Let somebody shout hallelujah! What a beautiful way to end the month, what a glorious way to celebrate our victory; our victory is not from any man but our victory is from the Lord, He says we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. I pray that by the reason of your own personal declaration this morning, your victory shall be established; from this moment, you will not collaborate with wasters; you will not walk together with enemies of God, and nothing put together by a man or a woman shall be able to hurt you. 

God will continue to be the lifter of your head. The songs of victory, the songs of rejoicing will never cease in your tabernacle; and God, your God, my God, our God will rise up and fight for us and our victory shall be irrevocable. 

The Lord will bless you, for the days that are left in the month of April, the Lord will bless you. I stand on the altar of God this morning and by the apostolic authority, I declare in the name that is above every other name that this month will not end without your victory being settled. Every cause of shame, every cause of fear, every cause of pressure shall be taken away; you shall be relieved and you shall be blessed in the name of Jesus.  

As the word comes, the word will locate you; the power in the word of God will be made manifest in your life, every yoke shall be broken and you will secure your freedom, so shall it be in the name of God the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. 

Whether you believe it or not, it’s a prophetic Sunday, this is a prophetic movement and we want to bless the Almighty God for the choristers, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has used them to kick-start the service and I can assure you that everyone of you under the influence of my voice will testify to the goodness of God.

Good morning everybody, it is with joy in my heart that we welcome every one of you to this glorious service, being the last of its kind as far as the month of April is concerned, God will give you reasons to testify and He will make today a memorable day for you in Jesus name. 

Let me seize this opportunity to express our appreciation to all of you for your massive outpouring of love, goodwill, prayers and even gifts during my birthday yesterday. I told the workers and ministers this morning that it got to a point tears started rolling from my eyes, you touched my heart of heart and of course what you did provoked a very serious thought and I recalled my beginning as much as I could and I never knew that I would come this far in life, because everything was pointing to nothing.

I told them in the morning that the little hope that we had left was rekindled by the faith that came with our salvation, and ever since then, it has been a progressive onward journey. 

I want to seize this opportunity to appreciate everyone of you because I was extremely overwhelmed; we know the state of the nation but yet people went out of their way to make humongous sacrifices just to appreciate an orphan like us, a young man like us, grandfathers, grandmothers, brothers and sisters, setting protocols aside, setting personal comfort and conveniences aside to honor us, the Lord will honor you in Jesus name. I can assure you it’s not something we want to take for granted, you can take that anywhere, we want to say thank you and God will thank you for us in Jesus name. Praise the Lord!

I do this for myself and for my wife and on behalf of everybody in the family, God will bless you. I want to appreciate all the ministers, I think they also are in the vanguard   of the whole thing, I want to say thank you to everyone of you, it’s been a pleasure working with credible men and women, God-fearing men and women, we are proud of you and like I always say, I love you very profoundly, thank you for what you represent, thank you for what you stand for, God bless you mightily in Jesus name. 

Genesis 30: 1 – 8, (before I forget, I would like to announce that there will be a brief meeting of all men and women above 50 and I’m going to be there and that will be immediately after the second service, I can assure you we won’t take your time, the Lord will bless you mightily in Jesus name). “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.             

I pray for you under the influence of my voice this morning that whatever it is that your heart desires, you will not have it by substitution but you will have it direct in the name of Jesus Christ.  5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali”. May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing of His words in Jesus name. 

I pray today in the name of Jesus, every one of you here, together with as many of you that are under the influence of my voice, today marks the beginning of your victory, you will prevail over your circumstances, you will prevail over your enemies in the mighty name of Jesus. 

Our mummy that came to lead us in prayer, I said pray that God will fight your enemy, she said she knows her enemies; I said you don’t know your enemies, I beg to disagree, and sometimes those you think are your friends are actually your enemies. When the Bible talks about household enemies, those are the unfriendly friends; on the surface, they look good, you share your secrets with them, but in the real sense they are the ones that hurt.

Yoruba has a proverb, they say kokoro to n j’efo, ara efo l’owa, but in the mighty name of Jesus, my God will deliver you, from known enemies and unknown enemies, God will fight for you and your victory shall be irreversible in the mighty name of Jesus. 

Today as we are all aware is the last Sunday in the month of April and once today passes, you don’t get to have it again; the next April 28th you will have will be for another year, not that of 2024, and of course our declaration for the month is our month of victory and our text was taken from the Book of 1st Corinthians 15: 57. When you talk about victory, you talk about living above challenges and living above unpleasant situation.    

So this morning by the grace of God, I will be talking to us on the topic “Victory for the Desperate”. It was something I shared about four years ago that I recall during one of our prayer meetings, but the spirit started leading me to it consistently, I sat down and got something prepared, the spirit said look, go back to this and I believe very strongly that God wants to deliver some people in the house today, and for as many that are in need of deliverance, you will not leave here without being blessed in Jesus name. 

Now, the word desperate is from the word despair, and it is a state or the feeling of having lost all hope. In other words, it’s a state or feeling of hopelessness; it’s a state of worries, it is a state of anxieties and of course, it is a state of unhappiness. It is a condition in which one wants to do anything without minding the consequences. Rachel (in our text) was practically in this emotional situation because desperation is always a product of emotion and that was the same condition that Rachel found herself, that was why in frustration and despair, she asked Jacob – the husband to give her children and she threatened further that if you don’t give me children, I will die.

Rachel’s desperation took a better part of her to the extent of wanting to end it, she wanted to put an end to it all because of her childlessness. And I must confess that the condition of childlessness is better imagined than experienced; I was once in that school for about two years – personally, after our marriage, the first year we had a threatened abortion and it had to be evacuated, the evacuation was done and after that nothing was happening, and those we thought are men and women of faith in the family demonstrated so much panic that eventually puts me under pressure. It got to a point I started avoiding them, and of course my mother was there, my father never bothered, you know there is a way a man will say well, at God’s time. 

Then there was no phone, anytime I traveled home or my mother came to Lagos, she would ask me what is happening; so being in a state of childlessness can never be a pleasant one. In fact I remember, some people from my in-law’s side said you see we now know what caused this childlessness, they said the day of the engagement they requested for a goat and I went to the market, because I knew they were going to eat this goat, I looked for a very good ogufe (male-goat) and bought for them, massive ogufe; then my sister was a little bit dramatic with that ogufe, she now bought tomatoes, tatashe (red bell peppers), onions, put holes inside them and made a chain for the goat, we presented the goat, nobody complained, nobody talked and after marriage and no child was coming, they said ah, he gave us a male goat and meanwhile they ate my goat, all the condiments and all that, they took it, they didn’t complain but when child was not coming, they now said ah, we said it, even the goat he gave us was a male goat. 

Okay if I gave you a male goat, why did you take it? Anyway long story short, to the glory of God we testified, and I stand on this exalted altar today, I don’t know what your situation is, I don’t know what people are saying, I don’t know what they are attributing it to, but one thing I know is that God will fight for you and He will open your womb in the name of Jesus. 

Every one of you in the school of waiting, it was like the Sunday school manual – I prepared my sermon before I even saw the Sunday school manual talking about ‘waiting in time’, I said there is a way God reaches out, talks to His people. Every one of you in the waiting room, by this time next year, God will turn you to joyful mothers and fathers of children in the name of Jesus. 

Yours might not be physical children, it might be that you are trusting God for a house, you might be trusting God for a vehicle, maybe you might be trusting God for a life partner, I decree, whatever it is that you are in the school of waiting for, before this time next year, the Lord will surprise you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Now, who was Rachel?

One, Rachel was the favorite of the biblical patriarch, Jacob’s two wives as well as the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel.

The name Rachel is from an unused root – meaning, to journey as ewe (that is a good traveler). When you talk about ewe, you talk about a fully matured sheep in the biblical terms, and ewe is always used as a traveler, very strong, pretty, matured, and I decree today in the name of Jesus that there is a traveler from hopelessness to hope in name of Jesus Christ. I said there is a traveler from hopelessness to hopefulness under the influence of my voice this morning; there is a traveler from barrenness to fruitfulness, there is a traveler from ridicule and shame to honor and exaltation, and that will be your own story today, whether you say amen or not, that will be your testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Who was Rachel? Rachel was the daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah, Jacob’s first wife. 

And lastly, who was Rachel? Rachel was a niece to Rebecca, Laban being Rebecca’s brother, making Jacob her first cousin. 

And of course, (maybe I should take this one as the last), Rachel was the second surrogate mother in the biblical history. The first happens to be Sarah, the second happens to be Rachel. If you read that Genesis 30: 3 – 8, you will find that out and for Sarah, you’ll find that in Genesis 16: 4.

Now, what led to Rachel’s desperation? 

Number one, Jacob’s initial plan was to marry Rachel and for that purpose, he served Laban for seven years. And unfortunately, when it was time for Laban to deliver, he supplanted Jacob; what Jacob served for was not given to him, instead, someone else was given to him, and because of his desire for Rachel, he had to serve for another seven years.

Number two reason was because of the trauma of substitution. As if the trauma of substitution was not enough, Rachel had no children for Jacob, don’t forget she was initially substituted by her own father and her own sister. So when you talk about enemy, maybe you will understand what I was saying the other time that sometimes, the person you think is your enemy – because sometimes we pray, enemies fall down and die, the person we have his/her picture in our subconscious mind is not even the enemy, and in this part of the world, if anybody tells us what we are doing is not good, instead of us to go home, sleep over it and see how we can make some amendment where necessary, we’ll say that man doesn’t like me, then from that day he becomes an enemy, that’s why there’s no progress. 

You don’t tell leaders, you don’t tell governors, you don’t tell president what he’s doing is – and that’s why Africa will continue to be impaired, but I pray in the name of Jesus that God will give us that grace to imbibe constructive criticism so that we can do better in the mighty name of Jesus. 

Every man is limited, every man is vulnerable, no man has it all, no man knows it all and that’s why sometimes I get worried, you get to functions both at the state level and federal, you’ll just be hearing ‘Your Excellency, Your Excellency’, even that only Excellency is being hailed, and when a man carries such title, sometimes they are very difficult to control, and the thing has permeated every segment of our society, even in the church.       

The number three reason for the desperation was the childlessness of Rachel led to envy. The Bible tells us that she became envious of her sister, Leah, Genesis 30: 1, “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die”. It was that same envy that made her to say okay, if I’m not productive, try my housemaid.

People of God, envy can make one behave irrationally and when you are irrational, your decisions will be front with errors; envy always leads to impatience, and as we all know, impatience is a master of error and subsequent fall. My prayer is that none of us will fall into error in the name of Jesus Christ. 

However, Rachel did something positive and that is exactly what I want all of us here to do today, those of us here and those who are listening wherever you are, in the midst of our challenges, we need to find courage to do something extraordinary.

Rachel cried unto her husband in her desperation, she became violent with her condition and interestingly God heard her cry, remembered her and took away her reproach. I pray today, in the name of the One that made all of us that God will hear your cry and take away every reproach in your life in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Now, I don’t know your own exact situation that you are going through today, but I do know if only you can take it to the Lord in prayers, the Lord that heard the cries of Rachel will hear you and open your womb in the mighty name of Jesus. 

Is your womb closed? I recommend this morning that you cry unto the Lord. Is your business stalled? I can tell you for free this morning that it is not over until it is over, God has what it takes to restore your business to the path of profitability and sustenance. Rachel did what I call the ridiculous in order to receive the miraculous.

In Matthew 11: 12, the Bible says “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”; brethren, your miracle is in your mouth, that’s what Paul told the Romans, he said the word is near thee; (he said) your miracle is in your mouth, and don’t forget He said as you say in my ears, as you speaketh in my ears, (*He said) I will do unto you.

And let me tell you that Rachel was not actually alone on the platform of desperation, she had many partners among which is aunty Esther. When you read the Bok of Esther 5: 1 – 5, there, Esther took what I call a dangerous step in her desperation, she did what she ought not to have done but guess what, she found favor in the sight of the king. I decree concerning you today and I prophesy over everyone of you that from today you will be favored; from those who love you, you will be favored; those who don’t like you will favor you in the mighty name of Jesus.

Jacob also made a statement – a very profound statement, he told Rachel when she confronted him and said give me children or I die, he said am I God that I should give you children? He also made a statement and said am I God who has blocked your womb? Sometimes, you ask yourself that what is going on here; so it was like Jacob knew what was going on because as far as God is concerned, there is time for everything. 

Verse 2, “And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb”? I decree in the name of Jesus that from this morning, whatever it is that has been withheld from you shall be released. What Jacob was trying to say is that look up to God; those who look up to God will give a testimony of victory, but those who look up to men will persist in despair, but I pray today in the name of Jesus that the faith that you need, the courage that you need to look on to God, the Lord will release unto you in Jesus name.

Mummy Hannah was another desperate woman in the school of waiting. In 1st Samuel, Bible says she cried out unto God and her cry attracted God’s attention. Brethren, I have it in good authority that today is your day; as many of you that are in the school of waiting, you will celebrate deliverance in the mighty name of Jesus.

How many of you are ready to break away from your trouble? You are ready to break away from your desperation; you are ready to cling to your victory, shall we rise on our feet. I decree in the name of God the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit that God will answer your prayers today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 

So we want to pray one or two prayers and I want to beg you to take it serious, that is the key to your breakthrough, that is the key to your victory, that is the key to your divine favor. Mark today’s date, except God is no more on the throne, today will mark the beginning of a new beginning in your life in the mighty name of Jesus. The story of your breakthrough will take a new turn from this moment in the name of Jesus Christ. 

So you are going to cry unto the Lord and say Father, by Your mercy, take me out of the school of delay from today in the name of Jesus. I want you to cry unto the Lord; Father by Your mercy, all by Your mercy alone, Father take me out of the school of delay in the name of Jesus; take me out of the school of waiting in the mighty name of Jesus. Take me oh Lord Almighty God out of the school of desperation in the name of Jesus. When you become desperate, you become blinded, your judgment become blinded; I want you to pray to God, Father, from today, by Your mercy, take me oh Lord Almighty God away and out of the school of delay, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

I’m not satisfied with the way you pray, there are people who are experiencing delay – delayed marriage, delayed fruitfulness, delayed progress, there are many of you who have been expecting promotion year in year out but it’s not forthcoming, delay in business success, but I decree today in the mighty name of Jesus that whatever is responsible for your delay, the Lord will crush in the name of Jesus. 

So once again I want you to cry unto the Lord and say Father, by Your mercy, take me out of the school of delay; whatever delay that you are experiencing, whatever waiting that you are experiencing, whatever is causing you desperation, I want you to cry unto the Lord, Father, all by Your mercy, take me oh Lord out of the school of delay today, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. 

Lastly, you are going to cry unto the Lord and say Father, let Your good purpose, let Your good plans – Jeremiah 29: 11 says for I know the thoughts that I have towards you, the thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end; some other translation says to give you your desired end, that profitable end, that comfortable end, and that will be your testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. 

You are going to cry unto the Lord and say Father, let Your good purpose, let Your good plans for my life prevail in the name of Jesus. Open your mouth and cry unto the Lord, let Your good purpose prevail in the name of Jesus, let Your good plans prevail in the mighty name of Jesus; thank You Father because You have answered, in Jesus wonderful name we have prayed. 

There was a prayer that we were led to pray during the opening prayer, Deuteronomy 20: 4, we are going to pray to God and say Father, please fight my battles for me and give me victory over my enemies. Open your mouth and cry unto the Lord; Father please fight all of my battles, I surrender all my battles unto You, Father I cannot help myself, I cannot fight for myself, Father please fight for me oh God and give me victory over my enemies, over my situations, over my circumstances, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed. 

You are going to pray that Father, let my cry both in the secret and the public place attract divine attention in the name of Jesus. From today, April 28th, let my cry in the secret and in the open place (Lord) attract divine attention, let it attract divine attention in the mighty name of Jesus. Father with effect from today, let my cry in the secret, my cry in the open place, my cry in the church, my cry in the corners of my room , Father let them attract divine attention in the name of Jesus. Thank You glorious Father, in Jesus name we have prayed.  

I will pray for you in a moment but I need to quickly highlight this, Rachel cried unto the husband, she did not cry unto God but God rewarded her cry because the head of every woman is the husband, and the head of every man is God. When you reverence your husband and God knows that this man is limited, this man is accountable to Me, and God decided to work, He took over that responsibility and wiped up the tears from the eyes of the wife. I prophesy into your life today, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that every tears, both visible and invisible, the Lord will wipe away in Jesus name.

Lastly before I make the prophetic declaration, I have it in my spirit, I’m going to speak a few words and heaven will register it, I’ve been mandated to do it and those words will not fall to the ground, but before I say it, if you are here and you have not given your life to Christ, you need to do something today, because the Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that sinners are meant to suffer, sinners are meant to live in despair, and sinners are meant to fail, sinners will stay for long in the waiting room. 

[Altar call]

By the apostolic authority and the mandate I have received overnight, I decree answers to all your prayers. I declare your victory in all situations, and I decree today prophetically that you will celebrate answers to your prayers sooner than you ever imagined in the name of Jesus. And I decree that your victory over sin, over failure, over barrenness, over delay shall be permanent in Jesus name.

Today will mark the beginning of a new beginning. The mercy of the Lord will be on the pr – for every one of you and it shall be well with you. I await your testimonies, God bless you and have a wonderful time.