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 I See A Small Rising Cloud W PRAYERS HAT IS CLOUD? A visible mass of condensed water floating in the atmosphere. As more water vapour are added, the cloud become heavier to float and thereby begin to drop as rain, snow, hail, etc. So it is very difficult for cloud to develop where evaporation could not take place. Spiritually, a cloud is a potential blessing, a miracle in the making or an enjoyment that is about to begin. It is also a covering from harshness. 1 Kings 18:1: And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. The nation of Isreal had suffered for 3 years of drought before this time, God was then about to have mercy on them. God saw that the people had suffered a lot and was determined to send them a refreshing time. Have you gone through a time of drought? May God bring a time of refreshing to you in Jesus name. As a church, there are certain areas we have experienced drought in the past three years, God is determined to bring refreshing to us in such areas this year in Jesus name. God took the Isrealites through certain sequence before the promised rain fell. He demonstrated great wonder in the sight of the people to show that He alone is God. He allowed Elijah to get rid of the Prophets of Baal misleading the people. He then turned the heart of the people back to Himself. In this month of January, may God demonstrate great signs and wonders in our midst to show that He alone is our Lord. May God equip us with power to extinguish all 'prophets of Baal' misleading His people. May God turn all our hearts to Him afresh again this year in Jesus name. May God cleanse our Assembly completely in Jesus name. Even so, God allowed Elijah to pray for seven times before he received the sign that rain was fast approaching. Elijah did not wait for the thunder storm and lightning to begin. As soon as he heard that a tiny cloud has appeared in the sky, rising from the sea, he knew that God has answered his prayers. How long have you been praying for a rain regarding a particular drought? Look for the 'small rising cloud'. That is the beginning of your answer. As time progresses, the cloud will continue to rise and your miracle will emerge fully. Note that it's not all cloud that brings rain. Rain bearing clouds are vapour laden. They are produced from evaporation from water bodies e.g sea. That's why Elijah was excited. If it's from desert, wind may blow it away. Jesus is our source of supply. May your blessing for 2013 not fizzle away in Jesus name. The answer to the promised blessing of rain came at the seventh time of Elijah's prayer. God said that in this our seventh year of existence, He will make us complete and bring us into fulness of His rest and miracles. Also the cloud the servant saw was like a man's hand. A man's hand has five fingers. These symbolises the five fold ministry of the gospel: pastor, evangelist, teacher, prophet and apostle. All these will start to manifest in our midst from this seventh year. Anointing for pastoring, for evangelising, for teaching, prophesying and apostleship will rest upon us powerfully in Jesus name. It's very important to recognise your small rising cloud. It is your sign for breakthrough. We all love signs. Jesus says people will hardly believe the gospel until they see signs. The Pharisee asked Jesus for the sign of end of time. Even the Apostles asked Him for the sign of His second coming. Mary asked Gabriel...Zachariah asked too... If one miss the sign, the miracle may also be missed. May you not miss your miracle in Jesus name. The children of Isreal were running away from the Egyptians and getting to the red sea, they could not progress. Suddenly they looked back and saw their enemies coming. They were so afraid and thought their lives had ended. God however show them a small sign. Very thick darkness separated the two camps throughout the night while God was making way for them through the Red Sea. I'm sure they were still afraid till they got to the other side of the Red Sea. Are you still afraid despite seeing your rising cloud? God told Joshua to go and spy the City of Jericho, that it has been given into the hands of the Isrealites. Joshua and his people didn't have anything to fight with other than to shout against the City. That does not sound encouraging or convincing. But when the spies came back, they brought good news as a small rising cloud from a harlot. With that, they knew the City would crumble. Are you able to recognise the small rising cloud in your case? May God magnify it before your very eyes in Jesus name. Zechariah 4:8-10 8 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. (1) Almighty Father, help me to pay the price for my miracle to happen. (2) Almighty Father, begin your wonderous works in my life right now. (3) Almighty Father, give me a taster of your 2013 blessings in this month. (4) Almighty Father, let Everlasting Father's Assembly rise higher and higher. Excerpts of a sermon delivered by Pastor Sam Obafaiye on 6th January 2013 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 ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle see his banners go! Refrain: Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. (Refrain) Like a mighty army moves the church of God; Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (Refrain) Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, But the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail; We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail. (Refrain) Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King, This through countless ages men and angels sing. (Refrain)