Efc2026: Easter Faith Convention - Wings Of Faith - Encounter Night by Bishop David Oyedepo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Love as the Engine of Faith

Love is a virtue that gives value to every redemptive provision for delivery. Without charity, the tongues of angels become noise. Without charity, faith that could remove mountains removes nothing. All redemptive provisions anchor on love. Faith works by love — Galatians 5:6. The more our love for God grows, the more effectual our faith becomes.

We must answer the love question for our faith to begin to soar. One cannot love God and not know it. And it is love that makes us more than a conqueror — because he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Whatever cannot defeat God cannot defeat you. As you grow in love, you are filled with his fullness and obstacles disappear.

The Cost of Developing Wings of Faith

In Luke 14:28-30, Jesus teaches the principle of counting the cost before building a tower. A tower does not emerge on its own — it emerges at a cost. You cannot mount up with wings like an eagle without a cost. Nothing of value is ever free. Proverbs 23:23: "Buy the truth and sell it not — also wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

Every child of God is redeemed as an eaglet. But every eaglet is subjected to a series of tests to develop its wings. As Galatians 4:1 says, an heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a servant though he be lord of all — he is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. A son, not a child, carries the government. John the Baptist grew and waxed strong in spirit and was in the desert until the day of his showing unto Israel. Don't show yourself prematurely or you suffer a showdown. Let God be the one who shows you — when God shows you, no devil can show you down.

Only Tried and Tested Faith Develops Wings

1 Peter 1:7: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Every person's faith will be tried before it begins to fly. Trials are your pathway to progress, not attacks to run from. James 1:2-4: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations — knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

You cannot excel in sport without the rigor of exercise. You cannot pass any test by wishing — you pass by engaging relevant resources. One daughter read a book on word encounters cover to cover after a Sunday service and had a job by Tuesday. Another read Towards Mental Exploits and graduated with a first class. Connect with the relevant resources — the answer is in the book.

The Tests Abraham Passed

Abraham is the father of all who believe, and his tests are the template for the Abrahamic order of blessing:

• Obedience — Genesis 12:1-4: "Get out of thy country." And Abraham departed. He passed the first test. Some are still struggling with this primary test.
• Patience — Hebrews 6:12-15: God promised, swore by himself, and Abraham patiently endured. After he patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
• Love — Genesis 14:14-20: When Lot was captured, Abraham armed himself and went to war. He rescued his brother and his wives — out of genuine love, not spite over the earlier land dispute.
• Liberality — Genesis 18:1-8: When three strangers appeared, Abraham ran to meet them, brought water, instructed Sarah to make ready, took a calf himself, dressed it quickly, and served them. He passed the liberality test. The liberal soul shall be made fat.
• Strength — Genesis 22: Take your only son, Isaac, and go. Abraham rose early, tracked for three days, and was prepared to offer him — accounting that God could raise him from the dead. His strength was tested. He passed.
• Integrity — Genesis 14:21-23: The king of Sodom offered Abraham the goods after the battle. Abraham replied: "I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord — I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latch, lest thou say, I have made Abraham rich." Everyone's integrity will be tested before accessing the Abrahamic order of prosperity.

Isaiah 51:1-3: "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bore you — for I called him alone and blessed him and increased him." The Lord shall comfort all our waste places and make our wilderness like Eden. We must pass these tests to enter that realm.

Fundamental Requirements for Developing Wings of Faith

1. A valid new birth experience. New birth is where the faith journey begins — Romans 12:3. The proofs of new birth are listed in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Where is your love for God? Where is the peace and joy of salvation? If you are saved, these are not optional expressions — they are fundamental. Romans 14:17: the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. A crave for right living is automatic at new birth. Salvation beautifies — it does not uglify.
2. A hunger and thirst for righteousness. Matthew 5:6: blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 1 Thessalonians 2:10: Paul said, "You are witnesses — how holy and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you." Godly behavior is a requirement. Romans 8:1-2: there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk after the spirit, not the flesh.
3. An exercised conscience. In Acts 24:16, Paul said he exercised himself always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men. Every evil act begins with an evil thought — Mark 7:21-23. Engage the blood of Jesus to flush out every evil conscience — Hebrews 9:14. Hold faith and a good conscience — those who ignore the conscience make shipwreck of their faith.
4. A life of delightsome obedience. Deuteronomy 28:1-2: if you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you. Psalm 112:1-3: blessed is the man that delights greatly in his commandments — his seed shall be mighty, wealth and riches shall be in his house.
5. An ever-growing love for God. The love of God keeps driving you to serve his interest, pursue what pleases him. As we walk in the length, breadth, depth, and height of the love of God, we are filled with all the fullness of God — making us more than a conqueror.
6. A daily word hunt as a lifestyle. Eagles feed on fresh kills. Manna in the wilderness was fresh per day — keep it to the following day and it rots. Psalm 1:1-3: blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of God and who meditates in it day and night — he shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water. Eagles hunt as individuals, not in groups. A daily word hunt is a core responsibility.
7. An inquiry-driven prayer life. Jeremiah 33:3: "Call upon me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you know not." David's prayer of inquiry before each battle — "Shall I go up?" — kept him operating on a more-than-conqueror frequency.
8. A praiseful lifestyle. In everything give thanks — 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Giving thanks always for all things — Ephesians 5:20. When praise becomes your way of life, you are developing your wings. Give thanks and things will keep going on.

The Development of Your Wings Is Your Responsibility

The development of the wings of your faith is your absolute responsibility. Enoch walked with God and was not, for God took him — Hebrews 11:5: before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. Noah was warned of God and moved with fear and built an ark to the saving of his house. Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul — these are all patriots who demonstrated the validity of developed wings of faith. We look to the same two wings tomorrow: prayer and the ministry of the word — Acts 6:4.