I WAS meditating recently to find out from God what will be our theme for 2013. There were certain challenges I saw in 2012 that I was asking God to completely eradicate in the next. God answered and said, "All covenanted ministries (whether individual or church) will hit major storm in their 3rd year. If the ministry escapes that by grace, a greater storm will come against it in its 6th year. If the ministry equally escapes the double storm, it will then qualify for the blessings of the 7th year”. For us in Everlasting Father's Assembly, there were storms that we went through at three years. To the glory of God, we escape them all. Also at six years, thank God for all the astounding accomplishments that we have enjoyed, we also escaped double storms. Glory be to God! So I asked God, since we have escaped the sixth year, what is the blessing of the seventh year? He took me back to the creation of the world. He said, ‘What did the bible says I did on the seventh day’? And I said that You rested from Your labours. So, God said "2013 is your year of My rest". Note that it is the God's rest, not our kind of rest. The bible says that God does not sleep nor slumber (Ps. 121:4). So it's not a rest of sleep. Neither is it of folding of hands. It is a rest from excessive labours and entering into excessive favours. The seventh day was a time when God stopped creating on this earth, but switched to watching over what He has created. In 2013, God will help us to look after what He has created for us and through us. We will supervise and oversee machinery that will run itself. Every system that God has helped us to create will begin to work for us. Grace will supersede haste. There was a time when the Israelites were fighting Canaan, the Israelites were outnumbered. So God began to use constellations to fight for them (Judges 5:20). God will assign hosts of heaven to work for us in 2013 . By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye FOR INDIVIDUALS FOR NIGERIA: INTERNATIONAL: : 1. No matter the darkness around you, your star will shine brighter. 2. God says, He will speak peace to your storms 3. Certain individuals have been stagnated for sometimes, the reasons for your stagnation will become known, will be addressed and will be eliminated, therefore progress will follow. 4. In many senses of the word, this year will be of completeness. 1. The prayers of some of you minimized death of prominent Nigerians last year, don’t stop praying. 2. Before the middle of the year, many will say hope rising. 3. Learn from disasters of 2012 and take precaution soonest to avert bigger ones.. 1. The Lord says prominent world leaders need a lot prayers so as not to die in office. 2. Prominent Church leaders need prayers against planned scandals. 3. Weather conditions may get worse, much worst, unless prayers are intensified. 4. We should expect a major breakthrough in medicine this year. 5. Nations who pass unholy laws will have a taste of divine fury. By Pastor Enoch Adeboye (Gen. Overseer RCCG Worldwide) Workers’ Trg, Teens & Children Sunday School - 09:40am Adult Sunday School - 10:15 am Call To Worship - 11:00AM Wisdom Spot Praise & Worship Liberty Prayers Special Number Message Offering Announcements Tithes Closing Prayers & Benediction - 13:00pm Are you in need of Assistance or Support? Talk to Welfare Coordinator - Minister Adebisi Olobaniyi JANUARY 2013 THEME: GREAT PREAMBLE THE RCCG (EVERLASTING FATHER’S ASSEMBLY) 2013 PROPHECY. THEME: OUR YEAR OF GOD’S REST Isaiah 65: 21-24, Isaiah 14:1-4 THE RCCG (WORLDWIDE) 2013 PROPHECY THEME: YEAR OF SIGNS AND WONDERS FREE TRANSPORT TO CHURCH For details of bus stops please email [email protected] or call 07718079394 FROM THE PULPIT CONGREGATIONAL HYMN - By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye P REAMBLE is defined as a preliminary or preparatory statement which states the reason for the rest of the document; an introduction to a formal document that serve to explain its purpose; preface; or prelude. Many prospective students need to send such preamble of their proposed thesis before they are admitted into University. Others send such preamble for them to obtain scholarships for their Research Programme. It is only great preambles that gets chosen, especially when competition is keen. God told Abraham to leave his father's house, his land and kindred and proceed to a place He would show him, and that blessing will await him (Gen. 12:1-3). I don't see Abraham leaving home with many things, because of the uncertainty of the trip, and because blessing is promised at the destination. So, God needed to show him the preamble of the blessing promised to encourage him. This came as a surprised gift from who should have been an enemy - king Pharaoh of Egypt (Gen. 12:11- 16). Though Abraham was somehow in error to go to Egypt without asking God and also risking his wife's life. God had mercy on him and grant him great preamble of His promise. In this month of January, God will introduce His intended 2013 blessings to us. He will give us preparatory and preliminary touch of His greatness in Jesus name. He will make us to find favour with 'Pharaohs' of this land. The natural endowments of this land will come to us as gifts in Jesus name . By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye Things Will Get Better O NE of the biggest weapons the devil uses on Christians is discouragement. Regardless of your status in God or faith, the devil will try a fast one on you to see if it works. Surprisingly, on many occasions, discouragement does work on us as Christian. So Satan has known that it is a sure weapon. It worked on Prophet Elijah when Jezebel threatened him (1 Kings 19:1-4). David had been discouraged before (1 Sam 30:1-7). It was tried on Jesus as well (Mathew 26:36-41). It worked against the Apostles when Christ was arrested (Matthew 26:56) Paul the Apostle has found himself in that sort of situation before (2 Cor. 1:8-9). But for every one who is able to demonstrate endurance and take courage in the word of God, victory over the enemy is assured. May things get better for you in Jesus name. Our God is such that does things in increasing manner. God move things from one glory unto a higher glory. He makes things shine brighter and brighter until rapture comes (Prov 4:18). But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Right from the creation of the world, God made things in a progressive order. The world was without form or shape. God began with light to see things clearly, so He made Night and Day. Then God made the firmament to divide the waters up and down. Then God made earth and seas. He made trees, grass and herbs. He then makes the two great lights: sun and moon including the stars for signs and seasons. Then God made creatures in the air, land and water. Then God made man. Things took shape progressively with God. May things take shape for you in Jesus name. Also we would see that Jesus ministry began small and then progresses. First miracle was turning water to wine (John 2:1-11). Then healing of noble man's son (John 4:46). The man with 38 years impotent in Chapter 5:1-9. He fed 5,000 men with 5 bread and 2 fishes. Then He worked on water in Chapter 6. In Chapter 9, he opened the eyes of a man blind from birth. By Chapter 11, He was able to raise up Lazarus who had died for 4 days! What level are you operating now? Do you believe you can be more than this? Things will get better for you in Jesus name. In Chapter 1 of Haggai, God sent a message to Zerubbabel the Governor of Judah and Joshua the High Priest that the time has come for His temple to be built. That was on 01/06. God actually said He was angry with the people, because they were living in their own homes and left His own temple anyhow. God said the people were operating under a curse until they change. (Haggai 1:3-11). The Governor, the High Priest and the people did fear God and obeyed His word. So God promised to be with them. God also stirred up their spirit to do the work. They started on the 24/06. Barely three weeks, they complied! There are some of us here that do not care of what happens to the temple where we worship. They think as long as their own house is ok, that fine. Whenever money is rarely asked to be given for God’s work, they would start grumbling. Some will not give love offering, nor pay their tithes here. Yet they still enter into this temple. God says I should tell such people that they are joking with Him. ‘You are manufacturing my curse’, He says. He also says, ‘Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain and bring resources to build this house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified’. When God is glorified in what you have done for Him, know that the glory will rub on you. However, in Haggai 2:1-9, the bible tells us that barely one month (21/07) after the work began, the people became discouraged. People were comparing it with the one Solomon built that was destroyed 50 years before. These were the people who were old enough to know the old temple and happened to be alive to see the rebuilding of the new one. They kept telling the young and new people working that if you see the old one, this one is useless. It not comparable, its rubbish! So the labourers became weak and weary. God however personally asked everyone who is working to be strong. They should not mind which temple is more glorious. That He is with them. They should remember His covenant that He made with them as far back as when they left Egypt. That His Spirit remains among them. They must not be afraid! I perceived that some old members have been speaking to newer ones that some years ago, this Church used to be this or that glorious, because they were opportune to be there then and possibly still hanging out with us today. God said you should tell them that things will get better! That they should watch and see! That they should stop telling you history and get working. Governor Zerubbabel and his people did not have the sort of gold that Solomon had in his time. The king of Tyre in Lebanon did not supply them with cedar trees. They could not import architects and builders like Solomon. God told them to go and cut tree from around them. We might not be in the Cinema that looks posh anymore. We might not be at the City Centre as we used to be. God still said, "Things will get better!” What God is asking is that you and I should go to places around us and fetch human and material resources. Then God said very soon He Himself will shake the Heaven, Seas, Earth and Dry lands. He will shake all nations and make nations desire to come and see the latter temple. He said the silver and the gold that Solomon used to decorate the former temple belongs to Him. So therefore, He will make the glory of the latter temple to be more glorious than the former one. On top of that greater glory, God said He will give peace. Like Us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RCCGEFA Follow Us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/RCCGEFALeeds Read our BLOG- http://www.rccgefaleedsblog.wordpress.com RCCG EFA LEEDS HOUSE FELLOWSHIP CENTRES LS1, LS2, LS7 & LS8 Flat 147, 20-20 House, Skinner lane LS7 1BE (Ajayi’s Residence) LS3, LS4, LS5, LS6, LS12, LS13 & LS16 15 – 17 Walter Street, Off Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS4 2BB(Church Premises) LS10 & LS11 1 Murray View, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 4GD (Iduoze Residence) YORK ROAD 98 Cartwell Drive LS15 0PD. (The Adunmade’s residence) BRADFORD Flat 9, Thirkhill Court, Ripley Street, West Bowling, Bradford BD5 7TY O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home. Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defence is sure. Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day . O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while life shall last, And our eternal home O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST Continued on Page 5