Festival Of Life 2026 Day One by Apostle Femi Lazarus: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Power of Environment

Have you noticed that there is a kind of environment people become exposed to, and if they are not quickly helped, they will not be able to do much for themselves?

It can be predicted that if you expose someone to environment where they smoke, where they drink, where they prostitute, if care is not taken, it will become your normal.

What is the root of insecurity? Exposure. They have seen something that an event reminds them of and they are triggered. If you have been exposed to betrayals, people who promised to be there for you have all left — if you are not careful, you get to a point where it does not matter what anybody is saying, you are waiting for them to also do their own.

It is the reason why if you pick people from a slum, you will need something called rehabilitation to straighten their minds and get them to think in a certain way, then they can be integrated in the society.

When Egypt happens to you, the effect on you is longer than your tenure of staying there. That is why you can leave Nigeria as a Nigerian and take Nigeria to where you are going.

It takes miracle to bring people out of Egypt. It takes transformation to bring Egypt out of them. Miracle is an event. Transformation takes time.

What Jesus Did with Broken Men

12 guys. One was a thief. He was stealing regularly from the purse. The other one, Peter, denied him. Thomas even after resurrection said I will not believe. If you think you have problem, go and check the disciples of Jesus — you will see issues.

Jesus preached in John 6 and the entire church left, remaining 12 members, and He asked them, "Will you also go?"

Jesus knew: if I expose them to the Holy Spirit, it is enough. They may be weak. They may be few. They may be doubtful. They may not even understand. You see the kingdom that we stand in — it should be so predictable that the same way we can leave a child in the slum and know that child may not be normal again, if we expose anybody to this kingdom, they ought never to be normal again.

The reason why people can come to church and go back and there is no clear sign they met Jesus — we do not know the kingdom.

Thy Kingdom Come

In Matthew 6:9, Jesus was teaching them to pray. And He said after this manner therefore pray: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Let that realm come. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth.

The kingdom come reality is not first and foremost what you notice in Nigeria as a whole. It is first and foremost established in the heart.

Listen to this. It should be so predictable: the same way a child can be radicalized, exposed to a radical environment — if this kingdom comes, then your will will be done on earth.

Come Back Home

Have you read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15? That thing that spoke in him when he was eating with the pigs — that was righteousness. That nature — even if you go into the depths of darkness and the devil wants to finish you on time, that thing that keeps saying, "Remember the son of whom you are" — that thing telling you where you are now is not where you belong.

Religion tells you you cannot go home because your name has been erased from the book of life. When you encounter God as the Father, He is waiting at the door.

Romans 8:1 — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

Sir, there is nothing you can do that will intimidate Him. Come back.

Many of our brothers and sisters who have stopped going to church, many of them miss home. We see their comments online. The reason why people are always quick to let you know they are not a Christian is because there is something in their heart saying they know God. The reason they want to quickly vent and express is because the seed is sown.

The Real Spiritual Warfare

The battle is not as important as where you are fighting from.

The Bible said if anybody is sick, let them go to the elders because the prayer of faith will be made for him. The reason why you go to the elders is because they can pray without being moved. There is no "what if" what I say does not come to pass. The labor in the faith is the labor to stand in that place where it is unwavering.

When you say the good fight of faith, it is the fight to get to the point where it is unwavering.

One of the ways the devil controls people's lives is through pain. If I can expose you to pain, I can come in and go out. You will respond the way I need you to respond. Joy is an access door. There are things you will not see in God if you do not know joy. Guard your heart with all diligence. The issue of life? That is heaven flowing from there.

Salt and Light

In Matthew 5:13-14, Jesus said: Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost his savour, what shall it be salted with? It is good for nothing but to be cast out.

The moment the salt cannot taste, how do you sweeten it? It is the salt that sweetens. The moment the salt has lost its wherewith, it is good for nothing but to be cast out.

If the people who are righteous lack boldness, people will have that boldness who will now influence your kids with something else.

Why are we enough in the church but not enough in the nation? Our impact is felt where we stay. If you have a light and it is the direction you shine it to that the light will go — if we become the light of the church, there will be revival. But if we stay limited, we call it the attack of the devil. It is scripture being fulfilled.

The Three Prophetic Feasts

There are prophetic feasts we must pay attention to when it comes to the move of God.

1. The Feast of Passover — the passing from death to life. That is the feast of salvation. We have had that move in the body of Christ. Evangelicals emphasize salvation.
2. The Feast of Pentecost — introduction to power that can make thousands of souls the reality of one meeting. Introduction to power that can make masses of souls the product of one crusade.
3. The Feast of Tabernacles — in order to commemorate how they were in the tent in the wilderness, they leave their fine houses and come out in the field and host that feast. It is a prophetic indication that the church that Jesus will meet must go beyond the walls. You have light. Take it there.

You Are an Ambassador

So why is it that God is all powerful and yet He put us here to preach the gospel? Because He knows: we plus Him, we are enough.

As ambassadors of that kingdom, we finish our tenure. We do not vanish like mist. We finish. Paul said, "I fought the fight. I finished the race." You finished then you hand over.

And heaven on earth is not God leaving His throne to come. As the one who carries that kingdom, if I step into a place, heaven has come.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul said, "Now are we ambassadors of heaven." I represent a government. I am an agent of that kingdom. I am a witness of that kingdom. That is who I am. I am not just a Nigerian. I am an ambassador.

Why what God is trying to do on the face of the earth is more than you. Is more than your tribe. Is more than your small group. It is insignificant compared to the wave of men coming. Billions watching, learning, seeing our mistakes being upgraded more.

That thing yearning for expression in your heart is kingdom. Lord, make me an embodiment of your move on earth. That anywhere I step, your presence will be felt. I pray for you that your eyes of understanding will be flooded with light. That this kingdom will come to tabernacle in your heart. You will make Jesus proud. You will represent Him well.