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Word of Life Bible Church 50th Anniversary Celebration
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Before we begin, let me stand upon the anointing and grace upon this altar to declare to someone: a season is coming to an end in your life, and a new season is about to open for you in the name of Jesus, the Son of the Living God. Everything that is not of God from seasons past—I declare tonight that just as the Egyptians saw the nation of Israel for one last time and were drowned, these things you have seen, you will see them no more forever.
I'm speaking on "The Day of Visitation" from Luke chapter 19, verses 42-44. The Bible tells us that Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying:
"If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."
God is a God of times and seasons. His dealings with men are based fundamentally on times and seasons. In fact, He designed human activity upon the Earth to walk in honor to the law of times and seasons.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1, the Bible says:
"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."
Verse 11 adds: "He hath made everything beautiful; provided that thing can understand its alignment to seasons. The beauty of anything is connected to its understanding of its season."
Human activities happen within the frame of times and seasons. Consider a pregnancy: if a woman is three weeks pregnant and prays, "Oh God, give me speed," that is not a wise prayer, nor a scriptural one. What she should pray for is grace to go through the full season. There are times when things appear to happen early—a baby at the fourth month—but that violates the law of seasons.
When you give birth to a child, imagine if that child came out of the womb and immediately began to speak and run. You would not call that child normal. Yet when Jesus came to Earth, He subscribed to the law of times and seasons. The Bible says:
"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and with men." (Luke 2:52)
He grew. He was subject to the law of seasons, even though He was the Word incarnate.
If you get up at 11 p.m. or midnight and tell someone, "Good afternoon," they will recommend you see a doctor. Afternoon is a season, but that timing should not be called afternoon. Most believers do not know the role of discerning seasons as far as their manifestation is concerned.
All things are not possible every time. The beauty of anything is only realized when you descend into the season it is connected to. If an eight-year-old boy comes to you and says, "I want to marry you," you know something is wrong—not because marriage is bad, but because he is doing something outside of seasons. If he comes at age nine and asks for the car keys, you reject the offer. Not because you hate the child, but gifts also subscribe to seasons.
If you do not discern seasons, you can be robbed of an opportunity. If I say, "See me tomorrow," you must ask, "What time?" You cannot see me every moment of tomorrow. If I say, "See me tomorrow," and you knock on my door at 11 p.m., it is still tomorrow, but you have not gone far enough to know the season. Perhaps the opportunity I had for you was at 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. You can be in the right atmosphere but the wrong season.
There are some who, based on the prophetic calendar and the season of your life, should not be at this level of grace. And there are some of you in a season of your life where there is unusual favor—but because you do not have the eyes to see it, you are not maximizing the season.
In Genesis 28, when Jacob encountered God at Bethel, he saw a ladder ascending to heaven with angels ascending and descending. The Bible says:
"He woke up and said, 'The Lord was in this place, and I knew it not. Surely this is the gate of heaven, and this is the house of God.'"
He did not maximize the blessings that season would bring. The next thing that happened in Jacob's life was a 20-year tragedy.
By Genesis 32, God visited him again. This time, Jacob was ready. When a man came to him, he held him and said, "I missed it the first time. Leave me for the day breaks. I know it is my season. I will not let you go until there is information about this season." When the man asked his name, Jacob dismissed everything. He had learned. The angel said:
"Thou shalt no longer be called Jacob; for as a prince thou hast had power with God, and thou hast prevailed."
He was renamed Israel. Discerning seasons changes destinies.
Seasons have the power to veto your skill. Seasons have the power to veto your sincerity of heart. You can be the most sincere person, but if you miss seasons, it is finished. It will take the mercy of God.
Consider this: if you learn to play football professionally at age 60, your skill is there, but you have arrived too late. The season of football and the flourishing season does not allow it. You can go to the field as a hobby, but not professionally.
Listen carefully: there are some of you who have missed seasons already. There were certain things when you were supposed to be born again—you did not even know. Based on that, the blueprint of your life is lowered.
Jesus discovered His purpose at age 12, not at 31. He had 18 years to prepare for a ministry of three and a half years. He understood His season.
One of the assignments of the power of God is to be able to circumvent the negative things that have been programmed as a result of missing seasons. That is why we have speed and restoration. These are prophetic systems of advantage to help believers still gain time when they have missed a season.
The Bible says:
"I will restore unto you the years that the locust hath eaten." (Joel 2:25)
God can restore years. Only God can do that. But it is important that you make sure you are paying attention. There are some of you who, based on the prophetic blueprint in your life, have one more year for your manifestation. Yet it is that same year that you are getting born again. It takes time to know God. It takes time to prepare.
There are some of you who are kingdom billionaires in the making by prophecy. But because you did not discern purpose nor seasons, all times are not convenient for all things.
When you buy a product, there is something written on it: "Best before." This means if you want to get the most of this product, consume it within this time range. You can buy a product of whatever amount and leave it to expire. What does it mean for a product to expire? The container does not have to spoil, but there is no guarantee that you can maximize the value again.
There is a spirit called a waster. The assignment of a waster is to either occupy or distract you so that time will go without the justification of the events that should happen.
When God rebukes and restores years, He talks about:
"The locust, the palmerworm, and the cankerworm." (Joel 2:25)
These are not just insects—these are spirit entities that have the ability to waste people's lives.
There was a man called the Madman of Gadara. His correct name was the Evangelist of Gadarenes. That was the man mandated to save a decapolis. Yet he was bound and kept in the tomb. Only God knows how long. Jesus went to Gadara to save one man and return because in that one man was the destiny of many.
I do not know who I am speaking to tonight, but someone: God brought you here because it is time for your family to rise. God brought you here because it is time to stop saying "Happy New Year" and "Merry Christmas" with nothing changing. If the only thing growing in your life is your age, and nothing else is growing, something is wrong.
First Chronicles 12:32 says:
"And of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment."
These men were not the most skillful. They were not the most privileged. The distinguishing feature of this tribe was that they placed value on discerning times. As a result, they had authority, and their brethren were at their command.
To maximize seasons, you need two qualities:
Number One: The faculty to discern times. You must understand the times and seasons of your life.
Number Two: The ability to know what to do. Discernment without action is useless.
In John chapter 5, there is a pool called Bethesda with five porches. A great multitude of impotent folk lay there—the blind, halt, and withered—waiting. They understood something: you do not strike every time. The lion, king of the jungle, does not strike every time. The lion can wait for five hours. That is the price for the catch.
"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water." (John 5:2-3)
They knew a season was coming when the water would move, and in that season, healing would come. So they waited.
Waiting is not a waste of time. Waiting is the skill of the mighty. The best generals know that to win war, you must not only master the art of fighting—you must know how to wait.
I am telling someone here: God sent me to tell you wait. You have been roaming around. It is clear that your ideas are not working. It is clear that your approach is not working. It is not more ministrations you need. It is not more name you need. You need to lock yourself and wait.
There is a difference between speed and rushing. Speed is always a product of waiting. God gives men speed, but He does not rush men. To rush means to disrespect season. When God gives you speed, it is to maximize season.
"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)
We live in a generation that prides itself in rushing. But there are certain things that only happen at the sequence of times and seasons. That is why many people today are getting into all kinds of things. They want to have it fast.
A pregnant woman cannot rush the arrival of a child. He is already programmed. When you give birth to a child that is not in the season, it is not called delivery. There is another name for it.
This is a prophetic word: Wait, man of God. The secret to maximizing the next year is to wait. Businessman, as much as God has found and promised increase for you, the prophetic word that God is giving you tonight is wait.
In John 5:5-9, there is a certain man with an infirmity for 38 years. Somebody's long-standing issue—one more time, long-standing issue. It is amazing how powerful time is, yet time does not change anything. Time only reveals. The passage of time is not what changes things—maximizing seasons is what changes things.
After two years of lying down, the man might have said, "By the third year, I will be fine." Not knowing it was 38 years. If Jesus had not come to rescue this man, 38 would have become 50.
The Bible says when Jesus saw him—remember, he was not the only one there—but something about Jesus is this: the Bible says the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. No matter how a man messes up seasons, when Jesus sees you, He does not even talk about the seasons wasted.
Jesus said to him:
"Will thou be made whole?" (John 5:6)
In other words: "Based on my design of times and seasons, you should not be here. Many seasons have come and given you an opportunity to rise. Could you not descend them?"
The impotent man said:
"Sir, I have no man: when the water is troubled to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me." (John 5:7)
Jesus said to him:
"Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." (John 5:8)
Jesus showed him that He has authority over seasons. This is not the time for you to rise, but the Lord of the season says, "Rise!" This is Jubilee.
Based on John 5, there are two ways to receive a miracle:
Number One: Wait for seasons and take the required action.
Number Two: Look for Jesus. If for any reason you miss out in seasons, you do not wait until seasons come again—sometimes it takes a long time. You have to look for Jesus. Jesus is the reprogrammer of seasons.
Jesus taught us: the best way for a man to maximize seasons is:
There are some of you for instance: your destiny helper was in power for many years. He would not be there forever. Within that time, you had unusual access. It was a season. But you used dishonor to prolong your pain, and that season finished.
You discovered you were supposed to use honor to have access, but at that time, the person is no longer there.
There are some of you: there was a season when your parents were alive. You would have sought them and received their blessing. But you were occupied trying to make money, and you never got the blessing. Now, sadly, they have passed. Just when they passed, you now understood the power of patriarchal blessing.
You are saying, "Apostle, now that my father is gone, is there a way that God can help me?"
I will tell you: the Bible says there is hope for a tree that, even if it be cut down at the root, yet it will sprout again by the scent of water. (Job 14:7-9)
The time I should have come to church and grown spiritually, I spent it on riotous living. Right now, I do not have that luxury of time again. Can God do something about my life? Yes, sir.
Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. The Bible tells us the end of the life of Jabez. His mother named him Jabez because she brought him in sorrow. You can imagine, as a young man, there was no favor. One day, he said, "No, I have to take my destiny by my hand." He prayed:
"Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast!" (1 Chronicles 4:10)
The Bible says God answered him. That was the change of his life.
I wish I had the time to extensively deal with Leviticus 25, where you find the law of Jubilee. According to God's economy and design, after every seven-year Sabbath is declared, and there is a grace upon the land that makes it yield of its own. When it is seven Sabbaths, the year after seven Sabbaths is declared as Jubilee.
There are a number of activities that happen during Jubilee:
Number One: If there is slavery around a person, and that person cannot release himself by reason of paying what is due, once it falls within the season of Jubilee, that person must be declared free. Liberty is one of the signatures of Jubilee.
Number Two: Rest. Even the land is allowed to rest.
These are dimensions of Jubilee brought by the Spirit of God to speak over our lives.
We are celebrating 50 years of the hand of God upon this veteran of the Gospel. Only God knows the journey. Two years, five years, 15 years—many people here were not born when he started the journey of faith. Blind faith in the name of the Lord. "Lord, I trust you, and I know that you will lead me."
50 years is a serious matter. Do you know the kind of spirits that a man must have circumvented by the power of the blood to survive 50 years? That is a testament of endurance. That is proof of valiency. You have mastered the weapons of war.
We live in a generation where, unconsciously or consciously, we have made honor look marketable. We disrespect people's sacrifices. We think someone was just lucky to be a billionaire, or just lucky to be anointed. No. The Bible says:
"He that striveth for mastery is not crowned except his stripes lawfully." (2 Timothy 2:5)
Longevity is proof of mastery. You have laid hold on something.
So I celebrate the ministry and everyone connected—the membership, sons and daughters, pillars who have stood with this ministry for 50 years.
There are three keys that help people maximize seasons, especially prophetic seasons like Jubilee.
Discernment is the faculty of spiritual perception—the ability to perceive men for what they stand for spiritually.
When Elijah was going, Elisha told him, "I desire a double portion of your anointing." He said, "If you can see me, it shall be unto thee." Was he not looking at him? But seeing is not with your eyes alone.
"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward." (Matthew 10:41)
You can receive a prophet in the name of your brother. What you will receive is information about family welfare—that is a broader's reward. But if you receive him as a prophet, your reward is different.
The Lord said, "In this place, I am, and I knew it not." There were two men going to Emmaus, and the resurrected Christ was in their midst. But because they lacked discernment, proximity did not just mean they would be blessed. It takes discernment.
The Bible says:
"When he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight." (Luke 24:30-31)
A season of discussion—they probably would have become Apostles like Paul if they maximized that time. But time was going, and their eyes were closed. The miracle of open eyes is a real miracle.
The Bible says:
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." (Luke 24:45)
If your eyes are closed, you can stand near breakthrough. You can stand near anointed people and never see the blessing.
In Sodom and Gomorrah, when the angels came to the house of Lot, the men there wanted to sodomize the angels. The Lord was even willing to give his daughters. The Bible says the people refused. They were hesitant. What happened was that the angels drew Lot in and struck them with blindness. The Bible says:
"They wearied themselves to find the door." (Genesis 19:11)
They were in front of an opportunity, in front of an anointing, in front of a season. But because their hands could be well, if their eyes were closed, they would weary themselves.
Someone needs to pray: "This man I'm always calling my father, this woman I'm always calling my mother—in the spirit, who are they? What grace was upon them?"
There is an anointing behind people. If all you are saying is, "Mama, who can set firewood," you will not receive anything. But the day you look at someone who is Captain over many, a woman who did not go to school and raised eight children without begging—there is a Grace you need to start seeing.
Jesus said:
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:18)
But there is another version that says, "He hath declared him," and you need spiritual eyes to see.
Seasons will always demand that you take action. Seasons will always demand that you take action. Knowing does not bring you breakthrough.
The man in John 5 knew the season. But he did not have the grace nor the skill to take the action. He said, "While I am trying, I make efforts." This is where wisdom is profitable to direct. Because when the heart is dull, there will be efforts, but there will be wastage.
You need the grace and the wisdom that directs the action.
For someone: there is a season where God tells you, "Go and register that company." First, there is an unusual grace nationally, territorially, and spiritually. There is a vista that has been opened for certain things.
There are certain people. When a season opens for you, you should go into fasting and prayer immediately, because there is a grace that God is releasing. It is like an unusual portal.
If you were not in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost—even if you went to ease yourself—that is it. Because it came on only those who were there. (Acts 2:1-4)
When God designs seasons, it is a call for responsibility.
For someone: you are in a season right now where you have an opportunity to establish strategic relationships. According to the law of seasons, rainy season always comes with a letter from dry season: "I am coming." Dry season always comes with a letter from rainy season: "I am coming."
Do not just enjoy rainy season. Read the letter that it came with. Every season comes with a letter from another season coming. This was the mystery of Pharaoh's dream:
"The seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed... the seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed did eat up the seven thin and ill favoured kine." (Genesis 41:4)
Joseph said, "It is the same thing. God is showing you a modus operandi that cannot change. For these seven years now, make maximal preparations. For someone: God is giving you this window of opportunity. Stop living a fake life. Maximize. Build relationships. Build capacity. Because there is something called your season of appearing.
John remained in the wilderness until his season of appearing. Man of God: now that nobody has identified your grace yet, now that nobody is placing a demand on you, do not go around saying, 'Invite me.' Prepare for the seasons so that when the time comes, you will have built stamina to survive the demand. Because if you fail in the day of battle, if you turn aside, the diagnosis is that your strength is small. (Judges 6:15)
Sacrifice is not all about money. In fact, sacrifice is not even about anything material. It is a spiritual transaction.
When I say sacrifice, do not just shut your mind to think I am talking about money. Money is the least expression of sacrifice. The first sacrifice is you.
The Bible says:
"Gather unto me my saints." (Psalm 50:5)
When Baal refused to answer, and the prophets of Baal exhausted all their skill and their option, the last key to provoke the realm of the spirit in their thoughts and imagination was to lacerate themselves. They started by lacerating the animals. It did not work. They came to themselves. (1 Kings 18:28)
There is something called a Living Sacrifice. Paul 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
Paul said:
"Let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (Galatians 6:17)
It is not only the anointing on him. There is a scar that is a testament that he stretched himself to maximize seasons.
There are times where you pray like never before. There are times you fast like never before. There are times you give like never before. There are times you serve like never before. Seasons demand sacrifice.
When a visitation came to the house of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, that was the foundation of the experience of the Gentiles into the faith. From chapter 2 of Acts, chapter 9—no Gentile had the privilege of partaking of that life. Salvation was for the Jews first.
When Peter came to the house of Cornelius, the angel appeared to Cornelius and said two things that made this possible:
There is a difference between giving and sacrifice. The difference is that it will cost you.
I fear God, and I love you too much. I will not deceive you. There is a place of commitment, a sacrifice that touches the altar. To say, "Lord, this is for my children's ending." I wish I had the time.
But let me tell you sincerely: even God, as powerful as God is, did not change the season of sin and the dominion of sin over man by casting it. God did not cast sin out of man—even though He was the creator of the heavens and the Earth. He did not send Angel Michael. He did not send Gabriel. He did not send the four living creatures.
When it was time for Him to take the issue of the destiny of man seriously, He sent His Son, His only begotten.
This is Jesus Himself, teaching Nicodemus the dynamics of the Kingdom. Jesus came to him by night. Nicodemus came to him by night and said:
"Rabbi, we know that thou art a man sent from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." (John 3:2)
That began the discussion that led to John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." (John 3:16)
God so loved the world that He gave. He knew there was a season, an opportune time. And He gave Jesus. When Jesus was against so many, He was almost tempted to renegotiate salvation: "Can you take this cup from me?" But God was determined to see that men are saved.
If you use one thousand naira to buy a drink, it means you value that drink more than the 1,000. That is why you are able to part with it.
So the Apostle said:
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." (1 John 3:1)
Because of sacrifice, Jesus is not the only begotten of the Father anymore. He is the firstborn among the begotten.
Please hear me. Please hear me. I am wrapping up now. Whether it is Satan you serve or Jesus you serve, you will always walk with the law of sacrifice.
If you choose and donate yourself to the devil, the first thing he will demand is sacrifice. You choose to serve a herbalist? The first thing he would demand is sacrifice. You come to God? It is in the matter of sacrifice that both God and Satan agree that it is a law.
Escaping sacrifice using the guise of Christianity is a joke. Let me tell you sincerely: there are dimensions you will never step into until you understand the mystery of sacrifice.
I wish I had time. I would have told you my stories. Do not think people just come out of nowhere. That is a joke. The realm of the spirit is so strict in its operation. You cannot drive your way through. You cannot manipulate your way through.
Ask Cain and Abel that you cannot do that. The Bible says:
"The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect." (Genesis 4:4-5)
When a death sentence came by a genuine prophet in Isaiah 38 to Hezekiah, he said, "Okay, I respect your ministry. I cannot doubt you. You are a credible voice. But leave me alone." He turned his face to the wall. He did not say, "God, had yes." He said, "Remember when did you change your God? When have you started ignoring sacrifices? Have you forgotten?"
There are men who are standing today upon the sacrifices of many years. They have built it. It has risen as a memorial in the realm of the spirit.
When Cain killed Abel, he thought everything was all right. The blood of Abel went to the altar in heaven and started crying.
"The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10)
God heard that voice. There are people you cannot touch. The blood upon their altar has a potent voice. No enchantment and no definition against them can stand.
In Hebrews chapter 4, the Bible says:
"They heard the word, just like we did. But it did not profit them, not being mixed with faith." (Hebrews 4:2)
The Bible says:
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9)
There is a Sabbath for the people of God. He says that if they had received the Sabbath, He would no longer talk about it. That means every year kept proposing a Sabbath. God was saying, "You can step into certain levels of rest."
For someone here: maybe you were in this conference last year, and God gave you an opportunity. But you were not discerning to step into your rest. Now God has granted another opportunity again.
Maybe a man of God according to God said, "Oh, you were supposed to have contacted an anointing last year. By now, your ministry should have scaled height." But you did not discern.
I pray that like Jacob, you will not waste this second time. Jacob wasted it in chapter 28. In chapter 32, he was strong enough to say, "I am not leaving you. We are going to pray. Give me information. I know it is my season. I will not let you go until you bless me."
Your day of visitation has come. God's Jubilee is yours to possess and to maximize. Receive it. Understand your seasons. Discern them. Know what to do. And be willing to sacrifice.
Then your manifestation shall come like the breaking of dawn. Glory to God.
