Come Up Higher - Day One

Five Babies Delivered At RCCG 60th Convention  - Day One - RCCG Convention

AS at 4.00 p.m., yesterday, five babies had already been delivered on the first day of the 60th annual convention of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, currently holding at the Redemption Camp of the church along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to feelers from the Redemption Maternity where the kids were delivered, all the two boys and three girls were in excellent condition.

At the time of this visit two of them had already been discharged and had left for home.

The week long event had just started when the babies started pouring in and their parents were full of joy.

Mrs Chinyere Okafor, a Catholic who resides at Ebute Metta area of Lagos said she had had her previous three babies at the Redemption maternity and it was only natural for the fourth one to be delivered at the camp.

She said her baby boy came at about 10.00 a.m., adding that they are both in good condition.

Florence Adeniyi resides in Aboru area of Iyana Ipaja in Lagos and is a member of the church. She was believing God for safe delivery because she had been told by her doctors that her baby was due on August 5 and she came a day later.

The chorister chose to name her new bundle of joy Oluwafikunayomi (God had added to my joy) in acknowledgement of the mercy of God.

In the case of the first girl of the convention, Oluwadamilola, Araoluwa, Enobong the joy of the parents is unlimited because they have had three miscarriages earlier.

Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Nsikan Jinadu, whose baby was born at 10.20 a.m., said she came to the Holy Ghost Congress in December when Pastor Adeboye made a proclamation that there was a pregnant woman in the congregation who was not comfortable because she had had multiple miscarriages.

She told our reporters that the man of God assured that she would deliver this one safely, adding: "That was the promise that made me to come to the camp to have our first baby and I can tell you that our joy knows no bounds."

Asked for his comments, an over joyous Mr. Jinadu, who lives in Ikorodu with his wife, would rather express his joy in the names he would give his new baby, pointing out that they would do everything to continue to serve God without turning.

Recreation at the camp

THE dismal performance of Nigeria at the ongoing London Olympics, yesterday, motivatéd several youths at the Redemption camp to find some recreation especially at nearest available space where they exhibited their skills on the pitch.

A pack of youths were seen playing some entertaining football, peradventure there might be some scouts who may take their case to either Stephen Keshi or any of the national coaches for possible inclusion in the call up to national assignment.

Quite naturally, there was a cluster of football enthusiasts who gathered round the boys to encourage them while clapping for every good move by the boys.

Peaceful atmosphere

ATMOSPHERE in the camp was calm and peaceful, yesterday, as people went about their duties unperturbed just as traders made brisk businesses selling their wares in an orderly manner.

Opposite the old auditorium, one could see an array of shops displaying their various commodities ranging from bibles, scriptural matters and books in addition to some banking products.

New arrivals were doing themselves some good by shopping for those things that assist them especially under current unfriendly weather conditions.

WHY KILLING THE SAINTS?

16 Deeper Life Church members killed by unknown gunmen in Kogi State

At least 16 worshipers of  Deeper Life Bible Church at   Otite in Adavi Local Government council of Kogi state were reportedly killed on Monday night when gunmen numbering over 10   stormed the church.

Eyewitness said  members of  Church were attending night service when the gun men attacked them killing a many of the worship and injuring several others.

It was gathered that the gunmen  arrived in the church in a Toyota Ice bus and that  on reaching the church premises the gunmen stated shooting sporadically so as to gain entrance  into the church without hindrance.

According to him, the worshippers who were caught unaware could not escape immediately, saying that  the gun men allegedly blocked the entry of the Church and  opened fire on the worshippers as they were struggling to escape.

” We have just counted 16 dead bodies now while 9 other have been rushed to the general hospital Okene. The operation that  lasted for about twenty minutes”said an eye witness who spoke to journalists.

It was  further gathered that students of the Federal College of Education, Okene,and motorist travelling across the town ran into the situation as there were scampered for safety.

When contacted, the kogi state Police Public Relation officer,PPRO,Mr. Simeon Ille ,who confirmed  the incident and that they  are still awaiting official report from the Divisional Police Officer in Okene.

It would be recalled that  suicide bombers had attempted to attack the living faith church along Lagos Road, in Okene LGA last month but were prevent by the security operatives.

                                                         (LET US PRAY FOR PEACE & UNITY IN NIGERIA)

Open Heavens Devotional: SAME STANDARD – Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Open Heavens Devotional: SAME STANDARD – Tuesday, August 7, 2012

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6

Read: Malachi 3:6-7

Immediately Elisha smote River Jordan, he asked for the God of Elijah. Though his spiritual father and mentor was gone, he knew the God of his father was still around.And he look the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and he said, where is the LORD God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 2 Kings 2:14

There is a thin line between reverencing men of God and idolatry. When your spiritual father dies, it is either you look for him expecting him to come back from the grave to attend to your needs or you look out for his God. If you look for him, you will fall into the error of idolatry where many have fallen, but if you look for his God, then you are on the right track. Who are you looking for: the dead or the living God? Why do you think that after Moses died, God buried him on the mountain all by Himself? Nobody knew his grave. Why? It was so that many Israelites will not start looking up to a corpse as their God and forget the living God. Leaders must be very careful never to point the flock to themselves but to Jesus their Owner.

When a bona fide man of God passes on, remember that the God of that man remains. Our God is eternal, immortal and invisible (1 Timothy 1:17). Even when you cannot see Him, He is there. Elijah may be gone but God is still there. Malachi 3:6 says He does not change with time or with the fleeting customs of men. This is why l tell people that God is the most conservative person in the universe. The dress (Light) He has been wearing since the beginning of creation is still what He is wearing today. It is what is not good enough that is constantly being changed, but if it is perfect, there is no need for a change. God does not bend His rules to suit anyone. Once He has spoken, it is a settled case. Many of us still believe that God needs to learn from modern man so as to adjust His standards. For instance, some people think that stress, traffic jams and modern challenges of urban cities are good enough reasons for not meeting up with God’s expectations. Sorry to disappoint you, the word of God is settled in Heaven and His foundation stands sure. Simply ask for grace to comply.

PRAYER POINT: Ask God for grace to keep to His standards.

TRUSTING IN YOUR LOOKS?

TRUSTING IN YOUR LOOKS?

Open Heavens Devotional: Monday 6 August 2012 by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

Read: Ezekiel 16:14-15

The expectations of believers sometimes fail because they are based on the wrong foundation. Expectations that are presumptuous would most likely fail. So also would expectations based on physical qualities such as an individual’s good looks, stature or charm. If your expectation for a husband or a good home is based on your beauty, it may be dashed. There are many ladies who are not beautiful but they are married to good husbands and there are many pretty ladies who earlier thought marriage would be easiest thing for them; in fact, they became so choosy that today they have aged, but are without husbands. If you think beauty or handsomeness will give you a good home, you should have a rethink. Take a man like Absalom. As a man he was described as being beautiful. His kind of beauty was the type that would make any pretty lady green with envy. Apart from Lucifer, Absalom was another personality described as being perfect in beauty. Most ladies would fight to have him as a husband. But at the end they would have regretted that decision.

Imagine what he did? He murdered his half-brother who raped his sister, he spearheaded a powerful rebellion against his father and toppled him, he openly slept with his father’s concubines and he planned to kill his father but for God’s intervention. At the end he died prematurely! His wife became a widow too soon. His three sons and one daughter became fatherless. They lived with the evil tag of being the children of a rebel who died shamefully (2 Samuel 14:25-27). If you think you are too beautiful or too handsome to marry the fellow God has chosen for you as your life partner, make no mistake, you will end up marrying the Absaloms and Jezebels of this world. Today, many pretty ladies are in tears over the deception of beauty. Some men are equally languishing in regret in the confines of their homes because instead of going to the Match Maker and creator, they failed to pray effectively. They believed their physical attractiveness would pull sisters to them, and they would find a good wife from among them. Any partner you get from God is the best you can ever have, no matter how imperfect the fellow is. Go to the Lord today!

PRAYER POINT:

Father, in any way I have trusted in my looks and physique, have mercy on me. Father today, I put all my trust in you.

Bible in one year:  Joshua 1-3

Consistency in his time (Usain Bolt)

Usain Bolt, who set the track world on fire four years ago with a dominant Olympic performance in Beijing, looks like he's going to do it again in London.

Bolt, 25, the Jamaican world recordholder and defending Olympic champion, exploded down the track at London's Olympic Stadium and won the gold medal in the 100 meters late Sunday night in a blazing time of 9.63 seconds — the second-fastest time in history.

The mark broke his Olympic record set in Beijing — 9.69 — and was just .05 seconds off the world record of 9.58 he set at the 2009 world championships.

In one of the great 100 meters of all time, Yohan Blake of Jamaica was second (9.75) and Justin Gatlin of the USA was third (9.79).

"When it comes to the championships, this is what I do," Bolt said. "I'm really focused, and I'm ready. I just came out there and showed the world that I'm still No. 1. I'm still the best.

"A lot of people come out to see what I'm going to do today, tomorrow. It's fun for them. I enjoy showing them and giving them the joy that I get out of doing this."

Bolt said coming into the Games that his goal was "to become a legend."

It was a good start.

"It means I'm one step closer to being a legend," Bolt said. "That's just one step. I have the 200 (meters) to go, so I'm looking forward to that. The 100 is just one step in the door."

Bolt, who lost to training partner Blake, 22, in the 100 and 200 in the Jamaican Olympic trials, avenged one of those losses. Bolt said he will avenge the other loss when the 200 meters begins Tuesday.

"I've told Yohan that the 200 meters will be different, because that's my pet event," he said. "I'm not going to let him beat me again. I've said that to him already.

"The (Jamaican) trials woke me up. Yohan gave me a wakeup call. He knocked on my door and said, 'Usain, this is an Olympic year. Wake up. I'm ready. Are you?' "

It wasn't just the losses at the trials that raised questions about Bolt this year. His starts were sluggish, causing speculation that his false-start disqualification in last year's world championships 100 meters, won by Blake, was still playing in his head. His back was an issue. His hamstring was an issue. Some critics even said his partying might be an issue.

"My back was hurting, there was never a doubt about that," Bolt said. "But I got my treatment, and my coach said this is what we're going to do, and I did it. There were a lot of people doubting me. There was a lot of talk."

Sunday night, there were no issues, and no doubters.

Bolt got out of the blocks fine — not great, but fine — and found himself, in Lane 7, slightly behind Gatlin, a sensational starter, in Lane 6.

"My start wasn't the best, but my coach (Glen Mills) already explained to me to forget about the start, and I'm past that," he said.

As soon as he got his incomparably long stride going, the 6-5 Bolt caught Gatlin, and passed him and everyone else.

"Bolt was Bolt," Gatlin said. "He's a great runner. He's 6-5. You can't miss him. He's there. When those legs lift, you feel it.

"He the Michael Phelps of our sport. He's a showman. People come out and pay their money to watch a good race. Is it arrogant? Is it cocky? I don't think so. I want to go out there and beat him. I want to beat Blake, too. But at the end of the day, the best guy won today."

It was an eye-opening, jaw-dropping performance after so many months of speculation that the Bolt Era in track might be in decline.

"He's an unbelievable sprinter," said Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Richard Thompson, who was seventh. "The entire world thinks he's unbeatable and right now he is."

Gatlin, 30, the 2004 Olympic champion who served a four-year doping suspension ending in 2010, was thrilled with his bronze and personal-best 9.79.

"It means so much to me," Gatlin said. "It just feels good to be back. It was a great race. One for the history books. I'm just glad to be a part of it."

Tyson Gay, 29, the second-fastest man in the world by virtue of his 9.69 in 2009, was trying to race against the short clock and a long clock; he was coming back from 2011 hip surgery. He summoned a big effort — a season-best 9.8 — but in this company, on this night, that was good for only fourth. The USA's Ryan Bailey, with a personal-best 9.88, was fifth.

Seven of the eight runners finished under 10 seconds, and probably all eight would have if not for Jamaica's Asafa Powell, a former world recordholder, pulling up and coasting in at 11.99.

They call fourth at the Olympics the cruelest finish, and Gay was crying as he struggled to complete sentences to reporters in the interview area.

"I don't think I could go back and do nothing else," he said. "I feel like I ran with the field. I just came up short. That's all I did."

Much had been made about the possibility of bad weather preventing fast times on the Olympic Stadium track.

But at race time Sunday night, just before 10 p.m. London time, when the fastest men in the world lined up to see who is fastest, the weather was perfect.

The main question was whether we would see the Beijing Bolt again or the lesser version that had been on display this season

In Beijing, Bolt ran three races and set three world records -- 9.69 in the 100, 19.30 in the 200, plus a third world record on the Jamaican winning 4 x 100 relay team.

The next year, at the 2009 world championships in Berlin, he lowered those marks to 9.58 in the 100 and 19.19 in the 200.

And there those records have remained.

In 2010, Bolt's fastest time was 9.82. Last year, his fastest was 9.76, and he was disqualified for a false start in the 100 meters at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

This season, again 9.76 had been his fastest time, and he had suffered the two losses to Blake.

In round 1 in London Saturday, he stumbled out of the blocks - another sluggish start - and lumbered to the line in 10.09 seconds.

During introductions for his semifinal heat Sunday evening, he struck a boxing pose and threw a right and a left.

Then he looked as comfortable as could be, starting pretty well, driving through the halfway point like an Olympic champion would, and then easing up at the finish with a big lead. His time - 9.87 - signaled something special might be coming.

Then - wow! The old Bolt, back again, accelerating away from the field and into history, the first repeat gold medalist in the 100 since Carl Lewis in 1984 and '88 - though Lewis' '88 gold came only after Ben Johnson's disqualification for doping.

Bolt will be back in the 200 meters, and likely he will be back for another Olympics in 2016. He is just 25, after all.

This might have been the end of the Olympic road for Gatlin, who will be 34 in 2016, and Gay, who will be 33.

In a race in which heroes are celebrated, reputations revised and perhaps careers ended, a legend grew.

And London had had quite an Olympic moment.

Copied from USA TODAY

HEEDING TRAFFIC LIGHTS? Open Heaven Devotional Saturday 4 August, 2012

HEEDING TRAFFIC LIGHTS?

Open Heaven Devotional Saturday 4 August, 2012 – By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Posted by: Peter Kuku

Memorise: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalms 37:23

Read: 

Matthew 2:19-23

The things we see in the empirical world ought to give us a better understanding of our God. This truth is expressed in Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

We can learn some truths about God by studying traffic lights. This creation of man consists of colours Red, Yellow and Green, the combination of these colours of light is used in exercising control. We find the combination of these colours also present in the rainbow and when white light is dispersed by a prism. We have been looking at the essence of our God from the context of these colours as our God is described as light in 1 John1:5. Psalms 37:23 says: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

When God loves a man, He will control his movement the same way traffic lights control the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Take for example Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1-16, God told Elijah, “Go to the brooks” and he went. Later, He told him, “Go to the widow of Zarephath” and he did. Wherever God sent him, he was ready to go and his needs were ever met. Similarly, Isaac was another very obedient servant. If you do a study on him, you will find out that all through his life, there was no where God was angry with him. This is because he lived in obedience. A famine came upon the land and Isaac wanted to leave but God asked him to stay and he obeyed (Genesis 26:1-14). In the same vein, the Lord instructed Joseph to run to Egypt with the child Jesus and he obeyed (Matthew 2:13-23).

Control covers every aspect of life. Sometimes the red light will come on and God will say stop or wait. Many people do not want to see this as they walk with God but it is only for their own good. When you continue to move when God says stop, you will get into trouble. At other times, God may show you the yellow sign, meaning that a particular blessing you have been asking for will soon be released, so get ready. If you are not ready at that time you may miss it. Then there are times God gives you the green light to go on. It could be concerning who to marry, where to further your education, etc. Once you get the green light, go ahead. When you pray to God, He uses these colours to speak to you. Have you been sensitive to these colours? Or do you jump the gun? The one who sees red but gives himself a green will have tales of disappointment to share.

KEY POINT
If you will faithfully obey spiritual traffic signs, your progress will be rapid, you will remain in God’s will and you will be spared unnecessary headaches.

Bible in One year: Deuteronomy 29-31

COME UP HIGHER 2012

RCCG 60th Annual Convention 2012: Come up Higher (6th – 12th August 2012) by Peter Kuku

WELCOME MESSAGE BY DADDY G.O. “COME UP HIGHER”
Dear beloved brethren, it is with great joy and gladness of heart that we welcome you to the 60th annual convention of this glorious mission. The lord has indeed been very gracious to us, showing us great mercies, miracles, deliverance, victories, provision. We also bless the name of the Lord for keeping you alive in his mercy, since last time we gathered here.
This convention is an invitation of our heavenly father to behold King, His power and His greatness. He is asking us to ‘come up higher’ through the high way of holiness, increased faith and purity, enlarged vision, and an ever increasing greatness unto glorious expectations.
“…and a highway shall be there, and a way and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the way faring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isaiah 35: 8)
There is a place specially prepared for those who yield to the invitation to come up higher. A position of higher level of power, grace, glory, mercy, joy, total victory, success, prosperity and deliverance. This is why you have come, be prepared to receive LIFE in its fullness!
We encourage you to personally and passionately see him by availing yourself of the various seminars, and plenary sessions. Prayerfully commit yourself and your future to deep intimacy with Jesus Christ. Drink in deeply of his presence and do not allow yourself to be distracted.
It is our desire that the power of the Holy Spirit may arise within you and cause you to long for more of Him daily from now till you are filled to overflowing.
There is room at the top for you, see you there in Jesus name.

PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
(GENERAL OVERSEER)
CONVENTION SEMINARS SCHEDULE
PLENARY SESSIONS
OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY
THAT I MAY KNOW HIM
THE UPWARD WAY
DIVINE COMMANDOES
THE PURPOSE OF VICTORY
THERE IS ROOM AT THE TOP
DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS
COME UP HIGHER
SUPERIOR POWER
ANOTHER HOME IN VIEW

GROUP SEMINARS
YOUTH 1: BORN TO SHINE
YOUTH 2 : A FAMILY TRADITION OF TOTAL DEDICATION TO GOD
ELDERS: HEAVENLY FOCUS
CHILDREN /TEENAGERS: GROWING UP IN THE LORD
GOOD WOMEN FORUM
SPECIAL EVENTS
1 HOUSE FELLOWHSIP LEADERS: HIGER LEVEL
2. ORDINATION OF DCN./ DCNS : HIGHER RESPONSIBILITIES
3. ORDINATIONS OF A /PS: GREATER ANOINTING
4. GRADUATION: DIVINE HIGHER COMMISSIONER

SPECIAL SEMINARS – WED 8TH, THUR 9TH, SAT 11TH
EXPANDING VISION
GREATER LEVEL OF FAITH
HIGHER LEVEL OF PRAYER
ENLARGED COASTS
GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN
MAENT FOR THE TOP
WALKING, RUNNING AND FLYING
EVER INCREASING GREATNESS
DEVELOPING YOUR SPIRITUAL MUSCLES
EXERCISING DOMINION
FROM GLORY TO GLORY
GO UP AT ONCE
OVERCOMING ANOINTING (MINISTERS ONLY)