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Sunday Sermon On 29th March 2020: “I AM WITH THEE”- PASTOR L.O OLADELE

Published

7 years ago

March 29, 2020

“I AM WITH THEE”- PASTOR L.O OLADELE

Text: Isaiah 43:2 & 5 “When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west….”

“I AM WITH THEE” is a message of deliverance, encouragement, faith, and lifting up souls at this crucial time, especially this time we are going through an akward situation in the country and in the world generally.
God has given me this message to give to all children of God who believe in Him.
In this passage, the children of Isreal were in different calamities: the fear of exile, the fear of death, the fear of operession and evil that have befallen them but God in His infinite mercy declared to them, I am with thee.

The speaker here is God Himself; God who is omnipotent, ominiscience, God who is so powerful, the creator of Heaven and earth, the one that can make and mar, the one that can make alive and the one that can kill, this is the God of Isreal who gave the word and when He gives His words, His words stand forever.

Therefore, the Lord has given me this message at this time of plaque, when the whole world is under the trembling and fear of coronavirus attack, when powerful nations become impotent, when wealthy ones, men of authority are being given low reputations, because of God want to prove Himself.

In all these, God knows about it, God said to His own people I am with thee even, in the time of many troubles I will deliever thee. when He makes a promise, He is able to fufill it; God is not a liar, He is not human being that will make promises and not fulfill it, i want your faith to key into this message of God; if you believe this message, no evil will touch your domain. The attack, the arrows , the contagiouseness of Coronavirus will not touch you and all members of your household.Psalm 46 :2 & 7.

This is the promise of God that He can keep unto the utmost, those who trust Him. God said I should tell you, all those who have accepted Jesus christ as their Lord and savior; fear not at this time, do not be afraid of any plaque or attack; you are covered, you are protected, we are living under the shadow of the Almighty.

This time around, knowledge, education, technology, riches and wealth have failed even Kingdoms , dominion, powerful nations are under fear, many have died under this infection but God says those who trust in me, they shall not be affected.
God said I should tell you that the church of God, the gospel of Jesus christ will be made stronger at the end of this calamity. God said i should tell you that even if weeping endureth for a night, joy cometh in the morning.

Historically, this similar pandemic had happened before between 1900 and 1916, it was world plaque like this, it was tagged: “Bubonic plaque”; the whole world was dying, it covered every nation even churches, factories, working places were closed then, even the existing orthodox churches then were locked up, they fled in fear of death to their own country but the few black men who have recieved Jesus Christ said, under the situation we can’t keep our mouth closed, they said they can close everywhere but we can call on God at anywhere, they gathered under the tree and they started praying and God started doing miracles and wonders and that was what led to the birth of the pentecostal church even at Ijebu ode, that led the people like Sadare, Shophia Odunlami whom God used miraculously through prayers to heal bubonic plaque then. The same thing is happening now, the solution to all these problems is God; let the nations, every believers return to God, let us call on God in Prayers , let us seek His face, He is able to deliever, He is able to immune His own, He is able to keep His own.

SCOPE OF “I AM WITH THEE”

“I AM WITH THEE” is the word of God that can save, Authority, and powerful. Declaration that is coming out, declaration that can save, deliever, heal, favour, bless declaration that raised people up “I AM WITH THEE”.

If you believed wherever your children are under this earth, this message will go to them that “I AM WITH THEE” you can pronounce it to yourself even in the face of dangers, troubles, calamities, poverty that God is with me. As you say it authority is backing it up.

In the scope of this message in Isaiah 41:10 ….That means “I AM WITH THEE” is be able to work for you when you are in need of help. Dear Readers, believer and unbeliever do you need of any help? Human being cant help you Its only GOD that can help you.
Even the scientists around the world are still struggling to find solutions to Covid 19. Let’s seek the help of God, He said, I Will help you.

The world, our country and everyone needs divine help now, God has promised to be with us and He will surely send help to us.

The scope of “I am with thee” also covers difficult time : Isaiah 43:2-3…..? Do you have the Lord as your God, dont seek help anywhere. “I AM WITH THEE”

I am with thee also covers when you are under fearful situation. Jeremiah 1:8 explains that do not be afraid. You may see mountains , red sea, Coronavirus around, God said i should tell you I AM WITH THEE.

Also under the scope and dimension of this message, I am with thee when you are faced with threats of enemy (Jere 1:19) . I am telling you children of God, even when the battle is tough, when the enemy surrounds you, God said I am with you, and I i will fight your battle, be at rest.

I am with thee covers when you are faced with family problems (Isaiah 43:5). I dont know the family challenges you are going through; between parent and children, wife and Husband and you have prayed over it, listen to the word of God, I AM WITH THEE is able to restore
that challenges.

God is with me also cover time of confusion
(Act 18:9-10). In time troubles, calamities, confusion, God said I should tell you I AM WITH Thee, fear not.

THE WORK OF “I AM WITH THEE”

1. I am with thee is the message of Salvation that can save anyone, no matter who you are, once you call His name (Jeremiah 46:28) Fear thou not …..

2. I am with thee is a covenant from a covenant keeping God, God is able to fufil His promises (Isaiah 54:10) says for the mountain…..

3. I am with thee is the source of all blessings (Luke 1:28)

WHAT SHOULD WE DO FOR “I AM WITH THEE” TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES PS 73:23

1. Be with God in holiness, many denominations are not preaching holiness again, you have be holy. So, what you need to do for I AM WITH THEE to fight your battle is to be Holy (1peter 1:16)

2. Live the life of faith, the bible says anything ng done outside faith is sin, you don’t need to seek for other powers outside Jesus, the name of Jesus can save to the utmost, let me tell you, power of witches and wizards can’t save you in this situation, only the name of Jesus, Only I AM WITH Thee can save you.

3. Live a life of obedience, not a partial obedience but full obedience. Samuel told Saul in the Bible, Obedience is better than sacrifice; don’t bank on your connections, human knowledge and wisdom, these will fail but your obedience to God will stand. Leave the life of partial obedience , partial obedience is equal to zero obedience .

4. Also, live the life of faithful service in John 4:23 the bible says, God is a spirit and those who will serve Him will serve Him in spirit and truth … if you’re paying tithes and any money and you are not faithful, what does it amount to? Therefore, live the life acceptable to God.

5. Live the life of Love, if you have everything and you don’t have love, it amounts to nothing, the problem in the nation today is that we don’t love ourselves, there should not be religious and tribal war, if we love ourselves, we should live in peace.

6. For I AM WITH THEE to be with you; be prayerful, put on the armour of prayer now, put on the whole armour of God (Eph 6:11-18). It’s not time to be indolent.

7. Don’t forget to be giving and sharing, though you are staying at home, send your tithes and offering appropriately and God you are doing it for will surely reward you.

8. what you should do for I AM WITH THEE to be with you is; live your life expecting the second coming of Christ.

CONCLUSION,

This time is the time to obey God, to obey the civil authorities and to obey the religious authorities. God is the ultimate, He has given us government (Heb 13:17).

So, every child of God everywhere, we should obey what government says, this time around, they have said in their wisdom that we should stay at home , we should keep a social distance, we are going to obey it,we should close churches and mosques. Children of God, Keep to the instructions and God will bless you, don’t forget the Almighty. He said I should tell you I AM WITH THEE is with you and if you believe He will save you, no plaque will affect you, no COVID-19 will affect you, you are immuned with the blood of Jesus.

PPRAYER POINTS

1.Prayer of forgiveness of sins for the whole world and the children of God.

2. prayer for mercy that triumphs over judgement.

3. pray to God to send His healing and that no sickness, diseases and infirmities should touch His own people.

4 Pray that Jesus should manifest to destroy the works of devil. Coronavirus, send it out, banish it, rebuke it and it will flee from us.

5.Pray that the lord should heal all those affected already worldwide.

6. Pray that the blood of Jesus should cover our homes and protect us anywhere we go.

7.Pray that God should give us the spirit to prepare for His second coming.

8. Pray that I AM WITH THEE, the presence of God, be with your children everywhere.

Thanks God Bless you.

Pastor Dr, L.O Oladele Abuja-FCT Area Superintendent.

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Business

Turning Africa’s Raw Materials Into Wealth: The ARMS 2026 Industrial Agenda

Published

3 days ago

September 29, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

For decades, Africa’s vast natural resources have powered industries and economies far beyond the continent, while many African countries have remained largely exporters of unprocessed commodities and importers of finished products.

That familiar pattern is now coming under renewed scrutiny as policymakers, researchers, investors and industrialists seek to change the direction of Africa’s resource economy.

At the centre of that conversation is the second edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026), scheduled for October 19 and 20 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, under the theme: “From African Feedstock to African Factories.”

Organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the summit is being positioned as more than another gathering of policymakers and industry stakeholders. It is intended to provide a platform for confronting the structural challenges that have kept African raw materials largely disconnected from local manufacturing.

Africa has for years operated largely within a “pit-to-port” economic model, exporting raw materials while importing expensive finished products.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the summit on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, said the event would bring together policymakers, investors, researchers, technology providers and industrialists to develop practical strategies for transforming Africa’s abundant natural resources into industrial wealth.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply the abundance of resources, but the continent’s ability to transform those resources into industrial value, employment, technology and wealth within Africa.

Nigeria alone, according to the RMRDC, has more than $582.4 billion in documented non-renewable natural resources, while the wider continent possesses substantial deposits of critical minerals, agricultural raw materials and industrial feedstock.

Yet, the benefits of this resource endowment have often been constrained by inadequate processing capacity, weak infrastructure, limited technology, financing gaps and fragmented regional value chains.

From Dialogue to Industrial Action

ARMS 2026 builds on the maiden edition held in May 2025, which attracted more than 1,000 delegates from across the world.

The inaugural summit also witnessed the unveiling of the Ten-Year Raw Materials Transformation Roadmap (2025–2034) by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owen Enoh.

The roadmap was designed around areas including technological capability, climate-resilient processing and backward integration, establishing a policy framework for greater domestic utilisation of Africa’s raw materials.

The second edition is expected to move the conversation further by bringing policy, capital, technology and industrial stakeholders around practical mechanisms for turning raw materials into locally manufactured products.

One of the major proposals highlighted by the RMRDC is the 30 per cent Mandatory Value Addition Bill, which seeks to establish a statutory minimum level of value addition to Nigerian raw materials before export.

The Council says the proposed framework could support job creation, import substitution, foreign-exchange conservation and increased manufacturing contribution to the economy.

Building the Infrastructure for Value Addition

The industrial transformation envisaged by ARMS 2026 goes beyond legislation.

A major concern is the “missing middle” between where raw materials are produced and where factories are located.

Poor transportation networks, inadequate cold-chain facilities, weak rural roads, limited testing and certification infrastructure and border-related delays can make locally sourced materials more expensive and less competitive.

Consequently, logistics and infrastructure constitute one of the five principal pillars of the summit.

The objective is to develop more reliable corridors connecting farms and mines with processing centres and manufacturing facilities, thereby reducing losses and improving the movement of industrial inputs.

The Digital Dimension

Technology is also becoming an important part of the Council’s strategy.

The RMRDC says it has developed the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), described as a digital repository containing information on feedstock deposits, specifications, production outputs and industrial absorption rates.

The Council has also highlighted its transition towards paperless operations and its certification as a Data Controller/Processor of Major Importance by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.

Such digital infrastructure could provide investors and manufacturers with better information about the availability and characteristics of raw materials while supporting more informed industrial planning.

Turning Waste Into Industrial Inputs

Another major component of ARMS 2026 is the proposed expansion of the circular economy.

The summit will examine how agricultural by-products, mine tailings, scrap metals and biomass can be recovered and reused as inputs for new production processes rather than being treated simply as waste.

The RMRDC argues that such an approach could lower raw-material costs while supporting more sustainable and climate-resilient manufacturing systems.

For Africa, where industrial expansion must increasingly balance economic development with environmental considerations, waste industrialisation could become an important part of the continent’s manufacturing conversation.

From National Production to African Value Chains

The African Continental Free Trade Area is another important element of the summit’s agenda.

The RMRDC sees AfCFTA as an opportunity to create regional value chains in which raw materials sourced in one African country can be processed and supplied to manufacturers in another.

Under such a model, Africa would move beyond simply exporting commodities to external markets and develop stronger internal networks for supplying chemicals, refined minerals, agricultural inputs and other industrial materials across national borders.

This approach places regional integration at the heart of Africa’s industrialisation strategy.

Bridging Research and Capital

A recurring weakness in many developing economies is the gap between research and commercialisation.

Innovations may emerge from universities, research institutions and laboratories without receiving the financing, equipment or market connections required to become commercially viable.

ARMS 2026 intends to address that gap through technology commercialisation and capital linkages, connecting research outputs with investors, development finance institutions and industrial off-takers.

The RMRDC has also cited partnerships with the Bank of Industry for commercial-scale post-harvest processing and a South-South technology-transfer partnership with the National Innovation Centre par Excellence in Shanghai, China.

A Larger Industrial Conversation

The scale of ARMS 2026 is expected to be significantly larger than the maiden edition.

The organisers project more than 1,800 delegates from all 54 African countries and global industrial partners.

The programme will feature high-level policy dialogues, technical panels, an advanced raw materials and technology exhibition, industrial site visits and the African Raw Materials Industry Awards.

The exhibition, in particular, is expected to showcase locally fabricated processing machinery, advanced domestic materials, green chemicals and engineered commercial inputs.

Beyond the speeches and exhibitions, however, the real significance of ARMS 2026 will ultimately depend on what happens after the summit.

Africa’s challenge has never been a shortage of raw materials. The more difficult question has been how to transform those resources into factories, products, skilled employment, technology and sustainable economic opportunities.

For Nigeria and the rest of the continent, the proposed shift from “pit-to-port” to “feedstock-to-factory” therefore represents a broader debate about the future structure of African economies.

ARMS 2026 seeks to place that debate firmly on the industrial agenda — with value addition, technology, finance, infrastructure, circular production and regional trade at the centre.

If the commitments and partnerships generated by the summit translate into measurable industrial activity, the event could provide another platform for Africa to examine how its enormous resource base can support stronger domestic manufacturing.

The message from the organisers is clear: the continent’s raw materials should not only leave African soil as commodities; they should increasingly become the foundation for African industrial production

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