The Grace To Last by Apostle Selman

The Grace To Last || Run Conference 2026 || Streams of Joy Umuahia-Abia || Apostle Selman

John 15:16 KJV

• First and foremost, there’s nothing you can do about a man who God has lifted.
• Number two, you cannot step into a dimension you resent.
• Number three, when God raises a man, it’s not for himself. It’s for everyone.

So when you fight that person, you are in partnership with the devil to destroy your own destiny. His destiny is already made. That’s why he’s being used.

Honestly, I’m saying it again. And this is this is not a man of God patronizing.  By the mercies of God, I’ve been in ministry for a few years.

At this point in my life, I’ve outgrown playing politics. My heart is for Jesus and when I see what looks like him and the way he acts, I will talk about it. This right here is a model for many people to learn. Hallelujah.

Number two, for those of you who might be uncomfortable with this display of lavish honor on a man, let me tell you this like you’ll be learning tonight. When you find people who win by righteousness and win consistently, it is a testimonial of discipline, endurance, Walking the paths of the spirit.

And the Bible says that they that rule well should be counted for double honor. And so I’m saying thank you again for not rejecting your own. Don’t allow another region or another part of the world celebrate the gift that God has given you within the east. He may not be the only one but he’s a significant one among many.

Thank you for the honor and the opportunity given to me to bring the word of God. I’ve been blessed already. Really blessed already. Let’s see how far God will help us within the time that we have. It truly is a privilege for me to make contributions as far as building God’s people is concerned and I’m hoping that uh the things we’ll be sharing in addition to all that you have heard and all that you’ll be hearing will build you up. Conferences like these are largely word encounters.

That means that God through the teaching of the word upgrades our spiritual understanding. He helps us to come into a level of mastery as far as understanding the things of the kingdom are concerned.

Conferences like this help to sharpen our understanding to build us to impart us to empower us indeed so that we will run. In the name of Jesus, I decree and declare that the keys you’ll be receiving tonight in addition to all that you have received will make you a finisher. >> In the name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. Praise the name of Jesus.

As believers, we have been called to live a victorious life. The Bible is clear as to the fact that God designed our work and our surgeon upon the earth to be laced with dominion and victory. And he not only gave us the call and the assignment, he also gave us the resources that equip us to walk in dominion.

In John chapter 15, when you read from verse 8, hearing is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit. Someone say much fruit. It says so shall ye be my disciples. Verse 16 of the same John 15 it says you have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you. The word ordained means legitimize your operation that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit will remain.

So we have been ordained to live a victorious life. The Bible is clear as to the fact that our victory brings glory to the name of the Lord. The Bible says we are his workmanship.

Ephesians 2:10. Recreated in Christ. Who unto good works and that God had pre-ordained that we should work in them. for any man’s vision to speak.

There are five elements that must be present for any vision, more so a ministerial vision of this sort to speak:

• Number one, there must be a mandate, a distinct mandate from God. We have a general assignment as believers, the great commission we call it. But within that great commission, there are distinct assignments.

And not everybody may have a call of this sort. But there are many people whose calling and fulfillment is within the call of another person. But generally speaking, it’s important to have a distinct message.

• Number two, you must have a divinely revealed strategy for driving that vision.

It is dangerous to have a correct vision and invent your own strategy. Every time God desires to use a man, use a people, he not only gives you a prophetic word, he not only gives you a vision, he gives you his strategy. Most times great visions fail. And I’m saying this as a preamble very quickly.

Great visions fail because the vision is correct, but the strategy is usually not divine. Most times we don’t stay enough to receive the strategy. As soon as we receive the prophecy, then we run and then use our own strategy.

So Joshua knows is to bring Jericho down, but he had a plethora of options. One of it, the usual one was to fight, but he had to wait to ask, “How will I bring them down?” And he said, “No, no, no. This is not a battle of swords and spears. You’re going to go around Jericho once every day. And then on the seventh day you will go seven times the priest bearing the ark and they will shout and Jericho will go down.

So most times believers try to use you know let me tell you this the strategy that executes the prophecy you are given is as powerful as the prophecy itself. You can have a clear prophetic word from God, but what becomes your edge in terms of victory is the ability to stay until you receive the winning strategy. Else you will be experimenting a lot of man-made strategies.

So you need a mandate. You need a strategy.

• Number three, you need a platform. You can have a great vision. You can have a great strategy, but you need a platform.

A platform allows you to be able to serve the grace that God has committed to you without hindrance. A platform.

• Number four, you need resources. And of these resources, there are two kinds. The greater are human resources and then material resources.

In fact, it is the presence of the human resources that guarantee the arrival of material resources. If you have money and you don’t have men, you are poor.

Let me pray a prayer for you. I always pray for my people. May you never be so poor that all you have is money. In the name of Jesus Christ, because the Bible says in the multitude of men is a king’s honor.

Go to the hospital and you see many things. money cannot do. Are we together now? So when God wants to help a man, he brings human resources and then of course material resources.

• And then the fifth and that will give way to my discussion tonight, divine backing

Five elements. One, a distinct mandate, a distinct message. Two, a divinely revealed strategy. Number three, a platform. Number four, resources. Five, divine backing. This is where the rubber hits the road. There must be an evidence upon your life that God sent you. There must be an evidence upon your life.

No matter even if you have all these four, if you do not have that backing, you will be frustrated. It says by you I have run through a troop and by my God. Do you know what it means to run through a troop? A troop is not men. A troop is men who are equipped. And now a single person runs through a troop. And then he says by my God I have leaped over a wall.

These are the possibilities that only come when God is with a man. I pray for you in Jesus name.

From today it will be clear without mistaking that the hand of God is upon your life. It will be clear that God is with you.

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. In John chapter 3 and he said rabbi verse one he says we know that thou art a teacher come from God. He says for no man verse two can do this miracles which thou doest except God be with him. There are results that men can produce. There are results that only God can produce in a man. And when you find certain possibilities activated in the life of men, it is an attestation that God is with them.

Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth.” Isn’t it amazing that Jesus had to be anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power, then he went about doing good, healing all they that were oppressed. It says for God was with him. Hallelujah. Praise the name of the Lord. All right.

The Holy Ghost quickened in me something that I don’t teach very often, but I think is very relevant particularly for this conference. And this has to do with the dynamics of longevity.

I’m going to be talking, I’ll give you the topic, but I’m going to be talking, my emphasis tonight will be the skill to remain, the grace, the capacity to last, longevity of impact.

I found out in my little experience, my walk with God, and the brief time in ministry that:

• Number one, it takes vision to start.
• Number two, it takes discipline to continue,
• But number three, it takes mercy to finish.

It takes vision and maybe motivation to start. It takes discipline to continue. But honestly, when the stakes are down, it is not a formula that finishes. It is a mercy of God.

I’ve seen people who got it all wrong and strangely they finished. I’ve seen people who got it all right and strangely they didn’t finish. It is at this point that both the learned and the unlearned. It is at this point that both the gifted and not so gifted, we all tremble before his presence.

When it has to do with the business of finishing, we are products of his mercy.

There are principles that can guide a man and can help you to finish strong. And I want to show you a few of these principles in the message I titled the grace to last. The grace to last. two scriptures very quickly and then the Lord will help us tonight. If you’re learning already, say Amen. Hallelujah.

Hebrews chapter 12:1-2 KJV. Then we’ll go to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. Your grace, your grace, I’m nothing without you. Your grace, your grace shines on me. It’s your grace. Your grace. I’m everything with you. Your grace, your grace shines on me.

Hebrews 12:1. Wherefore, now follow Paul’s discussion, seeing that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. On the basis of this that there are witnesses, those who have gone before us, those who are here among us, because we are surrounded, he said, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth easily beset us.” And then he says, “Let us run with patience or perseverance the race that is set before us.”

Then he gives us a strategy. And the name of that strategy is looking unto Jesus. It’s a strategy for winning. Looking unto Jesus is not just a description to look up. He’s telling you the name of the strategy that guarantees that you finish. looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despised the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of God at the throne of God.

The Lord bless the reading of his word. Second scripture, just one for sake of time. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 24. I like Paul. I like his understanding. It says now he said, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize.”

He says, “Are you not aware that when you see people running for instance in an Olympic or a marathon, how many of you know that in a marathon there are people who did not intend to finish? They just wanted to enjoy the experience. So they are not offended if they don’t they don’t expect an award right from beginning. They just wanted to participate and there’s nothing wrong. That was their goal to fail.

And then the Bible says that all run but one receiveth a price. Then he says, “So run that you may obtain.” So run that you may obtain. Life and destiny is likened to a race.

Now there are three things that the Bible likens life to:

• Number one, to a fight.
• Number two, a race. Paul says, “I have fought the fight. I have kept the faith. I have finished the race.”

So, he calls life a fight. He calls it a race and he calls it a treasure that a man can keep. I’ve finished my course anyway. So, life is likened to running a race.

And the Bible mandates that we run so that we’re able to finish. And for many, many people, they start well. We all start well in various ways. But unfortunately, as we progress in life and destiny, many things begin to happen for various reasons. And you find out that others who start well may sadly not finish well.

Others who do not start so well somewhere in the journey they discover what they were doing wrong and retrace their steps and then finish. Others start well and very strangely commendably finish well. Others do not start well and unfortunately, they do not finish well.

I believe the goal of this conference among other things is to equip us with the tools that will help us maximize our destinies and that at the end of our days we’re going to say truly we ran the race with nobility with grace with vision with honor and we finish strong. If I just described you shout amen. Shout a louder amen. Hallelujah. Praise the name of the Lord.

Number two, these are keys I have seen from the lives of those who have gone before us. And honestly, their lives have been an inspiration enough for us to draw from.

You know, transformation works on a two-dimensional formula. Maybe I should say it here.

Anytime you want to change, anytime you want to evolve, there are two strategies according to scripture.

• Number one is looking unto Jesus.
• Number two is follow them.

These are the two ways we change.

• One, we look unto Jesus by revelation, by the word. We are changed.
• Number two, we become followers of them who through faith and patience have obtained the promise.

Transformation is difficult without a reference. You cannot become nothing. There has to be a reference. Even if you intend to surpass that reference, you have to get there first, then you can. Praise God.

And so, we’re going to look through the mirror of scripture and find out why people do not last in ministry, in life.

In fact, this is not even just a talk of ministry in destiny. It’s a terrible thing to have a better yesterday than your tomorrow is inconsistent with the way God designed men.

The Bible says, “But the path of the just. It’s as a shining light that shines more and more.” Someone prophesy. Say more and more. Is that how much you love your destiny? Say more and more.

He said, “The path of the just is as a shining light.” meaning my my my yesterday should never be better than my tomorrow.

We live in a world where you hear people talk a lot about yesterday. They talk about the God of yesterday. And I don’t say this with a critical spirit. It is amazing how people talk about the miracles of yesterday. What God did yesterday when they were in politics yesterday when they were good yesterday. No sir, it should not be so.

Paul said this one thing I do forgetting the things that are behind and reaching for there is always something before you. It doesn’t matter whether the thing behind is good or bad. He didn’t say forgetting bad things. Good days should always be in front. Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth for the things that are before me. I like the word he uses. I press. I press. Not I move. I press. Come on.

I press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Growing up, you know, from, you know, had the honor of growing up in the middle belt, the north really. And I saw great people and with great admiration, some of them are still alive. But I found out that people start and fail in their lifetime. I saw people fail politically. I saw both crowns and scars on the same person. I saw people rejoice and became an object of mockery and I said no this thing should not be. I saw people made money and lose money in their lifetime. I saw people do well and then scattered everything they did again. Were those pastors? I said no there has to be a way out of this.

So I want to show you very briefly and I tell you this if you do not understand this key you will not last. And you see the truth about it is that vision creates blindness. This is something people do not know.

To be visionary means you cannot see everything. And it is because of vision many people fail. Sometimes it is not if I’m looking here because I’m focused I can’t see what is behind me. It’s one of the reasons why people fail.

So if you are a visionary person, you want to listen to what I have to tell you now. I pray that God will grant us grace. Is someone learning already?

Let me lead you to a confession. This is a ministry that understands the power of confession. Would you say in the name of Jesus name? >> Say it like you believe. Say in the name of Jesus, >> I will start. I will start. >> I will continue and I will finish. You are saying this to your destiny. Say in the name of Jesus, I receive the grace to start, the grace to continue, the grace to finish. One more time, I receive the grace to start, the grace to continue, the grace to finish. Turn it to prayer in one minute.

I will not start and then not have capacity to continue. And I will not continue and then abort destiny. Someone go ahead and pray, the grace to start in ministry, in destiny, the grace to continue, the grace to finish, the grace to last in Jesus name we pray.

The dynamics of receiving the seed is different from the dynamics of the entire period of pregnancy. And then at the point of delivery, there is another skill. Again, starting requires its own skill. Continuing.

Do you see that through the equation the easiest part of it is starting? In fact, starting seems to be the most pleasurable part, but continuing.

There are people who continued but because there was carelessness something affected them or what was born or both them or what was BORN THAT YOU CARRIED SOMETHING FOR 9 months but simply because there was an alteration you were not able to give birth again.

I pray for you the grace to start, the grace to continue, and the grace to finish. I release it upon you in the name of Jesus.

• Key number one, the first key that I present to you as a submission. Be strong in the Lord. If you want to last, if you want to finish, you must know how to draw strength from God.

Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10 it says finally brethren be strong not in yourself be strong in the Lord. I like the amplified rendition.

It takes strength, ladies and gentlemen. And that strength is derived from knowing God. This strength I’m talking about is a direct product of investing your life to know God.

The God you know is the God you reveal to your generation. You cannot reveal a foreign god. No, the our generation is not waiting for the revelation of a theoretical God.

The Bible says in Daniel 11:32, “The be part, but the people.” He didn’t say the people that know God.

He said the people that know their God. If you are an idol worshipper, know your God. If you are whatever, know your God. The prophets of Baal knew their God. Unfortunately, he disappointed them when they needed him most. But Elijah also knew his God. And upon that strength, he told them, “Do whatever you do. I’ll allow you from morning till the time of the evening sacrifice.” The people that know their God.

You see, let me tell you this. Confidence in this kingdom is derived from a functional relationship with God. Attempting to serve a theoretical God to a generation will leave you disappointed.

I like what the apostle said. He said, “But I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he’s able to keep that which is committed unto him.” He does not keep what is available. He keeps what is committed to him.

Jesus said in John chapter 17, “All you have given me, I have kept and none is lost. You have given me and I have kept.” There are many people who have not seen the value of God’s presence.

Many people have not seen the value of investing time with God. The secret to intimacy is time. Time, not intention, not desire. Desire must match with time.

We live in a generation that is very busy. Can I tell you and I please don’t feel insulted but I can tell you this.

One of the benefits of walking with God is that it will prune your activities by bringing accuracy to your life.

There are many things that we do that are proof that we are not working circumspectly.

But if you read Ephesians 5, the Bible says, “Walk circumspectly as wise and not as unwise.” Redeeming the time because the days are evil.

You know how you redeem time? By knowing what the will of God is early so that you don’t shadow box and return back.

The Bible says the quicker you know the will of God, you walk in the will of God and you will not have to reverse again. Because if you go against God’s will, by the time you he wants to walk with you, no matter how far you’ve gone, you must return back again.

So the Bible says you waste time by doing so. The value of God’s presence, investing in God’s presence, investing to know God.

It’s not just a business for preachers and men of God and those called into ministry. No. Like the fish needs water, like the birds need the tree and the air.

Man was designed to find his relevance in the presence of God.

• There are treasures that come from his presence.
• The treasure of wisdom,
• The treasure of favor,
• The treasure of utterance,
• The treasure of direction,
• The treasure of accuracy and specificity.

That’s what you miss when you miss his presence.

I tell you this, one of the greatest points of distraction. I hope you know that sometimes trouble comes because of increase and growth.The more God lifts you, you move from a man of God, let me use ministry for an example, and you become an administrator very legitimately. Satan does not have to use evil to attack you. He will use anything provided it will distract you. He uses any weapon including what God gave you. All he wants is that it becomes God in your life or it distracts you away from his presence.

You must learn to know his presence. You must learn to stay and grow AND BUILD. MANY OF THE THINGS WE LOOK for can only be found in his presence.

I can tell you this. Many of the things we look for, you cannot buy favor in any market. No, it is not sold on earth. It’s a resource that works on earth but is outsourced beyond this realm.

People don’t just like you because you want them to like you. He said because of the ointment, so do the virgins love me. There is something on you that causes men to love you. Intention is not enough. Be strong. But you must draw that strength from a functional knowledge.

It says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. He says the knowledge of the holy that is understanding. Ladies and gentlemen, God can be known. And if you pay the price, perhaps I’m speaking to someone who is just starting ministry. It’s wonderful to admire those who have gone ahead.

But I tell you this, the greatest no way to be known is to know him. Hide. The more you know him, the more you will know yourself.

You publicize yourself by remaining in the secret place. That’s how you are known.

There are many people who I mean the the practice of God’s presence is something that is generally gradually being eroded from our generation and it must be restored. Is the key to power is the key to grace. God will tell you something in the secret.

Can I tell you this? When it has to do with the secret place is a lover’s affair. And there are things that God would take as someone else’s prayer point and give you as a gift. Tokens of his presence. Tokens of his presence. There must be an evidence. An evidence OF HIS PRESENCE. NOT just I thank God for encounters. But you must learn to stay. >> Stay.

Encounters are powerful. They leave a mark. But I’m I’m not I’m talking about the he that dwells dimension, not he that visits, he that dwells in the secret place of the most high to dwell is the word that is translated in English marinate. Women will understand this.

The art of marination. You know that. You know what? So when you want what is outside the source to get into the protein, you leave it there and close it and drop it there.

AH, SHOW ME A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO STAY. You stay till WISDOM COMES. WHILE OF OF THAT IS YOU ARE NOT EVEN AWARE. YOU STAY TILL FIRE COMES. THE INTENTION WAS NOT FIRE. THE INTENTION WISDOM CAN BE AN IDOL. FAVOR CAN BE AN IDOL.

WHEN YOU GET TO HIS PRESENCE IS NOT WHAT HE GIVES. IT IS HIM. Then you get the tokens OF HIS PRESENCE. MANY PEOPLE GET INTO HIS PRESENCE FASTING AND PRAYING AND what they want is power. What they want is wisdom. I’m not against that. BUT YOU WILL NEVER FIND IT until you find him. He is not power. He is not wisdom. He gives power to THE FAINT. DOES ANY man lack wisdom? You can come.

But let me tell you this. God is raising men who want him, not what he gives. what he gives. I show you how to last. I show you how to last.

The moment his presence becomes secondary in your life and you focus on the tokens of his presence simply because you’ve seen the economic value of having those things, you will not go far. And you can know a man that has stayed in the presence.

I’m calling on someone. Don’t just admire the tokens of his presence. You must love him. You must want him.

Imagine that I come to your HOUSE AND ALL I’M concerned about is your kitchen or your safe. I’m not really interested in you. The reason why I knocked was because I’m hoping by you opening the door I get to your kitchen and I get to your kitchen AND I’M EATING BURGERS and everything once I’M DONE I BELCH AND HIT MY STOMACH AND SAY IT WAS NICE SEEING YOU THEN I COME AGAIN. No sir, BUT HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THERE ARE TIMES YOU CAN BE so close to someone without him asking you will buy a car and give him, you will buy things and give him.

They are called tokens of intimacy. This is the realm I want someone to step into. Worshippers, step into it. Minister, step into it. No, don’t use his presence. Stay there till you are built. If this is the only thing I say and I stop, I will leave here fulfilled his presence.

There are many things today by the mercy of God that we have seen in our lives that were not part of our requests. When we got there, we are we are GRATEFUL AND HONESTLY SOMETIMES SHOCKED THAT GOD CAN GO SO FAR TO SHOW you how much he loves you. It is him, not it. Him, not it is strong. Your destiny will test you many times.

When David stood before Golth, Saul looked at him and said, “You want to fight this man? You are a young teenager.” And he said, “King, I respect you, but my confidence is not from here. I I know I know the bases. Whose son are you?” When he now stood before Golaith, Golaith said, “Israel, am I a dog? You bring this little boy to fight me. I’m a veteran. I’m a giant. I’m a warrior.” And David looked at him with audacity that only the knowledge of God brings. He says, “You come against me with your bows. You come against me with your spares, but I come against you in a name, a name. I will use this sling as ordinary as it is. I will throw you down and use your own sword. Remove your head and give it to the birds. There is a way you speak when you have met him. There is a way you cannot speak if you have not met him.

Your presence is my one desire. Your glory is my one desire.

• Key Number two, the second key if you want to last is you must submit to the supremacy of the word of God as final authority in your life. In every and all matters.

You must submit to the supremacy of the word of God as final authority in every and all matters.

Let me tell you this. There is no lasting for a man who will mix the word and certain other other things maybe with all due respect culture, opinions of men, popular opinions.

You must submit to the supremacy of the word of God as final authority ABOVE VISIONS, ABOVE DREAMS, ABOVE PROPHECIES, ABOVE GIFTS.

It is written is greater than I saw. It is written is greater than I heard. I saw has misled people.  When Satan came to Jesus, the word Jesus did not say I came from heaven. He said, “It is written.”

The secret of longevity is when you build upon that rock. Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, no matter how charismatic, no matter how great, if your life is not anchored on scripture, when I came in here and I saw you being led from scripture through scripture through confession, my heart was glad. I said, “This vision will stand.” Not just because of the dexterity of the men piloting this ship, but because it was built on a rock.

There’s a level God helps you in ministry where you’ve seen all kinds of things. There are few things that really impress you. The word, sir, the word. It is not what I want. It is not what they say.

And men can bully you into disalignment with all kinds of opinion. This is how we do it. This is how it is done. I appreciate you. But the way the the Bible says forever, oh Lord, Yes.

Oh, there’s a formula like this. It brings results quicker. I respect you. But if it is not founded on the word, I’m not interested. It’s as simple and as honest as that.

Most people drive their lives using different kinds of platforms and wonder that they fail. The longevity factor in any man’s life is the word of God. The richer the word of God in your life and the more you submit to the word.

Submitting to the word, allowing it to influence your thinking, allowing it to influence your behavior, allowing it to influence your decisions. Your decisions must be founded by the word of God. And sometimes as leaders the pressure of administration the pressure of there are TIMES YOU NEED SAY HEY YES EVERYBODY WAITS THANK GOD FOR EXPERTISE BUT LET’S GO TO THE Bible

I respect opinions of expertise I respect professionalism but there are times I have learned in my experience like Peter you can have the right boat the right fishing net the right skill the right place and you will still not catch FISH AT THAT POINT ONLY the word of God can bail you out. There are times these things fail. >> Yes, sir. Yes sir.

The Bible say in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. THE SAME WAS WITH GOD IN the beginning.

But the Bible says all things were made by him AND WITHOUT HIM OUTSIDE OF HIS PARTICIPATION was not anything made that was made. The word of God. Colossians 1:16. The word of God. Give us Colossians 1:16.  For by him the word were all things created. How many things? >> If it created all things, I think it can create my destiny. I think it can create my tomorrow.

The word of God is a proven raw material. It stood the test of time. The word of God. The word of God.

When I talk about the word of God, I’m talking of three things.

• One, I’m talking of the doctrine of scripture.
• Number two, I’m talking about the principles of scripture, the modus operandi of the kingdom.

When we talk about the word of God, let’s not be vague about it. Number one, we’re talking about the doctrine of scripture. The Bible called it the apostles doctrine. It comes from the Latin word doctrina. The Greek is didascalia. It’s a body of knowledge that makes a disciple to become like his master. They continued in the apostles doctrine, in fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayers.

Acts chapter 6 and verse4, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. Preachers, please let’s get back to the word of God. Many people do not read their Bibles. You can read to preach. You are not growing, sir. You are not growing, sir. You need to stay. And that from a child thou has known the holy scripture which is able to make you wise unto salvation.

Acts 20:32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and then to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified. The major assignment of men of God is to open your eyes so that you will see to feed you with knowledge and to feed you with understanding.

If you want to last, you have to go back and check what your life is built on. I respect visions. I respect prophecies. But let me tell you this, the margin of error contained in these dimensions, you have no idea.

There are many people whose lives were built by I said I saw and was still destroyed by I said I saw. We don’t despise prophesyings but the word of God has been tried. The prophecy of scripture is solid. It will last you. I tell you when ALL THE DUST SETTLES DOWN YOU’LL STILL BE STANDING.

Please stand on the word. If the word says love, just love. Don’t create your own option. If the word of God says give, give. If the word of God says pray, if the word of God says to speak, for instance, the word says let the redeemed of the Lord >> talk to me again. >> Talk to me again. >> If you don’t speak because you think it’s too embarrassing, I assure you, you will not finish. >> Ah, because he came, he revealed himself.

The first way to function like God is to speak like God. That’s the first thing he did in the Bible. YOU ARE NOT LIKE GOD if you don’t. The Bible did not say and God taught. HE SAYS AND GOD SO Joshua Selman must so streams of joy must talk to me

There Are Four Ways You Can Engage Scripture:

1. Study it
2. Speak it
3. Hear it
4. You see that it’s very important meditate on it

Joshua 1:8 the formula it says this book of the law shall not depart from out of your mouth but you SHALL MEDITATE DURING DAY AND NIGHT THAT THOU MAYEST OBSERVE TO DO. THE POWER TO DO COMES FROM KNOWING FROM STAYING. THERE IS AN ENGRACING THAT YOUR INTERACTION with the word of God brings to your life. It’s called the doing grace. You don’t get the doing grace if you don’t stay with the word.

• Number one, be strong in the Lord.

Draw your strength from the wealth, the richness of your relationship with him. Let him mean everything to you.

• Number two, you must submit to the supremacy of the word of God.

Times will change. Opinions will come and go. Formulas will come and go.

Men are historically men have been about the most arrogant species of God’s creation. THEY WILL SHOW UP AND TRY TO SHOW YOU A WAY AND downplay the word then last for a few years and crash.

The things that are written aforetime are written for our learning so that we, through patience and comfort of scripture might find hope.

The word will work sir. Stay there and win there. It may take time. It may be slower but I assure you you will never have to go back again. Stay there.

If the word cannot build your finances, nothing else will build it. It will only be balloon success if you try any other thing. If the word of God does not build your influence, there can be other formulas. No sir, no sir.

Nevertheless, the foundation of the Lord stood sure, having the seal. The word of God.

• Always keep the vision of your future or your destination before you. Always keep the vision of your future or your destination before you. Philippians chapter 3 and 13.

You cannot arrive looking back. Remember Lot’s wife. Nobody goes forward by consistently looking back.  brethren? I count myself not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.

Please look at me. A man who cannot forget yesterday. By forgetting it does not mean wipe it out of your memory. It means break its influence over your capacity to move forward.

Let me tell you this. It is at this point I can tell you both success and failure can do the same thing to you. Success can make you complacent. Success can push you to the edge of compromise. Failure can discourage you.

So ultimately both success and failure can destroy you. You must know how to manage them. He says this one thing I do is a skill to forget the things that are behind.

You know pastor Jerry as a principle no matter what God does in my life after I’m back is over. Once I kneel before him and I say Lord I thank you. Let the text messages keep coming. Let everything keep coming. I have trained myself. The moment I say thank you that event is over. What is the next? This is how champions win.

Some of us the reason why your last success was why you started failing. You succeeded so much you stop succeeding because you held on to yesterday while wanting to go to tomorrow.

For someone you have celebrated yesterday too much, it’s time to cut away and move forward. And for someone you have blamed yourself and beat yourself down too much, it’s time to cut away and move forward. The Bible says this one thing I do, forgetting the things. It didn’t say bad things.

Forgetting the crowns, forgetting that you won yesterday, forgetting that you healed the sick yesterday or forgetting that they were not healed yesterday. Once it is in my yesterday, thank you. I’ve received enough encouragement, but that’s it. I need to look forward. IF ANY MAN DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL WILL NOT FIND PLEASURE IN HIM.

The Bible says, remember Lot’s wife is one of the reasons why in Africa we don’t have third, fourth generation. Not many things are third, or fourth-generation. You know why? Because we celebrate success to a point of flattery.

There is a healthy motivation that comes from yesterday. Once you receive it, it’s like a dosage. It’s enough. Yesterday blesses you like salt in food. There is a quantity that is just enough. Once you overput it, it now ends up destroying you.

Thank God your last prophecy was accurate, but it’s time to move forward. I’m sorry that your last healing did not happen well. It’s time to move forward. I know the business failed. It’s time to move forward. I know the business succeeded. It’s time to move forward.

Someone say, “Father, I go forward by your power. I go forward in the name of Jesus.”

You know one thing I’ve learned in life, Nobody claps for you for the same level twice. Once you have received the applause for a level, it is finished.

Look at me. Who is clapping for me for walking now? No. I received that as a baby. My first step was the one that was deserving of AN APPLAUSE. AFTER THAT IT BECOMES NATURAL. But when you fly that’s a new experience. Some of you you have been crawling we clap for you but we are tired of clapping for you that you are crawling. Start walking. Then you will get another measure of applause.

For some you have been walking. My goodness you have been walking. Walking has stuck you in the traffic of life. It’s time to start flying. You see when you are FLYING YOU DON’T WORRY ABOUT MOUNTAINS. You don’t worry about valleys. You don’t worry ABOUT SEAS. ALL THOSE THINGS happen when you are when you are driving.

In the name of Jesus. The grace TO FLY TO FLY like the eagle. The grace to surpass yesterday’s dimension. I impart that grace upon you. Hallelujah.

Beware of yesterday. Yesterday is very jealous. It always wants to relieve itself in your today. You must know when to wave it goodbye and insist that it waste you goodbye.

You must keep your vision before you. This is where God is taking us as a ministry. This is where God is taking me. Oh, you are doing so well. Thank you. I really appreciate. I’m grateful. Oh, you are stupid. Thank you. I appreciate you. I’m facing forward towards the mark. Towards the mark. I think you are wrong. No problem.

The one I’m meeting will tell me if I’m wrong or not. It’s okay.

Let me tell you this. If you do not have the power to grow above distractions, you will not finish.

Sometimes, some of us for 4 years now you stop running and you are trying to explain to people that you are running well. 90% of those who distract you already know the truth. Don’t waste your time. Don’t waste your time, sir. Don’t waste your time.  Someone is growing a thick skin from this conference.

I was told that a man I gave a popular story, Pastor Jerry, a man who was trying to climb um you know, climb a a very high a palm tree or something and people were trying to talk him down and he looked at them and he was smiling. He kept climbing. They were trying to talk him down. He kept climbing. At the end of it, he he he got you know to the top and everybody the people now started clapping and when he came down they were talking to him. They now discovered he was deaf. >> That was why he finished. SO HE THOUGHT THEY INSULTING him was saying continue and he kept on.

The Bible say he who has an ear meaning you have the power to open that ear or close it. I can open to certain people and close certain things.

Can I tell you this? Stop feeling guilty for being visionary. You don’t owe people explanations here and there. Come on now. NO. SET YOUR VISION BEFORE YOU OBTAIN GRACE FROM GOD. FIRE ON ALL FOUR CYLINDERS. SOMEONE, fire is coming to your bones.

It’s time to rise. It’s time to move. It’s time to press.

As a man of God, there is much to be done for the kingdom. Much to be done for the kingdom.

Honestly speaking, I look at my life today and I tell myself, compared to where I’m going, I’m only one step out of the cave. And I really mean it. I really mean it. I really mean it. I promise to give you one or two more. My goodness.

Someone you are going forward. Keep your vision before you. Keep your vision before you. What did he tell you? What did he show you?

Now you see vision sometimes can have emotional and psychological wear and tear. That’s why retreats are powerful. Sometimes you need to run away from people, including friends. Friends can love you so much they won’t let you be with God.

Sometimes you need to say, you know, Abraham went with his child, but when he got at the base, he said, “Wait here.” The servants would have loved him too much to allow him kill Isaac. He said, “Wait here. Let your love not stop my obedience.” No, wait here. I will come down and tell you the fruit of my obedience. We went together. We were classmates. But wait here. From this point up, I’m not sure. I love you. I need you. But this level of obedience demands my staying with God.

Someone I release upon you the grace even if it means moving alone. The grace to go. The grace to go. The grace to go. The grace to move. It’s time to take steps. Incremental steps to your destiny.

No matter whatever may come my way, I’ll follow.

Hebrews 10 and verse 7 said, “Lo, I come in the volume of the book.” Vision.

That was why I told you to celebrate the man of God for consistency. It takes vision. The devil will orchestrate people every day to distract you.

You must have the stamina. This is where I’m going. I have set my eyes ON THE SAIL. GOD has given me the matching order. I know it’s my season. No power will stop me. Even if it means to walk on water, no problem. I know.

Listen, let me tell you this. When Jesus was with Peter and they thought he was a spirit, they said, “If it be thou, bid me come.” And he said, “Come.” He never said Peter come because that statement did not end with Peter alone. What he told Peter he if he said Peter come if I take that step it will be disobedience because my name is not Peter but he said come today it will be Joshua Selman come businessman I know you came from a family where no one has done anything but come stand up get out of that boat walk on water the miracle follows. It doesn’t go before the miracle follows.

There are no guarantees in life. Your guarantee is the God who sent you. He said when I send you lack thou anything?

I’m prophesying to someone who is obsessed with guarantees. You will NEVER NEVER NEVER FIND ANY guarantee anywhere. Your guarantee is the God who sent you. YOUR GUARANTEE IS THE WORD HE GAVE YOU. YOUR GUARANTEE IS THE VISION HE put before you. Set your vision before you. Let me tell you this.

Please look up. I hope I’m not wasting your time. My apologies, Pastor Jerry. The time is up. I will walk with the time. Listen, anybody who flies or drives knows that for 90 to 95% of the time, you never see where you are going. If you are driving from here to Abuja for 95% of the journey you never see Abuja but you know you are going there. IF AFTER 7 HOURS YOU SAY LOOK I’M TIRED. YOU ARE GOING RIGHT FOR SOMEONE I CAME TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS RIGHT. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THERE YET DON’T STOP. YOU ARE ALMOST THERE. THE PRAYER IS RIGHT. THE FASTING IS RIGHT.

I CAME TO SPEAK to you. I came to place grace on YOUR HEAD. THE PRAYER IS RIGHT. THE CONSECRATION IS RIGHT. THE VISION SPEAKS AT THE END. DON’T STOP. DON’T STOP. JUST BECAUSE IT IS NOT SPEAKING NOW DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE WRONG. Keep praying. Keep studying. KEEP GIVING. LET THEM LAUGH WHILE YOU PRAY. LET THEM LAUGH WHILE YOU STUDY.

Hear me, man of God. Keep learning. DON’T BE ASHAMED OF LEARNING. YOU MAY NOT SEE WIND. YOU MAY NOT SEE RAIN. BUT YOU KEEP WALKING. I ASSURE YOU YOUR VALLEY WILL BE FILLED with water.

Can I tell you this? Listen. Oh goodness.

There are three seasons before any man emerges.

• Number one, there is a season of preparation.

And there are three things that happens in that season.

1. Discovery of God,
2. Discovery of yourself and
3. Discovery of your assignment. Three things in that season.

• Number two is the season of testing and pooling.

This is the season that prepares you to last. You know where you are going, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE CAPACITY TO go there yet. And if God releases you at that point, you become a casualty.

So when he calls you, he says come follow me. God does not call you to a mission field. He calls you to himself. Then he sends you. So when you come to him, he doesn’t give you an assignment. He reveals himself and breaks you and molds you. All the flesh, THE TRUST, THE PRIDE, EVERYTHING THAT THRESHING FLOOR, IF YOU ESCAPE THAT SEASON, YOUR FUTURE will tell.

You know in the university you can jump a few classes and read up during exam.

In destiny the class you miss you will pay for it in the future.

• And then the third season is the season of appearing. Luke 1:80

John remained in the wilderness. He did not remain because he was wrong. There is a season. And you see every time you see people emerge, they don’t have to do anything new.

The same thing you were doing yesterday will produce greater result because it is your season. Your season. Your season, sir.

John remained in the wilderness, but when it was his season, no devil anywhere.

For someone I sense in my spirit that like God has done for his servant, like God has done for streams of joy, you are just at the midnight of YOUR SEASON, I CAME as a prophetic midwife. I push you into that season of appearing. I place grace on your head.

I’m speaking to someone who is a receiver. In the name of Jesus, the one who helps men, the one who raises men, the one who lifts men, I pray for you. May this be your season of appearing. Hallelujah. The season of appearing.

Unfortunately, that is the season everybody knows. And so they disrespect the other two seasons and they say, “Where did you come from?” There’s nobody who come from nowhere. Just because you were not there when I was killing the lion and the bear. Don’t disrespect my mastery over bringing Goliath down. It took years of training alone.

This right here is the reason why we honor men when they come into their seasons. We don’t just honor in terms of human worship. We honor the stamina, the dexterity, the staying power through seasons until you sharpen your arrow like with mastery and then you shoot once and you don’t miss. You shoot once.

The Bible say he that strives for mastery is not crowned except he strives lawfully. Nobody wins the Olympic by mistake. No sir, don’t disrespect mastery. It’s a product of it’s an aggregate of years of pain, of blood, of sweat.

YOU SEE WHY I took the time to honor the pastors who came here? We live in a world that has a growing disrespect. When they see what God is doing in the life of people, they trivialize it. No.

No. Destiny starts with the season of appearing. It is a season of discovery, the season of preparation, where a man is tested and refined as gold.

Let me tell you, season two is the hardest in the life of a man because you must learn in that season to live in the silence of God. That is when God will use you but not solve any issue in your life. You will have issues in your own life AND BE SOLVING OTHER PEOPLE’S PROBLEM. The voice will only come when you are counseling. But when you are alone, HE’S SILENT.

THE SILENCE OF GOD IS a language. He’s training you to walk by faith. Help that woman, please. Yes, sir.

The silence of God breaks your ego. It gets to a point where it’s not about results again. That’s what dethrones ambition and self.

Please let me give you one. I have to respect your time. I hope someone is receiving something. Keep your vision before you.

• The next stay humble. Stay humble. Proverbs 16 and verse 18. Please let’s walk together so that I don’t stretch the time beyond necessary. It’s burning IN MY SPIRIT.

PRIDE goes before destruction, and a hotty spirit before a fall.

There are three levels of pride, but I’ll talk about two.

• There’s one that is called a hotty spirit.
• But there is another called the pride of life.

The pride of life happens only when you have results. If you don’t have results, you cannot have the pride of life. You’ll be a fool doing that. You can be proud

But the pride of life has to do with the self- glorification that comes based on the results that are now before you. And that’s where the great die.

I have profound respect for great people who have mastered humility because I know they will last.

Let me tell you this. Humility for the great is not an impartation. It’s a science. You must create the atmosphere that keeps you humble.

Sometimes, denying things you sincerely deserve. Sometimes downplaying on certain levels of honor so that it will keep you. You are beating yourself. Sometimes to your own detriment, you have to deploy a variety of skills because one thing a generation cannot do is to deny results. The ones producing it and what is produced they will celebrate it lavishly. It’s up to you to walk with God and manage it. And I can tell you it’s very hard. It’s very hard.

There is what I call the cause of fame. You can’t go anywhere. Everybody’s kneeling down for prayer. Even when you want, have you seen that kind of thing? You can’t take a stroll. If you take chewing gum and throw anything, somebody will carry and place it on his head.

Sometimes that kind of life it is a burden because it tilts you towards becoming a god and you don’t want to be you don’t want to be on the side where God will judge you.

When God gives you a thing once it becomes an idol, even if he’s the one who gave you, he will fight it. God can fight what he once gave you that he gave you. He watches your stewardship over it. If he’s exalted Lord of all, that thing remains a blessing. The day it rises above him.

Have you seen the reason why you should honor the great who have gained mastery? You are managing your assignment and managing your remaining.

And the way to do it is to learn to celebrate him vocally. Vocally. Vocally. Vocally, I’ve prayed and I told God, “Anything you give me or make out of my life, if it will demand you going out of my life to have it, may it never come because I know it will destroy me.” Praise the name of the Lord.

• The last key I was going to give you to last was to take the advantage of good friends and mentorship.

Please write that down so that we’ll close in prayer. You want to last, you cannot do it alone. You need the leverage of good friends and you need the leverage of mentorship.

The Bible says the labor of a fool wearth every one of them because he knoweth not how to go into the city.

1. Mentorship gives you the advantage of experience minus the pain factor. It extracts pain from wisdom and gives it to you.
2. Mentorship provides strategic endorsement.
3. Mentorship gives you access to distilled knowledge and you need good friends.

I’m praying for you. May God take bad people out of your life. I pray you will understand the value of this prayer from my heart. May God take away bad people from your life.

How do you know a good person? One who rejoices over your success. Not just one who comforts you in pain. Comfort can be a responsibility. It doesn’t necessarily mean love. It can just mean it’s too bad that even though I hate you, I can still comfort you.

But the one who genuinely invests in and celebrates your success. These two words invests in and celebrates your success. genuinely is a good friend.

We have to pray. Pastor Jerry, thank you. Thank you for this great opportunity.

Can I do an altar call? We’re out of time, but can I do an altar call? Did you receive anything?  If I had one more point to give you, I would have shown you how the prophetic helps a man activate destiny because prophecy is powerful. But we’ll leave that for another time. What you have received and with what is coming from other speakers and the prophetic declaration that comes from your man of God, I believe it will equip you.

But I pray for you sincerely from my heart. Many years after now, with Christ tares, you will still be standing. Your life will not be a negative lesson for anybody in the name of Jesus Christ. People will not use your life to warn others. It will be an inspiration.

I say it again, people would not use your story to warn others. The Lord will grant you mercy.

And for someone who has lost time, you’ve lost energy, you are not able to move forward at this run conference, I stand locking hands with the man of God. And I speak strength to your spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let me do the altar call very quickly. You are in this place and you need Jesus. There’s no assumption inside. I saw an overflow of hungry, desperate and passionate people outside and I believe there are many more who are following streaming online.

Every time God creates a convergence like this is an opportunity for one person, just one sincere person to make it right with Jesus. We cannot end today’s session without allowing someone to make it right with Jesus. And so whether you are here in the main auditorium or you are outside I saw several people right here is the part that matters most because you must be in Christ to even begin the journey to fulfilling a great destiny. Hallelujah.

It says whilst you were in your mother’s womb before thou camest form I knew you and I ordained you to be a prophet. I’m speaking to some brother, some sister, someone who is watching by television, you’re watching by the internet or any of the platforms and you are saying, “Apostle, Pastor Jerry, would you give me an opportunity to make it right with Jesus?”

Two calls in one. Call number two, you are saying, “Apostle, I want to rededicate my life.” Hearing you speak, particularly when you began to speak about the presence of God, I know that I’m guilty of this. I need to make it right with my destiny. I want to run to finish. I want to run to win. I’m tired of dillydallying and being in a straight between. I want to get it right. I’m going to count one to five. If you’re somewhere scattered in the auditorium, I’d like you to make your way as I count 1 to 5.

I don’t know how those who are responding outside will be managed. If they’ll be allowed to come in, that’s fine. Else, I’m sure there should be a way of receiving them outside. And for those who are online, I’m sure that the media people will give you a link so that you are able to take advantage or count one to five. Wherever you are, run like there’s fire on the mountain. Please come and stand here. I begin my counting now. One.

Make sure you understand what you are doing. You are saying I need Jesus. I need to make it right. Streams of joy. Can we honor these ones as they come? You don’t have to kneel for space. Please stand. Two. Let’s celebrate them as they come. Let’s celebrate them as they come. You want to give your life to Jesus once and for all, please come genuinely.

So, I’m not asking you if you have a Christian name. I’m not asking you if you think you love the idea of Christianity. I’m asking you that you need Jesus. You are aware of the void in your heart.

The Bible calls him the way, the truth, and the life. There are so many people. Are you celebrating a great harvest here tonight? Hallelujah. Now, here’s what we’ll do. Once the front is filled, I’m going to request that you stand right where you are and do that orderly. There are officials who will be directing you. If these ones are coming from outside, I think we can halt. Just stay them. We can just move them somewhere maybe to their leed or just anywhere where they are able to hear the sound of my voice.

On behalf of Jesus Christ, for those of you here, and on behalf of the leadership of this great ministry, I salute you for the courage, the courage to have made this decision. It is the wisest decision any man can make in this side of God’s kingdom. Let me request that you lift your right hand if you can. Lift it high above your head. The meaning of that is I surrender. The meaning of that is I’m truthful and I mean business. And with your hands lifted, I want you to say this as loud and as clear as you are able to say, “Lord Jesus, like you are serious.”

Say, “Lord Jesus, >> Lord Jesus, >> tonight I have heard your word. >> I love you with all my heart. I believe you are the son of God. I believe you died for my sin. Tonight I receive salvation. I receive eternal life. >> I receive the forgiveness of sin. I declare >> I declare >> that you are my savior. >> You are my lord. >> You are my king. >> You are my king. >> The power >> of sin. Satan. >> Hell and the grave is broken over my life. From tonight I’m a child of God. I go forward ever and backward never. Amen.

Keep your beautiful hands. I pray for you in the name of Jesus by the authority of scripture and upon your profession of faith, I declare your sins forgiven. And I declare by the authority of scripture that from today you are bona fide recipients of the life of God. The grace to live the victorious Christian life is imparted upon you. You will go forward ever and backward never. And it’s in Jesus name we have prayed. Amen.

Let’s celebrate them as they go. Hallelujah. Praise the name of the Lord. And for us who are here with your hands lifted, I pray for you. I stand in faith with the man of God. And I decree and declare you will start. You will continue. You will finish. I say to you again, you will start. You will continue. You will finish. The grace to start. Receive it. The grace to continue, receive it. And the grace to finish strong, to finish victorious, receive it in the name of Jesus. God bless you. Wave your hands to Jesus and give him all the praise.