and immortalise in the new Nigeria that is to come.
Those that murdered him, General Aguiyi-Ironsi and the famous 300 in cold blood that night are still running the affairs of our country till today. They determine who is who and who gets what. They decide who our President will be and how long he will remain in power. As a matter of fact their hateful hegemony and evil intentions are even more pronounced and frightful today than they were in 1966 and their grip on the levers of power in our country is even stronger.
Today they are fully in charge and some of those that actually shot Fajuyi are fully behind them. Yet despite their intention to dominate, silence, break and destroy the rest of us one thing remains clear: the Fajuyi spirit of courage, unity, selflesness and sacrifice has been imbued by millions in the southern and Middle Belt regions of our country.
These are men and women that are prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed of our nation, whether they be Niger Deltans, Igbos, Yorubas? Middle Belters or anything else. These are men and women that are prepared to resist the perfidious religious and ethnic agenda of the "born to rule" in our midst and that recognise the fact that they regard the rest of us as nothing but slaves. When it comes to southern rights and interests we the Yoruba particularly must learn a lesson from our own son Fajuyi and emulate his example.
Like him, if necessary, we must be ready to sacrifice our lives and liberty in defence of any or all of our southern and Middle Belt bretheren that are facing persecution, genocide and injustice at the hands of our collective slave masters. It is also time for us to appreciate the fact that if we truly want to be free we must extend our hand of friendship across the River Niger to the Igbo and we must see their bitter travails as being ours as well.
We must also feel the pain when an Igbo or Niger-Deltan youth is slaughtered by President Buhari's army in the name of "crushing all opposition and dissent" and "keeping Nigeria one". We must also feel the pain when an Igbo or Niger-Deltan youth is slaughtered by President Buhari's army in the name of "crushing all opposition and dissent" and "keeping Nigeria one".
We must acknowledge the fact that Nigeria cannot remain one as long as there is ethnic and religious bigotry, oppression and injustice. We must appreciate the fact that there can never be southern, or indeed Middle Belt, emancipation without southern unity. Fajuyi understood that point 50 years ago. Consequently he opted to resist the evil in the and and die for it. He was indeed a true martyr. He paid the supreme price for his fellow southerner and he stood against northern adventurism, oppression, domination and hegemony. 50 years later it is time for the rest of us to do the same.
It is time for us to acknowledge and honor his sacrifice and come together as one. It is time for us to stand up, look at our collective oppressors in the eye and say "no more". No longer should we bow our heads in submission, servility and shame. It is time for us to rise up, invoke the power of the Living God and be men. May the gallant and beautiful soul of Major General Fajuyi continue to rest in eternal peace and may those that murdered him 50 years ago be brought to justice.
Fifty years ago today, on July 29th 1966, a man by the name of Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi gave his life in defence of our country and the then Head of State, General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi. His killers were a group of northern army officers who participated in the so-called northern "revenge coup" of July 29th 1966. No less than 300 Igbo army officers were slaughtered that night together with a handful of yoruba soldiers, including Fajuyi.
Major General Fajuyi was a yoruba man who opted to die in defence of an igbo Head of State. This was not only honorable and courageous but it was also unique and unprecedented. He was a selfless hero and a man that we shall honor and immortalise in the new Nigeria that is to come.
Those that murdered him, General Aguiyi-Ironsi and the famous 300 in cold blood that night are still running the affairs of our country till today. They determine who is who and who gets what. They decide who our President will be and how long he will remain in power. As a matter of fact their hateful hegemony and evil intentions are even more pronounced and frightful today than they were in 1966 and their grip on the levers of power in our country is even stronger.
Today they are fully in charge and some of those that actually shot Fajuyi are fully behind them. Yet despite their intention to dominate, silence, break and destroy the rest of us one thing remains clear: the Fajuyi spirit of courage, unity, selflesness and sacrifice has been imbued by millions in the southern and Middle Belt regions of our country.
These are men and women that are prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed of our nation, whether they be Niger Deltans, Igbos, Yorubas? Middle Belters or anything else. These are men and women that are prepared to resist the perfidious religious and ethnic agenda of the "born to rule" in our midst and that recognise the fact that they regard the rest of us as nothing but slaves. When it comes to southern rights and interests we the Yoruba particularly must learn a lesson from our own son Fajuyi and emulate his example.
Like him, if necessary, we must be ready to sacrifice our lives and liberty in defence of any or all of our southern and Middle Belt bretheren that are facing persecution, genocide and injustice at the hands of our collective slave masters. It is also time for us to appreciate the fact that if we truly want to be free we must extend our hand of friendship across the River Niger to the Igbo and we must see their bitter travails as being ours as well.
We must also feel the pain when an Igbo or Niger-Deltan youth is slaughtered by President Buhari's army in the name of "crushing all opposition and dissent" and "keeping Nigeria one". We must also feel the pain when an Igbo or Niger-Deltan youth is slaughtered by President Buhari's army in the name of "crushing all opposition and dissent" and "keeping Nigeria one".
We must acknowledge the fact that Nigeria cannot remain one as long as there is ethnic and religious bigotry, oppression and injustice. We must appreciate the fact that there can never be southern, or indeed Middle Belt, emancipation without southern unity. Fajuyi understood that point 50 years ago. Consequently he opted to resist the evil in the and and die for it. He was indeed a true martyr. He paid the supreme price for his fellow southerner and he stood against northern adventurism, oppression, domination and hegemony. 50 years later it is time for the rest of us to do the same.
It is time for us to acknowledge and honor his sacrifice and come together as one. It is time for us to stand up, look at our collective oppressors in the eye and say "no more". No longer should we bow our heads in submission, servility and shame. It is time for us to rise up, invoke the power of the Living God and be men. May the gallant and beautiful soul of Major General Fajuyi continue to rest in eternal peace and may those that murdered him 50 years ago be brought to justice.
Open Heavens 30 July 2016: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Child of Destiny
Topic: Child of Destiny [Saturday 30, July 2016]
Memorise: And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee. – Jeremiah 1:19
Read: Jeremiah 1:4-8 (KJV)
4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Bible in One Year: Titus 1-3 – Philemon 1, Psalms 22:22-31
MESSAGE:
According to Psalms 115:3, destiny has its origin in the sovereignty of God. It is also the plan that God had for you before creating you. It is what God says about your future. In other words, God had a purpose for your life, long before you were born. Joseph was a typical child of destiny. His brothers fought aggressively against his destiny. One good thing about destiny is that, your destiny, being the counsel of God for you, shall stand forever (Genesis 37:18-28). Joseph started his life experiences with the first and second dreams which set him at variance with his brothers and parents. The fulfilment of his destiny took him through Portiphar’s house, the prison and eventually the palace of the Egyptians.
In the text for today, the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah announcing his destiny to him. Jeremiah had been separated right from his mother’s womb to be a prophet. At times, we behave foolishly by arguing with God on why He called us; a call that is the reason for which we were born. More often than not, God’s plan for mankind does not appeal to the rational man, though it is the best for us.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” - Jeremiah 29:11
It is very important for us to embrace the truth in the above scripture. When we do, we shall not be guilty of spiritual insubordination. Jeremiah ignorantly argued:
“Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” - Jeremiah 1:6
God called Moses to go and perform a task in Egypt but he was giving excuses of not being an eloquent speaker. Beloved, I want you to get something settled in your mind today; God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called so that He can take full glory for the success of the called.
The Lord said to Jeremiah;
“Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” - Jeremiah 1:7
The Lord further encouraged him not to be afraid of the faces of those He was sending him to. This is a lesson for those of us who are too scared to deliver God’s message in our places of work, school, community etc. The Spirit of God will always give us something of eternal value to tell His people. God has destined you to be unique; it is left for you to allow Him to fulfil His purpose for your life. May the Lord fulfil your destiny gloriously in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to fulfil my destiny in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee. – Jeremiah 1:19
Read: Jeremiah 1:4-8 (KJV)
4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Bible in One Year: Titus 1-3 – Philemon 1, Psalms 22:22-31
MESSAGE:
According to Psalms 115:3, destiny has its origin in the sovereignty of God. It is also the plan that God had for you before creating you. It is what God says about your future. In other words, God had a purpose for your life, long before you were born. Joseph was a typical child of destiny. His brothers fought aggressively against his destiny. One good thing about destiny is that, your destiny, being the counsel of God for you, shall stand forever (Genesis 37:18-28). Joseph started his life experiences with the first and second dreams which set him at variance with his brothers and parents. The fulfilment of his destiny took him through Portiphar’s house, the prison and eventually the palace of the Egyptians.
In the text for today, the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah announcing his destiny to him. Jeremiah had been separated right from his mother’s womb to be a prophet. At times, we behave foolishly by arguing with God on why He called us; a call that is the reason for which we were born. More often than not, God’s plan for mankind does not appeal to the rational man, though it is the best for us.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” - Jeremiah 29:11
It is very important for us to embrace the truth in the above scripture. When we do, we shall not be guilty of spiritual insubordination. Jeremiah ignorantly argued:
“Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” - Jeremiah 1:6
God called Moses to go and perform a task in Egypt but he was giving excuses of not being an eloquent speaker. Beloved, I want you to get something settled in your mind today; God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called so that He can take full glory for the success of the called.
The Lord said to Jeremiah;
“Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” - Jeremiah 1:7
The Lord further encouraged him not to be afraid of the faces of those He was sending him to. This is a lesson for those of us who are too scared to deliver God’s message in our places of work, school, community etc. The Spirit of God will always give us something of eternal value to tell His people. God has destined you to be unique; it is left for you to allow Him to fulfil His purpose for your life. May the Lord fulfil your destiny gloriously in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to fulfil my destiny in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Friday, 29 July 2016
Open Heavens 29 July 2016: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Just do it Right
Topic: Just do it Right [Friday 29, July 2016]
Memorise: And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. – 2 Corinthians 10:6
Read: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 (KJV)
16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Bible in One Year: 2 Timothy 1-4, Psalms 22:1-21
MESSAGE:
A good number of people confuse service of God’s approval or acceptance. It will be profitable for people, particularly children of God, to understand that it is one thing to engage in the service of God and it is another thing for God to accept your service. The simple message for today is – “just do it right, and God will accept you and your service”. The Bible says:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” - Romans 12:1
In our Bible reading today, we read of the first king in Israel who put sacrifice over and above being obedient to God and His Word. God told king Saul to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites and everything they possessed; from the king to the least of the beasts. However, Saul went, fought and won the battle, but failed to carry out God’s instruction to the letter. When he was cross-examined by Prophet Samuel, he had the effrontery to tell Samuel that he had done what God asked him to do, except the spoil of sheep and oxen which he took to use as sacrifice to the Lord. This unfortunately cost him his throne. Samuel said:
“…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” -1 Samuel 15:22
There is a great lesson we should learn from the story of king Saul and the assignment he was given to fight the Amalekites. Some people seem to be more spiritual than the Holy Spirit when you consider the way they claim to know everything about the ways of God. It is not unlikely that king Saul felt it would be a waste of resources by totally destroying the material resources in Amalek. It is also not unlikely that he felt it will be an act of wickedness on the part of God to have asked him to kill the king, Agag. Beloved, there are many types of Amalekites and king Agags that God will want us to get rid of in our life. The Bible lists some things that we must do away with in Galatians 5:14-21
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21
Some so-called workers in the Church are still harbouring these things that we are to get rid of, yet they are ‘zealously’ working for God. It is unfortunate that their labour attracts no reward. Jesus said that on that day, they will come and say:
“26 We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” - Luke 13:26-27
May this not be your portion in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to be obedient, and begin to do the right thing in your sight from now onward.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. – 2 Corinthians 10:6
Read: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 (KJV)
16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Bible in One Year: 2 Timothy 1-4, Psalms 22:1-21
MESSAGE:
A good number of people confuse service of God’s approval or acceptance. It will be profitable for people, particularly children of God, to understand that it is one thing to engage in the service of God and it is another thing for God to accept your service. The simple message for today is – “just do it right, and God will accept you and your service”. The Bible says:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” - Romans 12:1
In our Bible reading today, we read of the first king in Israel who put sacrifice over and above being obedient to God and His Word. God told king Saul to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites and everything they possessed; from the king to the least of the beasts. However, Saul went, fought and won the battle, but failed to carry out God’s instruction to the letter. When he was cross-examined by Prophet Samuel, he had the effrontery to tell Samuel that he had done what God asked him to do, except the spoil of sheep and oxen which he took to use as sacrifice to the Lord. This unfortunately cost him his throne. Samuel said:
“…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” -1 Samuel 15:22
There is a great lesson we should learn from the story of king Saul and the assignment he was given to fight the Amalekites. Some people seem to be more spiritual than the Holy Spirit when you consider the way they claim to know everything about the ways of God. It is not unlikely that king Saul felt it would be a waste of resources by totally destroying the material resources in Amalek. It is also not unlikely that he felt it will be an act of wickedness on the part of God to have asked him to kill the king, Agag. Beloved, there are many types of Amalekites and king Agags that God will want us to get rid of in our life. The Bible lists some things that we must do away with in Galatians 5:14-21
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21
Some so-called workers in the Church are still harbouring these things that we are to get rid of, yet they are ‘zealously’ working for God. It is unfortunate that their labour attracts no reward. Jesus said that on that day, they will come and say:
“26 We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” - Luke 13:26-27
May this not be your portion in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to be obedient, and begin to do the right thing in your sight from now onward.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Thursday, 28 July 2016
Updates on #SaveMayowa alleged scam by the family members in raising funds
According to feelers most especially LIB who first gave the information on what happened. Take time to read details
So a few hours ago, LIB reported that people involved in raising money for cancer patient, Mayowa Ahmed, reached out to us to say that they discovered that the whole fundraising for the sick lady was a scam. I've been in touch with quite a few people, and they insist the family knew Mayowa was beyond help but still went ahead to raise money for her. Mayowa's family have released a statement insisting it's no scam and that they are truly taking her abroad for medical treatment. (Now, it's supposedly tomorrow).
In their new statement this afternoon, they said they are taking her to a hospital in Abu Dhabi but when they started raising money for her, they said they wanted to take her to Emory hospital, Atlanta, who had given them a quote of $100k. You will find the letter from Emory Hospital after
click here to read more
http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/07/update-on-savemayowa-saga-family.html?m=1
So a few hours ago, LIB reported that people involved in raising money for cancer patient, Mayowa Ahmed, reached out to us to say that they discovered that the whole fundraising for the sick lady was a scam. I've been in touch with quite a few people, and they insist the family knew Mayowa was beyond help but still went ahead to raise money for her. Mayowa's family have released a statement insisting it's no scam and that they are truly taking her abroad for medical treatment. (Now, it's supposedly tomorrow).
In their new statement this afternoon, they said they are taking her to a hospital in Abu Dhabi but when they started raising money for her, they said they wanted to take her to Emory hospital, Atlanta, who had given them a quote of $100k. You will find the letter from Emory Hospital after
click here to read more
http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/07/update-on-savemayowa-saga-family.html?m=1
Governor Mimiko appoints Obanoyen Abiola S. Adidas SA on Special duties
Good news! The development of every mind with clear cut approach to life and humility is the opium of reality. According to source from Rufus Giwa Alumni admin officer who announced the news, This is the reason why accolades and good wishes keeps pouring in for a brother and wonderful sound personality in person of Obanoyen Abiola S. Adidas, who was recently appointed as Special adviser on special duties to Ondo State Governor Mimiko. He was a former S.U.G President of great citadel of learning Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, and went to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko for further studies. He is eloquent and vibrant. He is a voice for concerned Nigeria youths most especially in Ondo state. An astute politician who have carved a niche for himself. The Rufus Alumni Group did not left any stone unturned by been the first to congratulate him on this important appointment. This is what they say through the Admin officer of the group in person of Adebayo a.k.a Unusual: Our congratulation goes to a friend, brother, colleague, fellow comrade, combatant and articulate fellow Obanoyen Abiola aka Adidas on your new appointment as the SA on special duty to the Ondo State Governor, Gov mimiko of Ondo State. This is just the beginning of the dream we share, the vision we defined, the motion we run. You are Unusually blessed. Other great members of the group wished him congratulations. Once again, congratulations to OBANOYEN ABIOLA a.k.a St. ADIDAS
By Adefemi Lokko
By Adefemi Lokko
Amaechi – Wike made peace in River state
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said on Wednesday he attended the peace meeting organised by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, because of his commitment to peace and development of the state.
The IGP had on Tuesday in Abuja organised a peace meeting between Wike and the former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi is the current Minister of Transportation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had announced the postponement of the legislative rerun in the state earlier slated for Saturday following the burning of its office in Khana LGA.
Wike told PDP supporters at the Rivers West Senatorial District rally in Degema LGA that his administration would implement the resolutions of the peace meeting.
Wike said the people must be allowed to elect representatives of their choice into the State and National Assemblies.
“I was at the peace meeting because we love peace and want the state to move forward. I signed an undertaking on your behalf that we are prepared for INEC credible, free and fair elections.
“It is not in our position to have crisis because we are the ones losing,” the governor added
He pledged that the state government would partner with security agencies to ensure that peaceful elections were held in the state, adding that anybody who wanted the state to be set ablaze would be disappointed.
Wike expressed regret that some politicians were celebrating that the elections were postponed.
He pointed out that his commitment that Rivers State should have representatives at the National Assembly was because the people of the state had been shut out on the deliberation of the Petroleum Industry Bill and other legislation.
The governor, however, called on the PDP members to remain vigilant while expecting the rerun elections.
According to him, Nigerians know, the world knows that Rivers State is the PDP. So shall it be forever.
He pledged to ensure that development would spread across all local government areas of the state, adding that with the successes achieved in just one year, the remaining three years would witness more development.
Earlier, Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the massive turnout at the rally was an indication that the people would always vote the PDP candidates.
The peace meeting was brokered by the Police and the Department of State Services for the peaceful conduct of the rerun elections in Rivers State.
Flatimes
The IGP had on Tuesday in Abuja organised a peace meeting between Wike and the former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi is the current Minister of Transportation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had announced the postponement of the legislative rerun in the state earlier slated for Saturday following the burning of its office in Khana LGA.
Wike told PDP supporters at the Rivers West Senatorial District rally in Degema LGA that his administration would implement the resolutions of the peace meeting.
Wike said the people must be allowed to elect representatives of their choice into the State and National Assemblies.
“I was at the peace meeting because we love peace and want the state to move forward. I signed an undertaking on your behalf that we are prepared for INEC credible, free and fair elections.
“It is not in our position to have crisis because we are the ones losing,” the governor added
He pledged that the state government would partner with security agencies to ensure that peaceful elections were held in the state, adding that anybody who wanted the state to be set ablaze would be disappointed.
Wike expressed regret that some politicians were celebrating that the elections were postponed.
He pointed out that his commitment that Rivers State should have representatives at the National Assembly was because the people of the state had been shut out on the deliberation of the Petroleum Industry Bill and other legislation.
The governor, however, called on the PDP members to remain vigilant while expecting the rerun elections.
According to him, Nigerians know, the world knows that Rivers State is the PDP. So shall it be forever.
He pledged to ensure that development would spread across all local government areas of the state, adding that with the successes achieved in just one year, the remaining three years would witness more development.
Earlier, Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the massive turnout at the rally was an indication that the people would always vote the PDP candidates.
The peace meeting was brokered by the Police and the Department of State Services for the peaceful conduct of the rerun elections in Rivers State.
Flatimes
Open Heavens 28 July 2016: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Thou shalt Not Covet
Topic: Thou shalt Not Covet [Thursday 28, July 2016]
Memorise: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; – Ephesians 5:3
Read: Ephesians 5:3-7 (KJV)
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Bible in One Year: 1 Timothy 1-6, Psalms 21
MESSAGE:
Today, we will examine one of the Ten Commandments; covetousness. The sin of covetousness is a cluster of many sins that sets man against his Maker. Upon the sin of covetousness hangs many other sins like stealing, sexual immorality and murder, hence the law:
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” - Exodus 20:17
David, a God-fearing soldier, king and prophet fell because of covetousness. He coveted Bathsheba, his soldier’s wife; and went from one form of sin to another. Covetousness led him to adultery and adultery led him to a murderous act. When someone is caught in the sin of covetousness in the area of alcohol, he gets drunk and what next? Foolish talking and jesting that are not convenient become inevitable. The Bible says:
“31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.” - Proverbs 23:31-33
Coveting your neighbour’s possession can lead to murder. The reason for this is that when someone covets his neighbour’s estate, and is unable to get it, he may resolve to kill the rightful owner to have it. This was the case in Ahab and Naboth’s story (1 Kings 21:1-16). Ahab organised a feast where Naboth should be framed up and killed by the scheme of his wife, Jezebel. Immediately the plan was hatched, the Lord sent His prophet to go and deliver His judgement upon Ahab. It was a judgement of vengeance.
“…Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” – 1 Kings 21:19
Beloved, let us beware of the sin of covetousness as Jesus warned in Luke 12:15-20. The man in that story was boasting about what he possessed but that same night God required his soul from him. Our Lord then asked who those things he had acquired shall be for. Think about it and you will discover that covetousness is not worth it after all.
Action Point: Think of those things that entice you to acts of covetousness, pray and avoid being possessed by them.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; – Ephesians 5:3
Read: Ephesians 5:3-7 (KJV)
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Bible in One Year: 1 Timothy 1-6, Psalms 21
MESSAGE:
Today, we will examine one of the Ten Commandments; covetousness. The sin of covetousness is a cluster of many sins that sets man against his Maker. Upon the sin of covetousness hangs many other sins like stealing, sexual immorality and murder, hence the law:
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” - Exodus 20:17
David, a God-fearing soldier, king and prophet fell because of covetousness. He coveted Bathsheba, his soldier’s wife; and went from one form of sin to another. Covetousness led him to adultery and adultery led him to a murderous act. When someone is caught in the sin of covetousness in the area of alcohol, he gets drunk and what next? Foolish talking and jesting that are not convenient become inevitable. The Bible says:
“31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.” - Proverbs 23:31-33
Coveting your neighbour’s possession can lead to murder. The reason for this is that when someone covets his neighbour’s estate, and is unable to get it, he may resolve to kill the rightful owner to have it. This was the case in Ahab and Naboth’s story (1 Kings 21:1-16). Ahab organised a feast where Naboth should be framed up and killed by the scheme of his wife, Jezebel. Immediately the plan was hatched, the Lord sent His prophet to go and deliver His judgement upon Ahab. It was a judgement of vengeance.
“…Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” – 1 Kings 21:19
Beloved, let us beware of the sin of covetousness as Jesus warned in Luke 12:15-20. The man in that story was boasting about what he possessed but that same night God required his soul from him. Our Lord then asked who those things he had acquired shall be for. Think about it and you will discover that covetousness is not worth it after all.
Action Point: Think of those things that entice you to acts of covetousness, pray and avoid being possessed by them.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Open Heavens 27 July 2016: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Assurance of Breakthrough
Topic: Assurance of Breakthrough [Wednesday 27, July 2016]
Memorise: Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. – Job 22:28
Read: 1 Samuel 30:6-8 (KJV)
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
Bible in One Year: 1 Thessalonians 5-2 Thessalonians 3, Psalms 20
MESSAGE:
Breakthroughs are of the Lord. The earlier the children of God understand this fact, the better for them. People look around for breakthroughs as if their power will bring it to pass. It is pardonable for unbelievers but it is not acceptable to professed children of God who know what the scripture says about breakthroughs.
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Zechariah 4:6
This is one of the reasons why we know that our tomorrow shall be alright. I discovered this a long time ago and the words “my tomorrow shall be alright” became our anthem in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Not because I know how to go about things, but because I discovered that the breakthrough of a man has already been established before his creation. For example, it was not man that forced light to come, neither was it man that created the animal kingdom over which he was made king. Why should I worry about how God will bring about my breakthrough? My breakthrough is settled in Christ.
Divine guidance is the secret of breaking through obstacles and challenges of life. In our Bible reading for today, we read about the secret of the victory David had at the raid of Ziglag. After David had wept for his loss, he gathered himself together and asked God if pursuing the troops that invaded him would be a profitable one. To receive unfailing breakthrough, asking God for divine guidance is inevitable.
Moreover, a prayer of decree can guarantee assurance of breakthrough according to today’s Memory verse:
“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” - Job 22:28
Our Lord Jesus Christ assured us of breakthroughs against all obstacles that the enemies may try to bring our way:
“...Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” - Matthew 21:21
Beloved, the Almighty God is the Source of all human breakthroughs. Therefore, bring yourself to the favour of your Maker today and you will experience the breakthrough of your dreams.
Prayer Point: Father, please remove all obstacles in my way to breakthrough and cause me to excel in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. – Job 22:28
Read: 1 Samuel 30:6-8 (KJV)
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
Bible in One Year: 1 Thessalonians 5-2 Thessalonians 3, Psalms 20
MESSAGE:
Breakthroughs are of the Lord. The earlier the children of God understand this fact, the better for them. People look around for breakthroughs as if their power will bring it to pass. It is pardonable for unbelievers but it is not acceptable to professed children of God who know what the scripture says about breakthroughs.
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Zechariah 4:6
This is one of the reasons why we know that our tomorrow shall be alright. I discovered this a long time ago and the words “my tomorrow shall be alright” became our anthem in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Not because I know how to go about things, but because I discovered that the breakthrough of a man has already been established before his creation. For example, it was not man that forced light to come, neither was it man that created the animal kingdom over which he was made king. Why should I worry about how God will bring about my breakthrough? My breakthrough is settled in Christ.
Divine guidance is the secret of breaking through obstacles and challenges of life. In our Bible reading for today, we read about the secret of the victory David had at the raid of Ziglag. After David had wept for his loss, he gathered himself together and asked God if pursuing the troops that invaded him would be a profitable one. To receive unfailing breakthrough, asking God for divine guidance is inevitable.
Moreover, a prayer of decree can guarantee assurance of breakthrough according to today’s Memory verse:
“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” - Job 22:28
Our Lord Jesus Christ assured us of breakthroughs against all obstacles that the enemies may try to bring our way:
“...Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” - Matthew 21:21
Beloved, the Almighty God is the Source of all human breakthroughs. Therefore, bring yourself to the favour of your Maker today and you will experience the breakthrough of your dreams.
Prayer Point: Father, please remove all obstacles in my way to breakthrough and cause me to excel in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Open Heavens 26 July 2016: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Cleanliness is Practical Godliness
Topic: Cleanliness is Practical Godliness [Tuesday 26, July 2016]
Memorise: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. – Isaiah 52:11
Read: Numbers 8:5-7 (KJV)
5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
Bible in One Year: 1 Thessalonians 1-4, Psalms 19:7-14
MESSAGE:
One truth a child of God must embrace is that cleanliness is godliness in practical terms. God pays attention to personal hygiene as much as He pays attention to the spiritual purity of His people. In the book of Leviticus 14:43-45, we read:
“43 And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered; 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.”
In our Bible reading for today, we read about how God instructed Moses to take the Levites from among the congregation and cleanse them. There are many lessons we must learn from this passage. Why were the Levites singled out for cleansing? It is because they were special to God; they were to be Yahweh’s representatives among God’s people.
“But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.” - Numbers 1:50
The Levites, being vessels of honour, were required to be cleansed to function as priests unto God. As such, children of God must be clean in and out because it required of us to be physically and spiritually clean.
“And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.” - Numbers 8:7
It is unfortunate to see that some children of God are not taking seriously the basic hygiene that can enhance their divine health. Some actually believe in divine healing, but do not live in clean environments, nor eat good food. Good food does not cost much. As a matter of fact, it is dangerous delicacies that are costly. So, in order to enjoy divine health, we must live clean lives. May the Almighty God grant us the ability to live clean lives in Jesus’ name.
Action Point: Take care of your personal hygiene and observe basic health instructions in your home.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. – Isaiah 52:11
Read: Numbers 8:5-7 (KJV)
5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
Bible in One Year: 1 Thessalonians 1-4, Psalms 19:7-14
MESSAGE:
One truth a child of God must embrace is that cleanliness is godliness in practical terms. God pays attention to personal hygiene as much as He pays attention to the spiritual purity of His people. In the book of Leviticus 14:43-45, we read:
“43 And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered; 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.”
In our Bible reading for today, we read about how God instructed Moses to take the Levites from among the congregation and cleanse them. There are many lessons we must learn from this passage. Why were the Levites singled out for cleansing? It is because they were special to God; they were to be Yahweh’s representatives among God’s people.
“But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.” - Numbers 1:50
The Levites, being vessels of honour, were required to be cleansed to function as priests unto God. As such, children of God must be clean in and out because it required of us to be physically and spiritually clean.
“And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.” - Numbers 8:7
It is unfortunate to see that some children of God are not taking seriously the basic hygiene that can enhance their divine health. Some actually believe in divine healing, but do not live in clean environments, nor eat good food. Good food does not cost much. As a matter of fact, it is dangerous delicacies that are costly. So, in order to enjoy divine health, we must live clean lives. May the Almighty God grant us the ability to live clean lives in Jesus’ name.
Action Point: Take care of your personal hygiene and observe basic health instructions in your home.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Monday, 25 July 2016
Sacked Chairman of House of Reps appropriation committee releases more details on budget padding
The last has certainly not been heard in the ongoing fight between sacked chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abulmumin Jibrin and the leadership of the House.
In a statement he released last night, Jibrin gave a detailed account of how speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and some other principal officers of the House of Representatives allegedly hijacked the budget consideration process so as to pad it. In this statement, Jibrin alleged that Dogara an the house leadership had resorted to using some elements of the Nigeria police to kidnap, harass, blackmail and intimidate him into silence. Read his statement below...
MY ALLEGATIONS ARE AGAINST THE QUARTET OF SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA, DEPUTY SPEAKER YUSUF LASUN, HOUSE WHIP ALHASSAN DOGUWA AND MINORITY LEADER LEO OGOR NOT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS AN INSTITUTION AS MR SPEAKER DESPERATELY WANTS HONOURABLE MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BELIEVE.
I am compelled again for the purpose of emphasis to state categorically clear that my allegations are against the quartet of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, House Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor not the Honourable House as an institution nor other members of the body of principal officers. The other members of the body of principal officers were to the best of my knowledge completely excluded from decisions on the 2016 budget and the budget inputs inserted on their names were exclusively carried out by these QUARTET.
I have to state this very clearly because these QUARTET have resorted to desperate moves to drag the entire House of Representatives into the case of gross abuse of office I have levelled against them as individual Presiding and Principal officers of the House. This is clearly a mischievous move to set me on collision with the entire house. They have also recruited four from the VERY FEW members of their cabal to use some elements of the Nigeria police to kidnap, harass, blackmail and intimidate me into silence.
Until yesterday, the police were laying siege by my house blocking the entrance and exit shouting that they want budget documents. They embarrassed my entire family with a nursing mother and a seven-month old baby that cried all night. The game plan was to arrest me and dump me in police net while a heavy media propaganda will be carried out to mislead the world that I have been sacked and police have picked me up as a culprit in 2016 budget. Whenever I am released, an irreparable damage would have been done to my person and that will stick for life.
As God Almighty will have it, I had travelled out of town before they could execute their evil plan. God is always with the innocent. The members in the thick of this plot are Hon Jagaba Adams, Hon Jika both chairmen interior and police affairs respectively, Hon Muhammed Bago, Hon Muhammed Zakari and the last one I need not to introduce him to Nigerians, you know him better and know what he is best remembered for. He is the one who threatened my life and the police are yet to take a single action on him. He is now the Leader of the Dogara cabal. He calls the shots in the House. He makes all the decisions of Mr Speaker. He talks down on members and gets away with it. He has SUDDENLY began living such an expensive life style. Lately, a former influential principal officer of the House complained bitterly that it is only Dogara that will hand such a committee to a person like Hon Herma Hembe of this world, chairman FCT. They have been running from pillar to post looking for evidence in their wild dream to nail me. I made a huge sacrifice to leave, shouldn’t they just leave me alone?
I therefore urge my Hon. colleagues and the general public to call on Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the 3 other principal officers to stop their desperate attempt to drag the entire House of Representatives into this matter. They should also stop using the House Spokesman Hon Namdas to issue statements in respect to these allegations because it is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public into believing that they have the backing of the entire House on this matter. They should come out and defend themselves and prepare for the investigation that will be instituted by the House on this matter. At least the Minority Leader and Whip have attempted some response which are at best lame! The House of Representatives as an institution must live above board and will continue to survive beyond people who abuse public trust like Mr. Speaker and his 3 cohorts.
Let me make further revelations in addition to the ones I have already made which are in public glare.
ONE: During the budget period, when they discovered that I was not the kind of a person they could use to perpetrate their illegality, Mr. Speaker and the 3 other principal officers took away the entire Appropriation Committee Secretariat to a secret location where all sort of insertions were made into the budget. The blackmail has always been – “Abdul people will laugh at you if anything goes wrong between you and Dogara because of the lead role you played and the many toes you stepped on to get him elected”. It’s been a painful experience.
Again the secretariat was taken away from me on Speaker Dogara’s instruction for the second time to a location I don’t know and all sort of insertions into the budgets were made and returned to me for signature. I said over my dead body! It was a massive crisis behind the scene until the early morning of the Friday that Mr President assented the budget. It was Sen Danjuma Goje that brokered a compromise that since the Deputy Speaker leads the harmonization committee, he should also sign such that the harmonization committee will share responsibility with us. Senator Goje pleaded with me so hard all night and later shouted heavily on me reminding me that he is not talking to me as a Senator but as a father. I cried heavily all night.
TWO: When the budget harmonization committee headed by Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun gave out 80% concession across board to the executive demands during the harmonization negotiation, it was agreed that the remaining 20% should go to the entire NASS. The Deputy Speaker excused himself that he wanted to go and consult with Mr Speaker. He came back after few hours and in an unprecedented display of greed presented to me a hand written note distributing the remaining 20% to only principal officers. 70% of the 20% was reserved for Mr Speaker and himself while the remaining 30% of the 20% goes to other principal officers. I am sure he will recognize the hand writing when he sees it. My colleagues didn’t know all of these.
THREE: Mr. Speaker also directed me to create what I advised him will be a controversial line item under service wide vote to introduce about N20 billion project using the name of NASS. He directed me to see a highly placed PDP politician which I did and collected the documents. I advised him repeatedly against it but he kept pressuring me until I bluntly told him I will not!
FOUR: When the Appropriation Committee received all the budget reports from standing committees, an analysis was conducted. We discovered that about 10 only out of the 96 Standing Committees of the House introduced about 2,000 (two thousand) projects without the knowledge of their committee members amounting to about N284, 000, 000, 000 (Two hundred and eighty-four billion naira). I was alarmed. But I was cautious because at our pre-budget meeting with the committee chairmen, I was clearly warned not to touch their budgets. I reported the matter to the speaker. He did nothing about it obviously because he was working behind the scene with the committee chairmen. That was the beginning of the whole budget problem from the side of House and the whole exercise had to go through several versions before it was passed.
So, is it Abdul that introduced 2000 projects into budget worth N284 billion? But I quietly bore the pain and abuses from all over the country and continued to defend the committee inputs as a show of loyalty to the institution I represent which I so much love and still have many great minds in there. Apart from Chairman Agriculture Hon Mongunu who owned up and explained his inputs at the only executive session I was allowed to attend, the other few chairmen who loaded the budget kept quiet and watched me bashed from every angle by angry Nigerians.
People have asked why did I wait this long to open up, so much was happening behind the scene. I fought the battle of my life to raise these issues internally and get Mr. Speaker to address them to no avail. I pushed so hard that I got frustrated and depressed. All my attempts met brick walls. That was why some members were always raising their voice against me because they do not have the facts. I later on realized that the Speaker enjoyed that so much and colluded with his cabal to dump everything on me. I am sure not too long some members that knew what I went through will come out and testify. I also have evidence to show my internal struggles.
In any case, under circumstances like this, and for young people like us that are lucky to have accelerated career growth, the system scares you from becoming a whistle blower. They will tell you that if you do such, nobody will trust you or have confidence in you again. They will scare you that it is not good for your image and it will affect your career progression. Many young people in different sectors are faced with such frustrating situation. Even at the moment, if I take the advice of some people, I will get deeply scared and just keep quiet, so that I can grow career wise? My usual response to them is that, isn’t that selfish? Your only luck will be if a trigger occurs then you open up. This is one such trigger! In any case, I would have opened up anyway. I have written so much about these issues and more on NASS. I posted over a month ago on my Facebook page that I will release the piece as part of my 40th birthday in September. Well, I never knew it will come much earlier.
Some people are also saying I kept quiet while it was good and now I am talking because things have gone sour. Many members of the House and Nigerians will be shocked to know that there has NEVER been good times between myself and Speaker Dogara. It took few weeks after his election as Speaker for me to realize I never really knew him well. I was hasty to judge him by his innocent looking personality. We practically disagree on everything. From when he started conducting himself like a lord, wanting everybody around him to just say yes sir and go, shutting and looking down at his colleagues, playing double game between the executive and legislature, drafting of a new house rule, senseless splitting of committees which raised the numbers of committees to 96, appointment of committee chairmen, Chairmanship of NILS, issues of bills and allotment of sponsors, chairmanship of budget consultative committee, budget process and house inputs, the PIB, his divide and rule approach, his frequent dealings with heads of MDA’s as if he is a committee chairman and so many other issues. In all of these issues, there is none that has not remained controversial till date.
All these forced me to stay away from him except on official assignment. I can count how (many)times I have been to his office or home. I stayed away completely. It was such a frustrating and depressing period for me. Who will I complain to? How do I face the world and say I got it wrong after playing such a lead role in his emergence? When you see a house you sacrificed everything to build is falling apart and the driver believes he is firmly in charge because he has 8 votes advantage, you are left with no choice than to tie your seat belt for obvious eventuality.
I must admit I made an error of judgement. I don’t know to whom and from where I will start apologising for not heeding to wise counsel. There is nothing I am saying now that I have not discussed or warned speaker Dogara on the few occasions that I sorted and got private audience with him. But he has been hijacked and surrounded himself with a small cabal of sycophants, corrupt, mediocre, money hungry, vindictive, envious, self-serving small minds who have already done an irreparable damage to his person and office.
Speaker Dogara has completely derailed, remains clueless, keeps on with an unmatched ego and surely leading the House to the biggest scandal it may ever experience. He has failed to live above the fog in public duty and private thinking, a direct opposite of what my favourite American Poet Josiah Gilbet Holland prayed Lord to grant us in leaders.
All I am asking for is my right to be heard by my colleagues which they denied me. I am calling on my colleagues to plead with Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Ogor to stop obstructing justice and allow me my right to be heard by the House. It is the House that will institute a special investigation on this matter to allow me testify and provide evidence before any other external action.
I will make a more detailed statement in due course.
Source: LIB
In a statement he released last night, Jibrin gave a detailed account of how speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and some other principal officers of the House of Representatives allegedly hijacked the budget consideration process so as to pad it. In this statement, Jibrin alleged that Dogara an the house leadership had resorted to using some elements of the Nigeria police to kidnap, harass, blackmail and intimidate him into silence. Read his statement below...
MY ALLEGATIONS ARE AGAINST THE QUARTET OF SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA, DEPUTY SPEAKER YUSUF LASUN, HOUSE WHIP ALHASSAN DOGUWA AND MINORITY LEADER LEO OGOR NOT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS AN INSTITUTION AS MR SPEAKER DESPERATELY WANTS HONOURABLE MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BELIEVE.
I am compelled again for the purpose of emphasis to state categorically clear that my allegations are against the quartet of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, House Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor not the Honourable House as an institution nor other members of the body of principal officers. The other members of the body of principal officers were to the best of my knowledge completely excluded from decisions on the 2016 budget and the budget inputs inserted on their names were exclusively carried out by these QUARTET.
I have to state this very clearly because these QUARTET have resorted to desperate moves to drag the entire House of Representatives into the case of gross abuse of office I have levelled against them as individual Presiding and Principal officers of the House. This is clearly a mischievous move to set me on collision with the entire house. They have also recruited four from the VERY FEW members of their cabal to use some elements of the Nigeria police to kidnap, harass, blackmail and intimidate me into silence.
Until yesterday, the police were laying siege by my house blocking the entrance and exit shouting that they want budget documents. They embarrassed my entire family with a nursing mother and a seven-month old baby that cried all night. The game plan was to arrest me and dump me in police net while a heavy media propaganda will be carried out to mislead the world that I have been sacked and police have picked me up as a culprit in 2016 budget. Whenever I am released, an irreparable damage would have been done to my person and that will stick for life.
As God Almighty will have it, I had travelled out of town before they could execute their evil plan. God is always with the innocent. The members in the thick of this plot are Hon Jagaba Adams, Hon Jika both chairmen interior and police affairs respectively, Hon Muhammed Bago, Hon Muhammed Zakari and the last one I need not to introduce him to Nigerians, you know him better and know what he is best remembered for. He is the one who threatened my life and the police are yet to take a single action on him. He is now the Leader of the Dogara cabal. He calls the shots in the House. He makes all the decisions of Mr Speaker. He talks down on members and gets away with it. He has SUDDENLY began living such an expensive life style. Lately, a former influential principal officer of the House complained bitterly that it is only Dogara that will hand such a committee to a person like Hon Herma Hembe of this world, chairman FCT. They have been running from pillar to post looking for evidence in their wild dream to nail me. I made a huge sacrifice to leave, shouldn’t they just leave me alone?
I therefore urge my Hon. colleagues and the general public to call on Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the 3 other principal officers to stop their desperate attempt to drag the entire House of Representatives into this matter. They should also stop using the House Spokesman Hon Namdas to issue statements in respect to these allegations because it is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public into believing that they have the backing of the entire House on this matter. They should come out and defend themselves and prepare for the investigation that will be instituted by the House on this matter. At least the Minority Leader and Whip have attempted some response which are at best lame! The House of Representatives as an institution must live above board and will continue to survive beyond people who abuse public trust like Mr. Speaker and his 3 cohorts.
Let me make further revelations in addition to the ones I have already made which are in public glare.
ONE: During the budget period, when they discovered that I was not the kind of a person they could use to perpetrate their illegality, Mr. Speaker and the 3 other principal officers took away the entire Appropriation Committee Secretariat to a secret location where all sort of insertions were made into the budget. The blackmail has always been – “Abdul people will laugh at you if anything goes wrong between you and Dogara because of the lead role you played and the many toes you stepped on to get him elected”. It’s been a painful experience.
Again the secretariat was taken away from me on Speaker Dogara’s instruction for the second time to a location I don’t know and all sort of insertions into the budgets were made and returned to me for signature. I said over my dead body! It was a massive crisis behind the scene until the early morning of the Friday that Mr President assented the budget. It was Sen Danjuma Goje that brokered a compromise that since the Deputy Speaker leads the harmonization committee, he should also sign such that the harmonization committee will share responsibility with us. Senator Goje pleaded with me so hard all night and later shouted heavily on me reminding me that he is not talking to me as a Senator but as a father. I cried heavily all night.
TWO: When the budget harmonization committee headed by Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun gave out 80% concession across board to the executive demands during the harmonization negotiation, it was agreed that the remaining 20% should go to the entire NASS. The Deputy Speaker excused himself that he wanted to go and consult with Mr Speaker. He came back after few hours and in an unprecedented display of greed presented to me a hand written note distributing the remaining 20% to only principal officers. 70% of the 20% was reserved for Mr Speaker and himself while the remaining 30% of the 20% goes to other principal officers. I am sure he will recognize the hand writing when he sees it. My colleagues didn’t know all of these.
THREE: Mr. Speaker also directed me to create what I advised him will be a controversial line item under service wide vote to introduce about N20 billion project using the name of NASS. He directed me to see a highly placed PDP politician which I did and collected the documents. I advised him repeatedly against it but he kept pressuring me until I bluntly told him I will not!
FOUR: When the Appropriation Committee received all the budget reports from standing committees, an analysis was conducted. We discovered that about 10 only out of the 96 Standing Committees of the House introduced about 2,000 (two thousand) projects without the knowledge of their committee members amounting to about N284, 000, 000, 000 (Two hundred and eighty-four billion naira). I was alarmed. But I was cautious because at our pre-budget meeting with the committee chairmen, I was clearly warned not to touch their budgets. I reported the matter to the speaker. He did nothing about it obviously because he was working behind the scene with the committee chairmen. That was the beginning of the whole budget problem from the side of House and the whole exercise had to go through several versions before it was passed.
So, is it Abdul that introduced 2000 projects into budget worth N284 billion? But I quietly bore the pain and abuses from all over the country and continued to defend the committee inputs as a show of loyalty to the institution I represent which I so much love and still have many great minds in there. Apart from Chairman Agriculture Hon Mongunu who owned up and explained his inputs at the only executive session I was allowed to attend, the other few chairmen who loaded the budget kept quiet and watched me bashed from every angle by angry Nigerians.
People have asked why did I wait this long to open up, so much was happening behind the scene. I fought the battle of my life to raise these issues internally and get Mr. Speaker to address them to no avail. I pushed so hard that I got frustrated and depressed. All my attempts met brick walls. That was why some members were always raising their voice against me because they do not have the facts. I later on realized that the Speaker enjoyed that so much and colluded with his cabal to dump everything on me. I am sure not too long some members that knew what I went through will come out and testify. I also have evidence to show my internal struggles.
In any case, under circumstances like this, and for young people like us that are lucky to have accelerated career growth, the system scares you from becoming a whistle blower. They will tell you that if you do such, nobody will trust you or have confidence in you again. They will scare you that it is not good for your image and it will affect your career progression. Many young people in different sectors are faced with such frustrating situation. Even at the moment, if I take the advice of some people, I will get deeply scared and just keep quiet, so that I can grow career wise? My usual response to them is that, isn’t that selfish? Your only luck will be if a trigger occurs then you open up. This is one such trigger! In any case, I would have opened up anyway. I have written so much about these issues and more on NASS. I posted over a month ago on my Facebook page that I will release the piece as part of my 40th birthday in September. Well, I never knew it will come much earlier.
Some people are also saying I kept quiet while it was good and now I am talking because things have gone sour. Many members of the House and Nigerians will be shocked to know that there has NEVER been good times between myself and Speaker Dogara. It took few weeks after his election as Speaker for me to realize I never really knew him well. I was hasty to judge him by his innocent looking personality. We practically disagree on everything. From when he started conducting himself like a lord, wanting everybody around him to just say yes sir and go, shutting and looking down at his colleagues, playing double game between the executive and legislature, drafting of a new house rule, senseless splitting of committees which raised the numbers of committees to 96, appointment of committee chairmen, Chairmanship of NILS, issues of bills and allotment of sponsors, chairmanship of budget consultative committee, budget process and house inputs, the PIB, his divide and rule approach, his frequent dealings with heads of MDA’s as if he is a committee chairman and so many other issues. In all of these issues, there is none that has not remained controversial till date.
All these forced me to stay away from him except on official assignment. I can count how (many)times I have been to his office or home. I stayed away completely. It was such a frustrating and depressing period for me. Who will I complain to? How do I face the world and say I got it wrong after playing such a lead role in his emergence? When you see a house you sacrificed everything to build is falling apart and the driver believes he is firmly in charge because he has 8 votes advantage, you are left with no choice than to tie your seat belt for obvious eventuality.
I must admit I made an error of judgement. I don’t know to whom and from where I will start apologising for not heeding to wise counsel. There is nothing I am saying now that I have not discussed or warned speaker Dogara on the few occasions that I sorted and got private audience with him. But he has been hijacked and surrounded himself with a small cabal of sycophants, corrupt, mediocre, money hungry, vindictive, envious, self-serving small minds who have already done an irreparable damage to his person and office.
Speaker Dogara has completely derailed, remains clueless, keeps on with an unmatched ego and surely leading the House to the biggest scandal it may ever experience. He has failed to live above the fog in public duty and private thinking, a direct opposite of what my favourite American Poet Josiah Gilbet Holland prayed Lord to grant us in leaders.
All I am asking for is my right to be heard by my colleagues which they denied me. I am calling on my colleagues to plead with Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Ogor to stop obstructing justice and allow me my right to be heard by the House. It is the House that will institute a special investigation on this matter to allow me testify and provide evidence before any other external action.
I will make a more detailed statement in due course.
Source: LIB
Open Heavens 25 July 2016: Monday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Righteousness is not Optional
Topic: Righteousness is not Optional [Monday 25, July 2016]
Memorise: As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. – Proverbs 11:19
Read: Hosea 10:12 (KJV)
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Bible in One Year: Colossians 1-4, Psalms 19:1-6
MESSAGE:
It is interesting to note that the righteousness that mankind has detested from generation to generation, right from the fall, is not optional! Many scholars have endeavoured to explain away what righteousness entails and play down its importance to the point that sermons that encourage righteous living are now scarce. Sweet and pet talks have replaced sermons that demand righteous living. This is why St. Paul admonished his spiritual son, Timothy thus:
“2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” - 2 Timothy 4:2-3
There are some lessons to be learnt from the above scripture; firstly, sermons that will produce righteous living must contain reproof, rebuke, exhortation and doctrine. Secondly, there is a time in the life of a Christian pilgrim when he will have to make himself intentionally available to reproof and rebuke. This is because, after a long stay in the Church environment, which might have earned him titles, he might no longer be teachable. Thirdly, righteous living requires indoctrination; doctrines that are sound. In other words, there are doctrines that are not sound. So, believers must beware of doctrines of the devil.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” - 1 Timothy 4:1
Today, some children of God make righteousness an optional virtue to their own danger because the scripture cannot be broken. It says:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” - Hebrews 12:14
Beloved, it is true we shall be ultimately saved by grace. This is why we must pray for that grace to live righteously without struggle, because there is no grace in struggle. This is what makes the Christians faith unique. Our God is able to help us live for Him if we are willing and obedient. If we will not rationalise sin but admit it as it is and cry to God for help. The Bible says:
“11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” - Titus 2:11-12
I pray that as you desire righteousness today, the grace of God will bring it upon your life in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, let your grace abound in my heart so that I may begin to live life pleasing to you as from now in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Memorise: As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. – Proverbs 11:19
Read: Hosea 10:12 (KJV)
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Bible in One Year: Colossians 1-4, Psalms 19:1-6
MESSAGE:
It is interesting to note that the righteousness that mankind has detested from generation to generation, right from the fall, is not optional! Many scholars have endeavoured to explain away what righteousness entails and play down its importance to the point that sermons that encourage righteous living are now scarce. Sweet and pet talks have replaced sermons that demand righteous living. This is why St. Paul admonished his spiritual son, Timothy thus:
“2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” - 2 Timothy 4:2-3
There are some lessons to be learnt from the above scripture; firstly, sermons that will produce righteous living must contain reproof, rebuke, exhortation and doctrine. Secondly, there is a time in the life of a Christian pilgrim when he will have to make himself intentionally available to reproof and rebuke. This is because, after a long stay in the Church environment, which might have earned him titles, he might no longer be teachable. Thirdly, righteous living requires indoctrination; doctrines that are sound. In other words, there are doctrines that are not sound. So, believers must beware of doctrines of the devil.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” - 1 Timothy 4:1
Today, some children of God make righteousness an optional virtue to their own danger because the scripture cannot be broken. It says:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” - Hebrews 12:14
Beloved, it is true we shall be ultimately saved by grace. This is why we must pray for that grace to live righteously without struggle, because there is no grace in struggle. This is what makes the Christians faith unique. Our God is able to help us live for Him if we are willing and obedient. If we will not rationalise sin but admit it as it is and cry to God for help. The Bible says:
“11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” - Titus 2:11-12
I pray that as you desire righteousness today, the grace of God will bring it upon your life in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, let your grace abound in my heart so that I may begin to live life pleasing to you as from now in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)