Monthly Archives: November 2018

MY CONVERSION TESTIMONY

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

My name is Silvia Lia Leigh. I was born in Romania more than sixty years ago. At that time Romania was a communist country. Religion was forbidden. We were thought in school that God does not exist; that religion is for the poor illiterate people. I believed that! I grew up in a loving family of four. My parents were teachers in the school which I attended with my younger sister; Adica. My father was also the principal of the school. My parents thought us by example to be kind, respectful, humble and hard working. We did not believe in God and did not attend church.

 
In 1973 I got admission into the Medical School in Timisoara. In my first year I met my husband Richmond, a Nigerian. We were class mates. We fell in love and against all odds we got married. After graduation, in 1980, we moved to Nigeria. We became very successful as medical practitioners. We started a private hospital in Warri Nigeria called “Lily Clinic”. We were very happy. We had three children. We had money and fame. What else could one possibly want? Nothing! Or so I thought…
In 1986 I had a crisis conversion. I met the Lord Jesus Christ. This was purely the grace of God in action because we did not attend any church. This is how it happened…. Before coming to Nigeria I did not see a Bible. In January of the same year, I became very depressed. I saw nothing good in my achievements. I even lost my desire to live. This was very strange because I was always an optimistic person. The mysterious depression started after ‘accidentally’ I read a scripture on a pamphlet: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). I did not know who Jeremiah was. The scripture was not explained. But after I read it once, I just could not forget it. It seems like the words got stamped in my mind. I tried to forget it but I could not. After reading it I started thinking of God. I fought the thought but I failed. It was like He was calling me. I panicked… I have never prayed in my life. Can I start now? A voice said: ‘It is too late for you. Don’t pray!’ Another voice said the opposite: ‘It is never too late to pray. God loves you!’ These voices made me crazy. What voice I am supposed to believe?
 
Finally, I made my choice. For the very first time in my life, I prayed. It was 14th of March 1986. I said: “God, if You exist, then come down from heaven and change my heart. I am tired of doubting You. I am tired of fighting you. But please God, I can’t wait forever for the answer to this prayer. I give You ‘a month’s notice’ to come down from heaven and change my heart. If You come, I promise to be Your friend forever. If You chose not to come, then let me die in peace. In Jesus name I pray, amen!” I did not know the meaning of the name ‘Jesus’ but I heard people pray like that so I guessed it was the appropriate end to a prayer. Immediately I knew that something ‘good’ had happened to me. Not certain of what, I felt a sense of destiny coming down enveloping my soul.
On the 12th of April, 28 days after this ‘a month’s notice’ prayer, the Holy Spirit came and filled my hungry heart. Like an invisible blood transfusion, I felt LIFE entering my veins. I was alone in the sitting room when this event happened. It was much later that I knew it was called ‘the baptism of the Holy Spirit’. I became a child of God, never to be the same again. I started reading the Bible like a mad woman. This hunger for the Word for God and for prayer continues without interruptions until now. After some time, my husband became saved also. We sold our private clinic and together, we are now in full time ministry. We are the founders and the senior pastors of Father’s House Bible Church in Warri, Nigeria. To God alone be all the glory!
 
May this testimony ignite in you the desire to be truly saved or to experience revival! In Jesus name, amen!
 
Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh
SLL 67

ACCORDING TO 

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19)

Many years ago someone pointed out to me that this verse does not say that God will bless us ‘out of’ His riches of glory in Christ Jesus. It says that He will bless us ‘according to’ the riches of His glory in Christ. This is the meaning of the words ‘according to’: as stated, reported, or recorded by (someone or something); in a way that is based on (something); In proportion or relation to something! The words ‘in proportion’ mean this: According to a particular relationship in size, amount, or degree; In the correct or appropriate relation to the size, shape, or position of other things!

In other words, God will bless us in proportion to the riches of His glory and grace. Can you measure those riches? Heaven knows no lack! There is no unemployment in heaven! All angels and saints over there worship God ‘day and night’. They eat from Tree of Life and drink from the River of Life. In the presence of God there is total freedom and unspeakable joy! Your imagination is too small to dream about God’s riches of His glory!

In other words, God will answer your prayers in a way that will embarrass you. Grace is like a holy ‘tsunami’! God will provide for you in a way fit for a King! He will bestow His goodness upon you and meet all (not some) of your needs (present and future) in a way that will shock you! Jehovah Jireh is the God of more than enough! Do not limit God by your doubts, fears and your ‘poverty mentality’! God knows His job! Trust God! Take the good risk to trust God! Men may mock you for your faith in an invisible Almighty Caring God! But He will never allow you to be put to shame for your trust in Him! The more your enemies laugh at you, the more God will bless you! His overflow of grace and supply is your holy vindication! Child of God, give your Father a chance! This is the Word of God and not of man: God “will meet ALL your needs ACCORDING to the riches of his GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS!!! Shout Hallelujah!

Joy

MORE LESSONS FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Eph 5:22)
More on the difficult matter of submission… As a pastor, I counsel many wives who have problems with submitting to their husbands. Some become foolish and ‘over-submit’. Others become rebellious and they ‘under-submit’. Remember this: Christianity is the best wisdom of life! Christianity is the most balanced holy life! Christianity is the most joyful life! Christianity is the most successful life there is! Never forget that!
The scripture above is not a suggestion. It is God’s command! All God’s commands are meant to be obeyed; for His glory and for our own good. The command looks simple but it is not simplistic. It is true that there are not many practical details given on how a wife should submit to her husband. But don’t forget! Verse 22 in chapter 5 is part of the whole letter to the Ephesians. Read it, from beginning to the end. You include this verse in the rest of the letter. The wife must be born again and Spirit filled to be able to submit to her husband ‘as unto the Lord’. This is the most important thing!
Let me be more practical… For example, the letter says that bitterness grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30, 31). It means that a bitter wife grieves (makes sad) the Holy Spirit, who is her only true Helper. Therefore, she becomes a spiritually helpless wife. She becomes weak, depressed, lonely and confused. Even if she wants to do it, she will not be able to properly submit to her husband. Because she is bitter and angry she will be provoked by his words and actions, even if they are nice and loving. The grief of the Holy Spirit will manifest as a blanket of suffocating sadness over a once happy home… Jesus!!! This is a very serious matter. This is a dying marriage. It is an emergency!!!
Dear wife, you need to repent of bitterness and re-dedicate your life to Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you for grieving Him. He is a Person. He is not ‘a church thing’, an influence or some religious chemistry. Think of Him as a Person who sees you, who loves you and wants to help you. He is your best Friend! Most of all, He is God! He is the God who witnessed your marriage vows! He is the God who hates divorce! He is the God that loves you more than any man (including your husband) will ever love you. Don’t waste time! Repent! ‘Settle’ with the Holy Spirit before you are able settle with your husband! Like my husband preaches: ‘First things must come first!” Oya! Do it! Pray!
OUR TESTIMONY
As you know, my husband and I are married for 44 years. We made many mistakes but learn from them. Let me be more practical to explain submission… This is the Word of God: Wives submit to your own husbands and children obey your own parents! These commands look similar but are not the same! For example: my husband tells me that for this week we have ten thousand Naira to spend on food (for us and for unexpected visitors). He does not tell me the type of food to cook. He gives me the freedom to use that money the way I think is best. He gives me the liberty to buy what I want knowing the food we both like to eat (he generally prefers Nigerian and I still prefer ‘oyibo’ food). I do not have to write my menu on the wall every day. I do not have to tell him that the pepper is now 50 Naira and not 20. Once we agree on a budget, I use my discretion to spend the money as I think is best for the two of us. In the kitchen, I am in charge! It is my ministry! What is important is that we eat good food every day and we are happy with each other. If there is any ‘change’ left from ‘the chop money’ I can spend it how I like. I do not have to tell him that I used 100 naira from the change to buy ‘powder’ for myself. I am not his daughter. I am not his cook or a house servant. I am not a hireling! I am his wife!!! For me, submission is this freedom to be myself within my husband’s boundaries and principles of a happy home. But the child’s obedience is not so. He does not have the same freedom. For example: If I give my daughter 50 naira to buy biscuits she is to tell me how much she has spent and she should give me back all the change. That is how we’ve trained our children. They need to be accountable to us, the parents! Once they became adults it was easy for them to function as married people and parents to their own children. You can ask them… They will testify!
(By the way, this is my testimony: my husband trusts me in all areas, including finances. This trust was not easy to gain. It was not automatic. It is the result of many years of studying each another, of passing many tests. My husband’s trust in the matter of my behavior as his wife, my words, my preaching the right doctrine, in ministry and financial decisions is one of my greatest achievements in life! To God be all the glory!)
Finally, as most of you know, we come from very different backgrounds. We see things differently. We have different strategies of solving problems. That is ok. We are not twins. We do not have to foolishly imitate one another. Each one of us must be who God called us to be. But as a wife I need to know both my husband’s weaknesses and his strengths; his pains and his joys. It is my responsibility! I need to understand what type of wife he wants me to be. I need to pay the price and change to become his ‘dream wife’. I need to yield and accept his idea of ‘a perfect marriage’. This is not easy… I made many mistakes… But I continue to press on… I may not become all that he dreams of me in this life time, but I can try… I am willing to try… In fact, I am trying… He sees that I am trying… For it is my responsibility to contribute to our mutual happiness. I am not a liability to him! I am a blessing to him! It is my honor to help him fulfill his destiny as a man of God, as a husband, father and grandfather. What a privilege! As a wife, I need to know his mind and my boundaries of submission. I need to accept them and submit to them. Then I am free. Sorry, I wanted to say that we both are free!!! Freedom means the power to be happy! We are indeed happy together… Glory to God! May these words help, challenge and encourage you today for with God, all things are possible!
RSL and SLL 5
(In the picture, my husband and I, happy together, in front of the golden statue of King David, during a trip to Jerusalem, some years ago. We both love King David!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

Today, in the U.S. people celebrate ‘Thanksgiving day’. I have so many reasons to rejoice… This is just one testimony: Six years ago today, our youngest daughter Jemine Leigh Oakes got married to her wonderful husband Matthew Oakes, here in our house in Warri, Nigeria. This is a picture of their traditional marriage called ‘temoshi’. Jesus!!!!! “I go de hail… day be day… all the way”
To God alone be all the glory!

M and J 3

WORD PLANTED IN THE WATERED GARDEN

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
“The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Is 58:11)
 
My sister, Jehovah God is with you. He is personally interested in you. He has been guiding you to a good place, a fruitful and beautiful garden of life. It is a place or rest, singing, joy and satisfaction. Led by God, you have left the sad, barren past and you have moved on to this new place, designed and prepared by Him. The location where you live, the city where you stay may be like a desert. But the visible dry land environment has no power to cut short your blessings. You will bloom in the desert! People will be surprised and will give glory to God for the good work God will manifest in you. You shall have ‘enough’ blessings in all area of your life. You will not desire more because you shall have more than enough. Do you want more children? Yes? Then they will come to complete the number you desire. They will come until you say: It is enough for me! Do you want more material blessings? These will ‘appear’ too at your doorstep. The Lord will give you freedom, daily appetite and joy of life. You will not be tired, depressed or frustrated with your life, because it is designed by God especially for you. God will strengthen you to be a soldier for Christ. You shall improve your skills in doing spiritual warfare. Your territory of influence will be enlarged. You will win and disciple more souls! You will be amazed at the new strength and wisdom you shall have by doing great exploits. You shall only move forward. Never backsliding! No enemy can conquer you. This is because there is a fence of the Holy Ghost’ fire around you and your family. Your husband is a blessing to you as a man, husband and friend. He will not betray you. Your marriage will succeed and become very fruitful! Your testimony as a woman of God, wife and mother is sure! To the glory of God! In Jesus name, amen!

NOTHING DO US!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118:24)
 
There are so many reasons to be sad in this world. Just listen to the news and you will weep… The whole world is in pain. In the past, we associate suffering and pain with poverty. But now, even the wealthy are not exempted. So why will I rejoice? Why will I chose rejoicing over sadness? Is that not crazy? I tell you why…
 
I rejoice because I am a child of God; a citizen of the Kingdom of God made of ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost’! I rejoice because my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life! I rejoice because God’s mercy to me endures forever! I rejoice because even when I was in distress, alone and in pain, God answered my prayers! I rejoice because when my enemies surrounded me like the bees, God shielded me and neutralized their stinging poison! I rejoice because when my enemies rejected me and my words, God received me, loved me and listen to my prayers! I rejoice because God has prepared a feast for me in the midst of my enemies! I rejoice because my cup overflows and my head is anointed with the oil of joy above my fellows! In spite of the plans of the haters, stingers, pushers, slanderers and all, God is with me and His mercy towards me and my family endures forever! I rejoice with my Lord Jesus Christ ‘who for the joy ahead endured the cross scoring its shame’! I rejoice because Jesus overcame the world and shared His triumphant joy with me!
 
I rejoice because today is the day God has made for me! God is eternal and does not need ‘days’ to count for Himself. But He is the ‘Ancient of days’! He has prepared, provided and appointed this particular day for me, to remember Him in the morning, to praise Him in the afternoon and to worship Him in the evening! I shall live every moment in His presence where there is fullness of joy! I have no reason to grumble or to be sad. My joy makes me to spin around and dance! I was glad when they said unto me: let us go to the house of the Lord! I arise and shine for my light has come! The glory of the Lord is risen upon me! The Joy of the Lord is my strength! God is in control of my life! Yes, today is good to remember all these blessings! My future is better than my past and my present! Therefore, I must rejoice!
 
My dear children, I want you to know that your mother is happy, blessed and highly favored! This is my testimony! My boast is in the Lord! Listen! The voice of rejoicing and salvation is heard in the tents of the righteous, even in my house! The right hand of the Lord is exalted! The victory is sure! As for me and my family, we shall worship and serve the Lord forever! This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercies endure forever!
 
(In the picture, my husband and I, rejoicing… ‘Nothing do us!’ – Nigerian slang meaning that we have no problem and all is well with we)
R and L 2

MY TESTIMONY IS ON THE ROCK

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” (Lk 6:46-49)
 
Many desire to experience miracles of healing or prosperity. I too desire those great blessings. But I know that God is sovereign in the way He blesses people. I know that God is good and faithful to His promises. This morning, I ask myself: as a ‘simple person’, what can I do to experience the supernatural power of God? How can I ‘facilitate’ a miracle? What is the part I must play in my relationship with God? The answer is this: I must dig deeper and draw closer to God! I must remove the religious junk and get to the reality of Christ!
 
Our Lord tells a story about two men. One is foolish and the other one is wise. Each one loves the good things of life. Each one built a house for himself. Both houses look good from the outside. Each one enjoyed his house for a time. But when the storms of life came, one house stood strong and the other fell down and was destroyed. Why? Wisdom means to apply in practice the knowledge that you already have. For example, you know some scriptures. Now obey what you know! This is wisdom and everlasting success! What is the secret of the wise man? He is a true believer obedient to the Word of God! The foolish man was a false believer, a hypocrite. He called Jesus ‘Lord. Lord’ meaning ‘Master, Master” but he did not obey the words of his master.
 
This is the first lesson: Christianity is not just words, even if they are good religious words. Christianly means willing, active faith and obedience to the Word of God! Faith and obedience are twins. A true child of God OBEYS his Lord’s commands! The clear proof of salvation is an obedient generous spirit! To obey it means to comply, to follow the commands, restrictions and wishes of your master. It means to submit to his authority. Obedience is action and not just words.
 
The secret of the wise man is that he went to ‘dig deep’ until he touched the Rock. That is the place he anchored the foundation of his house. Foundation is always very important! That Rock is Christ! He is ‘The Rock that is higher than I’. He is ‘The Rock of Ages, Cleft for me’. Once the invisible foundation is secure, no outside storm can destroy the house. To ‘dig deep’ it means to penetrate down the earth, to advance by pushing aside or removing the soil. It means to go down, to be profound in thinking and to have deep faith. This wise man is not shallow or superficial. He is not interested only in the visible things. He is not a pleaser of men. He wants a deep humble genuine walk with God. He wants to be established in his faith. He wants to have a strong testimony and character. He is not just saved, but he has the assurance of his salvation. This treasure is never found lying on the ground for men to pick it up. There is a price to pay! It is found inside the holy mountains of incense where the gold of His majesty is hidden. You need to be ‘a spiritual miner’ to become prosperous, sure and secure in your faith. Then your life becomes spiritually fruitful. These mysteries are found one by one, as you study the Word, fast, pray and doing ministry in the church. Simple question: when last have you fasted just to have a deeper revelation of the Word of God?
 
This is my attitude to spiritual things: I want to be a wise builder of my home and ministry! I search for the gold of revelation deeper than what is easily available for me. I take the ‘hard’ road. I dig deep. I do not search for things. I search for an encounter with a Person. I search for Christ! Like a woman pushing during labor, I do not stop until ‘virtue goes out of me’. Rivers of living water must leave my belly! Thru the power of the Holy Spirit I work to kill the desires of my flesh. I hate fear, doubt, confusion and empty religion. These are my enemies. I know them well for they live ‘under my skin’. I know the power and the seduction of an easy lazy flesh life! Every day, I carry that selfish desire to the Cross and I kill it! No mercy for the devil! When it comes to sin, I am a hunter and a killer! For as long as these voices of fleshly desires still whisper to me, they are not dead. So the battle goes on.
 
This is the truth: from the bottom of my heart I want to obey God. I want to make my Lord happy. He knows my heart! To please God, this is not just my work. It is my passion! Of course, it is hard labor and the flesh hates it. But the Holy Spirit loves it and He encourages me. I want my life to be an inspiration, beautified with miracles and testimonies. I want my life to remind you of Jesus! So, I remain focused on the Lord and work hard. I do not do it to impress people. I do it to help them!!! They need encouragement to grow and to be fruitful spiritually! In these days of ‘famine of the hearing of the Word of God’ I promised God that I will pay the price to give people true hope! I am a hope giver! The price for this work is high: loneliness, battle with discouragement and persecution. But the reward is so much greater than any of my labors. Anyway, I am willing to pay the price for true Christianity. That settles the matter! I love Jesus Christ my Lord!
 
My prayer today: “Dear Abba Father, please strengthen my body, soul and spirit! Please touch my heart, my mind and my will! Encourage me so that I can encourage others! Help me to remain focused and fruitful! I give You all the glory! In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!”
SLL13

SO IT WILL BE! SO IT WILL STAND!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
TESTIMONY
“The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand” (Is 14:24)
 
This is a wonderful testimony from a sister who started attending our church with her husband and children (Father’s House Bible Church) earlier this year. She received a prophetic word 9 years ago (in 2009) to go to a church called Father’s House. This is interesting because at that time we were still in the old building on Deco road. It means that God always wanted us to move to this present house. Of course, God knows the end from the beginning. I edited the testimony to protect the identity of some people and churches. This testimony is to the glory of God and for the encouragement of the brethren!
“Dear ma Leigh!!!!
Greetings to you, to my new father in the Lord (Tali) and to God almighty that love me beyond all measure!!!! For more than 9 years now, I disobeyed God or refuse to bid his will that was directly spoken to me. Not thru a prophet but to me directly in a dream. I have been attending ….. church for as long as I can remember. One day after a wonderful praise service,. Almighty God being my witness told me in a dream, “go to father house where women don’t suffer”. As at then, I was single and have never heard of father’s house. He gave me a picture of a wonderful auditorium with glass windows or walls and fully air conditioned in Enerhen Junction. Or may be enerhen road but I ignored…
 
I never even gave it a second tut until like 7 or more years down the line. I met one of your members that usual come for home service to make my hair. We’ve have been in that business relationship for a year or so before somehow she mentioned Father’s house in one of our conversation and immediately I remembered my dream and I describe the church I saw in my dream to her, she laughed and said that that is exactly the Church. Yet, I did not bulged. But for more than two or three years now the Holy Spirit has been pushing me to leave my church… because I was no longer growing. As if I was stocked. I was like a child that was not growing any more and was really, really frustrated. At first it was great, the church grew my faith and truly liberated me but I am tired of the prosperity and the things I shd and can gain on earth here. I want to make Heaven. I want to sleep even today and arrive home. I no longer care if I make 40, 50 or 100 years on earth. I just want to be sure if I sleep and don’t wake up, I will be home.
 
So three years or so later, which is early this year 2018, I was telling my kids lesson’s teacher that I am thinking of moving to …. church that my soul and spirit crave for more, crave for Holiness. Crave for fellowship. Not using God as a means to meet a need but really want God for God. She laughed and said “why don’t you try Father’s House?”. She said: ‘my church is ok, the bishop is a man of God but.. the politics down at the branches’ level is too much……. hmmmm!!!!. She also said that she too wants to go to Father’s House but she is worker in her church… and it is not easy to resign her position… Wow!!!!! Father’s house again??? This time from someone that is high there in that ….church?
 
The fear of God gripped my heart! So I came!!!! Mama!!!!! I came!!!! I came to my father’s house!!!! I came to just try and see but then the worship!!! The praise!!! For a place I have never being all my life, yet I felt at home. I wept like a baby in the service and have been reading my bible more than I have ever read it all my life. Bought Kenneth E Haggins books and anything to grow me. Revelations start coming. As in God will leave all He is doing. Leave the whole of His majesty and get to be a man on earth to pass messages to me!!!! To me!!!! Who is me????
 
Yes, there were times I had doubts, most especially, when Daddy will be talking about other churches and men of God who preach wrong doctrines. I will be vexed in my spirit bc I feel it is wrong. Not bc what they did or say may not be wrong but bc they are human and men of God and not God of men. They are prone to errors and their errors should not be magnified but we should draw from their strength. We are all body of Christ, different members and with each one of us, there are weaknesses. As I consider the truth, as I read the Word of God, I feel discouraged sometimes that I have wasted too much time with empty religion… But I pressed on, reminding Myself that it is not too late to be saved and praying to God that I am here to fulfill a prophecy.
 
And today, when I watched the script of the Biblical places you and daddy have visited and I begin to relate it with the Bible… for the first time the Bible become an history book of real people that live and died. My eyes are open to see that there is a Real Christ, real Holy Spirit and a real God and Father. The Rhema hits me!!!!. God is real!!! God is alive!!! I thank God!
 
Father’s House is an oasis in the desert for us. I experience revival like never before. The same thing with my husband and children…I am humbled… and grateful… For this I say thank you. I ain’t saying this to please you. Believe me I am not seeking for cheap favor. I am a bank manager, my husband a senior … staff. We have being worshiping with Father’s house since May this year. I have never approached you or daddy. I am well known by the … And other members. I only want to honor you in the presence of God! Spiritual fruit is evident now. I have never be more peaceful, I have never be more prayerful and have never had peace with my husband and my marriage as I have seen this year and I am so! So!! So!!!! Sure of his salvation bc if he keeps hearing what he is hearing, and worshipping and praising as he is now doing in my Father’s House he will be a mature man of God! Thank God the Word came to pass: I have really entered into ‘my Father’s House where women don’t suffer’.
 
Thank you and daddy for answering the call! God richly bless and affect your family just like Father’s House has impacted us in Christ name. Amen!”

I GIVE THANKS FOR MY DAUGHTER YEMI ALINA!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

 

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thess 5:18)
This morning, our senior daughter Alina wrote some good, wise, encouraging words on her wall. I am a proud mother. I share her words with you so that you too are encouraged and blessed!
“Recently I was faced with a disappointment. I was not allowed to board a flight to Nigeria to attend a close friend’s marriage because my passport expires in less than six months. I was upset after making all preparations for this trip. But the truth is that God shuts some doors or prevents somethings in our lives for a reason. I have learned to embrace disappointments, failures and let down because everything works for our good. God intentionally allowed it. Embrace your set backs! Happy Wednesday FB. I am happy and satisfied…💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃“
Alina 2

MY NAME IS JEMINE! I AM A CHILD OF GOD! 

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1Cor 15:10)

Recently I remembered a 20 years old story about our youngest daughter, Jemine. She is the only one of our children who was born in Nigeria. She grew up in Warri, Nigeria. She loves Nigerian food, Nigerian jokes and Nigerian Pidging English. She now lives with her husband and two sons in Houston, Tx. She was 15 when, as a family, we went to the U.S. We stayed there for a year and a half, not knowing at that time what the future will bring. During that time the Holy Spirit commanded us to go back to Warri and start a church called Father’s House. We obeyed. But God’s call was not easy. We left our daughters (Alina and Jemine) behind and alone… My husband and I wept as we went back to Nigeria. Our church was born with tears but now we rejoice at the great harvest of joy…

Jemine did her last year of high school in Houston, Tx. She had to adjust to a new culture, new class-mates, new teachers and a new English accent. Knowing that her father and I will soon go back to Nigeria, and my time with Jemine was so short (you know, mother feelings…), I cherished every day as her mother… so much more than in the past. Each day as I prepared lunch, I thank God for the privilege to cook for my child… I wanted to go to Nigeria with a free heart… I knew that ministry over there will demand all my energy… So for now, I could be just a wife and a mother…Because my feelings were so sensitive and alert, that is why I remember so clearly these things, little details from that period…

One day Jemine came from school looking sad. She said: ‘Malia, I want to change my name…’ I asked her ‘why?’… She said ‘Malia, in teh whole school, I am the only one with this name, Jemine… I don’t like it…I feel lonely…’ Some girls laughed at me today… many others cannot pronounce it… many forget my name… some others call me ‘Jem’ and they add ‘bread and jam’… She looked so sad… With pain in my heart I asked her: ‘What name do you want to have?’ she said: ‘Maybe Heather or Jessica…’ Why, I asked… she said ‘because there are three Heathers and two Jessicas in my class…’ (If you are reading this letter and your name is Heather or Jessica, I am sorry. These are nice names too…) Jemine said to me that if she has the same name like them, she will not be lonely, she will not be so different… She will feel that she belongs to America…

I quickly prayed in my spirit for the right words to say. Slowly, lovingly and patiently (Oh, mother’s work is not easy…) I tried to explain to my 15 years daughter the beauty and the power of being herself. I told her that God created her unique and special. She does not have to be like anybody. She does not have to join the choir when she can be the soloist… I told her that together we shall pray for her to discover her true identity, not as an American, or as a Nigerian, or as a Romanian, but as a child of God!!! I told her that the grace of God is upon her. The unmerited favor of the Almighty God will reveal to her who she truly is. The Holy Spirit will open her eyes to see how God, her Creator, sees her. She does not have to change anything about her looks, the type of hair she has, the color of her skin or the size of her hips…She does not have to be ‘white, black, mixed or anything…She just have to be herself! I said: ‘Jemine, I love you! Me, your mother for life I say that you are very beautiful, kind, intelligent and wonderful and that I love you!!!! Hide these words in your heart! Never throw them away. I love you, daughter…’

I told her: a new, fancy, more American acceptable name, will not help her find peace with herself and others. Only God is able to give her true confidence and security. I told her that this identity is found in Christ alone. Money cannot buy it, men cannot give it and thieves cannot steal it. I said: ‘Now say: ‘My name is Jemine. I am a child of God!’ Say it daily! Say it often! Say it loudly! Say it when I am in Nigeria and you are here alone! Say it until you believe it!’

To the glory of God, she listened well. She relaxed and accepted the word. The grace of God upon her produced spiritual fruits! She is now a woman of God, a worship leader, a happy wife to Matthew and a wonderful mother to Oliver Sisan Oakes (yes, Sisan is a Nigerian name, my husband’s middle name) and baby Emory David Oakes. She has a good job and she is a blessing to many! Glory to God!!!

Dear Reader, take Jemine’s struggles with identity as a point of contact for yourself. Pray and ask God to reveal to you, who are you? Why are you born in this world? Why are you still alive? What is your identity and destiny as decreed by God? It does not matter what people say, especially if they say negative words! What is important is God’s opinion about you! That is the truth! God created you and knows you the best! God never makes mistakes! God loves you! Accept that! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you!

jemine-and-me
(in the picture, Jemine and me on her wedding day)

THE GATES OF HELL CANNOT PREVAIL

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

 

“Then the governor believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord” (Ac 13:12)
 
The governor of Cyprus called Paul because he wanted to hear the Word of God (Ac 13:1-12). This desire is good but it is not enough to save a man. Paul and Barnabas came to preach the Gospel to the him. But there was a hindrance, an agent of the devil blocking the way of the servants of God. There was man there, a false prophet called Bar-Jesus or Elymas. He was the Governor’s friend and religious adviser. He was also a wizard! Yes! A worker skilled in using the powers of darkness was on the government’s payroll!
 
Lesson: God uses people to bless us and the devil uses his agents to block our blessings! To be blessed is not easy! You must fight for that ‘title’! The devil has his agents around the ‘big men’, politicians, famous entertainers and wealthy business men. The devil’s agents are their ‘body-guards’. In case you did not know, foolish fame must be ‘protected’. The devil has his own plans for each unbeliever, how to stop that one to hear the Word of God and so to be saved. You must know the truth before you can be set free!
 
Elymas, the sorcerer, opposed the servants of God. Paul confronted him saying that ‘he perverted the right ways of the Lord’. This is the truth: God’s ways are straight and full of light. Christianity is simple. The way of the Cross is simple: become one with Jesus! Follow Jesus! But men with occult power confuse the unbelievers by making simple ways become crooked. In this way Christianity becomes confusing! Religion is always complicated! To pray sounds difficult. When coming to God, their minds wander into different directions and true worship becomes impossible. You must fight for your soul! You must do warfare before you witness to the unbelievers! You must ‘clear the ground’ with the cutlass before planting the seeds!
 
Apostle Paul ‘looked intently’ at this agent of the devil!. Child of God, you must do the same! When you worship God, you may close your eyes. But when you do warfare, open your eyes ‘well-well’! pray that your eyes become spiritual ‘X-ray eyes’. I pray that you see the true enemy, hiding behind the cover of fake smiles, cheap greetings, fashionable clothes and glittering gold. Never admire rich unbelievers! I pray that you have to courage to stand for Jesus in the presence of ‘big men’. I pray that you are bold! Move forward and defeat that liar who is deceiving the ‘big man’ you minister to.
 
Paul fought and defeated his own ‘Goliath’. The wicked Elymas became blind and impotent for a season. This is God’s judgement and warning to a spiritual criminal. God is also merciful. Elymas could have died but God gave him another chance to repent of his wicked ways. It is a dangerous thing to resist a true servant of God sent on an errand for the work of the Kingdom. It is extremely dangerous to fight God! You can never win that fight!
 
Please note that this is the first miracle that Apostle Paul does as a man of God. It is not a miracle of making money! It is a miracle of victory in spiritual warfare!! Lesson: first of all, to experience breakthrough and freedom, you must confront the devil who tries to block your way! Don’t beg the devil! Don’t be sorry for the devil! Taking the whole armor of God, resist him until he runs away from you! The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church, or against a servant of God! The devil ‘holding the padlock’ must run away before the gate opens for you! You are praying for healing, for a life partner, for a baby or for finances! That is good! But these things do not always come easy. You need to engage the spiritual enemy in battle! Enter and occupy new territories for the kingdom. That work is highly rewarded by the Captain of our salvation. In case you have forgotten, all soldiers of Christ are healthy, wealthy, happy, wise and strong. Their benefits are great beyond words! Give glory our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of the only Living God! Shout Hallelujah! Glory to God!
SLL 25

MEMORY LANE..(November 2014)

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

Building our sanctuary, Father’s Hose Bible Church, Effurun…
Four years ago, me and some brethren took pictures at the site… we were painting the church, laying tiles on the floors and working very hard.. (not me really… I was there to encourage them… the wonderful brethren, men and women ‘of valor’ as we called them…)… This is a little reminder that it is so sweet to serve God! “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Ps 133:1)

FH 7-5

FH 7-6

FH 7-7

Fh 7-8

WISDOM WILL GUIDE AND HOLD YOU

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“When you run you will not stumble…but the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (PV 4:12,19)
Great lessons from the battle between David and Goliath:
• If you look at the giant, you will stumble!
• If you look at Jesus, the giant will stumble!

May the giant of fear, of confusion, of religion, of sickness, of bareness, of division, of divorce, of waste… may he stumble and fall and die, in the name of Jesus!

In Christ I declare:
I am not afraid of the battle; for God is with me! I look above my trial and my pain… higher than the hills of waiting… I look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith! The obstacle shall fall! The pain shall fail! The slander shall become a blessing and the debt shall become a ministry of helps! I am more than an over-comer! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

ARISE, MY LOVE! 

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

By faith, receive God’s promise! The God of the Bible says to us, the people who live in Warri- Effurun and environs:
“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel (Warri- Effurun), are My people,” says the Lord God.’ (Ez 34:25-30)
Praise the Lord!!!!

SLL 64

GOD BLESS MIMI! 

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

Amelia Mimi Atiyota, our first granddaughter is 17 today. She is a very sweet girl. She is shy. She is special! She is gentle. She is humble. She is very hard working. She loves to do her chores in the house without any pressure from her mum. Her siblings love sports but she loves to stay at home. She is always quiet and very respectful. She is a blessing. She is a woman of God! She is beautiful inside and out! Like any teenager, she sometimes battles with inferiority complexes concerning her looks. Please pray for her that she will be more confident of herself! That she will become stronger, spiritually and emotionally! Wish her ‘happy birthday’ please.. I appreciate your kind words and prayers! God bless you all!

Mimi A

ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOUNG (BUT TRUE) BELIEVERS

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
A true (but immature) believer said to me: “I am afraid I will lose my salvation and miss rapture, because with all my efforts to follow Jesus, I often feel lukewarm…”
 
This was my answer: “You have believed a religious lie! It came to you sugar coated in scriptures (the devil is fast to quote the Bible, but always out of context. See the temptation of Jesus!). Repent of hosting a lie!
 
This is the true Gospel, this is the truth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God came down to earth to become a Man like us, so that He could die in our place. He took on His body the punishment for our sin and the decree of death. He died publicly on the Cross of Calvary! By His death, He destroyed death and the fear of death that kept us in bondage. He was buried and on the third day He rose from the death. He went back to heaven to God the Father. He promised and fulfilled His promise to send us the Person of God the Holy Spirit who would take all these truths and apply it to our spirit, that we may believe the truth. The Holy Spirit does not teach mathematics or biology, He teaches and glorifies Jesus alone!
 
The salvation offered in Christ is called great and eternal. It cannot be lost by any sin of yours because you did not buy it with money and no man gave it to you. The Blood of Jesus covers all sins, past present and future. If by some miracle of God a pig became a man, he can never become a pig again, even if he decides to sleep with the swine. He will be dirty and smelly, but the genetic code of a man cannot be reversed to be an animal again. That change is permanent. A true believer is not called a sinner anymore. He is a saint. He can fall into sin, but he does not enjoy sin (that is called backsliding). A believer does not remain, abide or happily dwell in sin. He hates sin; he repents and comes out of it, sooner or later.
 
The confusion comes when a religious man is not really born again but comes to church and does ministry. He is always afraid to lose his ‘salvation.’ This is because he did not have it in the first place. The Holy Spirit will not confirm or assure him of his eternal identity in Christ and sure ‘mansion’ in heaven. A religious person like this is very dangerous to himself and others because of this deception and lie that he has believed. He has no peace or rest with God and His Word.
 
Please note: A backslider loses rewards, opportunities for ministry, and the joy of salvation. But no child of God can lose his eternal Salvation and go to hell! This is the true Gospel of Christ! Pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will receive the assurance of salvation, the gift of God! It is well with your soul!”
 
In Christ I declare:
Jesus Christ is my Savior! Jesus died for my sins so that I can have eternal life! Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all my sins: past, present, and the ones I may commit in the future! I am a child of God! I am saved eternally and unto the uttermost! The grace of God is sufficient for me and it is greater than any sin! I am dead to sin and to the law! I no longer live, but Christ lives in me! The power of resurrection is actively working in me! I am a slave of righteousness! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
It is well

GOD’S WORK ON DISPLAY

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
Jesus said “…he was born blind in order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him.”
(Jn 9: 3 AMP)
 
God permits trials to come. Trials can be sickness, bareness, loneliness, poverty or misunderstanding… He allows these to come for a season, so that we can pray. The pain is a friend that brings us closer to God. In His presence, we find a new wonderful solution to the challenge, something so new and creative that the human mind cannot imagine it. God’s work is so unique and so wonderful that everybody declares ‘The Lord is God!’ The enemy has his chance to perform fake works only before the fire falls. The work of God is never in secret. God may be silent but He is never ‘shy.’ Pray not that your pain will disappear! That is too simple! Pray that your pain will welcome the work of God and surely, the testimony of healing will follow and God will have His glory!
 
In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God! This trial I am passing through is temporary! God’s love for me is eternal! Nothing in all creation is able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord! God’s love never fails! God’s love overpowers and destroys any sickness or pain; I believe! I now have peace! Today is a good day for me! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

THIS LITTLE ONE IS SAVED!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“In the same way Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matt 18:14)

If you try to ‘save’ one thousand people in the same time, you may end up frustrated, tired, and depressed. If you remain focused, looking unto Jesus, doing only what you see Him do, then you will be able to save one ‘little’ soul at a time. Ministry is a source of discouragement for the proud but a source of great encouragement for the humble. What a wonderful Savior! Humble King! My Lord Jesus Christ!

In Christ I declare:
I am lead by the Spirit! I will seek and find a needy soul and bring peace to him! I do not discriminate anyone, for Christ does not discriminate! I shall seek God and the interests of His kingdom! I shall not seek success for success sake! I leave my ideas of success at the altar! I shall not despise the day of little beginnings and little encounters! I shall be grateful for everything, every day!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen!

Oli and Emory

(in the picture: Oliver, very happy meeting his little brother Emory David Oakes… these are our beautiful grandchildren)

DWELLING AND DOING

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted and they came to Him that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3: 13–15)
 
DWELLING:
The highest privilege for any man is to be called by Jesus, up on the mountain of grace. The main purpose is to dwell in His presence, to keep Him company so that He is not bored on earth. The highest honor is ‘just’ to be the friend of Jesus.
 
DOING:
The second privilege is to be sent down in the valley of the shadow of sin and death, to go on errands for Jesus, with parcels of grace wrapped in simple prayers of healing and deliverance.
Dwelling in the presence of God changes the character. Outside His presence, time is wasted. In His presence, time is redeemed. True ministry comes out from the overflow of impartation done at Jesus’ feet. Authority is the manifestation of a burning heart, seen on a glowing face, the seal of the Master’s kiss on your forehead. Now you are ready to go and preach, and pray, and heal, and deliver! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
 
In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God! I heard the voice of Jesus calling me up on the mountain. I sit at His feet and listen to His Word daily; that is my permanent address! Occasionally, Jesus sends me with different errands, for His name sake and for the good of His people. It is my privileged to obey. I gladly obey! This describes my whole life! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Monk in Gethsamene
 
(I took this picture in the Garden of Gethsemane during a trip to Israel. This old monk lives there and takes care of the Garden)