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Tag: unveiling

  • Unveiling the blessedness of prayer and fasting!

    Welcome to another exciting week! I hope you were blessed by the last teaching. Today, we shall focus on: Unveiling the Blessedness of Prayer and Fasting!

    From scriptures, we understand that prayer and fasting is an asset of inestimable value in fulfilling God’s agenda for our lives. As such, it is a non-negotiable requirement, ordained by God for us to experience specific benefits in our lives, as contained in scriptures. As it is written: Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward (Isaiah 58:6-8). As we all know, every of God’s agenda is a spiritual open door which usually attracts oppositions from hell and this is why we are called to engage in prayer and fasting in dealing with such spiritual strongholds. No wonder Jesus said: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21; see also 1 Corinthians 16:9; 1Timothy 1:18). The above scripture helps us to know that some resistances will continue to get stronger without prayer and fasting. In order words, the siege sitting over any aspect of our lives may never move except by engaging the force of faith coupled with prayer and fasting. Remember, there is no other higher kind recognised in the Bible, other than prayer and fasting. We must, therefore, beware of selling our glorious destiny to the belly like Esau, who for a morsel of bread sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34).

    What, then, are some of the Blessedness of Prayer and Fasting?

    • Fasting Spiritually Expedites Answers to Prayers: The Bible says: Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am… (Isaiah 58:9). Fasting facilitates speedy answers to our prayers. This is why the devil wants to keep us from praying while fasting, so as to rob us of the treasures that await us in it. However, we must get smarter than the devil by engaging with all our heart and might.
    • Prayer and Fasting Enhances Access to Divine Guidance: It is written: The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (Isaiah 58:11; see also Psalm 23:1). Everyone who is guided by the Lord is guided into realms of unending abundance (Isaiah 48:21; Ezra 8:21-23).
    • It Empowers us for Dominion: It is impossible to operate in the realm of power without prayer and fasting as a lifestyle. Everyone who has ever operated in the realm of power subscribed to the demands of prayer and fasting. Even Christ had no identity until He returned from a forty-day prayer and fasting expedition. David, in desperate need for power, said: O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory… (Psalm 63:2-3; see also Isaiah 58:6; Luke 4:14-37). This means we cannot experience God’s power without a thirsty soul and a longing flesh.
    • Access to Outbreak of Revelations: It is the light we encounter that sets the pace for the glory we enjoy. The Bible says: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (Isaiah 60:1). Therefore, fasting period is not just a praying time, but a searching time. It is the time to identify materials that will help us in any area of challenge in our lives. There are things we would never get except we are looking for them in the time of prayer and fasting (2 Corinthians 4:4).
    • Access to our High Places: In concluding the benefits of fasting from Isaiah 58:6, God said: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. That means fasting paves the way forward for us. Nehemiah fasted and received favour. He was a man without identity but succeeded in rebuilding the broken walls of Jerusalem in 52 days after he had prayed and fasted. This is a proof that fasting paves the way to our high places.
    • It Facilitates Fulfillment of Prophecy: As it is written: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). Every prophecy must be enforced before it can be realised and one way to enforce its fulfilment is through the weapon of prayer and fasting. Moreover, every prophecy is like an open door and the Bible says: For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:9). Therefore, we engage in prayer and fasting to resist every adversary that may hinder the fulfilment of prophecy in our lives (1 Kings 18:42-44).

    In summary, if all these blessings accrue to us in fasting, then, it is wisdom to maximally engage in it, so we can begin to flow in the realm of glory the remaining days of our lives. This is because whatever is delivered to us this season is defined as exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Thus, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Winning Prayer, Satan Get Lost, and Born to Win. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail:feedback@lfcww.org; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/;  Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin

  • Unveiling the rewards of righteousness!

    Welcome to your week of favour ! I hope you were blessed by last week teaching.  As we conclude this month, we shall focus on: Unveiling the Rewards of Righteousness!

    We discover from scriptures that sin brings curses while righteousness brings blessings. For it is written: Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34; see also Psalm 112:1-3). Everywhere we see God’s blessings, righteousness is in place. While the wages of sin is death, the wages of righteousness is life more abundant. There is a lot more pleasure in righteousness than there is in sin. Also, we understand that persecutions bring promotions. Those who mind men naturally miss God. If I had minded men, I would have missed God long ago. When we are persecuted for righteousness, it provokes God for our promotions. For instance, when Joseph was persecuted for purity, God found a place for him in the palace. Every persecution for righteousness equals exaltation from heaven(2 Corinthians 6:17-18). Every persecution against our righteousness is announcing our promotion. Furthermore, persecution does not kill; it is ignorance that kills. Rejoice at persecutions because every greatness from heaven is welcomed on earth by persecutions. For example, when Moses was born, he was born into the midst of persecutions. Likewise our Lord Jesus Christ, when He arrive persecution was waiting. The persecutions of life are a reality but our power over them is also a reality. What is the sole aim of persecutions? To stop the persecuted from attaining his/her goal!

    What are the Rewards of Righteousness?

    • Prosperity, Promotion and Honour: Righteousness announces promotion of the righteous. It is written: But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing (Psalm 92:10-14). No matter the drought, the righteous shall flourish; his leaves will remain ever green. The man Job flourished by righteousness, likewise everyone that practice righteousness will flourish the same way (Job 1:1-3). Righteousness was the root of the height that Job got to. He became the greatest man not through crookedness or perverseness but through uprightness and godly perfection. He was scared of evil; he never touched it and never played with it (Job 1:5). That he avoided evil suggested that he was living in the days of evil but he never partook of it. Then, he became the greatest man in the east! Righteousness holds a guarantee for our prosperity and honour has its roots in righteousness. It is the shortest way to the topmost top.
    • Beauty: Purity gives birth to beauty. Nothing glorifies, nothing beautifies like holiness. As it is written: For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation (Psalm 149:4). Talking about Jesus, Matthew 1:21 says: …he shall save his people from their sins. So, when we are saved from sin, our beauty emerges and our dominion is established. When we go for purity, it will surely deliver our beauty to us. When sin goes, beauty emerges.

    How, then, do we Break the Trap of Sin?

    • By Constant Cleansing by the Word: This can be gotten through anointed books and electronic media such as CDS, DVD, etc that deal with issues of ungodliness. Let’s understand that God’s Word carries sanctifying virtues and every genuine encounter with the Word liberates us from sin. The Psalmist said: …Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:9-11; see also John 15:3, 17:17; Ephesians 5:26).Jesus also said that whosoever is born of God does not commit sin because His seed is in him. The seed is the Word of God. Therefore, just as the presence of light subdues darkness, it also takes the Word to subdue sin (1 John 3:9; Luke 8:11).
    • Through Commitment to Constant Fellowship: It is written: But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions (Obadiah 17). The Church, which is referred to as Mount Zion in the New Testament, is a service station where our lives are serviced spiritually. Among the happenings in Zion is the spiritual sprinkling of the Blood for our cleansing (Hebrews 12:22-24). We must understand that the farther we are from Church, the more vulnerable we become to temptations.That is why, to live a life of righteousness, we must be addicted and committed to fellowship because we are strengthened when we appear before God in Zion (Hebrews 3:13,10:25; Psalm 84:7).
    • By Seeking Impartation of Relevant Spiritual Gifts: Paul the Apostle said: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (Romans 1:11). Spiritual gifts enhance our establishment as it is impossible to live a godly life without the Spirit of God at work in us. This is why we must seek relevant spiritual gifts to live godly lives (Romans 8:13). Some of these relevant spiritual gifts include:
    • The Spirit of obedience(Ezekiel 36:27).
    • The Spirit of holiness (Isaiah 11:2; Romans 1:4; John 8:46).
    • The Spirit of grace and supplication (Romans 8:26-27; Zechariah 12:10).

    In summary, heaven is the overcomer’s city and only overcomers get there (James 1:12). When we endure temptations, we win a crown of life. Thus, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Walking in the Newness of Life, Conquering Controlling Powers, The Blood Triumph and Dynamics of Holiness. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/;  Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin

  • Unveiling the enemies of praise!

    Weffective of all spiritual weapons at our disposal. To start with, this week, we shall examine the topic: Unveiling the Enemies of Praise!

    We discover from scriptures that praise is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons that provoke the acts of God, yet, many are not aware of its potency.  On the other hand, those who know are yet to experience the benefit embedded in it. We must understand that while there are several wonders in praise, there are also enemies of praise which stops the acts of God in our lives. This is because it is acceptable praise that works!

    Erroneously, many people sing without actually praising God. They sing for different reasons and with different motives, which make their songs of no effect. Thus, it is one thing to engage in praise and another for our praises to be acceptable. To experience the wonders of praise, we must understand what it takes to make it acceptable. Thus, it is important to note certain hindrances to praise which we must watch against.

    What then are the Enemies of Praise?

    • Murmuring and Complaining: It is written: Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer (1 Corinthians 10:10). No matter how legitimate our reasons, “neither murmur ye…” No reason is acceptable to God for complaining. The shortest way to getting destroyed and seeing no results is to have a case against God. When we stop seeing what God has not done, everything keeps getting done in our favour. It’s time to recognise that it is dangerous to give room to murmuring and complaining. Every time we murmur, we invite the destroyer. Everything we murmur about never grows, rather it diminishes. When murmuring stops, accomplishment begins. When complaining stops, triumph begins. When we complain to men, we secure sympathy but when we complain to God, we incur His anger (Numbers 11:1). There is nothing to complain about but there is everything to praise God for.
    • Spirit of Heaviness: Heaviness is a spirit. It is one of the key strategies of satan to strip God’s people naked. He knows that with heaviness, God is absent and when God is absent, we become a cheap prey in his hands. It is written: …the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… (Isaiah 61:3). The reason the devil steals joy is to make victims of men but we have the gift of joy from the Most High God. He has not withdrawn it. If it is not seen, satan has stolen it. Satan calculates heaviness for God’s people because he knows no one can stop the fiery acts of God when man is giving Him quality praise. That is why we must fight heaviness more than we fight any other sin.
    • Discontentment: Until we are satisfied with Jesus, we will never smell contentment. Our satisfaction with Jesus is what provokes heaven to satisfy us. The Bible says: But godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). There is a lot of godliness in the Church today because God’s Word is coming alive but there is not enough contentment to match. People are rating the worth of life with physical possessions. This is unscriptural! Jesus said we should beware of covetousness. Contentment is the treatment for covetousness. Until we are satisfied, we cannot be merry and until we are merry, we cannot sing (James 5:13).
    • Holding on to the Past: There are so many Christians under this trap. It is playing the fool! It is a slap on God’s face! As far as God is concerned, our lives today cannot be worse than our lives yesterday. Even if we cannot see it, say it the way God has said it. For it is written: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18). I have always said that where I am today is the worse place I can ever be. This is because my tomorrow by virtue of Scripture, by revelation and by the Holy Ghost is already eternally programmed and sealed by the blood to be better than today. Thus, we must live in the reality of scriptures not circumstances.
    • Being Offended in Him: The times we have been offended in God are our stumbling blocks in life. It is written: And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me (Matthew 11:6). Every time we marked God wrong, we make our path crooked. For instance, in Matthew 11:2-3, John the Baptist was facing a great crisis and as such he began to wonder if Jesus was truly the Messiah. If He was, He should have done something about his case. I am persuaded that this is the reason he was beheaded because there is nowhere in the scriptures where it was foretold that he will be beheaded. If we do not want to be beheaded, refuse to be offended in God (Job 9:4).

    In conclusion, the Spirit of the Lord exchanges our heaviness with the garment of praise. He releases us into a life of continuous, endless praise that brings us into union with God. However, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Understanding the Power of Praise and Wonders of Praise. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/;  Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin

  • Unveiling core Buharists

    The gathering at the Presidential Villa last Wednesday night was meant to be an appreciation dinner by President Muhammadu Buhari to his youth political appointees for their service to the nation in the past three and half years.

    But it turned out to be an occasion for the youth to express their unflinching support and solidarity for President Buhari beyond 2019 Presidential elections.

    The youth from the various parts of the country that filled the new Banquet Hall of the State House, now call themselves ‘Core Buharists’.

    They are now ready to carry the message and what they have learnt under the Buhari’s administration all their lives.

    For a starter, they have vowed to leave no stone unturned to ensure President Buhari get reelected as President in 2019.

    With what they called their BMW, ‘Buhari Must Win’ vehicles, they have decided to hit every unit, ward, local government and state in the country on voter education tour and to sell the ‘good product’, President Muhammadu Buhari, to Nigerians.

    A 34 years old Executive Director at NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete, at the dinner, said “What I will be doing here is to assure you what we the youth of the APC are going to do for us to win the 2019 election.

    “We are Core Buharists, that is what we call ourselves. It is something we want to drive beyond 2019.

    “We are here to assure you that we will do everything within our possible best to ensure you are reelected in 2019.

    “We are going to move from every units, wards, local governments and states to ensure that the voters are well educated to give you all their maximum support in 2019.

    “We will not sleep, we know what to do, we know how we did it before and we are willing to do it again.

    “We know we can give you above your expectations, in fact we are going to give you 100% in some of the states in the Niger Delta. I’m not talking as a politician, I’m telling you with facts.

    “Nigerians will not sit back to allow PDP to take us several years behind, it will not happen sir. We are going to give you 37 over 37.

    “Yes, they might look like a lion, but we are BMW, Buhari Must Win. I have my BMW parked already, and I know we all have our BMWs and we are going to drive with the maximum speed and expected to come back in 2019 to congratulate you sir,” she added.

    Another youth, who spoke at the dinner is the Executive Director at the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Jasper Azuatalam.

    Allowing the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to take over in 2019, he said, will be a disaster for the country.

    Everything, he said, would be done to prevent the opposition party from taking the nation 1000 steps backward.

    “Mr. President, I want to say that I’m very happy today because the young people are happy today. They are happy today because you have given them a sense of belonging. Sitting right here with you is one of the greatest things I know young people have yearned for. And today, we have it.

    “The worst thing we can do to this country Nigeria, is to allow PDP to come back to power in 2019. It is the worst thing we can do to Nigeria.

    “I will likened PDP to a lion that has been put in the cage for a long time. I have interacted with their members and I know how hungry they have become because they don’t see free money as before.

    “If we lose this lion again in 2019, then Nigeria is going to walk more than 1,000 steps backward.

    “Like we always said in those days we lost elections, Mr. President will always get eleven to twelve million votes whether he operates from a party or not. That’s how goodwill we had that time.

    “But that is because a lot of people believed that by Mr. President’s integrity and his anti-corruption, he is going to do magic when he resumes office as President. That in two months, Nigeria will change. They don’t know how it would happen.

    “But the truth is that most of these have been disappointed because they didn’t see the magic. That is why we need to do the real work,” he said.

    The youngest serving state governor, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State almost stole the show at the dinner.

    Bello set the ball rolling that night, by saying “Let me first of all appreciate Mr. President for recognizing our constituency”.

    He didn’t end his speech that night without warning members of his party of the hard task ahead and to market the ‘good product’ to Nigerians.

    “The APC that is going into the 2019 elections is radically different from the APC which won in 2015 presidential election.

    Our party have been through stiff learning curves and the lessons have been difficult, even painful in many instances.

    “The immediate task before us is to convince the masses that everything Mr. President has done, is for our overall benefits. We are to console our people with the good news that the planting season is over and the bumper harvest is now within the reach.

    ”President Buhari is a good product we know, but we must go out to sell him to Nigerians. Perception is very critical in times like this. If we fail, God forbid, the ugly narrative of PDP will overtake the land.

    “As members of the APC, we will not deny that our party has a huge task in the 2019 general elections, the election will never be a walk-over, the PDP will not be a push over.” he warned

    Highlighting the strength of the group, the youthful Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Programme,

    Ismail Ahmed said “This elections is going to be about the loud noise makers and the silent achievers.

    “The silent majority and the people who pulled crowd, Mr. President, this is the constituency, this is the troops on the ground that will work for your reelection.”

    In the same vein, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said “These ones will be the apostles of change in this country, and they will be able to drive the message with such determination that the sluggish PDP machinery will not be able to contain.”

    Speaking to the youths, President Buhari said “I thank you very much and I congratulate you for your guts, sitting with this administration for so long. I assure you, you are doing it for this country.

    “So we are doing it for our children, grandchildren and for this country. If people don’t speak good about this country, let them go and find out what is happening elsewhere.

    “But here, we are going to stay and we are going to salvage this country together.” he stated

    The prayers of every Buharists, at this time, is that the expectations of the youths towards 2019 will materialise.

    But there is no doubt that extra efforts are needed to make Nigerians know and see that the toiling is truly over and ‘bumper harvest’ is just around the corner.

    The ‘bumper harvest’ that will take Nigerians out of poverty line and meet their yearnings, and also catapot Nigeria to its rightful place at the international community.

  • Unveiling the prophetic place of success!

    Welcome to September! I believe we must have been baptised into higher realms of faith all through the month of August, 2018. May we live under the intoxicating effect of faith all the days of our lives! This week, we shall examine the topic: Unveiling the Prophetic Place of Success!

    From scriptures, we understand that, prophetically, the end-time Church is ordained a reigning Church. For it is written: The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth (Psalm 110:1-3). We also discover from scriptures that the enthronement of the saints in success will be a weapon in the hand of God in reaping the end-time harvest. It is written: Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you (Zechariah 8:20-23). That means God is going to herald the coming of His Son Jesus by distinguishing the Church. People will come running speedily to God, because of the waves of supernatural distinctions in the body of Christ. God is going to make His people a showpiece on the earth by making them resounding successes in all spheres of life; such as industry, education, Commerce, manufacturing e.t.c. Remember, success speaks louder than words. It commands greater attention than the greatest oration any man can make. It is self inviting and attractive. Success has a compelling force around it, drawing everyone to itself, whether consciously or unconsciously. For instance, we saw how the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon and she came to see his riches and test the depth of his wisdom. Subsequently, she was very impressed with Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity that she praised God for such wisdom (1 Kings 4:32). However, when Jesus came to the earth, He said of Himself, ‘Behold a greater than Solomon is here,’ (1 Kings 10:14-23; 2 Chronicles 9:12-24; Matthew 12:42; Colossians 1:27). That means, every redeemed child of God, in this end-time, has a greater than Solomon potential and as such we can access a greater dimension of all round success. That is why God has programmed to reap the end-time harvest through the outstanding and resounding success of His people. This underscores the fact that God is a Master strategist! In warfare, strategy, not strength or resources, is the greatest asset. So, God’s end-time plan for the Church is to use the sickle of the success (of the saints) to bring home the harvest of dying souls. He will use the supernatural lifting of His people as a force of attraction for pulling the dying world to Himself. There shall be such liftings in the body of Christ, the kind that the world has never known before; and by such liftings, multitudes will be brought into the Kingdom of God without us going to them to say ‘Accept Jesus.’ This is God’s agenda for the end-time Church!

    Furthermore, we are a people born in due season! Not because we are smarter than the past generations, but because in God’s agenda, He has planned that success will be the garment of the end-time saints and through it bringing many into the city of refuge. The Bible records: But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Micah 4:1-2). In addition, Isaiah 2:2-3 carries a similar prophecy: And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3).

    In conclusion, the success of the end-time Church shall be a compelling attraction and people shall flow into it. It will be so clear to the outside world that these men are actually on the highways of life. The highways of God are what will place the Church on the highways of success; the Church shall always know what to do to succeed. God’s Word shall blossom in the end-time, bringing supernatural ways of flourishing to the people of God, taking them to supernatural heights in life. Every sinner out there shall begin to pant and run after such words because they can see the difference. Nevertheless, you can be a partaker of this prophecy of success that God will bestow on the end-time Church by being a bonafide child of God. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Ruling your World, Exploring the Secrets of Success, Success Strategies and Success Systems. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/;  Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin

     

  • Unveiling our new dawn heritage through encounters with the word!

    Unveiling our new dawn heritage through encounters with the word!

    Welcome to the second week of February. Today, we shall focus on ‘Unveiling our New Dawn Heritage through Encounters with the Word!’

    It is important to know that New Dawn connotes new things, where we experience change of story from strength to strength, from glory to glory and where our paths keep shinning brighter and brighter (Deuteronomy 33:25; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Also, we must recognise that every truth of Scripture is valid for all times but applicable to only those who are interested. This connotes that seeking the Kingdom of God first, giving of tithes, obedience to His Word and building our faith is valid for all times but it is only applicable to whosoever is interested.

    However, it is important to know that, an encounter is accessing the voice of God behind the scriptures on any subject matter thereby dominating in that area. It is written: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the Word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3; see also Isaiah 34:16). Thus, the Word we see and apply is what we call an encounter (1 Samuel 3:21; Isaiah 2:1); which in turn commits God to give whatsoever He has promised (Genesis 13:15).

    What then, are some of the Proofs of Word Encounters?

    For it is written: Prove all things; hold fast that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

    • Supernatural Faith: We saw from scriptures that what made the faith of Abraham unshakeable, in spite of his age, was a raw encounter with the Word. Concerning him the Bible records: …And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:18-20; see also Genesis 12:3). Every genuine Word encounter spurs supernatural faith. Thus, supernatural faith is one vital proof of a true encounter with the Word. It is an evidence of God’s appearance to you from His Word to deliver your New Dawn package in redemption.
    • Supernatural Boldness: Another vital proof of Word encounters is supernatural boldness. This was demonstrated in the lives of the early Apostles. After receiving the Holy Ghost, they spoke with boldness. Concerning them, the Bible records: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31; see also Acts 4:20, 14:3). Supernatural boldness will engender signs and wonders; thereby enforcing our New Dawn Heritage. Remember, whenever we speak boldly and don’t doubt in our hearts, we shall have what we say (Mark 11:24).
    • Supernatural Joy: People with free access to Word encounters are ever rejoicing. They live above depression and sorrow because every found Word stirs joy. As it is written: Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:16; see also Psalm 119:162). With joy and rejoicing, we will live a super healthy life and thus, we shall access our New Dawn Heritage (Proverbs 4:22, 17:22, and 18:14).
    • Supernatural Strength: Every Word encounter comes along with divine strength. Strength can be likened to might as seen in: And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee (Judges 6:14; see also Jeremiah 4:5).
    • Supernatural Wisdom: The Word of God is defined as the wisdom of God. For it is written: Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute (Luke 11:49). Thus, supernatural wisdom in a man is depicted by the Word of God that comes out of his mouth. So, every applied encounter with the Word puts us into partnership with God (Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 13:20). However, God’s wisdom is not just that of words; but of mighty works (Psalm 104:24; Matthew 13:54).
    • Supernatural Health: My son, attend to my Words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:20-22). In the above scripture, the word ‘health’ means medicine. 1979, I secured my health insurance with Jesus from Matthew 8:17 and I am enjoying that policy till now.

    In conclusion, our lives will be full of testimonies as long as we keep having encounters with the Word of God and every testimony is a confirmation of the Word. Nevertheless, to provoke your New Dawn Heritage through Word encounters, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my book: Understanding the Turnaround Power of the Word. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org; or www.facebook.come/davidoyedepoministries/or Twitter:@Davidoyedepomin

  • Unveiling Unilorin’s VC-designate

    In the run-up to the August 28, appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor, members of the University of Ilorin community waited with bated breath and palpable anxiety as news filtered through the campus that the Governing Council was about to take a major decision that would invariably chart the direction the University would tread in the next five years. On that day, the council, led by Dr. Abdullah Jibril Oyekan, met to, among other businesses, consider the report of its Selection Board on the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.

    This anxiety was not restricted to the university community, as even members of the general public were also on tenterhooks as to who would emerge the new helmsman of the university currently making waves across the country, and even beyond, as Nigeria’s number one citadel of learning by all objective standards.

    And the mass media were not left out in this pervasive aura of tensile anticipation. Indeed, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm inadvertently, or, in some cases consciously, fuelled the general anxiety over what should ordinarily be strictly an internal affair of the university with all sorts of speculative news stories on the likely candidate for the plum job!

    And after about four hours of brainstorming, Oyekan, tailed by other council members, emerged from the hallowed Council Chamber and headed straight to the more spacious old Senate Chamber, where a bevy of anxious pressmen were waiting in the wings. So, it was understandable when a pin-drop silence immediately enveloped the Senate Chamber as the Council Chairman and other members of his entourage settled into their seats.

    “Gentlemen of the press”, the Council Chairman began, barely waiting for a short introduction by the university spokesman, yours sincerely, to end, “Noting that the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, OON, will come to an end on 15th October, 2017, council commenced the process for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor by announcing the vacancy in two national newspapers…on Friday, 14th April, 2017.  The advertisement was also placed on the university website and the University’s Weekly Bulletin”.

    Dr. Oyekan then launched into the details of the selection process that culminated in the Council meeting. And finally, he said, “At its meeting on Monday, 28th August, 2017, council, in accordance with the University Act and the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003, considered the recommendation of the Selection Board and I am happy to announce that council approved the appointment of Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.  The appointment is to take effect from 16th October, 2017”.

    And so the erudite Professor of Chemical Engineering and inventor of an anti-oil spillage substance, the Unilor Oil Sorbing Wafers, among other inventions, was named the university’s new vice-chancellor.

    A specialist in Heterogeneous Catalysis/Reactional Engineering and consummate researcher as well as patent owner of several ground-breaking inventions, Prof. Abdulkareem joined the services of the University of Ilorin as Senior Lecturer in 1996, becoming a Professor in 2005. He is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.

    The vice-chancellor-designate was born on January 21, 1954 at Oro town, Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara State.  He attended the Government Secondary School, Ilorin, for both his secondary school education and the Higher School Certificate (HSC) from 1968 to 1974, which he undertook with a Kwara State Government Scholarship.  He later got the federal government scholarship for his university education at the University of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. between 1975 and 1980.  At the end of the course, he came out in flying colours and was awarded the MChE, BChE (Chemical Engineering) specializing in Heterogeneous Catalysis/Reaction Engineering.

    From 1985 to 1988, this high-flying intellectual was awarded the United States of America National Science Foundation Fellowship for his PhD programme in Chemical Engineering at the University of Louisville, USA.  He also completed his PhD in flying colours and obtained the Engineer-In-Training Certificate of the State of Minnesota, USA in 1991.  He became a registered Engineer of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 2002 and a COREN Registered Engineer in 2004.

    Prof. Abdulkareem was a lecturer, engaged by the Detroit Board of Education Detroit, Michigan, USA from August 1984 to August 1985; and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, from September 1985 to August 1988.  He joined the services of the University of Ilorin as a Senior Lecturer in 1996 and rose to become a Professor in September 2005, the same year he discovered and fabricated a substance that could be used to rescue the environment of the oil producing areas from the menace of oil spillage and save their waters from perennial pollution.

    A consummate researcher and thorough-bred academic, he has a lot of inventions and has many Patents to his credit.

    The Vice-Chancellor-designate has held many important positions in the university, among which are: Director, SIWES (2000 – 2008); Head, University Admissions Unit (2006 – 2009); Dean, Student Affairs (2008 – 2010); and Director, Laboratory-To-Product (LABTOP) Centre (September 2015 to date). He is happily married with children.

    From the general mood of obvious satisfaction that has pervaded the campus since the announcement of Prof. Abdulkareem’s appointment, with torrents of congratulatory messages pouring in from members of Senate and the leadership of the various staff unions in the university, it is safe to say that the University of Ilorin is in for another glorious era, a sustenance of the excellence for which the institution has been known for years.

    There is no doubt that the vice-chancellor-designate’s appointment is a call to national service and many people believe that by his pre-eminent antecedent, he is well-equipped to take the University of Ilorin to greater heights.

    Not only has he served in a similar capacity in a sister university before, available records have also shown that Prof. Abdulkareem discharged himself creditably in his former duty post, making ground-breaking achievements that are yet unsurpassed. Moreover, his intimidating credentials are a source of joy, pride and assurance to every Unilorite that the university is indeed lucky to have him take over from a great achiever in the person of Prof. Ambali. Generally acknowledged to be a very principled, open-minded, fair and incorruptible administrator wherever he has been privileged to serve in the past, Prof. Abdulkareem will surely be bringing all these sterling attributes to bear on his administrative style at the university. This is necessary not only because of the need to keep his well-known integrity intact but also because of the need to sustain the lofty heights that the University of Ilorin has attained over the years, and also hopefully take this a notch higher!

    And as Prof. Ambali said at a forum few days after Prof. Abdulkareem’s emergence, “I am happy that I am handing over to a man who will not let the university down”.

    To be sure, only the very best is good enough for Unilorin.

     

    • Akogun is the Head, Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin.

  • Unveiling the miracle power of thanksgiving! (1)

    From scriptures, we discover that thanksgiving is one of the great mysteries in the Kingdom. This is because in thanksgiving lies unimaginable values. As it is written: And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God (Jeremiah 30:19-22).

    For instance, when the mystery of thanksgiving was engaged in scriptures, it raised Lazarus to life after being dead for four days. The power in thanksgiving also multiplied a little boy’s lunch to feed five thousand men, excluding women and children. That is an estimate of ten thousand people fed, with leftovers. In other words, at the instance of thanksgiving, miracle working powers are provoked from heaven (Luke 11:40-44; John 6:6-11).

    Let’s examine some miracle powers embedded in thanksgiving.

    Thanksgiving preserves our blessings: Thanksgiving is simply acknowledging God for what He has done in our lives. When we do so, we insure and secure our blessings from curses. As it is written: And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it (Malachi 2:1-3; see also Jeremiah 13:16-17).

    Again, the Bible makes us understand that whatever God does is forever. However, we must engage the mystery of thanksgiving to commit Him to perform. God expects timely thanksgiving from us, because it perfects our blessings.

    It multiplies our blessings: The mystery of thanksgiving guarantees the multiplication of God’s blessings in our lives. For instance, when Jesus gave thanks, five loaves of bread and two fishes multiplied supernaturally and fed five thousand men excluding women and children (John 6:6-11; Psalms 67:5-7). Also, concerning Abraham, the Bible records: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20) So if we are Abraham’s seed, we must  do the work of Abraham who was strong in faith and gave glory to God before his Isaac came. Let us recognize that the blessings of   receiving more and more are God’s agenda for us. As it is written: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18; see also Habakkuk 3:17-19).

    However, it takes engaging in the covenant of thanksgiving to move from one level to another.  Until we thank Him for the last, we are not qualified for the next.  We have to commit to thanking Him before we can move from one level of glory to another.

    It entitles us to fresh oil: Speaking on thanksgiving, David said: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Thereafter, he said: But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil (Psalms 92:1-2, 10).That means thanksgiving and praise are covenant platforms through which we encounter fresh oil from God.

    Again, we see in the scripture, how David praised God seven times a day and God speaking of him, said: I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him (Psalm 89:20-23; see also Psalm 119:164).

    Furthermore, Apostle Paul, whom God anointed to write two-third of the New Testament, said: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

    This means the exploits of Paul recorded in scriptures are traceable to a life of thanksgiving. Therefore, the more addicted we are to thanksgiving, the fresher the oil on our lives. However, it is important to understand that just as thanksgiving guarantees the flow of fresh oil, murmuring and complaining dries up the flow (Joel 1:10-12). In actual fact, murmuring is a weapon used by the devil to destroy lives and many people have fallen victim of this trap. So, the challenges are not the reason why people are losing ground to the devil, it is the way they handle the challenges that determines the results. While some will keep complaining about their challenges, others will keep giving thanks until there is a turnaround in their situation.

    I have often said that if you have lost anything in life, God is the reason why you have not lost everything. So make it a choice today to be an addicted thanks giver. Nevertheless, in order for your thanksgiving to be acceptable, you must be saved. Are you born again? This means, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: The Wonders of Praise and Understanding the Power of Praise. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Unveiling repackaged Volkswagen Jetta

    Unveiling repackaged Volkswagen Jetta

    With the old 2.0-litre base engine replaced by the more powerful and efficient 1.4-litre turbo, the Jetta has the most appealing power train line-up in the segment. Its specs on paper are competitive, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO, with agency reports.

    The Jetta’s slow and inefficient base engine has finally been shown the door, replaced by a modern, small turbocharged four-cylinder in the S and SE trim levels. Every Jetta also gets a new touch screen interface, while advanced accident avoidance tech is added to the options list. Finally, the diesel-powered Jetta TDI will be unavailable for much or all of 2016 as Volkswagen corrects the car’s non-compliant emissions system.

    Volkswagen is still trying to figure out what to do with the diesel-powered engine in the 2016 Jetta TDI model after it was discovered the company has been cheating in emissions testing.

    The new turbocharged 1.4-litre engine replaces last year’s wheezy 2.0-litre four-cylinder base engine. Really, from the new 1.4 all the way up to the GLI’s turbo 2.0-litre and the nifty gas-electric alchemy of the Hybrid, the Jetta’s engine lineup is uniquely sophisticated and compelling in this generally value-oriented segment.

    For 2016, all of the VW Jetta’s available engines are turbocharged to provide excellent power and fuel economy.

    Alas, the rest of the Jetta isn’t quite as great. In the past, the Jetta provided better refinement than the Civics and Corollas. Its interior was of a higher quality and the driver experience was closer to a German sport sedan than a typical “economy” car. The current Jetta represents a shift toward more of a Costco philosophy of getting the biggest product for the least amount of money. Indeed, the Jetta has more cabin and trunk space than its competitors, but it doesn’t feel quite as special as it used to. There’s a whiff of cost-cutting here that was absent from previous models, and that makes the car harder to recommend.

    On the bright side, this year’s Jetta boasts an up-to-date tech interface with Smartphone integration. But given how competitive some other compact sedans have become, it’s hard to overlook the Jetta’s lacklustre handling and bland interior design. Top-rated competitors like the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Mazda 3 have aped the old Jetta playbook while in some cases providing more features for the money.

     

    Body styles

    The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is available in a variety of trim levels and engine choices: 1.4T S, 1.4T SE, 1.8T Sport and 1.8T SEL. There are also GLI and Hybrid trims available.

    Standard equipment on the Jetta S includes 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, keyless entry, heated mirrors, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40-split rear seats, cloth upholstery, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a four-speaker sound system with a 5-inch touch screen interface, a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The S Technology package adds a rear-view camera, a 6.3-inch touchscreen, a USB port, a media player interface, satellite radio and VW Car-Net smartphone integration, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

    The Jetta SE includes all of the above plus 16-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, heated windshield washer nozzles, heated front seats and a front centre armrest. The SE Connectivity package adds a sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, driver lumbar adjustment, “V-Tex” premium vinyl upholstery, a rear centre armrest and a six-speaker sound system with an enhanced Car-Net system.

    Aside from the sunroof, 1.8T Sport gets all of the above plus a more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels and fog lights.

    The 1.8T SEL reverts to standard suspension tuning, but adds different 17-inch wheels, the sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, automatic headlights and wipers, higher-quality interior materials, and front reading lights and vanity mirror lights. The SEL Premium package adds a six-way power driver seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, a cooled glove compartment and an eight-speaker Fender audio system.

    The Lighting package available on Sport and SEL trims adds adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights and ambient interior lighting. The Driver Assistance package optional on the SEL trims adds adaptive cruise control, frontal collision warning and automatic emergency braking, a blind-sport warning system and rear cross-traffic alert.

    The Jetta GLI is available in SE and SEL trim levels. They essentially line up with the regular Jetta versions, but both have a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brakes, special styling elements, sport seats, the Connectivity package elements, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers, keyless ignition and entry, and the Fender sound system. The SEL differs with 18-inch wheels, a blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert system, LED running lights, adaptive bi-xenon headlights and a navigation system.

    The Hybrid is available only as the SEL Premium. It has the same extras as the GLI SEL, plus extra hybrid-specific styling elements and trip computer readouts. It reverts to the six-speaker sound system.

     

    Powertrains

    Every Jetta is front-wheel drive. The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T has a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder good for 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission with hill hold assist is standard; a six-speed automatic is optional.

    The Jetta 1.8T models have a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder that produces 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual is standard on the Sport, while a six-speed automatic is optional on the Sport and standard on the SEL. In Edmunds performance testing, a Jetta 1.8T with the automatic went from zero to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, which makes it the quickest compact sedan we’ve tested at the time of this writing. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 29 mpg combined (25/36) with the automatic. The manual gets 1 mpg highway better.

    The Jetta GLI has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 210 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard; a six-speed automated manual (DSG) is optional. Expect a 0-60 time in the mid-to-upper 6-second range.

    The Jetta Hybrid is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that works in tandem with an electric motor and a seven-speed automated manual. Total output is 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. In Edmunds testing, the Jetta Hybrid ran from zero to 60 mph in a swift 7.8 seconds, making it one of the quickest non-luxury hybrids. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 44 mpg combined (42/48). During an extensive Edmunds fuel economy test consisting of city, highway and interstate driving, the Jetta Hybrid averaged 43.0 mpg overall.

     

    Safety

    Every 2016 Volkswagen Jetta comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. All but the base S without the Technology package comes with a rearview camera. The 1.8T and TDI SEL trims are available with the Driver Assistance package that adds a frontal collision warning and automatic emergency braking, a blind-sport monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert.

    VW’s Car-Net telematics system, standard from SE with Connectivity on up, includes automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote vehicle access, stolen vehicle location and geo-fencing (which allows parents to set boundaries for teenage drivers). A Car-Net smartphone app lets owners control many of these functions on the go.

    In government crash tests, the Jetta received five out of five stars for overall safety, with four stars for total front impact protection and five stars for total side impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Jetta the highest possible crash rating of “Good” in its moderate-overlap and small-overlap frontal-offset impact tests, as well as a “Good” score in the side-impact, roof strength and seat/head restraint (whiplash protection) tests.

    Interior design and special features

    Almost every compact sedan today features an eye-catching interior design with edgy shapes and a focus on the latest technology. The key word there is “almost.” The Jetta’s cabin, by contrast, is resolutely conservative in appearance, with materials ranging from glaringly spartan in lower trims (the dash and doors are covered with hard, shiny plastic, for instance) to merely adequate in upper trims (the dash adopts a soft-touch, low sheen material, but the door panels remain unyielding). Volkswagen’s Golf hatchback has a much more attractive, higher-quality cabin, as do the rival 2016 Honda Civic and Mazda 3.

    For 2016, the Jetta gets a welcome injection of technology. Volkswagen’s latest touchscreen interface is standard on every trim level, available in two sizes and offering VW Car-Net as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone app integration. Unchanged, thankfully, is the Jetta’s remarkable spaciousness by segment standards. The backseat dwarfs that of just about every other compact sedan and hatchback (including the Golf), and the remarkable 15.7-cubic-foot trunk is on par with bigger midsize sedans.

  • Ajimobi, others for unveiling of Western Post

    Ajimobi, others for unveiling of Western Post

    Oyo state governor Abiola Ajimobi will chair the public unveiling of Western Post newspaper, the regional weekly covering the old Western region. The unveiling ceremony holds on Tuesday at Bashorun Hall, Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi GRA, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    As part of the programme, there will be a national conversation with the theme: “The Dwindling oil revenue: A case for regional integration”.

    The Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Dipo Famakinwa, will present the lead paper while Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, and Director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Prof. Anthony Kila, are among the Discussants.

    The Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi; Olaopa and the first female Computer Scientist in Nigeria, Prof. (Mrs.) Adenike Osofisan will also receive awards for outstanding contributions to the region at the event.