The third day of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s (RCCG) 73rd Annual Convention brought with it a deeply inspiring and spiritually awakening message from the church’s General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye. The respected cleric delivered a sermon titled “Overcome Yourself,” which centered on spiritual self-discipline and inner victory.
Addressing a massive crowd gathered at the Redemption Camp on Wednesday, Pastor Adeboye spoke passionately from Proverbs 16:32, emphasizing that conquering one’s personal flaws and impulses is the most powerful victory a believer can achieve.
Quoting the scripture, “He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city,” Pastor Adeboye urged Christians to engage in spiritual self-examination and work earnestly to master their own weaknesses.
He went further to unveil a comprehensive five-point guide aimed at helping believers become permanent overcomers. According to him, victory over self begins with mastering key areas: one’s senses, speech, actions, desires, and focus.
“Train your ears,” he advised. “Faith comes by hearing the word of God. But fear also comes through what you hear. It’s not how much you listen, but how well you listen.”
Pastor Adeboye then warned against the consumption of negative media, stressing the importance of guarding one's spiritual gate through selective hearing and viewing. He described the Gospel as the only true and transformative Good News.
He continued his message by drawing attention to the significance of spiritual perception. “Victory doesn’t depend solely on what you see but on how you see it. Are you looking at the mountain, or at the One who existed before the mountain?” he asked, challenging believers to shift their focus from problems to God.
In a powerful caution on the use of the tongue, the cleric stated, “What you say is what you will have. Your mouth exposes your faith. Stop complaining, praise God instead. Use your words to declare His will and to cast out demons.”
Pastor Adeboye also urged believers to examine their actions, especially what they do with their hands. “Don’t sign false reports, don’t forge documents, and don’t touch anything unclean. Keep your hands clean and God will fight for you,” he warned.
To conclude his sermon, he cited biblical figures such as Moses and Solomon, pointing out how personal weaknesses, if left unaddressed, can lead to great downfall, regardless of one's calling or favor with God.
“Moses was mightily used by God, but his anger cost him the Promised Land. Solomon, loved by God and full of wisdom, ended up declaring everything vanity. If you want to be a champion forever, do something about your weak point. Life is not a joke. This spiritual warfare is serious business,” Pastor Adeboye warned soberly.
In a more cheerful segment of the service, Pastor Adeboye shared joyous news with the congregation. Since the beginning of the convention, 50 babies—comprising 34 boys and 16 girls—had been safely delivered at the church’s maternity center. The announcement was met with thunderous applause and cheers across the Redemption Camp.
The ongoing RCCG convention, themed “The Overcomers,” continues to attract thousands of worshippers from within Nigeria and abroad, who have come together to seek God’s face through prayers, worship, teachings, and deep spiritual renewal.