THE GIFT OF GOD
SERMON TITLE: The gift of God
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SYNOPSIS
Jesus Christ is a gift given to us by God and he is the greatest friend every
individual can have. He is a wonderful God and the things he does are so
wonderful to beat the imaginations of men. He gives sound and advice,
wonderful enough to lift up every burden and give peace.
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TRANSCRIPTS
I’m going to give a presentation, and the message I bring to you today is simple:
peace to your house, peace to Ghana, and peace to the world.
As you stand, I urge you to pray—pray for your household, pray for Ghana, and
pray for the world. We are declaring that a special rainfall will come—not just a
physical rain, but a divine outpouring that will wash away the filth, the dirt, and
the corruption in our land. This rain will cleanse the wickedness of our fathers,
the human sacrifices, and the evil deeds of past generations. It will wash away
the sins of our current leaders and the damage they have done to this country.
Today, as we declare peace to the world, we believe God is wiping away all the
filth and dirt so that Ghana can truly be free. That is our prayer, and this
message must be carried to the nation.
I bring peace to every household in Ghana—not my peace, but the peace of
God. I bring peace to our country, and I declare God’s peace to the world. Peace
to households. Peace to Ghana. Peace to the world. That is the message. And we
are going to pray that this peace becomes established.
We thank the Lord for the redemption of our country, and we seal that
redemption with the rainfall. Amen.
Let us pray.
Isaiah 52 says:
“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion. Put on thy beautiful garments, O
Jerusalem, the holy city. For henceforth there shall no more come into thee the
uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down,
O Jerusalem. Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of
Zion.”
The Lord declares that His people have sold themselves for nothing, but they
shall be redeemed without money. He reminds us that His name is continually
blasphemed, but the day is coming when His people shall know His name and
recognize that it is He who speaks.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings,
that publishes peace, that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation,
that says to Zion, ‘Thy God reigns.’”
The watchmen shall lift up their voices and sing together, for they shall see eye
to eye when the Lord brings Zion back. The Lord has comforted His people and
redeemed Jerusalem. He has made bare His holy arm in the sight of all nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
He calls us to depart from unclean things and to be clean, for the Lord will go
before us, and the God of Israel will be our rear guard.
The prophecy continues:
“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled, and
be very high. As many were astonished at him—his visage was so marred more
than any man—so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths
at him, for that which had not been told them shall they see, and that which they
had not heard shall they consider.”
Amen.
The message I bring today is peace to you, peace to all, peace to Ghana, and
peace to the world. I know you have prayed for peace to dwell in your homes,
and Jesus has declared peace.
Everything the Lord is doing points to this. Even the young people are singing
the same message: “Unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon
His shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The Lord has asked me to remind you and the nation to think of the Son who
has been given—Jesus Christ, your Savior. He is the one the prophets spoke of.
He is exalted today. And the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth, is the one
who gave Him to the world.
His name shall be called Wonderful. If you have a brother, a sister, a mother, a
father, a wife, or a husband who does wonderful things, wouldn’t you be happy?
And this Jesus—He is wonderful.
When you need help and don’t know where to turn, praise the Lord—because
then He appears. It’s as if He’s saying, “Are you calling me?” He is so attuned
to you, so connected, that even before you speak, He knows. Everyone say it:
He is tuned to you.
When you’re thinking, wondering, or silently crying out for help, He shows up.
You haven’t even said anything yet—you’re just pondering where help might
come from—and suddenly, He’s there. You look at Him, and you smile. You
laugh. You say, “You are wonderful.” That’s His name. That’s Jesus Christ.
That’s who He is.
If you had a friend so wonderful that you didn’t even have to call out for help—
because he was already there—wouldn’t you be happy? If you had such a
companion, a family member, a son, a daughter, wouldn’t you rejoice? That’s
Jesus. He said, “Tell them, I am Wonderful.” That’s what the Father says about
Him.
The Father has given us this Son, and His name is Wonderful. He does
wondrous works. When you receive Jesus Christ, you welcome a wonderworker into your home. He becomes the one you lie down with, the one you talk
to, your closest friend. He is the one you do life with. And His name is
Wonderful God.
Wouldn’t you be happy to have such a person?
Then He comes with another name: Counselor. He’s someone you can talk to.
When you’re in trouble and don’t know which way to turn, you begin to speak
with this friend. And as you do, He gives you advice. Every word He speaks
lifts your burdens and encourages your heart. He’s not just a friend—He’s a
Counselor. Someone you can trust. Someone you can confide in. And His
counsel is always wise, always timely, always wonderful.
That’s when you realize: His name is Counselor.
How does He know all this? Because He sees far. He sees what others cannot.
He sees what is hidden. He is a good Counselor.
Even the president of Ghana needs a counselor. Ministers in the cabinet are
responsible for different aspects of governance. They must exercise not just
authority, but wisdom—for the good of the nation. Their actions reflect on the
president. That’s why he must choose his advisors carefully.
If a president appoints someone who wastes time and resources, the nation
suffers. But if he appoints someone who takes initiative, who thinks deeply
about the task, and executes it with excellence, the results will exceed
expectations. That’s the kind of person who does exceedingly, abundantly
above all that is asked or imagined. That’s not just a good worker—that’s a
faithful counselor. That’s the kind of friend you need.
Amen.
As an economist turned preacher, I can tell you: when a government has poor
economic advisors, the entire nation suffers. The president may be insulted or
even overthrown—not because he is evil, but because he relied on poor counsel.
A bad economist can ruin a country’s economy. Look at Ghana. After exiting
HIPC and discovering oil, we should have prospered. Instead, we sank deeper
into debt. Why? Because of poor economic counsel.
But this Jesus—this Jesus—He gives good counsel. He is Wonderful. Clap for
Him. Hallelujah!
And then, His next name: Mighty God.
Yes, our ancestors worshipped many gods. But now we know better. The Lord
says, yes, there are other gods—but this one, Jesus, is called Mighty God. Not
just mighty, but Mighty God.
If you want a God for your country, He is the Mighty God. If you want a God
for your personal life, your business, your future—He is the Mighty God. His
name is Jesus Christ, the Son who was given.
Hallelujah.
Who is He? What is He? He is a good Counselor. He is not just a friend. He is
God. The man is God.
Amen.
The Lord spoke to me and said, “If they are looking for gods and refuse to
accept me as God—but only as the Son of God—even among the gods they
know, I am mighty.” Amen.
Yes, people worship other gods. They seek help, which is why they go to places
like Nogokpo. Our ancestors turned to these gods because they recognized their
own weakness and needed protection. That’s why they did what they did. But
I’m here to tell you that the one I bring to you—Jesus Christ—is greater than
all. It’s a simple message.
When you go out to preach, tell them: this Jesus we speak of is mighty. He is
wonderful. He is a counselor. Hallelujah.
You want a god? You are worshipping a god? Fine. But among all the gods, this
one—Jesus—is mighty. Even if you don’t accept that He is God, whether
you’re a Jehovah’s Witness or a Muslim, and you believe He’s only a prophet
or the Son of God, the Father who sent Him declares that He is a Mighty God.
The Father said, “Tell them I am the way.” And when I heard that prophecy, I
rejoiced. Jesus Christ—today, the whole nation has been placed under His
authority. Let the world know: Jesus Christ has already been crowned King of
Glory in Ghana, in Kumasi. He has taken His seat, and no one can dethrone
Him. His name is Mighty God.
Brother Matthew, when you go to Kumasi, announce it. Tell the land of Ashanti
that we have a God and a power. The one being enthroned is Jesus Christ, and
He is the Mighty God.
He is also a holy God. If you worship Him, you must worship Him in His
holiness—not your own version of holiness. This morning, I was walking and
dancing at dawn, reflecting on this truth. It’s not about your idea of holiness, or
your religious, philosophical, sociological, or psychological understanding of it.
It’s not about morality you’ve learned. It’s about the holiness of God, which is
beyond human comprehension.
The Bible says, “Let Him give you the revelation of the knowledge of Him.” So
don’t approach God thinking you know everything. Don’t come to Him offering
money as if He needs it. He doesn’t need your money. When you give, it’s used
to work on you. Praise the Lord.
If you don’t give, you won’t receive. The offering or tithe you give becomes the
very thing God uses to bless you. The heart, spirit, and joy you bring to
church—these are the things through which you will be saved. So if you come
casually, dressed nicely but spiritually empty, it means nothing.
I remember when the Dansoman Youth Choir sang beautifully. I turned to my
sister and said, “Listen to how beautiful they sing.” But then I asked, “Are their
hearts and souls truly in it?” Their rendition was lovely, but if their spirits are
far from God, their singing is useless.
Purify your soul. Stand before God not in your own concept of purity, but in
submission to Him. He will purify you. Worship the Lord in the beauty of His
holiness—not yours.
The Lord also said, “Go and look for the father.” If a child has no father, he is in
trouble. The Bible says, “Honor your father and your mother.” And if your
father is dead, find someone to be your father. Humble yourself and say, “I want
you to be my father.” If you don’t have a father, you’ve lost something
essential.
To have a father you can sit with and talk to is one of the greatest blessings. I
told my children, “I am a father, a preacher, and a prophet—all in one.” If you
don’t recognize me as your father, you are denying yourself the greatest
blessings. It’s up to you to acknowledge that you have a father in the house.
God said, “If you don’t have a father, find one.” Don’t cry over it. Find
someone and make him your father. When you give yourself to him as a child,
you will see the blessings. When a father says you are blessed, you are truly
blessed.
All pastors who don’t have spiritual fathers—go and find one. You may have a
great church, but without a father, you lack a vital ingredient in God’s plan.
There must be a father. Jesus said, “I have a Father.” Amen.
And the Father said, “This man is called Everlasting Father.” Your earthly
father will die. Others will pass away. But this one—Jesus—is everlasting.
If you have this man as a friend, and you wake up at dawn, He is there. Today, I
woke up late—around 4 a.m.—but Christ was there. He is the husband of
widows. He is your husband. So talk to Him.
Don’t sing worldly love songs. He doesn’t enjoy foolish romance. Don’t treat
Jesus like a romantic figure. Youth, you live by your senses—but He calls you
to live by the Spirit.
There are songs sung in churches today that I hesitate to even name. They carry
a romantic tone that doesn’t belong in worship. We must not play romance with
Jesus—we must worship Him. When you begin to sing and bless Him sincerely,
the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will rise in the Spirit.
A pastor called me this morning and said, “Brother, when we are with you, it
feels like you open the gates of heaven. We rise higher and higher in worship.”
That’s what happens when you seek the face of the Lord. When you do, He
gives you the message for the moment. If you’re bringing a song, He’ll give you
one that fits the day. When the preacher comes, the same Spirit flows through
the church. The testimonies, the prophecy, the message—they all align. That’s
when you know you’ve truly entered the presence of God.
But not when someone comes and says, “Let’s dance Azonto,” and everyone
starts dancing in the room. That is not worship. Excuse me to say this before
God—it is foolishness. Would you do that if the President of Ghana invited
you? Would you go and dance Azonto before President Mahama? No. Then
why do it before the King of kings?
Jesus is Counselor. He is Wonderful. He is Mighty God. He is Everlasting
Father. He is Prince of Peace. If He has become the King of our nation, then He
is the God of this nation. He is a mighty God, a good counselor, a wonderworking power. Rejoice in Him always, people of Ghana, people of the world,
people of the nations. Receive Jesus Christ—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father—set above by the Father. The whole world has found
its Prince of Peace.
He is a prince because He stands on behalf of His Father, the King of kings. But
He is also King. God bless you all.
To conclude this message, let’s reflect on what the church truly is. The church is
the body of Christ. It is where God dwells—in the Spirit. So who has come to
dwell in your body? God. And who is God? Christ. You have received Him.
The Bible says Christ is the head of the church. And being in the church, in you
and in all the brethren, the church becomes the dwelling place of God.
Ephesians tells us that God dwells in the affairs of men. So any nation that has a
church has God there. Any nation that has God there has Christ there. Because
Christ does not come to an empty place—He comes to dwell in us and makes
our home His abode. So when we gather, Christ is there. We worship Him, we
exalt Him, and the Father is pleased. When we receive the Son, we receive the
Father.
John 14 says, “If you love me and obey me, I will manifest myself.” And if you
glorify the Father, Jesus says, “I will introduce you to the Father, and my Father
and I will come and make our abode with you.” So if a pastor and a church
honor Christ, and Christ presents them to the Father, then the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit will dwell in that church. That is a blessed church.
If the whole church in Ghana truly identified with Christ, then Ghana would be
blessed—because God would be there.
There are many places people go seeking happiness. The other day, I saw
President Mahama at a church event in Mamfe, Akuapem. But that place is not
of God—it is a place of occultic powers. Yet the press showed him there. Our
president went because he needed help from God. So he went to a church.
When President Mills needed help, where did he go? He went to an occultist.
He brought him all the way from Nigeria. And in doing so, he offered the blood
of our children as a sacrifice to his god in the streets of Accra.
He prayed with many pastors—Agyin Asare and others—yet he brought this
man into our country. I say it publicly: press men, report me. Brother Enoch
says T.B. Joshua is not a Christian. But people are looking for solutions to their
problems. They say, “If you go there, you’ll be fine.”
There was someone promoting T.B. Joshua—what’s his name? Jesus One
Touch. I saw him on the front page recommending T.B. Joshua as a man of
God. But show me your friend, and I’ll show you your character. If Jesus One
Touch is recommending T.B. Joshua, then he too has submitted to him. He’s
advertising himself, telling the world he went to get power from T.B. Joshua, so
come to him too.
Daily Guide gave him space to promote this. Perhaps something passed under
the table. Praise the Lord. Because those people are looking for business.
Now, our president—the late President Atta Mills, a whole professor—went and
brought T.B. Joshua. He opened the Castle for him. He made him a counselor in
the seat of government. Praise the Lord.
And I told you, Mills would not last. He would not see the end of the four years.
People doubted me. But I knew he would not last—and he died. The Lord told
me He never accepted him from the beginning. Mills wanted to prove to his
people that he was not God’s. And now he’s gone.
People have made shrines to call upon his spirit for more power. You see how
far people have gone. They ask who will pray with whom. They were there. So I
think they were holding hands with him.
If President Mills and his spiritual counselor and father is T.B. Joshua, then it
means all of them have submitted to T.B. Joshua. Is he a Christian? Is he a man
of God?
I don’t know, but God knows. And I know that God has said He does not have
this man in His kingdom. Praise the Lord.
People today are searching for solutions. Whether it’s sickness, disability, or
hardship, they go to places like T.B. Joshua’s ministry not to worship God, but
to find relief. Many churches have become like that—centers for quick fixes,
not places of true worship.
But the Lord said, among all the hills and mountains—among science,
technology, psychology—there are many possibilities for solving problems. Yet
among all these, the Lord’s house is the highest. And what is the Lord’s house?
The church.
If you’re looking for freedom, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Not rest in money, but rest in your
soul. If your soul is crying out for peace, then let peace come. But the rest Jesus
offers is for your soul, and that’s the connection you need with the Creator.
The Bible says you need to prosper and be in good health—even as your soul
prospers. If you’re not seeing the soul, if you’re not building a connection with
Jesus Christ, and you’re only in church to make money or get a job, then you
haven’t found the true purpose. Rest in Christ. When you truly rest in Him,
material things lose their grip. They’re not unimportant, but they’re not the
foundation of life.
There is a higher condition of life—being one with God in your soul.
The church, above every institution—whether in national, human, or global
affairs—is the highest place. And people will come to it. Scripture says, “Many
people shall go and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the
house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His
paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem.”
Is the church in Ghana ready to teach people how to walk in the path of the
Lord? That’s the question God is asking us today.
The church has drifted. It’s sinking. It’s no longer preaching the Word of God.
Instead, it’s filled with motivational talks—how to succeed, how to make
money, how to be this or that. They quote scripture, but they’ve learned
management principles from worldly books and try to align them with the
Bible. These are theories, not truth.
Hallelujah. Amen.
Tomorrow, Sunday—next week Sunday—I will preach on wealth and riches for
the first time, because the Lord wants me to. He says people will come and say,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.” And what will they do there? They will
be taught His ways and walk in His paths.
That’s the message the Lord gave me to share. Tell the church: if you want
peace in your house, bring the Lord into your house. Learn His ways in your
house. Walk in His path. Others will come and join you. Your house will be
ready to receive and to teach.
“For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem.”
The church is essential. Yesterday, I said we need two things: first, a chosen
nation—Ghana. Second, a man. But both depend on one thing: the church. The
man must come from the church, and the church must teach the people how to
honor the God who has chosen them. The church will be the vehicle to move the
nation forward. Out of the church shall come the law.
Praise the Lord.
Our judges are praying and fasting. You are praying for them. But maybe
you’re praying that your candidate should win—that’s a foolish prayer. Instead,
pray that the counsel of the Lord, the wisdom of the Lord, the righteousness of
the Lord, and the decision of the Lord shall come upon the judges. Then we will
have truth and righteousness. And there will be peace in the nation.
When judgment is clear and true, and you pray for peace, the Lord will respond.
Every attempt to bring confusion will be washed away. They may try, but it
won’t stand. Praise the Lord.
People are afraid. The Lord said people have packed their money and are ready
to leave the country. They’re waiting for the court’s decision. They’re not
investing or doing anything because they don’t know what will happen.
How can we leave the church in a nation filled with tension and uncertainty?
Today, the Lord said He has heard the people’s cry. Even unbelievers are
calling on His name. This nation is all we have. We have nowhere else to go.
God created all of us. He knows every person—even those who are not
Christians. And even they are calling on God to help them. We are suffering.
Yesterday, our parliamentary candidate said, “It’s not easy to be a Christian in
such a crowd.” He attends Pentecost Church and made an open confession. He
said, “Brethren, out there, it is messy.” How can you maintain your integrity as
a Christian in such a crowd? That’s what he asked. It’s not easy.
And to me, John 7:7, Mark 7:7, and Romans 12:12 give direction. Trust in God.
Believe in the Lord Jesus. It’s simple to trust God. But when you lean on your
own understanding, it conflicts with the simplicity of trust.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit”—that’s the simplicity of the Christian faith. The
cross, because of its simplicity, has become a stumbling block to many. It
doesn’t require elaborate sacrifice. The Melchizedek system is not a sacrificial
system. Your whole life is the sacrifice.
You don’t need to bring money and lay it on the floor and speak over it for God
to hear. These things are religious foolishness. Amen.
Let’s finish.
“And He shall judge among the nations and rebuke many people. They shall
beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”
The nations are coming to the house of the Lord. And the house of the Lord will
give them the law of God. And the word the Lord brings for today is this:
Let the church rise again. Let the church teach the ways of the Lord. Let the
church be the place where truth, righteousness, and peace flow—not just for
Ghana, but for the world.
Peace. That is the message. What will happen when peace reigns? The weapons
of war will be laid down. Nations that once could not speak without the threat of
violence will find their voice in peace. The money spent on weapons and
military equipment—especially in African nations—can instead be used for
agriculture and development. The reason we often lack resources is because of
the absence of peace.
When President Mills came into office, special security uniforms were made—
dark glasses, military-style outfits, and weapons—designed to instill fear in the
public. Why? Because he lacked confidence in himself and his government. His
trust was in macho men. But our trust is not in macho men. Our trust is not in
guns or weapons. Our trust is in the Most High God. His name is Jesus. He is
the Mighty God. And He dwells in the praises of His people.
When we come together to praise and worship God, He takes care of our
enemies. Praise the Lord.
Recently, the Lord instructed us to pray around the borders of Ghana. We didn’t
send the military. We didn’t surround the country with guns. But we prayed.
There were concerns that foreign military personnel might be brought in to
suppress the people if court rulings didn’t favor certain interests. Because
Ghanaians are peace-loving and would not harm their neighbors, the fear was
that outsiders would be used to control the streets and confine people to their
homes.
But the Lord told us to pray. Our prayers sealed the borders—not just against
physical intruders, but against spiritual ones as well. People come to Ghana for
business and bring their gods with them. When the Jubilee House was built, the
Indian contractors wanted to slaughter bulls—because the bull is sacred in their
religion. But the Lord led me to write to the Chief of Staff, warning that such a
sacrifice would defile the Jubilee House.
We may be behind the scenes, but we know what is happening. God wants this
nation sanctified so that His blessings can flow. But our leaders, many of whom
do not truly know God, remain silent. They seek protection from anything and
everything—except the Lord.
When President Kufuor visited India, he was given a god. But we prayed that
the god would not enter Ghana. We prayed that it would be removed from the
plane before it landed. And by the time he arrived, the god was gone. That is
how God uses us as watchmen over this nation.
So when I say the Lord knew a man and liked him, but did not make him the
David of this nation, you can understand. Some people asked why I didn’t share
the full story. But God does not reveal His secrets to everyone—especially
when He does not approve of the person.
The truth is, they never had a chance. They were not acceptable to God.
Now, let’s return to the prophecy.
“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore. O house of Jacob, come ye, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
Jesus Christ is saying this today. He has taken His seat. He is calling the church
in Ghana: “Come, let us walk in the light.” Why does He say “come with me”?
Because He is the owner of the church. He is present in the house of the Lord.
He has settled in our land and is calling His people to walk in the light of the
Father.
But the house of Jacob has forsaken the Lord. They have turned to old ways and
outdated ideas. They have replenished themselves from the East and become
soothsayers like the Philistines. Eastern religions and foreign spiritual practices
have infiltrated the church. Some pastors in Ghana wear bangles, rings, and
other items of power from India. They flaunt them in photos, showing off their
“power” through jewelry and designer suits.
I saw one young prophet in Dansoman. He wore a flashy suit, a large watch, and
made sure the designer label was visible. He posed for photos that were
published in the Daily Guide. Why? Because visibility brings crowds. He pays
for three minutes on TV, and by the end of that short message, he receives
money in abundance. These are the Philistines among us—soothsayers
disguised as prophets.
They perform tricks—telling people the color of their underwear, the paint in
their rooms, even their bank account numbers. These are not gifts of the Spirit.
These are demonic manifestations. May God shut their mouths, blind their eyes,
and cast out those demons from the church.
In the name of Jesus, let the house of Jacob come and walk in the light of the
Lord. The people have turned away, pleasing themselves with the children of
strangers. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their
treasures. Their land is also full of horses and chariots—symbols of military
power and warfare, much like America, where horses represent weapons of war.
In Ghana, two major issues dominate our national concern: money and weapons
of war. These are being amassed, but the world must come to know God. The
call is clear: come to the Prince of Peace.
To the world, to Ghana, to every household—come to the Prince of Peace.
There shall be peace. Wars will cease. The endless activities of warfare,
economic summits like G20 and G35, will become unnecessary. The peace of
God, which surpasses all understanding, be with you all. Amen. Hallelujah.
Let this be our declaration:
1. Peace be to your house.
2. Peace be to Ghana.
3. Peace be to the world.
What is necessary to ensure peace in the world? Jesus Christ. And what is the
agency through which the blessing of Jesus comes into our homes? The church.
We need Jesus—He is the giver of peace. We need the church—His body on
earth. And the church must walk in the light of the Lord.
Mama asked me about the meaning of “4-L.” I said it stands for Love, Life,
Light, and Liberty in God. These are the pillars of peace. The peace of God be
with you. Walk in the light of the Lord, and you shall dwell unto eternity in the
bosom of the Father—the Everlasting Father, Almighty God.
God bless you.