The Power of Abiding in Christ

Opening: A Call to Rejoice and Receive

Today is the day that the Lord has made. I don't know about you, but I will rejoice. Go to two or three people and tell them they ought to rejoice, because there is a testimony coming your way. Tell them they ought to testify.

I told Reverend today, I'm incredibly nervous. All night my belly has been twisting. I said, "Jesus, you've got to take over." The Bible says when Mary and Elizabeth met, something leaped. When you meet destiny partners, something leaps. We call it iron sharpens iron. Find another neighbor and say, "Neighbor, I don't know about your fire, but my fire is like a consuming fire."

Jeremiah said, "I feel like fire shut up in my bones." Tell your neighbor, "I feel fire — fire to live, fire to preach, fire to pray."

When the righteous cry, there is a God who hears.

Lift up your gates, lift up your heads, all you gates, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors.

That is the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you. Under the anointing that passes here, you will not leave here the same. Fire is rising.

Honor and Acknowledgement

I truly honor the Lord for his goodness and mercy. I am incredibly humbled that God would allow me, by touching the heart of his servant, to give me this opportunity.

• I acknowledge my covenant brother, the Right Reverend — an apostolic man for leadership and ministry building, a leader of excellence paving the way.
• I honor his amazing anointed wife.
• I acknowledge all the pastors in the house — Pastor Paul, Pastor Fwell, and all the ministers and leaders. God richly bless you.

A disclaimer: This is a house of great dimension and wisdom. When you come to such a house, you have to pray that God takes over your tongue, because you have a man who hears God and teaches the word of God. So I'm not going to teach you anything new — everything I'll say, he has said, and even said it much better than me.

The Theme: Abiding in Christ

Let's lean into our theme for the year. Turn to John 15:5.

I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.

Tell your neighbor: "Neighbor, apart from God, there is no way you can bear fruit."

I sincerely believe this theme is prophetic in nature. God has instituted it not just to help us focus, but to help us reposition. If God is going to do an amazing work through his people, there must be realignment.

The Vine and the Branches

Jesus uses a metaphor and refers to himself as the vine. The vine is a vital, central source of life. Its job is to ensure it provides nutrients, water, and energy to the branches.

• Without the vine, the branches cannot survive.
• Without the vine, they cannot grow.
• Without the vine in its fullness, there is no hope for the branch.

Jesus is teaching a fundamental principle for those who want to understand the mandate of abiding: the principle of divine connection. Without the vine, the branches cannot survive, grow, or bear full fruit.

I'm going to share three points to help us understand the will and the mandate God is already speaking in this house.

Principle 1: Duration and Time — The Permanent Connection

Jesus distinctly says, "If you remain in me." The expression "remain in me" is God saying: it is impossible to have a thriving spiritual life with a temporary connection.

It is impossible to experience the power of the Holy Ghost in his fullness and be a temporary dweller in his presence. In order to experience spiritual growth, you must live the life of permanent connection. This permanent connection is the word abide.

Not a Temporary Accommodation

God is desiring people that understand the work of the Spirit. It is not the work of temporary location.

• I don't choose to live in God only when things are going okay.
• I don't choose to dwell in God only when everything is fine.
• Permanent connection says: I must remain, I must stay, and I must dwell continually.

In our generation, we love a lot of temporary things. But when it comes to the school of the Spirit, in order to abide in Christ, you must learn that the work of the Spirit is not on the basis of your emotion. You can't serve God one day and serve the world the next.

Whatever comes, I will stand strong. This walk of the Holy Ghost — it doesn't matter if I wake up in a bad mood, I will pray. It doesn't matter who gets on my nerves, I will hold my mouth together, because where I'm living is not a temporary accommodation.

Write This Down

The first principle of dwelling is the principle of understanding duration and time.

It's not a one-moment thing. It's not like a short tenancy agreement or a mobile phone contract with an expiration date. The walk of abiding in Jesus is a walk for life. It is a walk where you make up your mind: I will stay the course.

I pray for ten people here that God will raise sons and daughters, soldiers, warriors, who will say:

I won't bow. I won't give up. I won't throw in the towel. I made up my mind — Jesus all the way. It doesn't matter what the world is saying, I will stand.

Paul said, "Run the race of life." He said to Timothy, "I've been running the race, I have kept the faith." He said, "For the glory that was set before him, he endured." The life of abiding is learning to endure.

A False Gospel

The problem with this generation is: nobody knows long-suffering. We sold the people a false gospel — a gospel of emotionalism, a gospel that says when everything is going okay, then God is with you.

But James says when I go through diverse trials and tribulations, there is a joy. When the enemy speaks, you abide until the Holy Ghost transforms you.

Let's pray:

God, I will remain. I will not give up. If it costs me my life, I will. If it costs me my friendship, I will. If it costs me me, I will. I will not give up.

There's a song I heard the pastor sing:

I'm fully persuaded that God will deliver, but even if he doesn't, I will not bow.

That's the song of a man who abides. I'm not moved by the miracles. Even if he doesn't, I shall not bow.

A Personal Testimony

Let me tell you a testimony. I've been preaching since I was five. I've seen the power of God so mighty. But one day the devil knocked on my door.

For five years, my wife and I were believing God for the fruit of the womb — and I'm praying for others and seeing God do it for them. One day God surprised us. My wife became pregnant. I was jubilating, rolled on the floor, singing, rejoicing in the Lord. But the devil said, "Hey God, check your boy out — he doesn't mean what he's saying."

At six months my wife said, "Baby, I'm bleeding." We went to the hospital. Her cervix was open. I went to war and I began to pray. I prayed to the God of my covenant. I prayed to the God of my youth. My son was born. I declared in the neonatal unit, "Boy, you will live, you will not die."

Four days later, Reverend, the devil said, "Hey, I am here. I came to visit." And the boy that was well went down so far that day — he died.

I looked at the baby. I looked at my God. Reverend Naya was with me, and I made a vow to God:

God, I will not ask 'why me.' I will say 'why not me?' Is it not me that preaches the gospel? Is it not me that preaches about faith? I will not ask you a question. God, why not me?

I began to say, "God, I thank you. God, I praise you for teaching me unshakable faith." What the devil meant for evil, God was using to teach me: when you pray, it doesn't matter what you go through, you must stand.

I said to my wife, "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh; blessed be the name of the Lord." And the devil came saying, "Man of God, what will your church say?"

Finding God in the Valley

Psalm 91 says:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge.

In the place of abiding, you find out who God is. I found God in the middle of my valley. I found God in the middle of my storm. I found God in the middle of my pain.

One young man called me and said, "You mean to tell me all these years you serve God and God couldn't even save your son?" I looked at him and said, "Hey, it was for my good. It was the building of my faith."

I don't know what you've been going through, but it was for your good. I stand in this house's anointing that rests on the pastor and declare: for what you've been through, God is about to give you battle. My enemy will not rejoice over me, because when I fall, I shall rise.

The Name as Defense

Storm doesn't mean God is not with you. Pastor has been teaching the names of God — it is through God's name that you discover his character. But there's another dimension: God's name becomes a defense to those who believe in his name.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it. — Proverbs 18:10

Because of the name of the Lord, you have a rescue. Because of God's name, you can abide. Because of the name of the Lord, you can face tomorrow.

Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide." Verse 2 says, "I will say of the Lord..." In other words, the more you abide, the more you know.

Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go." One of the blessings is that when you are an abider, you get to know who God is.

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." As you are abiding, there shall be an unveiling of God's truth. The devil doesn't play with a man who knows how to abide.

Principle 2: Absolute Dependency on Christ

Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him..."

We have a generation that doesn't know how to abide, doesn't know how to remain.

• You want power, but you don't want to lay on the floor.
• You want God to give you the anointing, but you don't know how to submit.
• You want the grace of God that breaks yokes, but you don't know how to abide.

The second principle is absolute dependency on Christ. "I will abide in you, but because I'm going to abide in you, you can't make decisions on your own. You've got to make God your source."

• Gone are the days of holding the world and trying to hold God.
• Gone are the days of trying to please man and please God.

When God is raising you as a man or woman who abides, you cannot recognize yourself. When you dwell in God's presence, God makes you lose your own dependency. You've got to lose yourself. There is an image of you that God destroys.

Looking Like Jesus

I came to tell Paniym City that God is raising men and women who will not look like themselves, but will look like Jesus.

And in him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not comprehended it. — John 1:4–5

• As you are abiding, God is breaking your character.
• As you are abiding, God is transforming you.
• As you are abiding, God is ruling you.

You cannot abide and still remain the same. I don't care how anointed you are. When pride comes, he crushes you.

Gone Are the Days of Superstars

Gone are the days of superstars in the gospel. We got to the point where there is no power anymore. We are all so hung on ourselves. We pretend to impress ourselves. Today I'm a prophet, I'm a bishop — but you don't have a secret life.

I came to tell you: get on the floor. Put the mic aside.

I don't care if nobody calls me bishop, I want him to know me. I don't care if nobody claps for me, I want to know him. I'm going to lose, lose, lose. I can't abide and still remain me.

Where are those that want to die? Where are those that want to say, "Jesus, I don't want to look like me, but I want to look like you"?

Give Me Jesus

When you begin to have dependency on Christ — what is ambition if it's not Jesus? What is hunger if it's not Jesus? What is desire if it's not Jesus? Give me Jesus.

While men are talking, "Hey bro, I'm about to become a multi-millionaire," it doesn't move you, because to look like him, to be like him — that's what I long for.

I remember when I used to seek God. At the age of 11, I said, "God, I've got to find you." I realized I was not looking for the prophetic anointing. I was not looking for the anointing of ministry. I just wanted Jesus. My friends would talk about the next designer trainers — I wasn't concerned. Something in me was bubbling. I want, I want, I want.

I pray that before we leave here, there will be a release, a deposit of the hunger of the Spirit. God is calling the hungry.

As the deer pants after the water brook, so my soul — give me Jesus. I don't want nothing else but Jesus.

The Secret Place

In ancient days, kings had designated chambers — an inner court that only trusted ones could enter. You are only invited when the king entrusts you. So when David says, "He who dwells in the secret place," it means you have been trusted, found worthy in his presence.

The Anointing Within vs. The Anointing Upon

One of the mistakes we make is we pray for the anointing upon. But Jesus said:

Many will come to me and say, "We prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name, we healed the sick in your name," and he will say, "I knew you not."

The anointing upon doesn't show who you are; it is the anointing within.

• It is the anointing within that the Holy Ghost takes over you internally.
• It is the anointing within that God deals with your appetite.
• It is the anointing within that God deals with your personal growth.
• It is the anointing within that God causes you to have dominion over sin.
• It is the anointing within that God forms the giant in you, makes you a warrior, makes you a prophet.

Before we leave here, there is an anointing that will be cultivated within you. Somebody begin to cry: "God, cultivate the anointing within. I don't want the anointing upon if it's not activated."

Possessing the Gates

This is why the church doesn't grow — everybody's running around for power. Everybody wants to be the next big shot. Everybody wants a large congregation. But there's a dying world.

God said to Abraham, "Your children will possess the gates of your enemy." Gates are places of control. Whoever controls the gate controls the area.

God is raising Paniym City. God is raising you in this church. You shall become the light, and your light will shine in darkness, and the darkness will not comprehend it. Anywhere Paniym City goes, darkness will not comprehend.

Principle 3: Bearing Fruit — Delighting in God

We don't just want to work for him; we want to live for him. You can work for him but not live for him. In Revelation he says, "You have lost your first love." You can come to church, do all the church work — but if you're not living for him, it doesn't mean anything.

Psalm 1:2–3 gives us the clue on how you will bear fruit.

Three Dimensions of Hunger

God spoke to me today: "Son, deal with the gates of hunger." There are three dimensions of hunger:

1. Physical hunger — the hunger for food.
2. The hunger of the soul — love, companionship.
3. The hunger of the spirit — the hunger for God. This is the greatest hunger.

His delight is in the law of the Lord. — Psalm 1:2

When men are delighting in mundane things, the Spirit within us will create a delight. Grab yourself and say: "Neighbor, what's your delight? I will delight in the law of the Lord."

"And in his law he meditates day and night." Not just for a moment. Day and night I'm praying, day and night I am laboring. I want to be like you.

Bringing Forth

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth... — Psalm 1:3

You are bringing forth. The devil is a liar. Your destiny is coming alive.

Open your mouth and say:

God, let me bring forth. My generation depends on it. My nation depends on it. My family depends on it. Let me bring forth.

My generation will not die as long as I am here. My family will not die. My generation will not fail.

We're living in a dark generation — the Bible said in the last days, men will become lovers of money, lovers of themselves. But the Bible said, "Arise and shine." Bring forth.

The Leaf That Will Not Wither

"...and your leaf shall not wither." When I walked in here today, God said, "I'm sending two angels to stir the faith of the people." He said to me, "Not only will you bring forth fruit, but your leaf shall not wither."

You know what that means?

• You will not lose your fire.
• You will not lose your love.
• Your love will not wax cold.
• It shall burn like a flaming fire.

Somebody begin to cry: "Lord, let me burn. Let me burn for my generation. Let me be fire."

I will not give up now. I will fulfill his cause. There is prophecy over me. I will fulfill his prophecy.

My brother, my sister — the prophecy over your life, don't give up.

"The entrance of his word bringeth forth light." As the word is coming right now, you are receiving light.

The Anointing for Dominion

We've dealt with the anointing within — but there's an anointing that comes upon you where God gives you dominion. When the anointing for dominion comes, you take over nations and cities. When it comes, you break through. But it can't happen fully if you're not activated.

Do I have some radicals for Jesus here? I am in one of the best churches in the world. I came to look for men and women on fire.

Acts says, "You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you." Jesus said, "Go and wait." The people that decided to remain and stay — those are the ones that received power. After you have dwelt awhile, he gives you power.

There's a generation looking for the manifesting power of God. They are not impressed by our words; they want to see the God that answers by fire.

• Who are those that will speak to cancer and say, "Cancer, dry up," and they will dry up?
• Who are those that will speak to the gods of Baal and say, "I am a child of the living God"?

Lift up your hands and pray:

God, power, power, power. I need this power that makes me a terror to the camp of the enemy. I need this power — when I raise my voice, hell begins to tremble. When I decree, systems begin to change. Give me power to dismantle the systems of this world.

Closing Prayer and Prophetic Release

We're going to shout "Power" seven times. At the seventh time, begin to pray like you've never prayed. By reason of your prayer, God said he shall give you the gates of this city. You shall possess the gate, and this ministry shall possess it.

Power! Power! Power! Power! Power! Power! Power!

Pray. As you're talking, you're causing every generation to be broken. As you're talking, you are dismantling every system. The name will break the enemies. Revival is here. His Spirit is here.

Holy Ghost, minister to me as I minister to you.

Upon Paniym City, there shall be deliverance. There shall be signs upon this house. There shall be wonders in the name of Jesus.

Father, we thank you, for you are the God of our secret place. We can't remain the same when we are abiding in you. Today, may we carry the light — the light of Jesus that shines and destroys the work of the enemy. God, raise us for this end-time mission. Raise us as we are abiding. Teach us. Show us the ways of the noble, for your word says you are our sanctification and our righteousness. Show us the path of Enoch. The God of the patriarchs, touch our generation again, that once again we will lift up a standard.

Lift your hand. Make up in your mind that you will not leave here the same — that you will leave here with the blessing of the Lord.