Daniel 11:32b; 1 Thess. 1:1-10
The word “exploits” connotes extraordinary accomplishments, breaking new grounds and setting new records. To do exploits is to have outstanding successes with powerful impacts – for the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him”. Exploits is going beyond the normal in your command of the affairs of life. It is a heroic or an extraordinary deed. It is the will of God for us to excel, be great and perform mighty things. As a believer, you should take up challenges and turn them to success stories.
The Scripture showed us daring feats by characters like Caleb, who at age 80, was still taking up territories. The Lord did mighty works through Elisha that even his dead bones woke up the dead (2 Kings 13:21). There were so many other men and women in the Scripture that God used to perform exploits. This is particularly true of the field of mission and evangelism. Nothing is more important to God than bringing the knowledge of His salvation to all mankind (Luke 1:76-77). According to Acts 1:8, God has deposited His Holy Spirit in us to make us trailblazers and pathfinders like Paul, the other Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the churches that they founded (Rom. 15:17-20; 1 Thess. 1:4-8).
On February 1, 2024, we marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of this church. These have been 40 years of doing exploits for God, and to God be the glory for all that He has done through this church! These exploits do not consist in the modern church buildings that we have built, with the last of these buildings—the education and administrative blocks being dedicated to God on December 3, 2023. Rather, they consist in the many souls that were won to Christ through our Mission and Evangelism work all over Nigeria and abroad. Mission and Evangelism have always been given priority in this church, and I can boldly claim that our exploits in other areas have been God’s reward for the priority we have given to what is of priority to Him than anything else.
In the past 40 years, we planted and adopted several churches all over the country and abroad. We have also been used by God to augment the salaries of Pastors of many churches that were financially challenged. We can truly claim to have followed in the footsteps of churches like the Thessalonian church. We have proved that God is able and willing to do mighty works and even more through us, just as Jesus said in John 14:12b “….and greater works than this shall he do….”
However, for you to do exploits, you have to align yourself properly for God to use, therefore, you must:
One, have cordial and mutual relationship with God (Daniel 11:32b). You need to have full knowledge and connection with God by regularly studying His word (Joshua 1:8 “this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”)
Two, live a purposeful life (Daniel 1:8). Because there are many distractions around the world today, you need to focus your mind on the things that matter. Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself. Elisha was determined to get the double measure of Elijah’s anointing in spite of the distraction and frustration from sons of prophets.
Three, be obedient to divine instructions (Acts 26:15-19). Total obedience to God’s instructions and directions is the key to great exploits in life. As a Christian, you must live a life of total obedience to your Saviour and Lord.
Four, have absolute faith in God (Hebrews 11:6). You need to have total trust in God and faith in His promises.
Five, take action. This involves putting your knowledge to work. Do not be afraid to take action as at when due. Remember, the sea did not part until the children of Israel stepped into it. Challenge God through tithing, sacrificial giving, rendering unusual service and worship to Him. You are God’s vessel for exploits! Endeavor to align yourself to Him and see Him work wonders through you.
We are entering a new season as a church in which Mission and Evangelism are going to be given greater attention than ever before. It will be a season of blessing for all that would key into it and participate actively in it. God is calling us to be involved in the work of spreading the knowledge of His salvation far and wide to all the places where lost souls can be found. We have already planted churches in a few of these places. What we need to do now is to strengthen those churches so that they can reach the entire communities in which they are located. This will require us to go physically to those that are not too far from us to do evangelism or to work with other churches to reach out to churches that are very far from us. We want to begin immediately with two churches that we planted in 2022—GNBC, Agunfoye, Ikorodu and Glad Tidings Baptist Church, Ketu-Ejinrin, near Epe. We will be organizing mission trips to these churches every Sunday until they are strong enough to stand on their own. We will also be raising mission funds for their development through everyone’s contribution.
- Rev. Kayode Ilupeju,
Good News Baptist Church,
47/49, Olufemi Road,
Off Ogunlana Drive,
Surulere, Lagos.
Tel.: 0803-302-1008
