Your Success Story is Already Written

Apostle Allison Smith Conliff immediately balances promise with realism: believers may experience failures, academically, in speech, in daily tasks, or in decision-making, but these failures are not the end. Her instruction is straightforward: “Pick yourself up and go again.” She normalizes human weakness (“we are mortal man”) without excusing sin, emphasizing instead that sanctification is a process, “we are walking towards perfection.” The tone is pastoral: she wants the congregation to refuse shame, refuse paralysis, and refuse to interpret mistakes as divine rejection.

Apostle Allison then pivots to hope beyond this life. She asks the congregation who is looking forward to the day Jesus returns, referencing the longing expressed in worship (“Come Lord Jesus, come”). Her emphasis is that the hardships believers endure, specifically those endured “for the sake of the gospel” (not hardships caused by wrongdoing), will be answered by the joy of seeing Christ face-to-face. She describes it as “priceless,” an “awesome moment” when the church will behold its Savior, walk with Him, and be with Him forever.

This section sets a spiritual anchor: the Christian life is not simply about comfort, progress, or material increase. It is also about endurance, faithfulness, and a future unveiling where pain borne for Christ is not wasted. The message quietly challenges the congregation to differentiate between suffering for righteousness and suffering caused by compromise, reminding them that God honors sacrifice connected to His mission.

Before moving into the sermon text, Apostle Allison prays for divine order over the atmosphere. She asks that God be exalted, that no flesh dominate the ministry moment, and that the Holy Spirit would ensure the people hear what God intends, both visitors and regular attendees. She specifically prays for “spiritual air” to be open, for ears to hear “the Spirit of truth,” and for “the eyes of their understanding” to open so people can be led accurately.

This prayer reveals a key lens of the service: the deliverance context is not treated as emotional spectacle. Instead, it is framed as a moment of spiritual hearing and correct perception, where believers are equipped to choose rightly and resist deception.

Apostle Allison introduces the night’s scriptural anchor as Joshua 24, focusing on the famous covenant call:

“If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

She emphasizes that believers must “apply yourself to study”, not only academic or practical knowledge, but the Word of God. The underlying argument is that spiritual life cannot be maintained on vibes, memories, or occasional inspiration. It requires study, understanding, and deliberate choice.

She then highlights the people’s response in Joshua 24: "they answered strongly, declaring it would be unthinkable to forsake the Lord to serve other gods." Apostle Allison notes how quickly people can answer right, yet later drift into forgetfulness once a key leader (like Joshua) is gone. She points out the pattern: commitment is easy to speak in a charged moment; it must be sustained when the moment passes.

A major emphasis in her exposition is remembering what God has done. She quotes the Israelites recalling God bringing them out of Egypt and preserving them along the way. She then turns the question toward the congregation: can you recall what God has done for you personally ?

She stresses that many believers do not fully understand how blessed it is to be free from the kingdom of darkness and positioned in God’s kingdom. If they truly understood the difference, they would never casually flirt with darkness or take salvation lightly. Gratitude becomes a spiritual weapon: remembering God’s deliverance strengthens loyalty, renews reverence, and resists the temptation to “serve other gods” in modern forms.

Rec. Date: 19th September 2024