T HE hands are a very important part of the human body. They are used to perform several functions: touching; grasping; feeling; holding; manipulating; writing; working; caressing; warring; etc. The bible makes us to know that even though God is a Spirit, He created the human being in His own image and likeness. That therefore tells us that God has hands. The bible also tells us some of the things that the hands of God can do. There was a competition between Ahab the king of Israel who was racing on a chariot and an aged Elijah the prophet of God who was jogging on foot. At the end of the race from the desert to the gate of Jezreel (about 17 miles), it happened that Elijah came first! The bible however makes us to know that it was because the hand of God was upon Elijah (I Kgs. 18: 41-46).For astounding accomplishment to happen in the life of a fellow therefore, it is necessary that the ‘hand of God’ to be upon that fellow. This month of October, the hand of the Lord God Almighty will be upon us to take us ahead of ‘chariots’ of life; the Hand will put us before the ‘Ahabs’ – of life; and make us triumphant in Jesus name. By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye A STOUNDING is defined as bewildering or striking dumb with wonder; or so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm. While accomplishments could be defined as the act of carrying out or achieving; something achieved or successfully completed; gained skills or talent; attainment of social grace, style, and poise. After God ordered Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor; Elisha left his lucrative mechanized farming and became a servant to Elijah. He would run errands for him and take care of his master. The time came when God was prepared to take Elijah away; Elisha’s contemporaries began to make mockery of him that he would soon be like them, but Elisha was determined not to remain as an ordinary son of a prophet; but as someone spectacular. So he demanded for the double portion of the anointing of God upon his master. The bible records that Elisha was able to fulfil the condition set by Elijah and so received the double portion of his master’s anointing! The sons of prophet that thought Elisha was already stranded at the other side of Jordan bowed before him and called him ‘Master’ after he parted the Jordan River and walked through it on dry ground! (2 Kings 2: 1-15). In the year 2012, the Spirit of God says He will make us to achieve feats that are astounding; gain talents and skills that are staggering; and enjoy attainments of social grace, style and poise that are startling! By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye FOR INDIVIDUALS FOR NIGERIA: INTERNATIONAL: : 1. He said many considered to be absolutely barren will be fruitful. 2. He said family histories will be rewritten, including an end to premature death. 3. He said desperate prayers will get quick reply this year. 4. He said some will experience massive transfer of wealth from the wicked to the just. 1. God says He has surprises both for His own and for the enemies of the church. 2. He said before this year ends, it will be said of Nigeria; all is well that ends well. 3, He said we are to pray more for prominent Nigerians, so that those who see this year may see the next. 1. Daddy says there will be a lot of power transfer. 2. He said new phenomenon will startle scientists. 3. He said we are to pray against earth quakes of record magnitude, tsunamis of record proportion and massive hurricanes. if we pray they will be subdued. 4. The civil unrest that started last year, will begin to end this year. However, no matter what happens, 2012 is a Year of New Things. All is well. 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 CONGREGATIONAL HYMN OCTOBER 2012 THEME: THE HAND OF GOD THE RCCG (EVERLASTING FATHER’S ASSEMBLY) 2012 PROPHECY THEME: OUR YEAR OF ASTOUNDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE RCCG (WORLDWIDE) 2012 PROPHECY THEME: OUR YEAR OF NEW THINGS FREE TRANSPORT TO CHURCH For details of bus stops please email [email protected] or call 07718079394 FROM THE PULPIT - By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye O PRAYERS NE of the most difficult experiences in life is drought. Drought of any kind is bad. Spiritual and physical drought is not what someone should experience. Spiritual drought exists when one is experiencing a blockage to heaven. It's like someone trying to communicate with God but discovers there is a ceiling of brass above his/her head, so that his/her prayers get nowhere. Spiritual drought is caused by un-confessed sin (Ps 66:18); relying on oneself (Jer 2:13); and judgement of God (Amos 8:11). Physical drought exists when there are seemingly no tangible results or physical fruits emanating from a life. This is mainly caused by disobedience (Deut 11:16-17); and at times as a result of trial (Job 1: 20-21) or persecution (I Cor. 16:8-9). The Children of Israel at the time of Elijah was experiencing both physical and spiritual drought, because they forsook the Living God and were serving Baal, God became distant from them and withheld rain, which brought about no food. As the people returned to the Almighty God, Elijah prophesied an abundance of rain, and after praying, he proclaimed that a great rain that can stop even chariots was about to fall. The question is why run frantically from a rain you have been praying for in three and a half years? I thought the whole nation was to dance in the rain when it's pouring down. Through scriptural research, I got to know that the distance from Mount Carmel where Elijah and Ahab were, and the City of Jezreel is about 20 miles journey, a part of which is the Valley of Esdraelon (River Kishon) that is muddy and miry when flooded with rain, so that one could be stranded in the desert or stuck helplessly in the mud (Judg 4:7, 13, 15; 5:21). - Jabin king of Canaan and Sisera the Commander waterloo. May your feet not get stuck in the miry clay of life in Jesus name. Again, what I have realized in life is that there are different kinds of rain. There is rain that refreshes and there is rain that destroys. There are mercy drops, there are showers of blessings, and there is also great rain. When rain falls in excess, percolation is exceeded, evaporation is not possible. The only option available is erosion. There is nothing good about erosion. It is a destructive power. Settlements, farmlands, animals and people are washed off. But thanks be to Jehovah, there is a 'Hand' that delivers from the 'floods' of life. May that Hand deliver you in Jesus name. What sort of ‘rain’ is pouring down on you? Is it mercy drops, thank God and ask for more. Is it showers of blessings? Be grateful to God. Is it great rain? Ask God for strength against any ‘erosion’ or ‘landslide’. In Gen 14:1-20, the bible tells us that Chedorlaomer king of Elah went out and kept attacking and destroying all the cities of Amalekites, Amorites, as well as Sodom and Gomorrah. He then took away the people and all that they had, including Lot and his family! It was like a flood that swept everything in its path away! When the news came to Abram, he took 318 armed servants with him, pursued and attacked the garrisons of the invaders by night. He put the enemies to plight, rescued the captured people and brought back the goods that the enemies had seized from their raids! The question is how can 318 slaves overpower nations? The armed slaves did not run away. They fought for their master, overcame and brought back what they sized! It can only be because the hand of God had delivered those nations into Abram's hand (vs 19-20). 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. May God deliver the life of your enemies into your hands. (E.g. David in I Sam 17:45-47). May flood coming against you be stopped by God. May spirits and people that have raided on you handover to you what they have taken. May people and nations that are gathered against you flee from before your face. May Jehovah - the Possessor of heaven and earth delivers back to you the grounds you've lost. May the grace of God upon your life rescue your relations in Jesus name. Psalm 68: 1 - Almighty God, arise and let your enemies and mine enemies be scattered in Jesus name. Almighty Father, inflict terror in the camp of my enemies in Jesus name. Job 6:23 - Almighty Father, ransom my life from the gang up of the ruthless. Psalm 3:7 - Almighty Father, destroy the weapons of my enemies. Psalm 69:14 - Almighty Father, deliver me from mire and flood of life and from those who hate me. Excerpts of a sermon delivered by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye on October 7 2012 The ‘Hand’ That Rescues From The Drought and The Flood of Life MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING ELSE My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.