Understanding Divine Direction - David Oyedepo

Understanding Divine Direction

David Oyedepo

Introduction

Sometime ago, I met a man whom I considered to be a highly anointed man of God. As we were talking, he said to me, "I took a wrong step in 191, and since then, my life and ministry went down." After we parted ways, his words kept re!erberating in my mind  a wrong step taken in 191, and he is still paying the price today# $!ery step you take now either takes you forward or backward. %ne of the greatest mishaps that can e!er happen to a man is to lack an idea of where he is going and how to get there. &any ha!e rushed into certain open doors, only to disco!er that they were traps in disguise. %thers ha!e been decei!ed by the glitter of certain business propositions, and ha!e come to reali'e that not all that glitters is gold. (hat is why this book is timely. )e greatly need God*s direction+ because, often, the decisions we make in life are based on our assessment, which may not be absolutely correct. $!erything may seem right and may appear satisfactory to the human eye, but at the end of it is frustration, stagnation and untimely death. death. I belie!e it is as a result of this truth that the writer of ro!erbs repeats the contents of ro!erbs 1-1/ !erbatim in chapter 10/+ perhaps for double emphasis. (here is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25

&an, e!en in his best mental state, is incapable of making reliable and durable decisions. 2e may lay all his cards on the table, or weigh his decisions on the scales of intellectualism, e!ents and facts. 2is colleagues may e!en appro!e his ideas which "seemeth right" by their assessment+ but, "the end thereof is the way of death." 3o human effort can match God*s direction# 4ou may be thinking, "5oes it mean that I can*t simply sit down and plan what I want to do and pursue it6 )hat is all this ado about direction6" lease

understand that you are limited as a human being, which is why you will always need God*s guidance. 4our 4our thoughts are not 2is thoughts+ 2is thoughts on any issue of life are higher, and therefore lead to the highways of life. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. saiah 55:!

4ou need to t o be di!inely directed, because misdirection can lead to many years of set back, and can e!en wipe out a man*s destiny. destiny. &any ha!e tra!elled out of their countries to other places and ha!e become worse off, because the answer to any man*s problem is not in a nation, but in God. 2owe!er, I trust that as you read this book God will instruct and guide you along definite lines. 2e will open your ears to hear 2is direction on issues that had confused you in the past, and conse7uently, conse7uently, you will locate l ocate yourself in God*s master plan.

8hapter 1 (he eality %f 5i!ine lan

"efore  formed thee in the be##y  $new thee% and before thou &amest forth out of the womb  san&tified thee, and  ordained thee a 'ro'het unto the nations. (eremiah 1:5

God is a God of plan and purpose. 2e created all things with a particular ob:ecti!e in mind. ;ust like a manufacturer will naturally create a product with a set goal in mind, you are created to fulfil a definite purpose on the earth. 4ou 4ou are not here by accident, neither are you a creature of chance. 4ou 4ou belong to a well
omans !:2-3

>y this, we understand that all who are born again are e7ually :ustified in the sight of God. And if so, we are meant to be e7ually glorified. 2owe!er, for the plan of glorification to materiali'e, we need to locate God*s plan for our li!es. )riting about his predestination, aul said "ut when it '#eased od, who se'arated me from my mothers womb, and &a##ed me by his gra&e, To revea# his 7on in me, that  might 'rea&h him among the heathen... a#atians 1:1516 aul was separated for his assignment right from his mother*s womb. It e?plains why a man like him could get sa!ed in the first place and I belie!e the same goes for you and I. @ooking back at where you came from, and bearing in mind some of the things you were in!ol!ed in, there is absolutely no way you could ha!e been sa!ed, if God hadn*t separated you from the womb. (hat is why many, though present at the same meeting where you ga!e your life to 8hrist, and though ha!e heard the gospel preached at se!eral other occasions, are not con!icted. (his is because they ha!e not been separated unto 8hrist, they are !essels of wrath. >ut thank God, you are a !essel of mercy# redestination is a great mystery. >efore I got born again, I was one of the greatest persecutors of born again 8hristians+ but because I was separated unto 2im from my mother*s womb, 2is mercy located me. 4ou too are separated unto 2im and as such, you are not destined for shame, but for glory. 8nd not on#y this% but when ebe&&a a#so had &on&eived by one, even by our father saa&%+For the &hi#dren being not yet born, neither having done any good or evi#, that the 'ur'ose of od a&&ording to e#e&tion might stand, not of wor$s, but of him that &a##eth% t was said unto her, The e#der sha## serve the younger. 8s it is written, (a&ob have  #oved, but 9sau have  hated. hat sha## we say then; s there unrighteousness with od; od forbid. For he saith to /oses,  wi## have mer&y on whom  wi## have mer&y, and  wi## have &om'assion on whom  wi## have &om'assion. 7o then it is not of him that wi##eth, nor of him that runneth, but of od that showeth mer&y. omans -:116

(his should help you understand that now that you are born again, you are on the positi!e side of destiny. 4ou ha!e been accepted in the belo!ed. 4our sal!ation is an e?pression of God*s lo!e for you.

8hapter / 5isco!er God*s lan

God has a place prepared for you in life+ a disco!ery of that place is what is called !ision. ntil you make that disco!ery and walk in it, you cannot arri!e at the glorious destiny God has reser!ed for you. In God*s plan, not e!eryone is designed to be in business+ neither is e!eryone e?pected to be in go!ernment or ministry. God has a uni7ue plan for each one of us, and our destiny is anchored to that plan. )hate!er God has assigned you to do holds a future and will bring you utmost fulfilment. So locate it and en:oy it. I once read about the man who owns Ser!ice &aster Inc. 2e was 7uoted as saying, "I belie!e Ser!ice &aster is a ministry." (he company has /BB,BBB employee# 8nd he sha## be #i$e a tree '#anted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season% his #eaf a#so sha## not wither% and whatsoever he doeth sha## 'ros'er. Psa#m 1:3

In other words, God is saying, ")hate!er I ha!e assigned you to do has a future, whether to be a seller of iron rods or to be an academic+ all you ha!e to do is settle down and work with e?citement#" )hen you obey this in:unction, a time will come, when God will make you a man that generations yet unborn would celebrate. (here are many today, who are pastors now but don*t ha!e any business going near the pulpit at all. God has planned somewhere else for them, where they are destined to shine+ but they missed it because of 'eal. )here!er God has mapped out for you in destiny, is a high calling. &any ha!e gone for their choices rather than God*s plan and purpose for their li!es, which is where they would shine best. >usiness was my choice before I heard 2is call into fullible describes the emergence of an end
8 great 'eo'#e and a strong% there hath not been ever the #i$e, neither sha## be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 8 fire devoureth before them% and behind them a f#ame burneth: the #and is as the garden of 9den before them, and behind them a deso#ate wi#derness% yea, and nothing sha## es&a'e them. The a''earan&e of them is as the a''earan&e of horses% and as horsemen, so sha## they run. Li$e the noise of &hariots on the to's of mountains sha## they #ea', #i$e the noise of a f#ame of fire that devoureth the stubb#e, as a strong 'eo'#e set in batt#e array. "efore their fa&e the 'eo'#e sha## be mu&h 'ained: a## fa&es sha## gather b#a&$ness. They sha## run #i$e mighty men% they sha## &#imb the wa## #i$e men of war% and they sha## mar&h every one on his ways, and they sha## not brea$ their ran$s:
$nlistment in this army is by !ision. (hat is what puts you in your own department or unit of the army. 4ou cannot secure a place in it without !ision. (hat*s why it says, *ut there is no need for comparison, because God has a glorious plan for e!eryone in the kingdom. (he cheapest way out of frustration is to abide in God*s plan for your life. I was reading a maga'ine on the morning of =ebruary 1-, 19C, when the @ord said to me, *The words  have 'ut in your mouth, the same &ommit into writing, and  wi## &ause the same un&tion on the s'o$en words to rest on the written, bringing about the same effe&t.* (his mandate led to the establishment of our publishing house. (he books published in our press ha!e found their way into e!ery part of the world, reaping a bountiful har!est of testimonies, with many people ha!ing di!ine encounters as they read them. (hat*s the power of !ision# )e got a letter from the nited States of America sometime ago. (he writer wanted to know how he could be a distributor of our

books in America. )alking in di!ine plan transforms an ordinary person into an e?traordinary one# (here are people in ministry, for instance, who are running e!angelistic crusades that God has not instructed them to run. So the man stays on there f or twel!e years, until God finally tells him, "I didn*t send you, you only :oined them." 4es, God has a master plan for each one of us+ but it is our responsibility to get the details of the plan from hea!en at e!ery stage that you get to. (his is because !ision is unfolded in phases. God rarely shows you all there is to 2is plan at once. =or instance, when I took deli!ery of the details of my present assignment from God, I asked 2im, "@ord, what is the work made up of6 5o 4ou ha!e enough work for me6" And 2e said to me, "I ha!e more than enough work to last you your lifetime. 4ou will ne!er get to finish all that I ha!e a!ailable for you to do." ecently, I found myself asking God, ")hy are 4ou stretching me so much6" 2e said, "So you can get set for what I ha!e for you." Dnowing your assignment determines your attainment in life. It is imperati!e, therefore, that you disco!er the particular assignment God has for you. Sometime ago, the @ord said to me, "If you don*t li!e for something, you don*t become something." 2e was emphasi'ing the need to be single
8hapter C )hat Is 5irection6

There is an evi# whi&h  have seen under the sun, as an error whi&h 'ro&eedeth from the ru#er: Fo##y is set in great dignity, and the ri&h sit in #ow '#a&e.  have seen servants u'on horses, and 'rin&es wa#$ing as servants u'on the earth. f the iron be b#unt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he 'ut to more strength: but wisdom is 'rofitab#e to dire&t. 9&&#esiastes 1:5=,1

Eision is the unfolding of God*s master plan, whereas direction is the steps you take to accomplish it. God has called you to preach, wonderful# (hat is a calling or a !ision. >ut how do you go about it6 (hat is where you need direction. 5i!ine direction is a lifetime demand. 4ou will ne!er get to a point in life where you will no longer re7uire direction. In the 8hristian race especially, you will ne!er get to a point where you no longer re7uire God*s direction. (his is because life without direction is nothing but continuous frustration# 3o matter how fast you are tra!elling on the wrong road, when are you e!er going to arri!e at your destination6 As long as you are on a wrong road, no matter the kind of encouragement you recei!e on the way, you will ne!er get to where you are going. 5irection is a lifetime companion. 5i!ine direction is re7uired, for e!ery !ision to succeed. At e!ery point you get to, you need God to tell you what ne?t to do, where to turn and what to focus on. If you miss 2is direction, you ha!e really missed the :oy of li!ing# >ut I see hea!en opening to you from now on, in ;esus name# "ut wisdom is 'rofitab#e to dire&t. 9&&#esiastes 1:1

$!en kings are frustrated without direction. Solomon said, "I*!e seen kings walking on foot while ser!ants are riding on horses." 2e says it*s an e!il. )hen kings lose direction they become ser!ants. &inistry is one of the noblest callings on the earth. 3othing compares with it in nobility and royalty. 3ot e!en

the post of a resident# 4et, for many, there is no e!idence of the dignity and honour that it carries. 2ow can you be ser!ing in the palace of the &ost 2igh and still be li!ing a low life6 Solomon*s analysis in $cclesiastes 1B re!eals that lack of direction is the reason for all the frustration that many suffer today in their !arious callings. (rue, many ha!e definite and !ery powerful !isions. >ut they lack the direction re7uired to accomplish it. So, their !ision becomes like a curse# >ut if you can locate where you belong in destiny and get the direction on how to get there, you will become a man to be consulted. (he sub:ect of di!ine direction is therefore !ery crucial. It is as crucial as the sub:ect of !ision, because though !ision is what sets the pace for direction, direction is what makes !ision a reality. 4ou must not watch your life end in frustration because of lack of direction. The #abour of the foo#ish wearieth every one of them, be&ause he $noweth not how to go to the &ity. 9&&#esiastes 1:15

(he labour of the foolish frustrates e!ery one of them# (heir hardwork does not reduce their hardship in life. )hy6 *"e&ause he $noweth not how to go to the &ity.* $arlier on in !erse 1B, Solomon said, *but wisdom is 'rofitab#e to dire&t.* (hat means wisdom is what re!eals the "how to" of e!ery gi!en task+ and that "how to" is what is called direction. 4ou shall not be wearied anymore# 4ou shall not be frustrated anymore# $!ery aspect of your hea!enly !ision must be hea!enly directed. 4ou don*t :ust pick up your bag and baggage and head for a particular city or place, :ust because you feel that is where you should be. 3o# If you ha!e recei!ed your call to ministry, business or go!ernment from hea!en, then wait to recei!e the "how to" from hea!en as well. It is only after you ha!e done this that you can then set out in pursuit of the !ision.

nstru&tion

)ear instru&tion, and be wise, and refuse it not. Proverbs !:33

5i!ine direction come as instructions from the @ord. 5ignity in life, ministry and e!ery endea!our calls for clarity of !ision. It calls for !ision with precision. )hen hea!enly !ision lacks hea!enly instructions, it ends one in frustration. (hat is why 2e said, *Ta$e fast ho#d of instru&tion, for she is thy #ife.* (he reason many are frustrated in ministry is because they celebrate !ision, without instruction. (hey ha!e the mandate but don*t ha!e the approach. God is an orderly God. 3o matter how hard you try, whate!er God has not commanded can ne!er come to pass. (hat is why I belie!e that one*s greatest asset in life and ministry is an unbroken connection with hea!en, from where instructions are recei!ed daily. (he world will only hear those who hear from God. ntil you gi!e attention to God*s instructions, the world will not pay any attention to you. It is those who hold on to 2is commandments that become commanders. (he difference between success and failure is light, not luck. For the &ommandment is a #am'% and the #aw is #ight% and re'roofs of instru&tion are the way of #ife: Proverbs 6:23

&any are genuinely called, but because they lack access to di!ine instructions, they are frustrated. (his need not be. $!ery decision you take in life and ministry should be traceable to specific instructions recei!ed from God, for instructions are the highways to distinction in life. So much has been said about !ision, with !ery little being said about instruction. 8onse7uently, e!eryone pursues and goes about his !ision the way he thinks best. And when things don*t work as they should, they begin to doubt if God really called them. >lessed be that day in &ay 191 when I heard the !oice of hea!en say to me, "(he hour has come, to liberate the world from all oppressions of the de!il, through the preaching of the )ord of faith+ and I am sending you to undertake this task." I heard 2im speak to me as a man would speak to his son. I stayed with 2im for eighteen hours# I saw things and heard 2im !ery clearly. (hat*s why I can ne!er be snared in any hole, nor be hid in any prison house. (hat*s why I cannot be a prey to the de!il. (hat*s why where!er I step, I dominate. )hen you hear from hea!en before you act on earth, e!ery barrier will be turned into signs and wonders. I don*t do things simply because somebody else is doing it or

because it is the !ogue. ntil I hear from hea!en, I don*t mo!e+ I*m so busy carrying out the last instruction I recei!ed.

t s >our "irthright Thus saith the Lord, thy edeemer, the )o#y ?ne of srae#%  am the Lord thy od whi&h tea&heth thee to 'rofit, whi&h #eadeth thee by the way that thou shou#dest go. saiah 4!:1=

5irection is the birthright of e!ery belie!er. It is your heritage in God. (he moment you gi!e your life to 8hrist, you are entitled to God*s guidance. 2e commits 2imself to lead you in the way to go. (hat is why you do not need to run helter
%ne of your rights as a son of God is understanding 2is leadings, without which you may as well be regarded as a child, not a son. %ne of the hallmarks of sonship is the ability to be led by the Spirit of God. (herefore, until you grow into sonship, you do not differ from a sinner, and you will suffer the same confusions as they do.
(he realisation of God*s ultimate plan and purpose for you depends on your maturity. ntil you de!elop into sonship, the dominion God has reser!ed for you will ne!er materiali'e. emember the prophecy about ;esus in saiah -:6; ntil 2e became a Son, the go!ernment could not be placed upon 2is shoulder. For unto us a &hi#d is born, unto us a son is given: and the government sha## be u'on his shou#der: and his name sha## be &a##ed onderfu#, ounse##or, The mighty od, The ever#asting Father, The Prin&e of Pea&e.

God has committed 2imself to your guidance this end
(his is one of the benefits of direction. >ut when God has not sent you and you go, you will surely be confronted by crooked paths, which you don*t ha!e

the power to make straight, *for by strength sha## not man 'revai#* +1 7am. 2:-. @et*s look at saiah 45 again *Thus saith the Lord to his anointed* $!ery time you*re called, you are anointed to function in that calling. )hen God called Gideon, 2e said to him, " o in this thy might have not  sent thee;* +(udges. 6:14 . As soon as he recei!ed the call, the might to run with it came. So you are the anointed God is talking about. Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to yrus, whose right hand  have ho#den, to subdue nations before him% and  wi## #oose the #oins of $ings, to o'en before him the two #eaved gates% and the gates sha## not be shut%, wi## go before thee, and ma$e the &roo$ed '#a&es straight:  wi## brea$ in 'ie&es the gates of brass, and &ut in sunder the bars of iron: 8nd  wi## give thee the treasures of dar$ness, and hidden ri&hes of se&ret '#a&es, that thou mayest $now that , the Lord, whi&h &a## thee by thy name, am the od of srae#. saiah 45:13

)hen the anointed locates direction, the crooked places are made straight and the gates of brass are broken in pieces. &uch more, the hidden riches are made a!ailable and supplies ne!er cease. )ould you pay for a :ob you didn*t assign anyone to do6 %f course not# >ut that*s what we e?pect God to do when we run off on our own programmes, without first clearing from 2im. >ut @amentations CCH asks )ho is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the @ord commandeth it not6 Any step you take without God ha!ing commanded it will always end in futility. (ry as hard as you may, nothing will work.

"e i##ing To "e Led 8nd he saith unto them, Fo##ow me, and  wi## ma$e you fishers of men. /atthew 4:1-

God*s commitment to guide you will amount to nothing if you, on your part, do not commit yourself to be led. (his is the other side of guidance. It is

one thing for God to want to lead you and an entirely different thing for you to want to be led. (his is why a lot of men are suffering so much today. (hey are men of "themsel!es" and rely so much on themsel!es that they ha!e missed God. )e often forget that our ways are not 2is ways, neither are our thoughts 2is thoughts. (here are things you may want to do that are not in line with 2is thoughts for you. (hat is why you must seek direction. 4ou must seek to know what 2is thoughts for you are, because your security is in God, not in yourself# In 199B, we went to ;apan for a programme on in!itation. =rom what we saw, it was ob!ious that there was a dire need for the gospel in the land. )hen I saw the spiritual depra!ity of the people, my heart longed to be a part of bringing about an awakening there. As a matter of fact, in course of my message, the interpreter burst into tears, because she had ne!er heard what I was saying before. (he &ayor*s wife was in our meeting and a key go!ernment official was healed, so you can imagine the wa!es that permeated the city. (here were clear indications that our ministry was needed there. A piece of property had been ac7uired and gi!en to us free of charge. So I felt, ")hy not, we can be there." I said to the @ord, "(his is a place where what we are doing is needed." (he pastor who went with me was to return and head the mission there. Aboard the aircraft on our way back home, we spent about 1C hours, putting all the plans together. )e went as far as discussing the courses to be taught in the >ible School. $!erything appeared okay. >ut when we arri!ed 3igeria, the @ord said to me, "$!en though there is a need in ;apan, you are not the one I am sending there." (he moment 2e said that, I cancelled all the plans and preparations we had made earlier, because I knew that there is no regret in following di!ine plan. (hat is why ;esus said, *...Fo##ow me and  wi## ma$e you...* 2e knows that your making is only guaranteed by the e?tent to which you follow 2im. eople may mock you as you follow 2im, but God will make you. Speaking further in (ohn 12:26, ;esus said f any man serve me, #et him fo##ow me% and where  am, there sha## a#so my servant be: if any man serve me, him wi## my Father honour. 2onour is reser!ed for all who will follow God*s leading. eople may pity you initially, but at the end, you will become a man to be en!ied. )hen God called me to ministry and I decided to pursue it full time, a group of concerned friends gathered together to pray for me. (hey felt that since most pastors then were in ministry partut today, my testimony is far from that of star!ation# )hen you submit to God*s guidance, 2e leads you into glory and honour, not shame and reproach.

8ssum'tion ?r @ire&tion; ho is he that saith, and it &ometh to 'ass, when the Lord &ommandeth it not; Lamentations 3:3=

@et*s look at the other side of the coin in 1 Thessa#onians 5:24  Faithfu# is he that &a##eth you, who a#so wi## do it. (his is the difference between assumption and direction. )hen God directs, 2e is also on hand to do it. Some are pushing and struggling at their task, yet nothing is mo!ing. )hereas others are :ust rela?ed in carrying out their assignment, and things are mo!ing forward. )hy6 (he faithfulness of the %ne who ga!e the direction# God*s faithfulness is what gets the :ob done. Gideon had ne!er fought a battle in his life, but he suddenly became a commander. )e were not told that he had e!en as much as killed a bird with a catapult before. 2e was a poor farmer, the least in his =amily, which was the least in Israel. So he was the least of the least# >ut when God called him, the anointing came with the call and direction ga!e birth to accomplishment. God ga!e him a !ision. 2e told him, *Thou sha#t save srae# from the hand of the /idianites* "ut mu&h more, )e dire&ted him on how to go about it +(udges =. )ith this, he became an outstanding success in Israel. Then the men of srae# said unto ideon, u#e thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy sons son a#so: for thou hast de#ivered us from the hand of /idian. Thus was /idian subdued before the &hi#dren of srae#, so that they #ifted u' their heads no more. 8nd the &ountry was in Auietness forty years in the days of ideon. (udges !:22,2!

(hat is the triumph of direction. 5irection is !ery crucial to success in life. 4ou will not suffer frustration anymore# (he salmist said The Lord is my she'herd%  sha## not want. )e ma$eth me to #ie down in green 'astures: he #eadeth me beside the sti## waters. )e restoreth my sou#: he #eadeth me in the 'aths of righteousness for his names sa$e. >ea, though  wa#$ through the va##ey of the

shadow of death,  wi## fear no evi#: for thou art with me% thy rod and thy staff they &omfort me. Thou 're'arest a tab#e before me in the 'resen&e of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oi#% my &u' runneth over. Psa#m 23:15

)hen you are on track with God, your enemies are irrele!ant. (he %ne that goes before you to make the crooked paths straight takes care of them. &ay e!ery deafness and blindness to God*s direction in your life be destroyed right now, in ;esus name# God spoke to Abraham, and that took him to the top FGenesis. 1/. God spoke to &oses and made him a name. $!eryone that has e!er mattered in life and to their generation, heard from God. =rom henceforth, you will begin to hear from God, because you are also born to matter to your generation# God can*t lead you into a business and the door be shut against you. It*s not possible# 4ou didn*t hear from 2im, that*s why you went and came back with nothing. 4ou gathered all the money you had and dumped it in the wrong direction, and e!erything went down the drain# $!erything God has e!er directed me to do has always succeeded, because no one can stop what 2e has commanded. 3o commandment of God can be confounded by any de!il anywhere# =rom today, the world will know you*re unstoppable# 2ear from God, and you will li!e well on the earth. 5irection is the key to distinction. 3o one succeeds by power. 3o one triumphs by might. In the kingdom of God, we only triumph by the unction of the 2oly Spirit, as we follow 2is direction. 4ou will ne!er again lack di!ine direction#

8hapter - @ocating God*s 5irection

(here are two ma:or ways by which we recei!e di!ine direction or instructions the )ord of God and the !oice of the Spirit.

The ord ?f od Thy word is a #am' unto my feet, and a #ight unto my 'ath. Psa#ms 11-:15

(he )ord of God directs you on how to go about your :ob or any assignment committed into your hands. >efore I set out on the commission God ga!e me Fto liberate the world from all oppressions of the de!il, through the preaching of the )ord of faith, I had located all the steps I needed to take from the )ord of God. I got to know that as I go, I am to take no scrip, no bread, no money in my purse. 2ow did I know that6 =rom /ar$. 6:!: 8nd &ommanded them that they shou#d ta$e nothing for their 0ourney, save a staff on#y% no s&ri', no bread, no money in their 'urse: I also found in the )ord that I should greet no man on the way. (hat is, I shouldn*t surrender my commission to any man*s authority or lobby men for supplies+ otherwise, I will frustrate 2is intentions. ;esus said, *8nd as ye go, 'rea&h* Prea&h to affe&t men. *)ea# the si&$, &#eanse the #e'ers, raise the dead, &ast out devi#s.* That is, *go, 'rea&h to im'a&t #ives.* +/atthew. 1:=!. 2e went on to say, *For the wor$man is worthy of his meat.* F!erse 1B. (hat is, the labourer is worthy of his wages+  the labourer, not the super!isor. As I searched the )ord further, to locate steps to take to fulfil God*s call upon my life, I disco!ered that my labour is not to carry cement and blocks for pro:ects, nor to sit down as an e?ecuti!e, only signing papers all day long. &y labour is in the )ord, to affect li!es by it. If a woman is afraid to labour to bring forth the child she has carried in her

womb for nine months, she will ne!er ha!e the child# I got my calling right and !ery clearly. I am called to labour in the )ord. All these bits and pieces offered me the steps I re7uired for my ministry to be reali'ed+ and I found them all in the )ord. 2ow do I get paid6 )ho pays me6 I found that in omans 1/H. (he )ord of God says if I minister spiritual things to people, then will I en:oy material blessings from them. So as long as I sought to make spiritual impacts on those that listen to me, God would command material blessings in my direction. (hat way, I won*t need to go about greeting the people. It thus forbade me from occupying myself with knowing anybody*s house. 4ou need to say this prayer "@ord, as I go through 4our )ord from today, open my eyes to locate direction at all times. 2elp me to encounter light in my own area of calling, so that I will know what steps to take. (hank 4ou @ord ;esus. "Proverbs 22:2- says 7eest thou a man di#igent in his business; he sha## stand before $ings% he sha## not stand before mean men. 4ou can recei!e direction from this Scripture to stay with your assignment. (hat means you shouldn*t be ashamed of it. @ike aul, you should be able to say about your assignment, ")oe is me if I preach not the gospel." (o stand before kings, all you need is to settle down on your :ob, and do it as though it is the only :ob in the world and the only thing you*re li!ing for. (hat way, kings will begin to desire your presence# (here*s a man called >ill >right. 2e*s into ministering to students. 2e*s a celebrity in America now, :ust by ministering to students who don*t ha!e any political power# ;amie >uckingham is an editor of a 8hristian maga'ine. 2e is such a celebrity that when he had cancer, the whole world knew# )hen he got healed, the whole world knew also. )hy6 2e sat at his :ob. *7eest thou a man di#igent in his business; he sha## stand before $ings* I recei!ed that instruction, so I organi'ed my life to li!e for my :ob only. I ha!e stayed on it for many years now without the thought of taking a !acation, and I*m ha!ing the best of times. )hen I came into full
obser!e and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the @ord thy God will set thee on high abo!e all nations of the earth (his was what inspired me to declare, "It*s impossible for me to preach underground in the world. I see myself getting to where!er the greatest preachers in the world get to, since I hearken to 2is !oice and obey 2is commandments." (he >ible says, *n a## #abour there is 'rofit* +Proverbs. 14:23. (his also is one of the definite directions I located from the )ord, which ga!e me the assurance that my labour would ne!er be in !ain. Also, the >ible says *Loo$ing di#igent#y #est any man fai# of the gra&e of od% #est any root of bitterness s'ringing u' troub#e you, and thereby many be defi#ed* )ebrews 12:15

8nd (ohn adds: hosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye $now that no murderer hath eterna# #ife abiding in him. 1 (ohn 3:15

=rom these, I know that no matter how much anyone plans to hurt me, I must retain my lo!e, if I must retain the blessings of God. A dead man doesn*t recei!e gifts, does he6 )hen you walk in hatred, you walk in lack. 5ead men don*t take anything to the gra!e. Anyone who li!es in hatred is a dead man+ and a dead man does not re7uire anything, so he*s left naked. I disco!ered from the )ord that hatred or bitterness ne!er promotes+ it only destroys. So I ne!er stand on the pulpit to castigate other ministries or men of God. (hese are all directions that determines the output of your labours. And they are from the )ord of God. So, e!en if you ne!er get to hear any !oice from hea!en telling you what to do, you can still recei!e direction for your life as God speaks to you in 2is )ord. If you are a )ord
the >ible. It tells you what to do through instructions, which ser!e as direction.  Timothy 3:16 says 8## s&ri'ture is given by ins'iration of od, and is 'rofitab#e for do&trine, for re'roof, for &orre&tion, for instru&tion in righteousness:

(he Scriptures is one of the a!enues through which the @ord fulfills 2is promise in Isaiah -1H, to lead you by the way that you should go.

The Boi&e ?f The 7'irit Then the 7'irit said unto Phi#i', o near, and 0oin thyse#f to this &hariot. 8&ts !:2-

hi#e Peter thought on the vision, the 7'irit said unto him, "eho#d, three men see$ thee. 8&ts 1:1-

God also gi!es direction through the !oice of the Spirit. )hen eter was reporting his encounter in Acts 1B, he said 8nd the 7'irit bade me go with them, nothing doubting... 8&ts 11:12 (he !oice of the Spirit, which is the !oice of the @ord, is a ma:estic !oice# It breaks the cedars, e!en the cedars of @ebanon. It di!ides the flames of fire. (he !oice of the @ord is full of power, it*s full of ma:esty# Fsalms /9. It is !ery essential in e!ery ma:or step you take in life. Is @agos in the >ible6 3o# So how do you know when you are to go to @agos6 Is $ngland in the >ible6 2ow would you know when you are to go there6 It is by the !oice of the Spirit. (hank God for the )ord. >ut thank God also for the !oice of the Spirit. (he !oice of the Spirit gi!es definite instructions for direction. If somebody comes to you in search of a :ob in your establishment or ministry, how would you know if he is the right person to employ6 It is by the !oice of the Spirit, which many of us know as the witness of the Spirit. (he Spirit

witnesses to you by impressing something on your spirit. (he !oice of the Spirit is the cheapest way up. I pray that your spiritual ears will pop open, to hear 2im. (he >ible says in (ohn 16:13: )owbeit when he, the 7'irit of truth, is &ome, he wi## guide you into a## truth: for he sha## not s'ea$ of himse#f% but whatsoever he sha## hear, that sha## he s'ea$: and he wi## show you things to &ome. (he Spirit speaks# It is time to heed the !oice of the Spirit. If you ha!e e!er heard God speak to you before, then you ha!e heard the !oice of the Spirit of God. (he 2oly Spirit speaks either by an inner witness or an outer audible !oice. aying attention to the !oice of the Spirit is a great step to achie!ing success in life. >eing sincere in whate!er you are doing is not enough to guarantee your success, because you can be sincerely wrong. (hat is why you must know what God*s will is. I was reading Denneth 2agin*s book, =ollowing God*s lan =or 4our @ife and I saw something that beautifully illustrates what I am saying here. 2e said "%ne morning, at .-, I sat straight up in bed. (he @ord said to me, An economic crunch is coming to the nation. Get ready for it. If you*ll do what I tell you to do, you*ll feel the effects of the crunch, but it won*t affect you as it does other people.*I wrote down e?actly what the @ord instructed me to do. (he @ord said, 3umber one, stop operating in outreaches I ne!er told you to get in!ol!ed with in the first place. 3umber two, trim your payroll by laying off this many people from your staff Fand 2e told me e?actly how many people to lay off. 3umber three, cut back on e?penses. %perate the ministry on ninety per cent of your incoming cash flow and sa!e the other ten per cent.* I immediately set about obeying the @ord*s instructions...)e laid off the number of employees the @ord told us to. )e also got out of the !arious outreaches the @ord ne!er told me to begin. >ecause I obeyed the @ord, e!erything worked out well."

(his was after /0 years in ministry# (his shows that you will always need direction all the days of your life. In ;une 19-, I wasn*t sure whether God wanted us to be in Daduna or to be operating from Ilorin. So, my wife and I set one day aside, to ask the @ord what 2e would ha!e us do. (he @ord spoke to me !ery clearly and straight "Arise and go#" $!en though it didn*t sound like the most reasonable thing to

do, we obeyed 2im and left+ and God honoured 2is )ord. Also, in the early hours of one day in ;uly 199, the !oice of the Spirit said to me, "Arise, get down to @agos and raise &e a people." (he !oice of the Spirit is a great asset for triumph in life and ministry. It is the clearest form of direction, as all that the )ord does is to authenticate that direction. (o many, ministry is a big burden. )hy6 (hey ha!e gone off track, chasing the immaterial# =or instance, when God wanted the first tabernacle to be built, 2e commanded it. &oses came to the people and told them, *...These are the words whi&h the Lord hath &ommanded* +9Codus. 35:1 4ou don*t need to kill yourself under a pro:ect. If God has not commanded it, lea!e it# God won*t finance what 2e has not commanded. )hen it is commanded by God, 2e will perform it F1 (hessalonians. /-. And anyway, nobody is going to write about the pro:ects you accomplished or built in your biography. It is irrele!ant. (he only thing that will be recorded against your name when you are gone is the impact you made on the li!es of men. So why must you die with the immaterial6 )hen our foreign mission work was to begin, God said to me, "(he har!est of Africa is o!erripe. ush in and preser!e it from decadence." I had only been to two nations of Africa before then. >ut after I heard the !oice of the Spirit, without any feasibility study telling us what the cost of li!ing was like in those countries or how much money we needed to go there, we stepped out# God spoke, and the men mo!ed+ and in ten months, we had spent o!er twenty< two million naira# )hy6 (he !oice of the Spirit offered direction and God backed it up with di!ine pro!isions. (he !oice of the Spirit is one of the greatest secrets for kingdom ad!ancement. It was in ;uly 19H0, that the @ord popped my spiritual ears open, and I heard the !oice of the Spirit for the first time. Since then, I ha!e ne!er ceased to hear that !oice. I command your spiritual ears to pop open, so you too can begin to hear 2is !oice, in the name of ;esus# I curse e!ery blockage that has caused you not to hear the !oice of the Spirit, blocking your ability to locate precise and definite direction for your life at e!ery point, in the name of ;esus# I command your ears to be open now# =rom now on, you will ne!er take any wrong step. (he God of hea!en will guide your feet. 4ou will always locate the profitable and producti!e step to take at e!ery point in your life. As you look into God*s )ord, may you locate sound direction for your life, in ;esus precious name#

et nstru&tions 8nd @o Them Ta$e fast ho#d of instru&tion% #et her not go: $ee' her% for she is thy #ife. Proverbs 4:13

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,  wi## #i$en him unto a wise man, whi&h bui#t his house u'on a ro&$: /atthew =:24

4ou can*t be wise if you do not hear from God. )hat is wisdom6 ;esus said is, "whosoe!er heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them..."In 5ecember 199C, I had finished putting my itinerary for 199- together. I had planned to be out of the country fre7uently. >ut the @ord said to me, "4ou shall go nowhere# I will ha!e you sit down here." I did as 2e commanded and 199marked another beginning in our ministry. ;ust by adhering to an hea!enly instruction, our church increased by se!en thousand people# =riend, instructions are the highways to distinction. )e ha!e succeeded in growing and de!eloping church ministry cheaply, simply by riding on the wings of instructions. )hen God is in!ol!ed in something, it can*t be stopped. In &arch 19-, in Daduna, I went before the @ord to in7uire from 2im, "@ord, why is this church crawling6 )hat would 4ou ha!e me do to set it in motion6" 2e said to me, "Deep sowing the seed, and as the grass grows, the sheep will come for it." (hen I remembered the Scripture, *)e ma$eth me to #ie down in green 'astures* +Psa#ms. 23:2. God said, ";ust keep the grass green. (hey will not only come, they will lie down there." Eery simple# (he preaching of the )ord is the main source of growth in our church. (he )ord rakes in about ninetyello Stadium. At the end, it didn*t add anything to the church. )hy6 It wasn*t 2is instruction for e?ecuting the !ision 2e ga!e us+ it was our own effort. (here are, howe!er, other ministries who will only grow by such outreaches. 2ear this instructions are the only way out of

destruction. So settle down and locate them, so that you don*t keep on suffering."@ord, what would 4ou ha!e me do6" is the way out. 2onour and dignity in life and ministry, is a result of clarity of !ision, which I call "!ision with precision." recision by reason of instructions. In 1991, someone brought us to the property where our international head7uarters is presently located. It was a motel, with twentyut I had seen and spoken to the 8ommander of the operation and 2e had gi!en a go
;esus could do so much because God was with 2im. 2e ne!er did anything without first ha!ing recei!ed instructions from God the =ather F;ohn. 19< /B,CB.

They sha## run #i$e mighty men% they sha## &#imb the wa## #i$e men of war% and they sha## mar&h every one on his ways, and they sha## not brea$ their ran$s: (oe# 2:=

5ignity in ministry or any endea!our in life, is rooted in pursuing the

!ision God has gi!en you with di!ine instructions. 4our !ision is genuine, yes# >ut you need to embrace instructions. 4ou need to train yourself to recei!e instructions from God as your way of life. (aking hold of instruction is what enhances dignity in life. )hen you know the :oy and triumph of instruction, you won*t need to struggle anymore. (he %ne who instructs you backs you up, e?ecuting the assignment by 2imself. (o en:oy ease and comfort, you need to constantly tell 2im, "@ord, help me to hear from hea!en in the pursuit of 4our plan for my life. I don*t want to miss it, I don*t want to run around in futility nor be stranded. * 7ee,  have this day set thee over the nations and over the $ingdoms, to root out, and to 'u## down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to bui#d, and to '#ant.... The word of the Lord &ame unto me, saying, (eremiah, what seest thou; 8nd  said,  see a rod of an a#mond tree. (eremiah 1:1112

God is saying, "I will gi!e you supernatural speed because you ha!e seen well." 8larity of !ision enhances supernatural speed, which gi!es colour to your life and ministry. (aking instructions is the secret of my success in ministry. )hen I take instructions, I don*t need any other person to agree with me. %n one of our trips to America, we got to a place and were told we couldn*t go on because there was a storm and the plane couldn*t fly. )e were also told that all the connecting flights had been cancelled. )hile e!erybody else was lea!ing, in confusion, I asked, "@ord, what are 4ou saying6" and I heard 2im say, "Go forward#" I told other members of my team, and we all matched back into the plane. )hen they saw us enter the plane again, they asked us, ")here are you going6" %ne of my men answered, ")e are going forward." )hen the plane took off, the weather took shape# )hen we arri!ed 5etroit, to take the connecting flight to Amsterdam, a plane was waiting# (he one we were supposed to take had left, but another one was waiting. $!en though they had closed all bookings Faccording to them, we went ahead and boarded the plane. All because Someone had said to me, "Go forward#" God has enough assignment for you. Go to 2im and collect the approach for tackling it. 5on*t go doing things simply because your friend is doing it. $!ery hardship in getting supplies in ministry is traceable to doing what you think is right and not what God has commanded. I welcome you to a world of dignity. It comes by embracing hea!enly instructions and adhering to them, not minding human comments or condemnation.

)hen I first started preaching prosperity, I recei!ed fiery attacks+ but now, all my attackers are secret followers of my teachings# God has a message for you. 2e has an instruction for you. 4ou don*t need to preach prosperity to ha!e prosperity. ;ust stay on your assignment and you will ne!er know lack of anything. All you need is plenty of obedience, that will bring you plenty di!ine manifestations. ho is b#ind, but my servant; or deaf, as my messenger that  sent; who is b#ind as he that is 'erfe&t, and b#ind as the Lords servant; "ut this is a 'eo'#e robbed and s'oi#ed% they are a## of them snared in ho#es, and they are hid in 'rison houses: they are for a 'rey, and none de#ivereth% for a s'oi#, and none saith, estore. saiah 42:1-,22

)hen you miss 2is ways and instructions, you end up in holes and prison houses. (he eyes see !ision, the ears take instructions. (o be blind and deaf is to be miserable in life, for, *here there is no vision, the 'eo'#e 'erish.* (here are many dead ministries today, :ust because they lack God*s instructions. (hey keep doing what they think is right, and the )ord of God has warned that There is a way whi&h seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12

4ou don*t lack progress when you walk in God*s instructions. 4ou shine more and more with e!eryday that comes Fro!erbs. -1. &ay your eyes and ears be opened, so you can lay hold on 2is instructions, in ;esus mighty name#

The 8&id Test 2ow do you know if you are on the right track or not6 I ha!e what I call the acid test for determining if one is on the right track and is successfully following God*s plan. It is a combination of two things Pea&e and Progress . If these two are in place, then you are pursuing God*s perfect plan for your life.  wi## hear what od the Lord wi## s'ea$: for he wi## s'ea$ 'ea&e unto his 'eo'#e, and to his saints: but #et them not turn again to fo##y.

Psa#ms !5:!

So, if what you ha!e heard is the !oice of the @ord, you can be sure of peace and progress. ro!erbs -1 makes us understand that the path of a man who is doing it right shines brighter and brighter each day. "ut the 'ath of the 0ust is as the shining #ight, that shineth more and more unto the 'erfe&t day. Proverbs 4:1!

)ho is :ust6 2e is one who is right and is doing his assignment the way God has commanded him to. =riend, if your assignment is not gi!ing you rest, then it*s not the !oice of God you heard. Also, if you are not mo!ing forward in it, you*re not doing it right. If after four years of going in the direction you claim to ha!e recei!ed from God, there are still no fa!orable results or proofs, then you are wrong# @ook at this parable... 8 &ertain man had a fig tree '#anted in his vineyard% and he &ame and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, "eho#d, these three years  &ome see$ing fruit on this fig tree, and find none: &ut it down% why &umbereth it the ground; 8nd he answering said unto him, Lord, #et it a#one this year a#so, ti##  sha## dig about it, and dung it: 8nd if it bear fruit, we##: and if not, then after that thou sha#t &ut it down. Lu$e 13:6-

=or three years the owner of the fig tree came seeking fruit on the tree but found none. (he dresser of the !ineyard pleaded with him to gi!e it one more year, making it a total of four years. If after four years of going in a particular direction, you still ha!en*t made any form of progress, then know that God is not leading you in that way. 4ou don*t need any other ad!ice from anyone. ;ust go ahead and say to God, "@ord, I am wrong. )here do I go from here6" In another place, God told the children of Israel 8nd when ye sha## &ome into the #and, and sha## have '#anted a## manner of trees for food, then ye sha## &ount the fruit thereof as

un&ir&um&ised: three years sha## it be as un&ir&um&ised unto you: it sha## not be eaten of. "ut in the fourth year a## the fruit thereof sha## be ho#y to 'raise the Lord witha#. Leviti&us 1-:2324

4ou must ha!e something to gi!e to the @ord in the fourth year. All e?planations for failure are of the de!il. 4ou are not created to fail. Some complain about the location of their church or business. 4ou don*t ha!e any problem with location. 4our problem is that of identification  identifying God*s plan and purpose for your life. 5id God command that thing you*re doing or not6 If 2e did, then, are you doing it the way 2e wants it done6 Are you diligent and committed on your :ob6 4ou are e?pected to mo!e a step forward each year. If you*re not, then you*re not doing it right. 4ou would then need to retrace your steps. Also, are you en:oying God*s peace in that assignment6 If these two are in place, then you are on course+ but if not, then check your steps, for possible ad:ustments and corrections.

8hapter  rere7uisites =or >eing @ed

(here are certain conditions that must be met before you can be di!inely directed. God does not lead :ust e!erybody on the earth. 3o, not e!erybody is entitled to 2is leading and direction. 8ertain conditions must be in place, for you to en:oy di!ine direction.

"e )is 7on (he first prere7uisite is that you must be born again. 4ou must be a co!enant child of God before 2e can lead you. (esus answered and said unto him, Beri#y, veri#y,  say unto thee, 9C&e't a man be born again, he &annot see the $ingdom of od. (ohn 3:3

=or God to be committed to directing you, you must first be 2is child. 4ou need to be born of the Spirit, for he who is born of the spirit is spirit. A spiritually dead man cannot percei!e the things of God. For as many as are #ed by the 7'irit of od, they are the sons of od. omans !:14

God only leads 2is sons, not the sons of men or the sons of the de!il. So, accepting ;esus as your @ord and Sa!iour is the ticket for di!ine direction. 5i!ine direction is the heritage of only the sons of God.

/ee$ness 4ou also need a meek spirit to be guided or directed by God. 5a!id said in salm /9 (he meek will he guide in :udgment and the meek will he teach

his way. &eekness of the heart must be in place, before God can show you 2is ways, which are higher than our ways. (he >ible described &oses as the meekest man in all the earth, so he had access to the ways of God. )e made $nown his ways unto /oses, his a&ts unto the &hi#dren of srae#. Psa#ms 13:=

3ote that there cannot be meekness without the fear of the @ord. hat man is he that feareth the Lord; him sha## he tea&h in the way that he sha## &hoose. Psa#ms 25:12

Faith 4ou also need faith to be directed by God. aul said For we wa#$ by faith, not by sight: 2 orinthians 5:= 5i!ine direction is not for those that walk by sight, but for those who will trust God to lead them aright. It is faith that makes a man seek God for di!ine direction. If you don*t belie!e that God will direct you, then you will not bother to seek 2is direction. "ut without faith it is im'ossib#e to '#ease him: for he that &ometh to od must be#ieve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that di#igent#y see$ him. )ebrews 11:6

(he reward of those who diligently seek God is di!ine direction.

Fe##owshi' ith The )o#y 7'irit A continuous fellowship with the 2oly Spirit is another re7uirement that must be met, if you desire di!ine direction.

"ut ye have an un&tion from the )o#y ?ne, and ye $now a## things. 1 (ohn 2:2

)owbeit when he, the 7'irit of truth, is &ome, he wi## guide you into a## truth: for he sha## not s'ea$ of himse#f% but whatsoever he sha## hear, that sha## he s'ea$: and he wi## show you things to &ome. (ohn 16:13

(he 2oly Spirit is to show you the things to come. >ut before 2e can do that, you first ha!e to know 2im and en:oy communion with 2im. 4ou also ha!e to be conscious of 2is indwelling presence in you. (he 2oly Spirit is a erson, so you can culti!ate fellowship with. 4ou can talk to 2im, ask 2im 7uestions and seek 2is help.

Euietness 4ou need 7uietness to en:oy di!ine direction. 3ot :ust a 7uiet outer en!ironment, but much more, a 7uiet spirit. A!oid a rowdy spirit, for God is a Spirit and 2e communicates with our spirit. od is a 7'irit: and they that worshi' him must worshi' him in s'irit and in truth. (ohn 4:24

Since our fellowship with God is in the spirit, you need to create 7uietness around you+ so you can ha!e sweet fellowship with the =ather, where 2e can instruct you in the way to go. For thus saith the Lord od, the )o#y ?ne of srae#% n returning and rest sha## ye be saved% in Auietness and in &onfiden&e sha## be your strength... saiah 3:15

Great strength is released to you when you are 7uiet, as a calm spirit enhances hearing from God. 8nd he said, o forth, and stand u'on the mount before the Lord. 8nd, beho#d, the Lord 'assed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and bra$e in 'ie&es the ro&$s before the Lord% but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthAua$e% but the Lord was not in the earthAua$e: 8nd after the earthAua$e a fire% but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a sti## sma## voi&e. 1 ings 1-:1112

God*s !oice of leading is, in most cases, a still small !oice, not an earth7uake. 4ou therefore need 7uietness to pick it. A 7uiet en!ironment can be of help, but inner 7uietness can be culti!ated e!en in the hustle and bustle of the en!ironment.

a#$ n Love 4ou also need to embrace liberty of the spirit. %ne of its manifestations is walking in lo!e F/ 8orinthians. C 1H<1. )alking in lo!e is a condition in which you li!e without malice, anger and are rela?ed with others, forbearing them in lo!e. (he conscience must be free of all manner of entanglement. $!en disobedience 7uenches the Spirit F1 (hessalonians. 19.

"e ?'en 4ou need openness of heart too. (hat is, do not be set in your own ways like concrete+ be willing to ad:ust to God*s instructions, if they contradict your actions F&atthew. 1C<-. Deep a sensiti!e heart  a tender heart before God F/ 8hronicles. 109. Allow God to direct your path, for 2e knows it better than you. 8 mans heart deviseth his way: but the Lord dire&teth his ste's.

Proverbs 16:-

4ou can maintain sensiti!ity of heart by de!eloping a consistent pattern of Scripture reading, thus immersing your spirit in the )ord of God. )hen you commune with the 2oly Spirit, especially by praying in the 2oly Ghost F;ude 1/B, you get accustomed to 2im.

orshi'GPraise In addition, worship and praise must become your life style, if you must en:oy constant direction. God inhabits the praises of 2is people Fsalms. //C. (hus, 2is !oice of direction will come !ery clearly to you when you gi!e 2im the !enison 2is heart lo!es.

8hapter 0 >enefits %f 5irection

8nd it sha## &ome to 'ass, if thou sha#t hear$en di#igent#y unto the voi&e of the Lord thy od, to observe and to do a## his &ommandments whi&h  &ommand thee this day, that the Lord thy od wi## set thee on high above a## nations of the earth: @euteronomy 2!:1

2earing and hearkening to God*s !oice of direction will set you on high, abo!e all nations of the earth. =ollowing di!ine direction has benefits. God only leads a man into the profitable paths of life. 2e leads him into honour, beauty, dignity and glory+ making him the en!y of other men. Thus saith the Lord, thy edeemer, the )o#y ?ne of srae#%  am the Lord thy od whi&h tea&heth thee to 'rofit, whi&h #eadeth thee by the way that thou shou#dest go. saiah 4!:1=

I religiously follow di!ine plan, so I en:oy the benefits it offers. Somebody once asked me, "2ow do you get things done so cheaply6" &y reply was, ")e don*t embark on anything until it is commanded#" )e simply follow di!ine plan and get results, :ust as prophet $'ekiel prophesied to the dry bones as he was commanded and they were co!ered with flesh and rose up as a mighty army. @et me show you some benefits of following God*s leading.

>ou 9n0oy Prote&tion "eho#d,  send an 8nge# before thee, to $ee' thee in the way, and to bring thee into the '#a&e whi&h  have 're'ared. "ut if thou sha#t indeed obey his voi&e, and do a## that  s'ea$% then  wi## be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine 8nge# sha## go before thee, and bring thee in unto the 8morites, and the )ittites, and the PeriDDites, and the anaanites, the )ivites, and the (ebusites: and  wi## &ut them off.

9Codus 23:2,2223

)hen God leads you in a particular direction, 2e takes the e?tra step of dispatching angels to protect you along that path. 3o force in hell can stop a man who has disco!ered the plan of God for his life and is pursuing it, as angelic forces are on hand to fight on his behalf, to cut off any ad!ersary that dares to come near. (he :ob of the angel assigned to you is to keep you in the way and to bring you into your destiny. 2e monitors the di!ine plan handed o!er to you and ensures that it is reali'ed. 2e clears off any opposition that may want to obstruct you.

)e "a&$s >ou H'

Faithfu# is he that &a##eth you, who a#so wi## do it. 1 Thessa#onians 5:24

God is behind the e?ecution of e!ery di!ine plan. %nce you locate 2is plan for your life and are following it, God stands strong behind you, to accomplish it. (hat is why to wander out of the course 2e has charted for you is to li!e a miserable life. In ;oel /, we disco!er that the glory of the end
(hese men will rise to great heights, become prominent and make wa!es on the earth. (hey will outshine the earthly stars, all because of the mighty hand of God behind their operations. They sha## run #i$e mighty men% they sha## &#imb the wa## #i$e men

of war% and they sha## mar&h every one on his ways, and they sha## not brea$ their ran$s: The earth sha## Aua$e before them% the heavens sha## tremb#e: the sun and the moon sha## be dar$, and the stars sha## withdraw their shining: (oe# 2:=,1

(o en:oy di!ine backing, you must be on course with God*s di!ine plan. 5i!ine guidance guarantees "di!inely programmed" prominence. 3obody who locates the ways of God and walk in them e!er ends up a loser. If you allow God to lead you, 2e will take you to high places in life. All you really need to make a mark on the earth is to secure God*s backing. If you ha!e God*s backing on any pro:ect or assignment, no opposition can withstand you. (he secret of ;esus* ministry was that 2e did nothing of 2imself, but as 2e heard fr om God. And as a result, 2e could not be obstructed, 2is ministry made impact in the li!es of men, e!en till today.

>ou 9C'erien&e 9ase )is sou# sha## dwe## at ease% and his seed sha## inherit the earth. Psa#m 25:13

5i!ine direction also eases life for you. 4ou find that because you are following di!ine plan and en:oy di!ine backing, life is cheapened for you. eople see you as being e?traordinary, not knowing that what you ha!e is actually the e?traordinary backing of God. %nce you embrace di!ine plan, you dwell at ease. &any run from pillar to post, chasing after their own plans. ather, chase after 2is plans, because e!erything that makes for life and godliness is contained therein. I am absolutely restful, because I am right at the centre of di!ine plan. >efore I make any mo!e, I check it o!er and o!er again with 2im, :ust to be sure I don*t de!iate from 2is plan. 5i!ine guidance makes a man look e?traordinary amidst his peers. )hile others are struggling to make sales, for instance, God, through 2is angels, is busy directing customers to buy up the goods of the man that is walking in di!ine direction. (hat is why if God directs you into a particular business !enture, e!en if others in the same line of business are frustrated, you will en:oy God*s fa!our.

)hen God said to me in 199, "Arise, get down to @agos and raise &e a people", I sent somebody to @agos that same day. (wo weeks later, all the property needed for the work there to start had been secured with all ease. )e got a place which had not been inhabited for se!en years for church ser!ice and another property nearby, which had also not been li!ed in in the last fi!e years for residential 7uarters# 2e went ahead of us and secured a place for us in good time. )hen our missionaries arri!ed >angui, in the 8entral African epublic, they disco!ered that God had told a woman of their coming two days earlier. 2e told her, "(wo missionaries are coming from 3igeria in two days time. Go and pick them up from the airport." She told her husband to help her pick them up. God sent us to reap the har!est of Africa, so 2e went ahead of us, to ensure that our team was not stranded.

>ou ender The @evi# )e#'#ess The Lord is my she'herd%  sha## not want. Thou 're'arest a tab#e before me in the 'resen&e of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oi#% my &u' runneth over. Psa#m 23:1,5

=ollowing God*s plan for your life renders the de!il helpless o!er you. 4ou become unbeatable, a man respected by hell. )hy6 >ecause God cannot send you on a mission and Satan hi:acks you. 2e may attempt to, by causing uproar and confusion, so that you don*t ha!e access to God*s !oice+ but once you refuse to be distracted, Satan cannot handle you. emember that it is God*s will to lead you to where the pastures are green. 2e is committed to leading you to where your profiting lies FIsaiah. -1H, but you must be a committed follower.

8hapter H Access (o (he Eoice %f God

8nd thine ears sha## hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, wa#$ ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the #eft. saiah 3:21

God is committed and e!er ready to offer direction to as many as are willing to be led. 2owe!er, it does not come cheaply. It re7uires diligence and a businesslike approach. 4ou ha!e to consciously programme yourself to hear 2is !oice. ;ust as you need to be tuned to a particular fre7uency in order to pick radio signals, you need to be correctly tuned to hea!en*s fre7uency to hear God*s !oice of direction+ and this re7uires a definite determination on your part. @et us look at some !ital re7uirements for gaining access to God*s !oice of direction.

*ome H' )ither...* 8fter this  #oo$ed, and, beho#d, a door was o'ened in heaven: and the first voi&e whi&h  heard was as it were of a trum'et ta#$ing with me% whi&h said, ome u' hither, and  wi## shew thee things whi&h must be hereafter. eve#ation 4:1

A climbing up is needed to hear from God. It is an uphill task, though the :oy it brings outweighs the price that is paid. "8ome up hither..." (hat is, come away from all those things keeping you on the ground. A separation is needed to hear from God or to recei!e instruction and direction either from 2is )ord or !oice. (hough &oses had to go up to the mountain to recei!e the pattern for the temple, you don*t necessarily ha!e to go to a physical mountain. )hat is actually re7uired is a separation unto God, in which you create a conduci!e en!ironment for your spirit
talk with God, with no interference or disturbance. >efore our ministry took off, I went to God for final instructions. I told myself that the disciples stayed ten days in the upper room waiting for the e?plosion that came on the day of entecost. I belie!ed that likewise, God would deli!er to me the final instructions for the work 2e had called me to do. So, I separated myself to a room in ;os, determined that before the end of ten days, I would recei!e 2is instructions. And on the fourth day, the hea!ens opened unto me and God*s !oice came# I came out of that encounter with a powerful insight. It was there that God said to me, "I ha!e sent you forth as a prophet to nations." 4ou need to be ready to pay the price of separation, if you want to hear 2is !oice. )hen God called aul, he spent three years in Arabia, recei!ing insight and re!elations from God FGalatians. 11<1. "8ome up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." A separation unto God is to your own ad!antage. 4ou can*t hear the !oice of God when you spend all your time roaming about in "earthly places." eople go up to get it, they don*t walk about all o!er town to get it. So, come out of tradition and camp with God. (ake grace from 2im, to be able to separate yourself and go up to the mountain of !oices.

(oy Therefore with 0oy sha## ye draw water out of the we##s of sa#vation. saiah 12:3

4ou need :oy to hear God*s !oice of direction. If you*re not :oyful, your access to 2im will be blocked. It takes :oy to gain access into the mysteries of the kingdom of God. It is a great secret for triumph. ;oy must be in place before you can understand the things of God, for it is with :oy that you draw re!elations and instructions from God. >e sha## have a song, as in the night when a ho#y so#emnity is $e't% and g#adness of heart, as when one goeth with a 'i'e to &ome into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty ?ne of srae#. 8nd the Lord sha## &ause his g#orious voi&e to be heard... saiah 3:2-3

)hen will 2e cause 2is glorious !oice to be heard6 %nly when you come

to 2im with a song and with gladness of heart# If there*s no gladness of heart, you become deaf to the !oice of God. >ut when there*s gladness in your heart and a song in your mouth, then the @ord causes 2is glorious !oice of direction to be heard. @et nothing take your :oy from you. 2old fast unto it. Somebody once said, "2appiness is not found, it is created." If you*re not a happy son of God, you will ne!er be a winning son F5euteronomy /-H<-. It is compulsory to be happy. In fact, it is dangerous to be sad or gloomy# If you must win in life, you must be :oyful. $!ery time you*re broken, you lose !ery precious things such as di!ine direction. Satan steals it from you. 2ear this again until there*s a song in your heart, you ne!er hear the sound from hea!en. 3othing is more colourful than di!ine guidance. So, destroy whate!er causes sorrow around you+ they are out to destroy your destiny. Sorrow won*t let you be :oyful or allow your song to rise up to 2im+ and until your song rises, 2is !oice of direction will not come down. %ne of the things that generates sorrow is remembering the irreparable past. aul said, *Forgetting the things that are behind.* Isaiah said, *emember not the former things.* &oses said, *Te## them to go forward.* If you don*t free yourself from a failed e?amination, you*ll ne!er pass it. Get up and hit back at it. Allow the irreparable past to be past or you will pass away with it. If you ha!e lost your :ob, look for another one. 4ou car had an accident and it can*t be repaired+ belie!e God, work for your money and buy another one. ecei!e the kind of :oy that buries the past and looks forward to the future right now, in ;esus mighty name# 3othing makes life more colourful than the !oice of God. I don*t care how much you pray, but the !oice of God is what gi!es colour to li!ing. 5on*t miss it# 5on*t let any de!il suppress, oppress or depress your soul. It takes a song to hear a sound from hea!en. 2e said, *"#essed are they that hear the 0oyfu# sound.* )hen you hear a sound from there, it comes with a blessing for you, leading you in the way to go, directing you on the steps to take. Somebody said, "I ha!e ne!er heard the !oice of God." (hat is because you ha!e ne!er been :oyful or had an acceptable song. )hen you begin to sing acceptable songs of praise, with gladness of heart, the sound from hea!en becomes your heritage. After the !ery colourful commissioning ser!ice on the day I was commissioned into fullut while in 2is presence, the @ord said to me, "4ou are not going to ;os+ it was not &e you heard. 4ou heard your desire that had been there since 19H-." 2is !oice was so clear# I said, "@ord, I*m sorry" and asked 2im what I was then to do. 2e instructed me to remain in Ilorin until 2e told me what ne?t to do. If I had not gone back to 2im :oyfully that day, we would

ha!e gone to the wrong place. )e had been sent forth to ;os that morning at the commissioning ceremony. In fact, some members of staff were already in ;os, waiting for the takee sha## have a song...with g#adness of heart... and the Lord sha## &ause )is g#orious voi&e to be heard...* &any of you are on the !erge of making !ery serious decisions in your life and then you say, "I*m going to fast." (hat*s not what 2e said. 2e said, "4ou shall ha!e a song." If you will obey 2im, you won*t ha!e any problem. 4ou need to become a psalmist before the @ord+ then will you always hear 2is !oice. )hen $lisha needed direction, he said, *"ut now bring me a minstre#...* +2 ings. 3:15. (he psalmist always heard God*s !oice. 2e said, *7even times do  'raise thee.* 2e was addicted to praises, so the !oice of God was always there for him. 4ou won*t miss your way anymore. 2ea!en*s telephone line is ne!er through to you without melody in your heart. So, be e!er :oyful#

"e Free From ares, orries 8nd 8nCiety (o gain access to 2is !oice, you need to be free from whate!er causes you

to fear or bring sorrow and an?iety. =ight them as though you were fighting against sin# 4ou must deal with worries and an?ieties as if you were dealing with adultery. )hy6 (hey rob you of your access to the !oice of God, which is your secret for sweatless triumph. Sorrow of heart has !ery de!astating effects on your spiritual destiny. )hen 5r. =rederick D.8. rice !isited Daduna in the late 19Bs, he said he had ne!er been bowed down once in the last twenty years# (hat is, he had not been cast down or burdened for twenty years# 3othing in the world has e!er succeeded in destabili'ing or casting me down. I also don*t allow unhappy people around me, because I can*t stand them looking cast down. I feel it will dri!e away God*s presence. 2ea!iness is a spirit FIsaiah 01C. It is one of Satan*s strategies for stripping God*s people naked. 2e knows that God is absent where!er hea!iness of heart is+ and when God is absent, you become a cheap prey in his hands. (he de!il steals people*s :oy so he can make !ictims of them. >ut you ha!e the gift of :oy from the &ost 2igh God. 2ea!iness takes you out of your =ather*s house Flike the prodigal son, and places you where the enemy can flog you. If you can see a glorious tomorrow, no de!il can cast you down. If you can see what is ahead of you, you can afford to insult the de!il and slap him in the face# 3o reason is strong enough to cast you down. )hate!er casts you down has made you a failure. It*s time to wake up and take positi!e steps to en:oy the !alues of redemption. 8oncerns, burdens and an?ieties deafen the ears. ;esus said something !ery serious in /atthew 6:25:...Ta$e no thought for your #ife, what ye sha## eat, or what ye sha## drin$% nor yet for your body, what ye sha## 'ut on... ;esus knows the things people worry themsel!es o!er. eople think on the wrong things, that*s why ;esus told us what we should concern oursel!es with instead. "ut see$ ye first the $ingdom of od, and his righteousness% and a## these things sha## be added unto you. /atthew 6:33

3ature abhors !acuum. 4our mind is ne!er on break+ it is either charged with concerns of things of this life or o!ertaken with affection for the kingdom. If your mind is not charged with the concerns of life Fwhich makes you a concern in the world, it will then be o!ertaken with the thoughts of the kingdom. So, rather than be a concern to the world by being an?ious and concerned with the things of this world, be concerned with the things of God

and of 2is kingdom, so e!ery other thing can be added to you. eople don*t know how to be free from an?iety, that*s why they*re held down by it. I made my choice a long time ago on what to think on. In 19H0, I said to myself, "@et 2im be @ord of all or not @ord at all#" (he way out of an?iety is to be addicted to God and 2is kingdom. >e hooked to God and 2is kingdom. It doesn*t make you irresponsible+ on the contrary, it makes you !ery responsible. 4ou can*t be hooked to God and fail. 3o# 2is )ord becomes a lamp to your feet and a light unto your path, guiding you in the way to go. nderstand that nature does not permit !acuum. (he brain is always engaged, either positi!ely or negati!ely. All you need to do is to make your choice on what occupies your mind. raying to be free from an?iety is an e?ercise in futility. ather, take the steps 2e has told you would free you from an?iety *Ta$e no thought for your #ife...* In charging (imothy, aul said /editate u'on these things% give thyse#f who##y to them% that thy 'rofiting may a''ear to a##. 1 Timothy 4:15

*/editate u'on these things night and day.* If you don*t, something else will take o!er your mind. &ay you be free from an?iety#

"e &arefu# for nothing% but in every thing by 'rayer and su''#i&ation with than$sgiving #et your reAuests be made $nown unto od. Phi#i''ians 4:6

4our access to God in prayer begins with *"e anCious for nothing...* 4our prayers will not be answered when it is said in an?iety. 5on*t allow little, little fo?es such as concerns for what to eat, drink, where to sleep, and all that, make the )ord of God of no effect in your life. )hen you continue worrying about them day and night, it becomes impossible to walk in the Spirit. ;ohn the belo!ed said in eve#ation 1:1:  was in the 7'irit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a great voi&e, as of a trum'et, ;esus said something in /atthew 6:2=, that will help you o!ercome an?iety. 2e said hi&h of you by ta$ing thought &an add one &ubit unto his

stature;

(hat means it is madness to be an?ious. An?iety has ne!er pro!ided solution for any man. It is a destroyer, not a builder. ;esus went on further to say you shouldn*t allow tomorrow to bug you down. (he challenges of a day are enough for the day F&atthew. 0C-. &any are so bothered about tomorrow, that their today has no meaning. )hen you bug yourself down with unnecessary fears, worries and an?iety, you tune yourself off from hearing God*s !oice of direction. >e free right now, in ;esus name#

8hapter  ise p $arly# )hen is the best time to hear from God6 The Lord ?@ hath given me the tongue of the #earned, that  shou#d $now how to s'ea$ a word in season to him that is weary: he wa$eneth morning by morning, he wa$eneth mine ear to hear as the #earned. The Lord ?@ hath o'ened mine ear, and  was not rebe##ious, neither turned away ba&$. saiah 5:45

@ay unto day uttereth s'ee&h, and night unto night showeth $now#edge. Psa#m 1-:2

For everything, there is a time and a season 9&&#esiastes.3:1.

>roadcast stations ha!e programme schedules for all their programmes. If the prime news hour is H a.m. each day and you tune in at  a.m, you can no longer catch the news. 4ou*!e missed it for that day. All you can do is to settle for second hand information, which is not the same as hearing it by yourself. So also, hearing from God has its own time and season. And if you know when 2e attends to people, it becomes cheap to recei!e direction from 2im. (he e?ploits in ;esus* ministry was founded on, *8s  hear, so  0udge...* >ut how was this possible6 2e had an understanding of times and seasons. 2e knew when best to get 2is =ather*s attention. *...)e wa$eneth morning by morning, he wa$eneth mine ear to hear as the #earned.* I call the early hours of the day "2ea!en*s adio 2our." (hat is the time when instructions are passed down to those who are tuned to it. (he early hours of the day is hea!en*s radio hour for the wise. (hose who tune in at that time catch the news from hea!en, and they go forth to make news on the earth# 2is speech drops upon people as the dew+ and you know dew falls in the early hours of the morning.

God is on line to all who care to listen to 2im in the early hours of the morning. (hat is when 2e reaches out for the ears of the sons of men. A study of those who ha!e recei!ed ma:or instructions from God shows that they hit it in the early morning hours. (he !ital pillars of my life and ministry were deli!ered to me in the early hours. (he eighteenible and when I did, that )ord :ust came up. It was also in the early hours of the morning that I recei!ed the instruction, "Arise, get down to @agos and raise &e a people." I was ha!ing a nice time, en:oying fellowship with ;esus one early morning in 19C when I recei!ed the commission for our publishing house. 2e said tome, "(he words that I ha!e put in your mouth, the same commit into writing, and I will cause the same unction upon the words you speak to rest upon the written words, bringing about the same effect."(o further confirm what 2e had told me, 2e said, *hat thou seest, write in a boo$.* 3ow, by the grace of God, we ha!e a !ery successful publishing house, that has printed and dispatched books all o!er the world. =riend, God is heard in the early hours of the morning# (une in for 2is instructions in the early hours. (hat*s the time 2e opens up, that*s when 2is speech drops as the dew upon people. (hat*s when to catch 2im# ;esus would always get up *a great whi#e before dawn* e!eryday, to recei!e instructions from the =ather. 4ou can*t be a hea!y sleeper and e?pect to be a star at the same time. 4ou ha!e to choose one. 4ou are either a sleeper or a star. Sleeping till 0.CB a.m. and stretching at H a.m. is not the way up. 3othing corrupts destiny like sleep# I read of a man who grew to be a !ery great businessman. 2e always woke up between /< a.m. daily, to map out his strategies for the day. (his man has in!estments in 10B countries spread o!er fi!e continents# 4ou are loaded with great potential, I pray that sleep will not destroy it. 4ou don*t ha!e any other enemy than Satan, and all that he does is to steal, kill and destroy. Sleep steals and destroys destinies and crowns. eople who should be kings are dying as mere men, because of too much sleep. Sleep kills great destinies and dreams. It frustrates men and destroys them spiritually. It*s my prayer that you recei!e strength this hour, to put your early hours of the day to

ma?imum use, standing before the @ord to hear what 2e will say to you. All through the Scriptures, you will disco!er that the great men who had encounters with God did so in the early hours. 8nd 8braham gat u' ear#y in the morning to the '#a&e where he stood before the Lord: enesis 1-:2=

8nd he hewed two tab#es of stone #i$e unto the first% and /oses rose u' ear#y in the morning, and went u' unto mount 7inai, as the Lord had &ommanded him, and too$ in his hand the two tab#es of stone. 8nd the Lord des&ended in the &#oud, and stood with him there, and 'ro&#aimed the name of the Lord. 9Codus 34:45

&oses rose up early in the morning and went up to &ount Sinai, as the @ord had commanded. 2e went there to keep an early morning appointment with God, and the @ord descended and stood with him there. @ikewise, God is commanding you, "Son, daughter, get up. I keep early hour appointments with people. Get up#" 8nd (oshua rose ear#y in the morning, and the 'riests too$ u' the ar$ of the Lord. 8nd it &ame to 'ass on the seventh day, that they rose ear#y about the dawning of the day, and &om'assed the &ity after the same manner seven times... (oshua 6:12,15

(hey rose up early and compassed the obstacles about and they ga!e way# If you are obser!ant, you will disco!er that most instructions you ha!e recei!ed from the @ord came in the early hours of the morning. $!ery time you are at a crossroad, :ust get up early and meet 2im in worship. 5on*t ask 2im for anything, :ust worship 2im+ and in the midst of that, 2e will cause 2is glorious !oice to be heard, saying, "(his is the way, walk ye in it."

Understanding Divine Direction - David Oyedepo

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