Today, Prophet Temitope Balogun (T.B.) Joshua turned 46. As we reflect upon his birth and journey so far, it is of extreme necessity that we give thanks to God for intervening in his affair all the way long. For all the way long we can see the mighty protecting hand of God Almighty leading him to something higher. As Prophet T.B. Joshua sates, in the university of God, no matter how brilliant you are, you will not be given a double promotion. You will take every course because every course is necessary.

Intimidation, name calling, blackmail, isolation and the like are just a few of the courses the Prophet has endured and passed. As Children of God, we must understand that fear of adversity is fear of good. For if gold must be gold, it must pass through the fire. As gold is tested by fire, so also human character is tested in the furnace of humiliation. Today we can confidently say, Prophet T.B. Joshua is a graduate of adversity. He is a graduate of isolation. He is a graduate of rejection. These trials were not meant to deter him but to preserve him for redemption, to keep him for a new level in life and to strengthen his desire for Christ.

God has used these foolish times in Prophet T.B. Joshua’s life as a means of speaking strength and courage into his life and advancing his cause. We have seen, through broadcasts on his Emmanuel TV (Intelsat 10 and Galaxy 19 satellites and www.emmanuel.tv and www.streamingfaith.com), the soil of trials in which this man of faith has flourished. From conception where he spent 15 months in his mother’s womb, his naming ceremony where an unseen hand protected him from a flying boulder, the death of his father and the proceeding hardships and poverty that followed, the destruction of his first, second and third church buildings by savage rainstorms, the virulent attacks and slander rendered to him by members of the PFN and international Pentecostal and charismatic bodies and congregations and even recently the blasphemy spoken against the work of God in The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations by various individuals and organisations.

But all of this has been a tonic to his anointing. Instead of growing bitter, Prophet T.B. Joshua has grown better. Instead of decreasing, the ministry has increased by leaps and bounds. Instead of the congregation to reduce, the number of worshippers flooding into the church have exploded exponentially. Truly, the windows of Heaven have opened and there is not room enough to receive those seeking solution and succour in The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations.

In sincere appreciation to Jesus Christ for all He has done, all He is doing and all He is about to do in his life, Prophet T.B. Joshua has chosen to celebrate his 46th birthday in quite a unique way. He has admonished all around the world, through the live broadcast on Emmanuel TV on Sunday the 7th of June 2009, not to bring their gifts and appreciation to the church on Friday the 12 of June 2009 but to take them to the less privileged.
“Another June 12th is at hand, so I want to say happy birthday in advance,” said the Prophet. “As we all know, we are the father to the orphans, husband to the widows, benefactors to the needy and companions to the lonely. This coming Friday, I want you to go out and celebrate with them, or invite them to your house and rededicate yourself to the act of giving in terms of food, shelter, scholarships to the less privileged. This is what we are born for, what we are to live for and what we are to die for. ”

To the worshippers, visitors and viewers of Emmanuel TV, worldwide, the Prophet emphasised the virtues of charity, describing as “vanity upon vanity” a situation where a man parks 10 jeeps or stores excess worldly possessions in his garage in a country where many cannot find a single meal to eat in a day. People must continue to give cheerfully, to be their brother's keepers, he finalised. “Someone is waiting for you for a lifetime. You cannot afford to fail them. Failing them is failing God...”

Let us join together and celebrate the 46th birthday of Prophet T.B. Joshua by following this simple instruction he has given: rededicate ourselves to the act of giving – in terms of every good thing God has given us. For we make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.

Happy 46th Birthday, Prophet T.B. Joshua
May God continue to be with you – as you always do what pleases Him (John 8:29).