Years ago, at a ministers’ conference, my spiritual father made a statement that has stayed with me: “God will either spread what you are doing or stop it.” Since then, I have become more intentional about my assignment. My prayer has always been, Lord, spread what I do. Don’t stop it.
Friend, will God spread or stop your work (Acts 26:22)? When a man walks outside divine purpose, it is not the devil who stops him. It is God. The devil will actually help you run well on the wrong road. He will make you succeed there because he knows that success outside purpose is failure in purpose (Proverbs 14:12).
To succeed on the wrong path is to fail where it matters most (Jude 1:11). If God loves you, He will interrupt you. He did it for Jonah. The storm at sea was not from the devil. It was permitted by God to arrest Jonah’s journey. We must learn to discern God’s love even in obstacles and disappointments (Jonah 1:6-15). Like He did for Balaam, God will use anything to show you your error. Will you listen?
If your life and ministry are not built according to divine pattern, God will stop you (Exodus 25:40). He may stop you by drying up provision. He may stop you by allowing men and circumstances to resist you. He may stop you by frustrating your labour. My prayer is that the Lord will stop you early if you are on the wrong path (2 Peter 2:16).
Excellence honours God and inspires men (Daniel 1:20, 6:3). Mediocrity is a hindrance to divine purpose. If you want God to spread what you do, do it excellently. If you want Him to stop it, do it shabbily. God gladly puts His name on what represents Him well. Your life and work are meant to reveal God to your world (Matthew 5:16).
God never spreads disobedience. Rebellion has generational consequences (Numbers 12:1-10). But when you align with God, He backs you up. Disobedience slows you down, and rebellion stops you completely. Don’t let it abort your spreading. No one can promote you like God, and nothing can limit you faster than error (Matthew 17:5).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria
