“The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times” (Dan 9:25)

Daniel was in exile. He discovered the scroll of the Prophet Jeremiah who said that the people of God shall be in exile for 70 years. That was the time to fulfill their chastisement. After that, God will show mercy on them and bring them back to Israel. Daniel discovers that the time is at hand. He does not take it for granted that the promises of God will come to pass. Daniel does not passively admire the Word of God. He prays reminding God of His promises. This is a big lesson: we should not take the Promises of God for granted. He that has the revelation is the one who should lead in prayer and intercession.

Daniel knew that Jerusalem was an abandoned city. If the people of God return they shall only meet desolation. Trusting God for the return of the exiles, he prays for Jerusalem. This is another good lesson: if we really have faith, then we should pray forward. We are not looking at the present place or situation. We are praying for the things that shall be but they are not. That is called a prayer of faith. If you are barren, pray for your grandchildren. If you are sick, pray for that work or ministry God told you about. If you are poor, pray about the color of the roses in front of your new house.

Daniel prays for mercy. I often to the same! When it comes to me, Mercy is wonderful beyond word. Mercy smiles, embraces; smells like the lilies, dresses like a bride and sings like the doves.

Daniel confesses the sins of his people. He identifies with them. Because of sin, the only thing we have now is ‘confusion of the face’. The word confusion means shame, spiritual dryness, disappointment and sadness. He prays that God should shine His face upon the sanctuary. God’s gracious face will prevail against the shame of our faces. This is our prayer: The presence of God should come back to the house of God. The glory of God should be revealed to the faithful and humble worshippers. The Person of God the Holy Spirit should freely move in our midst. God is all they need. God is all we need.

Daniel spoke to Angel Gabriel and was greatly blessed by him. But Daniel knows that the house of God needs more than an angel. They need God! We too need God to come and dwell among His people. We need revival. We need healing. We need deliverance. We need the grace of God. We need a new beginning. Only God can grant these. Only Jesus Christ can save. May we forget all else! May we forget the success of the past and the failure of the present time! May we hunger and thirst for God to come down! Then the wilderness shall bloom like a field. Then the building shall rise. Then the wall shall be built! The troubled times of this season are powerless against the move of God! The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead tells us to rise once more. To the glory of God! All honor and adoration to the Lamb upon the Throne! In Jesus name, amen!

“For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go! They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail” (Ps 91:11, 12; TLB)

This afternoon a great miracle happened. Brother Marcello (his nick name), one of the brothers from our church fell down from the ceiling at the new sanctuary. We are preparing the tubes for the ACs. He was welding inside the ceiling and lost his balance. The height of the ceiling is surely above 25 feet. We never had any accident since we started the building three years ago. This is the first one. Miraculously, he only had some little bruises on his back. Nothing else! No fracture! No bleeding! Nothing serious! Pastor Leigh said that it was like an angel placed foam on the floor so that he will not be hurt.

This evening we had the mid-week service. Brother Marcello came to church like usual. There was much joy in the congregation. We praised God for His goodness and faithfulness to us as a church! We serve the Living God! To God be all the glory!

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways…. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Jam 1:6-8; 4:7, 8)

A young man who claims to be born again sent me this letter: “Dear Malia, I am in big trouble. Please help me! Please pray for me! I can’t even sleep. I am ashamed and worried. This is my story… There are two sisters in my life. The first one is very nice. She is a little older than me. She has a good job. She said that she is sorry for me. She offered to help me with prayer, counsel and money. She has been doing that for more than a year. I know that she loves me but we have nothing romantic between us. The second one is younger than me. I love her but I don’t know if she loves me. Last month I made a serious mistake. On an impulse I went to propose marriage to both of them in the same day. Each said yes, but later they found out what I did. They are both now angry with me threatening to tell my pastor. Please tell me what to do…”

I told him to give his life to Christ that he is not born again. I told him to repent of all his sins especially doubt, wickedness, manipulation and lust. I told him that for now, he is not ready to marry. That he should serve God until he is a mature Christian. I prayed that God should show him mercy and grant him a new beginning…

But the reason why I printed this letter is to show you how a double minded man behaves. In Greek, the word ‘double minded’ means to have ‘two souls in one body’. A double minded man may be religious but he is always disappointed with his ‘Christianity’ for God does not answer his prayers. He is the one praying and he is the one answering himself. He is like the wave of the sea, up and down, depending on the outside winds. He is a man who says yes and no in the same time. He has no true faith in God, because faith is ‘the assurance of things not seen’ (Heb 1:1). He cannot come to God with assurance in his heart that God is God. He does not trust God’s promises!

Listen, you cannot have both assurance and doubts in the same time. This man is ‘unstable in all his ways’. To be spiritually and emotionally unstable is almost mental sickness. An unstable man changes easily. He listens to what men say and tries to please them all. He is moody and anxious, restless and easily depressed. He is unstable not only in his prayer life, but ‘in all his ways’. His friends and family are never sure of what he will do next. He has no clear focus or defined purpose in life. You can never make plans with such a man for he will always disappoint you. These people are always unhappy in their marriages. Their spouses complain of this wavering in all their plans.

What is the cure? God! The Bible commands this man to come closer to God, to totally submit to the Lord Jesus Christ. This drawing closer to God so that He ‘takes notice and respond’ is a great spiritual principle! You cannot be forgiven, cleansed, healed and delivered at a distance. This principle was known and practiced even in the Old Testament. “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (2Chr 15:2). Once you come into God’s presence, you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit. You shall be able to resist any demon and you shall be delivered. These things are true!

May you hear the voice of God calling you to His presence! May God give you a fresh testimony and a new smile of thanksgiving! Nothing is impossible for God!  In Jesus name, Amen!

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb 12:14, 15)

As a pastor I meet people who always murmur and complain. In medicine, a murmur in the heart means serious trouble. That heart is sick and dying. Spiritually it is the same. People who have a murmuring heart are never satisfied and never happy. They like to argue for little things. There is a shadow on their faces that shows internal pain. They are extremely difficult to help. They have grieved the Holy Spirit but they still insist on their rights. To murmur it means to be angry silently, to complain in a low tone that God is not fair to you. In Hebrew, the word ‘murmur’ is very interesting. It means to stop from a journey and lodge in a house. But the whole night you cannot sleep, you stubbornly complain about everything in that room.  After a long journey you have come to this house along the road. You enter and the host offers you bed and some food. It may not be the best in the world, but this is the best that he has .The whole night you prepared to argue with the host to reduce the price of that lodging. But in the morning, he tells you that there is no payment. You are surprised at his kindness but you don’t want to show it. Courtesy demands that at least you say ‘thank you’. But in your heart you reject the kindness of the host and you insult him when you leave. Many years have passed. You still remember the gracious kindness of the stranger. But on top of that, you remember the mosquitoes in the room; the AC that was not working well and the toilet that had no seat. You forgot that you were very tired when you came to his gate. You forgot that he gave you the best he had without charging you money. Forgetting the good and remembering the bad produces bitterness.

Remembering only the problems that accompanied a blessing in the past it is sin. The grace, the kindness, the unmerited favor of that stranger has failed to make you a grateful man. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ has failed in your heart. That grace that saves the souls of men died in your soul.  It could not save itself in you. Bitterness killed grace! What a tragedy! The effect will be a troubled conscience and no peace at all. The spiritual pollution will open the door to demons who will harass and trouble you. This is a most serious matter. Repent! Come to the Cross of Christ! Plead the Blood of Jesus! Deliver yourself from bitterness! Separate yourself from bitter, ungrateful and proud men! Say ‘thank you’ often, for all things and to all people!  Train yourself to be godly! Be holy as God is holy! I pray for you In Jesus name, amen!

“Draw me… Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the King bring me into His chambers” (SS 1:4)

‘Draw me closer to You, my Lord…’ This is one of the greatest prayers for a Christian.

You may ask: why do I have to pray such a prayer? I already know Jesus Christ. I am a child of God. Why then should I ask the Lord ‘draw me’? This is because there are many levels of intimacy with the Lord. The Christian life is not stagnant. It is not a lake that slowly evaporates in the heat of a merciless sun. The eternal life is like a river, ever increasing, becoming a flood, until finally it disappears into the ocean of God’s grace. Another reason to pray such a prayer it is because the heart of man is deceitful. You may have your feet close to the throne in heaven and your heart is still looking down on earth, longing for thins left behind.

‘Draw me…’ This is called the drawing of love, the drawing of grace. Love is like a magnet; its force breaks every chain of the world. It is a royal voice calling you into the chambers of holy things never felt before.

As for me, I am right now sited at His banqueting table and His banner over me is love! I have tasted and I now testify that my Lord is good and strong and sweet. His voice is powerful and gentle in the same time. His song is like a trumpet and like the strings in the same time. In His embrace I finally lose myself, I let go… of my fears, of all these unanswered questions. Bothering my mind… He knows all things and that is enough for me… He whispers love to my heart…He breathes peace to my soul. This is my morning dose of the Spirit. Just because the way it started I know for sure that today is a good day!

‘Draw me closer to You my Lord until all that is left is You and You alone…In Jesus name, amen!’

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2Cor 5:17)

This was a very wonderful prayer meeting. I do not have words to describe it but I will try my best…This evening to pray and to worship was very easy. It is like we all danced in the clouds. We prayed for revival. We thanked God for His Word and for His Spirit in our church. We thanked Him for the gift of prophesy. We thanked Him for His grace upon us.

We prayed against the evil spirit of ‘boredom’. To be bored it means to be weary and tired of your life, thru lack of interest. This demon attacks especially the believers who wait on God. It is ‘a brother’ with the spirit of religion, impatience and backsliding. The demon says something like this: ‘Don’t you see that God does not hear your prayers? Your situation will never change. Morning, afternoon and evening you shall be the same. Nothing good, nothing new happens to you. Your wife, your husband, your business…will never change! God has forgotten about you. It is better to give up…’ Boredom comes with weakness of the body, restlessness, depression and anxiety. The same demon will tell you to drink alcohol or to over- eat because these things are like entertainment. This demon is a liar for in Christ, old things have passed away and everything is made new. Mercy is new every morning. How can I ever be bored? If you have an encounter with the Lord, you can never be bored and you can never be the same! Life will be an eternal adventure, no matter the circumstances.

We prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came in His special way. We sang again and again: “Jesus You are beautiful…” The anointing was too strong to preach any message. Long ago we made a promise to God that He will always be first, in everything. He has all our heart, all our love, all our time and all our attention. Nothing shall interfere with the move of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in this church. God first and man second! It shall always be like that until, Jesus comes! Thank God for the grace to keep such a wonderful promise!

“I see Your face…Jesus You are beautiful… You are beautiful…You are beautiful…”

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1)
This is a good picture that helped me long ago to understand what faith is. There were two very poor and hungry men. A rich man came and felt pity on them. He gave each of them a bag of corn and told them: ‘This food will be enough for you for as long as you live!” Each one jumped with happiness and said ‘Amen!’ Each then took his gift and went home with it. Mr. Doubt and his wife feasted daily on it until it got finished. Then he became a poor beggar again. Mr. Faith and his wife decided to divide the corn in two places. Half of the seeds in the bag they planted in their garden. The other half they eat it daily, not too much, but just enough to live. Their sacrifice and humility was great wisdom. When their corn got finished, the harvest of the one planted just began. With time, he became the greatest corn farmer in his country. It all started with a bag of grains and a word of hope from a rich man called Jesus! He told both of them: ‘This food will be enough for you for as long as you live!” Mr. Doubt eat it all like there is no tomorrow. Bro. Faith believed the Word. That is faith! “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17)

“The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on” (PV 16:26)
God made man to labor. All labor, both natural and spiritual, has profit! God made the Garden of Eden and told Adam and Eve to labor in it. Any idle man (ex. being on welfare for a long time) will soon go down, spiritually and mentally. A lazy man cannot prosper. The nations that work hard to survive have a better education and health system. Like in the countries where there is harsh weather (winter), men gave to work hard to live, if not they die. But if a country has it too easy (good weather…) the people become lazy. For example, you just wake up in the morning and you find banana outside your window, hanging in a tree you have not planted, and then you just eat it…why bother to plant anything?

The appetite is a stimulant to push man to work. It is God’s gift! When you are hungry, even if you are tired, you get up from bed and look for food. A man who is sick and dying loses his appetite. The return of the appetite is a sign that the patient is recovering back to life. It is the same in the natural realm and in the spiritual realm.

This is my testimony: God has blessed me with a high spiritual appetite. From morning till night I only dream of the Word of God, how to read it, to understand it and to pray about it. This appetite makes me strong to seek God. I give God all the glory for my spiritual appetite! I praise Him for the unending provision of His heavenly manna to me! Today shall be a good day, for the Word of God is fresh, fragrant and appetizing, calling me, waiting for me to partake from its sweetness! ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good!’ In Jesus name amen! (Ps 34:8)

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word” (Ac 10:44)

Cornelius was a Roman soldier. He needed God. He needed salvation. He did many good things that touched the heart of God in heaven. God sent an angel to talk to him. The angel could not preach but directed him to the preacher. This is how Peter, the servant of God, entered the scene. Cornelius is a rich man and Peter is a poor man.  But Cornelius and his family worshipped him. Peter refused their worship saying: ‘I am only a man just like you…’ Don’t blame Cornelius. If an angel from heaven recommends a man on earth that is the greatest recommendation needed for any ‘interview’. Peter preached the Gospel! He told them about Jesus, how He came to seek and save the lost; how he died on the Cross for sinful men. Even before he could ‘say the grace’, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his family.

Maybe you think that an angel coming to you is the greatest miracle. But the angel referred his case to a man like me and you. The angel could fly to heaven and back with the speed of light but he could not preach the Gospel. The angel could kill an army but he could not save a soul. Peter, the man of God, the servant of God spoke the Word of God to the hungry sinners. Men and women living in sin need you and me to preach the Word of God. Angels cannot do it! We must do it! Let’s do it! “Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching” (2Tim 4:2, NLT). And God will bless you!

Romania is the country of my birth. Over there roses are very easy to grow. My parents’ house had many roses, of all colors and shapes. But in Nigeria, where I live, it is very hard to grow these flowers. The heat and the humidity is not good for them. For many years, it was one of my secret pain that I will not be able to touch a natural rose here. That is why when I see one rose in bloom, I consider it as a gift from God to me. Jesus said that He is the Rose of Sharon…beautiful, exotic and fragrant. Now you understand my joy when I saw this rose blooming in front of my kitchen window in Warri, Nigeria. Just because of this rose, I declare that today is a good day! In Jesus name, amen!

“I am the Rose of Sharon…” (SS 2:1)

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was wonderful. We went to heaven and back in just two hours. We dance a new dance called “all things have become new”. Of course it was the Holy Spirit who thought us the steps. There was a strong anointing of joy. The altar was calling for us to come closer to God. Let the Potter’s hands mold us, for His pleasure. We then talked about the keys of heaven. They belong to the Lord Jesus but He gave them to us. We prayed for the discernment, when to open and when to shut down; when to say yes and when to say no. The keys are not for personal use, only for the benefit of the Kingdom and for the glory of the King of kings. They represent the authority of heaven invested to the children of God. I could not trust myself to preach such a mighty revelation. But the Holy Spirit was carrying us like eagles. The anointing was so strong that even the foolish among us understood the message and they are now ready to use the keys. What a evening! There is no better place to be than in the presence of God! All glory to God!

This story is to show the power and the authority of the light-house built on the rock! In Christ we have the same power! We are the humble but necessary Light-houses built on the Rock! We warned men on the danger of disobedience and pride. We do not represent ourselves. We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ! We represent the Light of the World and the Rock of Ages! Totally submitted to the Captain of our salvation, we can never lose! Glory to God!

“In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'”
Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.”
The captain said, “Send: “I’m the captain, change course twenty degrees.'”
“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.”
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'”
Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”
We changed course”

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11)

The women’ fellowship was wonderful. Seven sisters testified to the Glory of God, to the shame of the devil and for the encouragement of the brethren.
Sister O said that she was very sick for the past one month. She spent money and time with the doctors but she was still not well. Then the she heard the message called ‘The Sins of the women’. It was about worldliness. The Holy Spirit revealed to her some secret sins. She was trying to solve her problems in the ways of the world. Immediately she repented, she was also healed in her body.
Sister C is a young widow. She said that she lost her husband and best friend. That it is not easy for her and their four children. But she was happy that God answered her prayers to save the husband. Before he died he openly testified in the church about his salvation and deliverance. She said that the Holy Spirit is with her always to encourage and strengthen her. Her daughter got sick and she was to have a surgery. But God intervened and healed her miraculously. In the midst of sorrow, she said that she has found peace.
Sister B testified how her son started working. He was a very sick child, born with a heart problem. He was operated at 6 months. He survived but he was never strong. He is now almost 2 years. The physiotherapist told her that the boy will not work because ‘the damage to the veins of his legs is too great’. They had a second baby who was also born with a heart defect. The baby did not survive. Then she decided to draw closer to God. She started to come to all the church activities. This is how the boy started working, running in fact.
Sister R got married last year. She got pregnant after two months. She had pains and spotting. The doctor did scan and said that it may be ectopic pregnancy. She prayed and called upon God. The next time she went to the doctor, they found the baby in the right position ‘better than expected’.
Sister L had a premature baby with very slim chances of survival. But the baby made it at last. Her older sister has cancer of the bones and is paralyzed for the past two years. The doctors did not believe that she will make it to 2015. But now her sister is much better, has put on weight and standing on hear feet.

“Peter began to be conscious of an irresistible influence. It was greater than anything he had known; more urgent; more definite; an immense longing, and side by side with it, and immense self revelation. He was taken completely by surprise; he had no time to fight against it; he saw himself and he was ashamed. The secrets of his selfish life were dragged to light and they bowed him down till he ached with the burden of them. And all at once he knew that a Hand was help out to him, that there, undreamed of, unexplained, was God, and a chance of heaven.
He did not hesitate. He did not doubt; it was much too real for doubt. The church service on the radio was over; he rose from his chair and went upstairs to his bedroom. There, at his bedside, with a child’s trust, he took the Hand that was offered him and, devoid of faith as he was, prayed that faith might be given him. He knew that his prayer was heard, for an extraordinary sense of gladness came to him; he felt a buoyancy, a gladness, a singing at the heart. His wife looked at him curiously when he went down again, but he could not talk about it yet. It was something too precious for question or argument.
Dear God…the wonder of it! The loving wonder of it!
Thus it was that Peter Rawlings found God in the shadows. Thus it was that God the Builder cleared a site for re-building. And God the Gardner was biding His time, and the sleeping Seed was waiting His Word to awaken”

(These wonderful words are taken from the Book God in the Shadows, by Hugh Redwood. I highly recommend it. It is the autobiographical story of a backslider who came back to God)

This is a letter I received from a young brother in Christ. It is a sample of many similar letters. Many Christian men and women struggle before finding the will of God for them, as they prepare for marriage. Dear child of God, may you be encouraged too! God loves you and He is interested in every details of your life, big or small. Let God’s perfect will be done in your life! Let God be the foundation of your marriage and home! in Jesus name, amen!

“Good morning Mar’, my name is…, Mar’ during the course of my national service at Anambra state, I met a lady who is so independent and God fearing… During our time we spent with each other she opened up her feelings for me that she will like to spend her life time with me. For me, she is someone I also like to be with because I see many things which we can do together. I have not been in any relationship for the past 2 years now, which I said any relationship am going into now is for the course of marriage. But am so afraid Mar! I don’t know if it’s her love that she confesses to me that is making me to love her back, or because of her personality… Each time I make up my mind to move on with her I find some physical discouragement which I know if I should follow physical things I will fail. Please Mar I need advice and prayers on how to go about this matter since we are not so strong now. I don’t want any lady to say I broke her heart. Thanks Mar’…”

This is part of my answer to him:
“This is a simple matter. You need God! Confusion and fear is of the devil. There are only two options, not twenty. This lady is God’s will for you to marry or not. There is no middle ground. Before moving on with any relationship you need to find the will of God in it. To peace, joy and success, God has to be the foundation of any relationship or marriage. It is only with God as foundation that any relationship can last and prosper. Right now, It is not important what you feel or what you do not feel for her. It is not important what she says to you. The physical attraction is important but not over- important. Your first need right now is to find the Will of God in this proposal, for only God knows your future and your destiny. So pray! I do mean to think about prayer, but indeed PRAY! Bring the relationship before God! Place it on the altar of God. You are a child of God! That is the right thing for you to do! After you pray, then WAIT for God to speak, for He will surely speak! God is not the author of confusion but of peace! God hates foolishness but he wants you to be wise in Christ. God does not give us the spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind! Lastly whatever God says, that you shall do! God loves you more than any man or woman loves you! Trust and obey God! Give God all the glory! In Jesus name, amen!”
“So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants” (Eph 5:17)

(If you have any godly advice for this brother in need, just comment bellow. He will read it. Thank you and God bless you)

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex 20:3)

An idol is anything and anybody that comes between you and God. Idolatry is forbidding by God.

These are some terrible effects of idolatry:

1-Foolishness and poverty: “Those who make an image, all of them are useless and their precious things shall not profit” (Is 44:9)

2-Sorcery+= rebellion=adultery=idolatry= disappointment: “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away” (Is 57:13)

3-Forsaking grace (and salvation): “Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy and Grace” (Jon 2:8, 9)

4-Destruction and untimely death: “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.  But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (1Sam 12:20-25)

Now, compare the impotence and the emptiness of idols with the power and grace of our God, manifested in our Lord, Jesus Christ: The Lord Jesus speaks to the sick men and they get well. He speaks to the storm and the sea becomes calm. He speaks to the Pharisees and they cannot confront Him again. He speaks peace, healing, hope and life. The Lord Jesus sees the crowds and has compassion on them. The Lord Jesus hears the faintest cry of faith. He turns back to heal blind Bartimaeus. He smells the perfume of love reciprocated. He touches the lepers and the blind and He heals them. He walked upon the waters and up on the hill of Calvary carrying His Cross. Jesus is the God we know! Jesus is the God we serve!  Jesus is Lord!

God is a jealous God. He will punish idolatry, if it is done in secret or in the open, in the heart of in the bush. You need to repent of idolatry. Pray that the Holy Spirit reveals the secret idols of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding! You can never know what an idol is to you, except the Holy Spirit reveals that to you. You need to love Jesus Christ more than mother, father, family, friends, success, money and all.   This command cannot be obeyed except by the born again child of God who is filled with the Holy Spirit! Chose now whom do you want to serve? God or idols! It is a choice! May God give you the grace to choose God and reject the useless shameful idols! Come to Jesus! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

This evening in our prayer meeting in the church, there was a clear longing to go closer to God. In the past, when this feeling comes, we are not always able to articulate it in prayer or worship. But this evening God enabled us to come with the right heart and humble attitude. We could use the hunger for God in a good way. The people prayed for more of the Holy Spirit, for more of Jesus. Many had tears on their faces. We sang “I need Thee Lord I need Thee, every hour I need Thee. Bless me now my Savior I come to Thee…” The song went on and on, with music and without music. Something happened in the atmosphere. A grace like oil started pouring from on high. We all remembered the past, as sinners, how Jesus came to save our souls. The Gospel became fresh and sweet again.

Then a prophetic word came from the Holy Spirit! This is the Word: “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And God answered him: “Pursue: for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all!” (1Sam 30:8). There was such joy to hear the command of God! The victory is sure! Yes, Lord: “We shall pursue! Overtake the enemy and without fail, we shall recover all!” In Jesus name, amen!

GRACE UPON GRACE

I just received a letter from a Christian sister. She and her husband are a young couple. They lost their first born child. God had mercy on them. She just discovered she is pregnant again. Her husband was ‘rough’ in the past and they had a lot of issues in their marriage. But both of them re-dedicated their lives and marriage to Jesus Christ. Since then things have changed into better. She is so happy that she cannot contain her joy. This change in their marriage is the work of God. I live in Nigeria since 1980 so I can say this: most Nigerian men are not romantic or helpful in the house. They will not like to do ‘the woman’s work’. This is the culture. Things are changing but generally to hear a man brining breakfast to his wife in bed… that is very rare (sorry, brothers!)

Amazing grace how sweet thou sound! I always love to see the devil defeated! I am so happy to see the light shining in the darkness and love in action as the gift of God. To God be all the glory! Thank You Lord Jesus!

“Mummyyyyyyyyyyyy,

Good morning Ma! This kind of love God is showing me these days makes me scared. I don’t know how to put it…The first thing I want to say how my husband has changed…He is so good now…Initially I thought that maybe he has gotten a woman pregnant outside the home…I wanted to be angry with his love…But I discovered that he is not tired of the love. He now cares for me and assists me with things in the home. He never did that in the past. He makes breakfast for me while I am still sleeping and comes to dish the food for me in the bed. I don’t understandoooo…He rented a shop for me and he is working on it as if it is his own. He is becoming too much of a husband in every aspect. I prayed and asked God: ‘is that my husband?’

God is faithful. He has provided all we need, and peace on all sides. I just did a test at home. It is positive. I am pregnant Mummy! I am just shouting Jesus Jesus!!! The truth is that I’ve never seen this type of love and peace all my life. Psalm 23 is my Portion right now. I read it daily. God is truly faithful. He promised to change our sorrows into joy. Now I don’t remember my sorrows anymore because life now is too sweet. I never knew that I can enjoy such love from God in my life. I was undone; a sinner saved by grace. Who am I? I am nothing before God. And yet, so full of joy! I don’t know what is happening right now to me…such joy…I can’t wait for my husband to come back home to tell him the good news because this has been his prayer for me, to be pregnant again. I feel like hugging you Ma! Thank you for standing with me all these years! Thank you for making me a stronger woman of God! God bless you Malia!”

“And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (Jn 1:16)

I just received a letter from a beautiful girl in Lagos. I know her since she was a child. She is now 16 years old, a committed Christian. She has just finished her secondary school, now preparing for her exam to enter into University. She is a shy and beautiful girl. To my surprise she said that she feels ugly. I encouraged and prayed for her. Any more words of wisdom and encouragement will be appreciated for she will read your comments. Let’s help this weak lamb of Christ. Thank you dear family of God!

“Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1Cor 1:20, 21)

I still remember the process by which the Holy Spirit arrested me and brought me on my knees at the Cross of Calvary. This is my testimony. I am an educated and intelligent woman. I was an unbeliever until 1986. This is what I said to many people: ‘I do not believe in God. I believe in myself’. Of course now I know that this is the definition of a fool. But then, I thought it was the height of wisdom. How deceived I was…

I just assumed that because I am intelligent and educated, I am also wise. That was another mistake. I was telling people that I am not interested in religion, because it is a false ‘science’. I also said that if one day I will put my mind to study the Bible, to discover who God is, that I can easily do it. I trusted myself. How wrong I was. In January 1986 I just made up my mind to discover God by myself. I even read a little of the Bible, ‘trying to do God a favor’. I suddenly discovered that I could make no progress at all. To me it was like a book written in Chinese.

I tried to reason the whole story of God and could not do it. I tried to ‘crack the nut’ of the Gospel but I could not do it. It seems so simple, yet I could not understand it. I became very frustrated. I looked like a fool. I hated that. Nobody called me a fool. I am a doctor. People respect me and my profession… Then why can’t I discover who God is? I felt like shouting in anger. But does shouting help? This is what was in my mind daily fighting with myself, or better said fighting with God.

Mercifully, God cornered my soul and arrested my heart. I felt like dying. I regretted the day I decided to ‘study’ God. I had to declare defeat. There was no other way. God embraced me. I knelt down and prayed my first prayer. It was the sinner’s prayer, for sure. I wept for forgiveness and mercy. I begged for the gift of faith and eternal life. I was not sure if God hears me but I tried my best to press on. Suddenly peace came into my heart like I have never known before. I became a born again child of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. Me, the fool, I discovered the wisdom of God in Christ Jesus! Since then my life is never the same! Glory to God!