On Christmas day, a dear sister in Christ brought us a wonderful gift. She called it ‘a small Christmas hamper’. My husband and I were very surprised! We have never seen such a mighty ‘Christmas hamper’. It is a furniture type of a box. Very nice! It was filled with ‘oyinbo’ goodies. This sister (let’s call her ‘Onome’) is hard working, humble, faithful and beautiful inside out. She is in her late thirties. She started attending our church this year, I talked to her some months ago. I asked her what does she want God to do for her? She told me that she has two main desires she is praying about: That she should grow spiritually and that she should get married. (She said it is in that order). Please pray for her! That God will grant the desires of her heart! That she will be filled with the Holy Spirit and that in 2020 she will marry happily! For nothing is impossible with God! Praise the Lord!
(I use ‘Onome’ as a point of contact for all the sisters who pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and that they should marry in 2020. Do not trust in your beauty or in your power! Just trust God! He will do it! May the testimonies multiply! In Jesus’ name!)
(In the pictures, you see our ‘small Christmas hamper’)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven!” (Mt 5:16)

One of the most unrecognized powers you possess is that of influence. How do we define ‘influence’? Simply said, influence is the effect of a person upon another. It is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. You can influence people, their thinking and behavior, without any direct or apparent effort. You can influence the course of events, by changing them in an indirect but important way. This power to influence is based on prestige, wealth, ability or social position.

Jesus says to the child of God: ‘you are the light of the world’ (Mt 5:14)! Spiritually speaking, as your light shines in this world, the darkness has no other option than to disappear! Ignorance, foolishness, doubt, fears, all these manifestations of spiritual darkness become less powerful in the lives of the people you encounter!

When we think about influential leaders, some may assume that only certain powerful people have the ability to influence others. My belief is that we all exert some sort of influence over each other. Is there some practice in your life that you can trace to something that someone else said or did? Do you remember your teacher in the primary school, who encouraged you to ‘make it’ in life? Or that your friend who saw your potential and directed you to the profession you practice now? Thank God for these people who on the journey of life, influenced you for better!

Influence can be good or bad. God can use anybody to influence you for good. But He uses His servants in a particular way. The devil uses people to influence people for bad. The ‘false prophets’ speak negative but attractive words, injecting anxiety, doubt, foolish and reckless behavior!

You have heard it said that ‘no man is an island’. We all influence others, for good or for bad. Parents influence their children, thru their words and actions. Pastors influence their congregations thru their preaching. Dear Friend, what kind of influence do you have on others? Be honest, is it good or bad? If it is bad, or if it seems to be a limited influence for good, why not determine to walk more closely with God and increase your influence? Why not ask the Holy Spirit, right now, to help you in that direction? Be filled with the Holy Spirit and God will use you mightily to change your generation! In Jesus’ name!

Our older daughter Alina Yemi, surprised us. She came to visit us, just because she was missing her parents and her childhood home. She could only ‘squeeze’ two days. But how happy these two days have been! We took some pictures at the parking lot. What does a mother tell her fortysomething years ‘young’ daughter? I was just telling her how much I appreciate her heart, kindness, generosity, strength and humility. As I was telling her these words of love, the photographer took the picture. This was a moment in time… Alina wanted to look tough and ‘fashionable’ (and patriotic… see the Nigerian flag on her chest) in the picture, but I know that her heart melted looking at her mother’s eyes and hearing words no stranger can ever say.
Let me say it again: “Dear Alina, I am your mother! You are a child of covenant! No matter how far you travel, how much money you make, how low you fall or how high you rise in this life, our love to you is unconditional! Be who God destined you to be! Your dad and I love you very much and bless you with the blessings of Christ! God bless your beautiful children too! From Warri, with love…”

“But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot… My heart grew hot within me. While I meditated (on God’s Word), the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue… The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words…” (Jer 20:9; Ps 39:3)

This picture was taken during the third day (12-12-19) of the evangelistic program we did at Jakande Market area, Lekki, Lagos. Pastor Richmond Leigh (my husband) was preaching to the needy and humble people in this area. (I cannot describe how bad the area is. I do not want to sound rude, but it may be the worse slump in Lagos).

I love this picture because it shows my husband’s heart! The picture capture the intensity of the anointing of the Holy Spirit on him. To preach God’s Word is a sacrifice that involves the whole being, spirit, soul and body. It is like a fire burning within. True ministry is never a form of entertainment. At the end of each day, my husband felt ‘virtue going out of him’. By the way, it is not easy for me, as his wife. I too need God’s grace to be able to help such a great man whose passion is to be like Jesus! Praising God is always a sacrifice. It is much more than singing or talking!

John Wesley once said: “I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn.” May the anointing I see on my husband descend on many younger Christians. Money cannot buy it. Men cannot steal it. May you seek God’s fire from on high until it comes down and burns the sacrifice you’ve offered!

God bless my husband, a true Man of God!

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body” (1Cor 6:19, 20)

I heard of a story which illustrated the importance of being a man or woman of conviction, of having a true Christian character. A man was seated next to a beautiful woman on a plane. The man said to her: ‘I find you extremely attractive. I will give you a million dollars if you will spend the night with me.’ The woman thought for a while. She imagined the things she could buy with so much money. Eventually, she consented. After some time, the man said, ‘There’s something I have to tell you. I can’t really give you a million dollars. I don’t have that kind of money. Would you do it for $10?’ The woman was highly offended. ‘What sort of woman do you think I am?’ The man replied, ‘We’ve already established what sort of woman you are. We are just haggling over the price.’ George Washington was quoted as having said: ‘Few men have the virtue to withstand the highest bidder.’

The devil says: ‘every man, every woman has a price’. He believes that all people can be persuaded to sell their souls, their ministry or destiny if ‘the price is right’. For the unbelievers, this may be true But once you are saved, your life, your soul, your body belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died to purchase you. He shed His precious Blood to redeem you from the slave market of the devil. You do not belong to yourself anymore. You are not for sale! Not even for a million dollars!

This is my testimony: Long ago, as a young believer, I made a covenant with God that it is better for me to die and go to heaven than to compromise with the devil and backslide. For me backsliding is not ‘a small thing’. I do not have the luxury to even think about it. This radical decision has helped me always, has strengthened me in my spirit, but especially in times when the devil attacks and offers me a big price to just bow to him. For me, that means disgraceful death. It is not just possible. Like Paul said: ‘For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!’ There is no ‘plan B’. The matter is settled in heaven and also in my spirit: In the unity of the Spirit, I say with my Lord: “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'” (Lk 4:8)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God! Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Lord, now and forever! I am glad that I belong to Jesus! My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am not for sale! I am not my own! My Righteous King has paid my ‘bride price’ with His Blood. The resurrected Christ is my Bridegroom! I honor God with my body! I honor God with my testimony! I live to worship God and to give Him all the glory! I bow my knees only to the Lord Jesus Christ! I serve Him only! This is my destiny! Nothing and nobody can change that! It is me and Jesus, now and forever! In Jesus’ name! Amen!

We are still in Lagos doing an outreach at Jakande Market area. The first day was good. The second day was better. The third day was the best. We praised God with songs and dances. We repeated the Nativity and Throne Room Dramas. Everything was wonderful. More people came today. Pastor Richmond Leigh preached the same message of salvation. He said that even if we stay here for one month, he will preach the same evangelistic message until all are converted. First of all he did ‘the ‘law work’, as the theologians say. He did not waste time or words. He told the people that ‘the wages of sin is death’. He told them that ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’. He told them that they are sinners and that they need a Savior. He said that Jesus is that Savior! He asked the people: ‘Is anyone here among you who did not steal? Who did not lie? Who did not commit fornication, or abortion?… ‘Did you steal? Did you lie?’ They answered loudly ‘yes-o’. The people did not even hide. This is the advantage of preaching God’s word among the lowest of all. These men and women are among the poorest in Lagos. I can call them ‘the undesirables’, the forgotten of the society. They cannot afford to be religious hypocrites. That is a luxury! There are so many brothels and area boys here. The prostitutes do not hide from people. They do not pretend to be better than they are. It is hard to love them, or even to like them. But if you can see them with the eyes of Christ, you will be surprised to discover these people as the humanity the Savior died for. I observed that there are so many children running all over the place, playing in the sand. They look a little wild. But before the program started, they came and quietly sat down on the chairs provided. They look dirty and not well fed. But I saw the grace of God upon them. This was their ‘Christmas’. We came to bring them the good news that God loves them, that Jesus wants to save them. They drank the living words like people drink water.

Because of the grace of God, I will not be surprised that from among these children, the next president of Nigeria, senators, medical doctors, engineers, teachers, nurses and scientists will arise. I have learned not to look down on any child because God has the made them for His pleasure. Once the grace of God locates a child, He will keep him or her safe, even in the jungle. Many of these children answered the altar call. Pastor Richmond Leigh prayed for them. He also prayed for the community of Jakande area, that God will rise a politician who will care for the poor and speak for them. He prayed that the sick will be healed, the barren women will have children, that the jobless will have jobs. He also prayed for the ‘area boys’ that they will be truly converted. Their zeal to fight for survival will be used to serve God. He prayed that in 2020, peace and prosperity will be the mark in this forgotten community. For nothing is impossible with God. Pastor Richmond’s Leigh message was powerful because he mixed the anointing of the Word of God, with a rare to find genuine tenderness and kindness toward these people. It is the Holy Spirit who placed in His heart. This combination is unbeatable. Tonight, we declare that in the name of Jesus, the dynamite of the anointing of the Word of God has destroyed the strongholds of poverty, crime, hopelessness and prostitution in Jakande area, also called ‘the Sodom and Gomorrah’. Freedom has found a place in the hearts of men and women here. This is our story! This is our song! See you back in Warri! To God be all the glory!

“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?” (Jam 2:5)

(In the pictures, Pastor Richmond Leigh preaching. People, especially the children, listened attentively. Many answered the altar call)

THE PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL (DAY 1)
In any way you look at it, the outreach was a great success. The stage was very beautiful. The sound was strong and clear. The Nativity drama went without any mistake. People from the neighborhood came and looked happy. The praise went up to heaven. The Holy Spirit was with us from the beginning to the end. What else do we want? Nothing! To God be all the glory! Tomorrow will be the second day! Please come!

THE SECOND DAY WAS EVEN BETTER (Day 2)
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Ac 1:8)
We are still in Lagos doing God’s work. Yesterday it was good day. Today it was even better. We praised God with songs (in English and other Nigerian languages) and dances. We prayed for the people living in this neighborhood called Jakande area, Lekki. The truth is that most people living here are much below any level of poverty. We knew that there are many needy people who live here. But we did not how needy they are… We raised the stage for the outreach in a area they call ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’. I do not want to sound too dramatic but I have never seen so many brothels with so many women selling their bodies as here. Earlier, they send an older man to Pastor Leigh warning him that this is a dangerous area. The man came with a message for us: “You people, go away from here. We do not want you here”. Pastor told the man that the Holy Spirit brought us here and not any man. He told the old man to go back and invite them to come and praise God with us. We did not know how today will be. We started with prayers for the people of the land and praise and worship. We then did The Nativity and the Throne Room Dramas.
After that, Pastor Richmond Leigh preached an evangelistic message. I could feel his pain as he was preaching. His voice was strong and confident but there were tears in his eyes. I know that he carries the burden for souls. I looked back and I saw a large number of people standing around. They did not have the courage to seat. But they all stood and they all listened, mesmerized by the voice of the preacher. He told the people of Jakande, Lekki: ‘We know that you think nobody loves you. I want to assure you that God loves you! I know that God loves you! God sent His only begotten Son to die for you! Give your life to Christ! Respond to the call of the Shepperd! This is the best decision you will ever make in your life! We did not come to ask you for money. We did not come to take anything from you. We are not trouble makers. We are children of God. We came to give and not to take. Fear not! Come and take this free offer of salvation in Christ Jesus! You will never be then same again!” Immediately Pastor Richmond Leigh made this altar call, many people came from the (literal and spiritual) darkness to the front of the stage, into the (literal and marvelous) light! Pastor Richmond Leigh led them into the ‘sinner’s prayer’. They all prayed. Then they all rejoiced. Heaven also rejoiced this evening! Our work was done for today. Please give God all the glory for this mighty unusual harvest found ‘at the end of the world’. Glory! Jesus is Lord!
(In the pictures, Pastor Richmond Leigh preaching and people from Jakande area responded to the altar call)

Day two in Lekki, Lagos: God is in control. As a church, we opened our first ‘branch’ here in Lekki, Lagos. The ‘men of valor’, our brethren, (the strong men who assemble the stage) have arrived. The stage, light and loudspeakers have arrived. I took these two pictures this morning. In the first one you see a mountain of trash next to the place where we shall do the outreach. There are many people living in that area, in ‘houses’ made of carton, rusted zinc sheets and plastic covers. Just across the Express way, there are beautiful houses of rich people and also, nice churches. But here, life is sad and hard. But ‘this is the place’ the Holy Spirit said. We must obey. The next picture shows that the work has began. The stage is rising! All the troublesome ‘area boys’ of yesterday have now ‘surrendered’. Their eyes ‘have cleared’ (from the smoke of igbo, Warri slang meaning marihuana) and by the power of the Holy Spirit. They all are here to help with the work. God is already touching souls, setting the captives free! This zeal across the board, this unexplained excitement is surely supernatural. This is the most common testimony I hear: ‘Malia, I am so excited that I cannot sleep. And even so, I am not tired!’ Halleluiah!
The (poor) people living here say that they cannot believe we have come from Warri, to ‘entertain them free of charge’. They are like illegal immigrants. They hide from the authorities! Nobody remembers them for good. Only for bad, to evacuate them, to punish them! For me, this is an experience… This is the ‘ghetto’ life I saw in the movies! To walk here at night, is not safe! But Jesus has located them and prepared for them a feast fit for kings. Suddenly, my compassion is aroused. I don’t know any soul here, yet I feel so much love for them. I am excited for them. This is not natural love. This is supernatural! These humble people are yet to know how much God loves them. The love of God shall be poured out from heaven to Lekki! The poor shall hear the Gospel preached to them. Their lives shall never be the same again! Faith 100%! Doubt 0%! Fear 0%! Jesus is Lord!
Dear Intercessors, Please continue to pray for all we do here. Some clouds have gathered but we declare that there shall be no rain and no thunder until we finish God’s work. In Jesus’ name! Amen!
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Is 61:1-3)

Day two in Lekki, Lagos: God is in control. As a church, we opened our first ‘branch’ here in Lekki, Lagos. The ‘men of valor’, our brethren, (the strong men who assemble the stage) have arrived. The stage, light and loudspeakers have arrived. I took these two pictures this morning. In the first one you see a mountain of trash next to the place where we shall do the outreach. There are many people living in that area, in ‘houses’ made of carton, rusted zinc sheets and plastic covers. Just across the Express way, there are beautiful houses of rich people and also, nice churches. But here, life is sad and hard. But ‘this is the place’ the Holy Spirit said. We must obey. The next picture shows that the work has began. The stage is rising! All the troublesome ‘area boys’ of yesterday have now ‘surrendered’. Their eyes ‘have cleared’ (from the smoke of igbo, Warri slang meaning marihuana) and by the power of the Holy Spirit. They all are here to help with the work. God is already touching souls, setting the captives free! This zeal across the board, this unexplained excitement is surely supernatural. This is the most common testimony I hear: ‘Malia, I am so excited that I cannot sleep. And even so, I am not tired!’ Halleluiah!
The (poor) people living here say that they cannot believe we have come from Warri, to ‘entertain them free of charge’. They are like illegal immigrants. They hide from the authorities! Nobody remembers them for good. Only for bad, to evacuate them, to punish them! For me, this is an experience… This is the ‘ghetto’ life I saw in the movies! To walk here at night, is not safe! But Jesus has located them and prepared for them a feast fit for kings. Suddenly, my compassion is aroused. I don’t know any soul here, yet I feel so much love for them. I am excited for them. This is not natural love. This is supernatural! These humble people are yet to know how much God loves them. The love of God shall be poured out from heaven to Lekki! The poor shall hear the Gospel preached to them. Their lives shall never be the same again! Faith 100%! Doubt 0%! Fear 0%! Jesus is Lord!
Dear Intercessors, Please continue to pray for all we do here. Some clouds have gathered but we declare that there shall be no rain and no thunder until we finish God’s work. In Jesus’ name! Amen!
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Is 61:1-3)

We have just received a report of a miracle that happened at our church in Warri. We are now doing an evangelistic program in Lekki, Lagos. We’ve planned that more than 600 adults and children will travel from Warri to Lagos. For some weeks, we have announced in the church, that if anybody cannot pay for his way to Lagos, busses have been provided for a free ride. The church has paid for 11 buses. The first group left on Saturday, at 5 am. The second group left this Sunday morning. We made lists with the people so that we know how many will come. Yesterday, the free ride was for the ‘men of valor’ (the young men who work hard to rise the stage and lift up the loudspeakers). This morning the ride was for the ushers in the church and some other groups. Three buses were prepared for them. This morning, we were informed that as early as 4 am, a double number of ushers came to the church in Warri, with their backpacks, ready to come to Lagos. These men and women insisted that many years ago they were ushers in Father’s House. They left the church long ago and started attending other churches. Thru the media, they heard of this program. They now want to come back to Father’s House, to their former ministry and to work for God. They came ready to go to Lagos for the outreach. They forced their way into the buses and some of our ‘legal’ ushers were left out. Thru the phone, pastor had to calm them down promising that tomorrow, the last day for free ride, we shall add two more buses, to carry all the people left behind.

This story may bring a smile on your faces. Some say that this is ‘Warri style’ for a free transport. But I choose to look at it as a testimony revealing the mercy of God! When the trumpet sounds, the prodigals sons and daughters will run to Jesus. They will not be able to ignore the mighty call of grace! When the Wind of the Holy Spirit blows, before God shuts the gate, the backsliders will repent, and run into Noah’s Ark, to safety and to life! The song says: “God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform”! Let’s give God glory even for the ‘strange’ things happening during revival! As we say in Naija: ‘Warri no de carry last!” In all things let’s give God all the glory!

“The kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing on, forcing his way into it” (Lk 16:16)

Today was a special service. As a church, by the grace of God, we opened and dedicated our first ‘branch’ in Lekki, Lagos. Pastor Richmond Leigh prayed for the resident Pastors, Lekan and Tracy Jenyo and dedicated them to the work of the ministry. We invited the Holy Spirit to come, witness and bless this simple ceremony. The presence of the Holy Spirit came down on us all.
Pastor Richmond Leigh preached from the Book of 1Corintians. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1Cor 2:1-5). He said that Apostle Paul ‘determined not to know anything among men except ‘Christ and Him crucified’. Pastor Richmond Leigh said that this is his determination too. He said that each pastor, to please God in the work of the ministry, should determine the same thing. The motive of doing ministry is foundational!
Pastor Richmond Leigh said that the spirit of religion has taken over many of the churches in Nigeria. People go to church just to fulfill some imaginary righteousness. Many of the pastors are worldly. The media portrays all pastors as corrupt. It is like the world has concluded that God does not exist. This lie is spreading among many people, bringing doubt and depression. The churches lack the Holy Spirit power to change men. Many hardened sinners pass thru the church on their way to hell. This is a sad story. But God has allowed it for His glory. Amid this corruption, in these perilous times, God has preserved a holy remnant that nothing and nobody can destroy. Stars shine brighter when the sky is darker. Men may say what they want to say, but one thing is clear: The Word of God is Life and Spirit; it is eternal, unchanging and unfailing. “Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Heb 13:8). The word of God warns the sinners! No matter what anybody says, this is the Word of God: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die… It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Ez 18:20; Heb 9:27; KJ). Sadly, many are deceived. Child of God be not a fool! Be wise!
Apostle Paul said that he did not come to preach with excellence of speech thought by human wisdom. He did not preach some ‘positive thinking’ messages. He did not come to emotionally stir the hearts of men, to entertain them. He came to preach the truth that sets men free. The Corinthians were poor people. But Paul did not come to teach them some ‘steps to material prosperity’. He did not come to tell them how to plant seeds in season so that their harvest will increase. No! Material prosperity follows them who seek God. Our Lord said: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk 8:36). Pastor Richmond Leigh said that cursed is him or anyone who preaches another gospel or another ‘Jesus’ in Father’s House Bible Church. We must be jealous for the honor of Christ! We are constrained to preach only the Word of God, the Gospel of Christ, Crucified and Resurrected. This is our responsibility and mandate until Jesus comes back. We must lift only the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit! The preaching of another gospel will only lead to spiritual burnt-out and leanness of soul! God forbid!
Some people ask: but how can we become wealthy? For a Christian, the principle is this: God gives man the power to make wealth. He is sovereign in this matter. Seek God and His spiritual Kingdom, and material prosperity shall follow! (Deut 8:18; Mt 6:33). This is God’s way! This is God’s promise! Material prosperity is good but it is not absolutely necessary to salvation. Apostle Paul did not preach with ‘persuasive, enticing words of human wisdom’. He did not manipulate or exploit his congregation. He preached the Gospel of Christ crucified by the power of the Holy Spirit. For a Christian or for a church. it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that is the key to all true success, spiritual and material. The result of this godly way of preaching the Cross is that men’s faith will become stronger and mature. Their faith will not depend on the opinion of men. Their faith will be anchored in the everlasting Word of God. Never forget! Jesus Christ crucified and glorified must be the center of all true preaching and ministry! Worship the Lord!

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (Zech 4:10)
Our church is doing an evangelistic outreach in Lekki, Lagos. More than 600 adults and children made this ‘exodus’ journey, from Warri to Lagos. We shall do the Nativity drama; we shall praise and worship God, and we shall preach the Gospel of grace. We pray that many souls will be saved! This afternoon we arrived at the proposed location. We have fasted and prayed for weeks for the success of this missionary journey. For us, success means that the presence of the Holy Spirit will surround and cover the area. The Holy Spirit will be free to move in our midst, to work in men’s hearts, both to will and to do God’s pleasure. We are not here to entertain anybody. We are not here to raise any ‘offerings’ We are here to glorify and to lift the name of Jesus! He will then draw all men’s hearts after Himself. If God is happy, then we are happy. God must be first, always! We shall follow! What a journey! What a privilege!
We drove to the place where the miracle will happen. For me, this is the first time that I see this area. Jakande Market is a large ‘beach type’ area of white sand. It is surrounded by many improvised ‘buildings’, half-finished wooden structures, bent by the wind, covered with faded plastic sheets. There are many young people just walking about, with no sense of purpose. I saw many skinny stray dogs fighting with one another for a little food, trying to survive. There are many ‘mama-put’ ‘’eateries serving food to the people. As we arrived, some young men came running, ready to make trouble. In Warri we call them ‘area-boys’. They were shouting that nobody can do any crusade here without their permission. We understood their language. Warri has thought us well. Thank God for Warri. They wanted to be ‘settled’. No wahala! We ‘settled’ them. They suddenly changed, became happy, forgot their shouting. From angry looking boys they offered to become helpers to do the work of God. Praise the Lord!
To me, the people living here look like refugees. They have need of even the basic necessities of life. I feel their frustration… Poverty is never beautiful. It is rough and it is painful to look at. But there is no doubt in my mind, that what these people need is the grace found in the Gospel of Christ. They need salvation, freedom from the bondage of sin, eternal life and joy freely given. Only the Holy Spirit can change this desolate place into a garden of beauty and hope. With the eyes of the Spirit I see the garden… what this place can become… We are not politicians. We are not businesspeople, comedians or entertainers. We are ambassadors of Christ, carrying in our hearts the fragrance of His presence. This evening, the trucks with our equipment shall arrive here. Throughout the night, the brethren shall raise the stage, assemble the lights and connect the loudspeakers. There is much physical work to be done. By Tuesday evening the program shall begin. Glory to God!
Right now, I am in a hotel close by. I cannot help them carry stuff, but I can pray, and I can ask for prayers. That is my work. I see this dry place with the eyes of Jesus. God calls the things that are not as though they are. I find myself calling salvation, healing and miracles upon this people! Grace upon grace! I took some pictures of the area where our crusade shall be. It shows white sand like a desert without an oasis. I almost saw the dry dead bones of Ezekiel scattered all over the place. I hear God asking me: ‘Daughter of Man, will these bones live?’ I find myself responding, ‘I do not know Lord, only You can make them live!’ I find myself desperate for the power of the Holy Ghost. I bend low, praying for the rivers of living waters, to flow in this dry place. I desire grace for this people. I declare grace upon the hopeless! “May the Lamb seated upon the throne extend HIs helping hand… Power from on High… Father God, help…” Finally, I want to say that I appreciate your prayers, that we may please God in all we do. We know that “it is not by might, it is not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts!” Have Your way, Lord! Have Your way!

“A wide door for effective ministry has opened for me” (1Cor 16:9). Next week, we are going to Lekki, Lagos for an evangelistic outreach. It is the biggest program since we’ve started the church (20 years ago). This is a missionary journey. There are more than 600 people going, from Warri to Lagos. These are adults and children, all members of our church. In the natural, this could be scary. The roads are not very good. We are talking about hosting and feeding all these people. We trust God for the provision and protection. Many of them, have never been to Lagos before. For them it is a holy adventure. Please, rejoice with us!
Since our senior pastor (Pastor Richmond Leigh) has made the announcement that we shall go to Lagos for a crusade, it is only joy and grace I see. The Holy Spirit does not allow us to feel any form of fear about the journey. This peace is supernatural! Some years ago I could not have believed that we can do this. Now, it looks so easy. I have talked to many people about it. They all feel strong, happy, confident and grateful for the opportunity to serve God in a special way. There is no backsliding spirit talking. As a church, we have fasted, prayed and prophesied the Word of God over this journey. We trust the leading of the Holy Spirit for a safe and successful crusade. This is the truth: I have never witnessed so much favor upon the willing volunteers who are ready to go from here, or the brethren in Lagos who are helping from there. For example, the children are able to go because in their respective schools, their teachers agreed that they should do their tests privately, before the date. People who work in their different offices have asked for 5 days leave and it was granted. For the past two months the brethren have prepared everything, ready to go. They have re-painted the stage, fixed every screw, counted every plank. The lights are lighting and the loudspeakers are working. Like we say in Nigeria: “No Coma!” The costumes for the Nativity Drama have a new shine on them. I have never seen so much zeal, energy, desire to help, push to pray, generosity with finances and unity of the Spirit. I fear God! As a pastor, this experience is very fulfilling. It is good for me to witness (again) what God can do with a handful of ‘ordinary’ believers but all empowered by the Holy Spirit. I fear God! I worship God!
Because of what I see now, because of the testimony of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, I know in advance that the program will be successful. I know that it is approved by heaven and well received by men on earth. Our success is guaranteed! I am not boasting of my strength. I am boasting on behalf of the God we serve! Jesus Christ is Lord! Once Jesus opens a door, no man or devil can shut it. I confirm that a wide door of faith and effective ministry has been opened to Father’s House Bible Church. There is no room for failure. There is no space for regrets. The name of Jesus will be lifted high in Lekki-Lagos! Many souls shall enter the Kingdom! It is too late for the devil to stop it! It is good to wait for God’s time! This is the time of favor! God bless all who are participating, contributed in any way at all and have prayed for us! Your reward is great in heaven! God bless you all!

Recently, I have been studying the psychology of anxiety. Anxiety can be inherited. Anxiety has different levels of expression (some people worry more than others). It is also seasonal (older people worry about different things than the younger ones). If your parents (over) worried about you, it is possible that you have inherited that attitude. You think it is normal to worry. That means some people are born worriers. Anxiety is a form of fear. It relates to the survival mechanism. These are both reactions to danger and to perceived danger. What is the difference between fear and anxiety? Generally, fear comes when there is a clear attack. Anxiety is deeper affecting the spirit and the imagination. For example, if I see a snake in the room, I will suddenly become afraid. This fear is normal. It is good. It triggers hormones in my body helping me to run or to fight that snake. But anxiety is different. For example, somebody tells me that there is a snake in the house. I am not seeing it. I start to imagine that snake everywhere I go. That imagination creates anxiety. In the case of fear: once I kill the snake, I stop being afraid. But the anxiety persists because the ‘snake’ is invisible, and the danger is in my imagination.

In many ways, because it has the tendency to become chronic, anxiety is more damaging to health than the occasional fear. Most anxiety comes from triggers in the brain’s area of imagination. In the brain, there is a center that triggers the emotions of fear and anxiety. Then there is another center that stops it. It is easier to start the center of anxiety than to put it off. For example, a single sister is worried that she is getting old and she may not marry. Then one day, she gets married. Thank God! But the old anxiety of singleness persists even after the wedding, troubling her as a married woman and spoiling her joy. The same with a woman, who is praying for many years to have a baby. She is now a mother, but she still worries that she will have no child. The devil complicates that anxiety. This anxious mother is now worried that the baby may die, and she will revert to that state of having no baby. Because of this ‘carry over’ anxiety, she does not enjoy the season of being a mother. Do you see how damaging this chronic anxiety is?

If allowed to persist, anxiety leads to depression. Biblically, anxiety is hypocrisy! Do not justify it! Do not say: ‘If you are in my position you will worry too…’ You must identify and reject it! Anxiety brings only trouble and never anything good. Anxiety makes no good contribution to your spiritual life! It contributes to illness. For example, it affects the eyes, it rises the blood pressure; it can lead to stomach ulcer, heart failure, liver failure, insomnia, sexual disfunctions, infertility and depression. For example, the Prophet Jeremiah was anxious because the people of God were rebellious. He was worried that God will judge them. He experienced chronic anxiety. Read how it affected his health: “My eyes fail with tears: my heart is troubled; my bile is poured on the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people… My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns… My eyes are red from crying, my stomach is in knots, and I feel sick all over. I am exhausted with grief…” (Lam 2:11)

What is the solution? Dear Child of God, when under the attack of anxiety or fear, what do you do? Remember God! Bring your anxiety under the feet of Christ! Leave it there! Do not take it back! I know that you do not doubt God’s greatness! But you often doubt God’s personal loving care to you in particular! Pray with faith! You must choose between prayer and anxiety! One fights the other. Transfer the mental and the emotional energy you use in worrying, into prayer. You never regret prayer. But you will regret the many hours spent in useless worrying. ‘Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:6, 7). The Bible forbids anxiety: Be anxious for nothing but pray! Prayer and the Word are the perfect medicines against anxiety!

Then learn how to speak to your soul: ‘My soul! What is wrong with you! Jesus loves you! Yes, even you! It is well with you, oh my soul!” “Casting all your care (anxieties) upon Him, for He cares for you” (1Pet 5:7). When you heart goes astray and becomes anxious, rebuke it! Do not permit your heart to speak to you. Your heart can deceive you with torments in your imagination. Learn how to speak to your heart. Learn how to encourage yourself! Do it daily. Do it often! It works!

Finally, lift your heart and worship the Lord! No matter the problem, Jesus Christ is bigger and greater than anything! Jesus loves you! He died for you! He is your Savior, Lord, Healer, Provider and Defender! To worry about your life is an insult to your Creator God! With one touch from the Holy Spirit, all problems disappear! God will do it for you! He who brought the flood of earth, decorated His everlasting mercies with the colors of the rainbow! And now, enough with the talking! Let’s worship the Lord, for He alone is worthy! Hallelujah!

“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom!
And in all your getting, get understanding” (PV 4:7)

Dear sister in Christ, for you to be happy in this world, you need God! You need wisdom. You need spiritual, mental and emotional balance. Your priorities must be in this order:
1st place: Your relationship with God! (Jesus Christ must be first in your life always)
2nd place: Your relationship with yourself (learn to know and love yourself. If you do not know yourself, you will a liability to others)!
3rd place: Your relationship with your husband (your office as a godly wife)!
4th place: Your relationship with your children (your office as a godly mother)!
5th place: Your relationship with your job, profession (your office as a Christian worker, business woman)
6th Place: Your relationship with others (friends, brethren in church, extended family etc)

If you put too much time in your carrier, for example, to the extent that your marriage or children suffer, that is not good. Or, if you give too much attention to your children, and you husband is neglected (which means is dis-honored) that is not good. If you love your husband more than you love yourself to the extent that you become foolish, that is not good. If you love yourself, husband, children, job or others more than God, that is called idolatry, It is a sin! You must repent and change! It is not enough to ‘try’ to do everything, to work hard from morning till night! You must respect the order of priorities. This is called wisdom. This is the Word of God!

Dear sister, Pray to have wisdom. It is not a natural gift. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, a work of grace! Money cannot buy it! Men cannot give it to you! Grace is only from God! As an older woman, as a wife and mother, as a pastor and a doctor, this is my advice: Success is not based on your bank account! Success means to fulfill your God given destiny! Your destiny is to be a woman of God! No matter how difficult life is, never forget that! May your life shine with the glory of God! I wish you well!

A faithful Christian sister we know well has been praying for many years for the fruit of the womb. Happily, she got pregnant four months ago. Today, she sent me the scan to look at. The baby is strong but his (her) heart beats outside the body. This is a very rare congenital malformation called ‘ectopia cordis’. In the natural, even with the most sophisticated medical technology, with specialized surgery, the prognosis is not good. Most babies that have this problem do not live long. I encouraged her in the Lord! I reminded her that in times like these, when doctors cannot help and men lose hope, her trust should be in God alone. Jesus healed the blind, the lepers and the crippled. Jesus raised the dead! He is our God and healer! There is no sickness and no problem that is bigger than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Some doctors suggested that she should do abortion. But she is a Christian woman and cannot abort this precious baby. If God wants to take the baby to heaven, let Him do it Himself, and not her. Her only hope is in God.
Dear Intercessors, please bring this Christian sister and the baby in her womb before God in prayer! Pray for mercy and a miracle of healing. God bless you all as you join us in prayer! What is impossible with men, is always possible with God. May God Almighty glorify Himself in this situation. We vow to give God alone all the glory! In Jesus’ name!

“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!” (Jer 32:17)
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26)

ONE WEEK LATER… Less than a week, the story changed! Praise the Lord! I just received her testimony. I told her to look for a second (even a third opinion). There is no need to weep. But there was need to pray. Another doctor did another scan and they discovered that everything was normal. “The heart was beating inside the baby’s chest’. We are grateful for all the prayers! The joy of the parents and all who witnessed this story cannot be described in words. God bless you for your prayer and encouragement! To God be all the glory!

“How beautiful you are! How lovely, O LOVE, with your delights!” (SS 7:6)
Life is so wonderful to me… These days I pray to remember good and useful memories from my sin-to-grace past. At the time when these events happened, I did not see much value in them. But now, from the perspective of mature victory, I see them as pearls of great price picked from the ocean of God’s love. I am talking about things I had experienced as a woman of God, wife, mother and recently, grandmother. Some of these memories were painful. At that time I prayed that I will forget them. But God has healed my heart. Now, because I had removed the sting of the bee and I am enjoying the honey left behind. I am now praying to remember them… How time changes our desires and perspectives…
About 1998-1999, my husband and I were living in Houston, Tx. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit called us to duty. He said that we should leave the children behind and go back under a missionary anointing. We were to start a church called Father’s House, in Warri-Effurun, Nigeria. That was a hard word for both of us. It was especially difficult for me, because it meant leaving our children behind, alone, in a difficult place called America. The hardest was the leave our youngest daughter Jemine who was just 16 at the time. She already got admission and scholarship in the University of Houston and she wanted to stay there. Before going to the US we worked as medical doctors and my husband was also a successful national politician. Both of us, we did not go to Bible School. By faith alone, we obeyed God’s Word and we started this church. We were surprised at the success of the ministry. To God alone be all the glory!
Thank God for the people who invented the phone and the internet. God bless them! Our elder daughter Alina was shuttling between America and Nigeria. But Jemine was there alone. Thank God that she kept in touch all these years. Even up till today, we still talk on the phone about things, daily events, big or small. We pray. We dream. I rebuke. We encourage each other. All these things thru the phone!!!
One serious problem I had in particular was that Jemine was changing into an ‘American girl’. Trying to belong to a foreign system, she started doing like they do. I was worried that what she considered ‘normal’ over there, for me was called ‘backsliding’. For example, the idea of dating a boy, to me it was worldly. Of course, ‘living together’, better called fornication, was not acceptable. Almost nothing she would say to me was right in this area of ‘American romance’. For me, the worst of all was the Valentine day and Halloween day. I used to tell Jemine to run away from boys; to be careful with boys; to remember that she is there alone and boys will deceive her… I spent a lot of money on phone cards telling Jemine to run away from ‘fake love’. Thank God that even when she was angry at me, she could not keep the anger for too long. She will eventually see the wisdom of a mother’s words and come back ‘to her senses’. Her father and I prayed daily for our children. I was personally worried that she will be trapped in a ‘self-pity poisonous circle’ of terrible loneliness. Especially on Valentine Day, she will cry on the phone: “Malia… I am so lonely… Nobody wants to invite me out… Nobody sent me even half a rose… Nobody loves me here… If I will continue like this, I will never marry…. Malia…pray for me…” It is not easy to hear your child cry. I will pray in the Spirit and try to find words of wisdom and love, to help her go on. She will say: “Malia, you have taught me to drive men away. You said I should say No No No to all men who are not serious. Ok! I am very good at that. Now, they have all left me alone. Nobody greets me anymore. When will I marry? I am getting old… When will I say Yes?” Me too I did not know when… She was a born again Christian, a worship leader, well educated, having a good job, beautiful and all… But no husband … GOD!!!!!!… Many times I told her: “Jemine, your dad and I, we are in this with you, together. Your pain is our pain. Your prayer is our prayer. Just trust God!”
Then about 5 years ago her dad and I we went to visit her in the US. We were relaxing in the sitting room when Jemine said that a young man who plays the keyboard in her church wants to ‘take her out’. This was scary for me… ‘Take out????” This ‘outing’ was a first after so many years of staying home alone. It just coincided with our annual visit. I did not know if it was God or the devil… But trust God to perfect the good things He started! My husband and I felt like we are on the threshold of a miracle. I was in the kitchen, cooking Nigerian stew (Jemine’s favorite) when the young man came in. He shyly said: ‘Good evening Sir! Good evening Mam! My name is Matthew. Can I take Jemine out, to see a movie? We shall come back in time…” Tali said: ‘Of course…’ but I saw that he was ‘eyeing’ the young man from head to toe. Tali and Matthew and another Nigerian visitor sat down waiting for Jemine to get ready. They were discussing recent events. I observed that Matthew (a white boy) was behaving like a good ‘Nigerian Yoruba boy’. He was the youngest among the three men there. He did not speak too much. He waited for his ‘turn’. He addressed both Tali and the other man with ‘Sir’. When Tali stood up to take something, he stood up too. He did not insist on his opinions (like the young Americans do). He did not raise his voice. Wow… Turning the stew on the stove, I was thinking: ‘This boy has good ‘home training’. Thank God for his parents…I was impressed… But, can this be Jemine’s prince we have been praying for? Is this the special man who will kill Jemine’s loneliness? She said so many: ‘No No No’ to other men. Can this be the ‘Yes’ man?” Will this young man change her Valentine? This is how the mind of a mother works…. I hope you understand…
They went to a movie and came back that evening. I could not rest. I was waiting for the ‘report’. Jemine knew that I will still be in the kitchen, waiting…. I decided to cook Nigerian beans too. Just to waste the time… When Jemine came she was overwhelmed. She told me that they went to the movies and when another man was talking ‘nonsense’ to her he stood up to protect her. Then they went to eat dinner and he insisted that he will pay for both of them. She was impressed because at that time, he was still a student in the university but she was already working. He said that his mother ‘will kill him’ if she hears that he invited a girl out and waited for the girl to pay the bill (even if she has more money). Jemine said that Matthew opened the door of the car for her to enter. She said that since she has been living in America, no young man has even done that. It was only the old men who do that ‘nice thing’- she said. It has never happened to her. She was totally impressed. The look on her face reminded me of the time when I met her dad, many years ago… Because I experienced true falling in love, I could smell the perfume of it… After so many ‘No No No’, we are finally entering the blessed ‘yes’ hour! God has answered our prayer. Six months later, Matthew and his beautiful family came to Warri and Jemine became his wife. And they live happily ever after… This is a true story! My family’s story!
Jemine may remember this event in a more romantic way. She may have forgotten the beans and stew she ate that night. She may add some sweet details I have forgotten. But one thing is clear! It is a story of true love! Be encouraged! God loves His children and He answers their prayers, more than they will ever imagine! Dear young people, both boys and girls, please take this mother’s advice: there are many No-s in life abut only one Yes! Wait for the yes! The journey may be long and lonely. But trust God to the end! Serve God before you can serve men! You too will one day be grateful for the pain becoming a fruitful testimony. Glory to God!
(In the pictures, Matthew and Jemine Oakes at their Nigerian traditional (Itsekri) and church wedding day, in Warri, Nigeria, 2012)

During the Sunday service, Pastor Richmond Leigh, my husband, continued preaching on the theme ‘Power from on high’. His main text was taken from the Book of Revelation: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen” (Rev 1:17, 18; NKJ). He said that as a church, we are entering a new season, into a higher level of anointing. We need to be Baptized and Filled with the Holy Spirit. Nobody knows all the functions of the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The major work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ! He reveals Him to us; opens our eyes to His Majesty so that we can worship Him. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and helps us believe and understand the Word of God.

Pastor Richmond Leigh said that it is possible to be born again and not be baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is true that no one can be saved without the work of the Holy Spirit in his soul (Rom 8:9). One of the symbols of The Holy Spirit is the water. The effect of the water is that it wets you or it quenches your thirst. There are degrees of these effects. For example, the rain is drizzling outside. A man goes in the rain. After some time, he will get wet. But if the rain is torrential, he will get wet faster. If a man drinks a cup of water, he will be filled (gets wet) in the inside. But if a man is dipped into the ocean, he will become ‘wet’ instantly both outside and inside. He will be overwhelmed by the water. All these illustrations show degrees of ‘wetness’ from the same water.

In Greek, the Word ‘baptism’ means to submerge, to immerse or to overwhelm. (It is a pity that in many churches, they have lost the true meaning of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They call it a ceremony by which the Christian becomes an official member of the church). The true Baptism of the Holy Spirit is when a child of God is suddenly ‘immersed in the ocean of the Holy Spirit’ by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and fire! It is a unique, specific and powerful experience! The baptism with the Holy Spirit is always a definite experience, something clear and unmistakable. It is recognized by the person to whom it happens and to others who look at him. Regeneration is something unconscious, the secret work of the Holy Spirit in the spirit of man. It is non-experiential. Nobody knows exactly the moment when he became born again. It takes time to discover the fruits of the Holy Spirit ‘growing’ in your spirit. But the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is different. It is conscious, experiential, definite and clear. It will literarily ‘shake’ you! Once you experience this baptism you can describe the experience with your own words. Your life will never be the same again. You shall receive ‘power from on high’! You shall receive boldness to preach the Word of God, to witness for Jesus! You receive an unshakable assurance that you are saved forever! This is the command of God: “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:17, 18; NKJ).

The manifestations of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are identical in character but vary in degrees of expression. Some people are more passionate than others. It is not wise to compare two people who each has been baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit can create a wonderful energy, a passion, a holy zeal and ‘a fire’ in the church. This is called revival. We should pray for it. We should desire it. But we should be careful that the fire will not do damage to the name of God as we manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The other extreme is to act in fear and to quench the move of the Holy Spirit. That is also wrong. We need godly wisdom to welcome the Holy Spirit, to host Him in our services and to allow Him to move freely in our midst.

What are the signs, the marks and the manifestation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? Basically, there are two types of experiences: Subjective and Objective. The objective signs are what others see about you as you are baptized with the Holy Spirit. The subjective signs are what you experience inwardly when no one can see, as you are baptized with the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul describes the objectives signs in 1 Corinthians 14. The believers were manifesting different gifts at the same time. These were all genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit, but Paul was concerned about the disorderly manner of the assembly. He reminded them that God is a God of order and even if they are baptized with the Holy Spirit there should be holy order in the fellowship.

The subjective manifestation is what the believer says about his personal experience. When a child of God is baptized with the Holy Spirit the first inevitable sign to him is a sense of the glory of God, an unusual sense of the presence of God. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit makes real to him the things he has previously believed by faith. Things difficult to explain, the mystery of the union with Christ, heavenly things, these become so real to him. It is an immediate awareness of the glory of God. Generally, we walk by faith and not by sight. But at the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, the spiritual sight becomes so clear in an immediate way. Suddenly, doubt vanishes, and faith becomes very strong. The assurance of salvation is established, and none can shake it. It is almost impossible to describe these things with words. If you have experienced them, you will know them. If you have not experienced them, you cannot understand them. If a Christian grieves the Holy Spirit and backslides, he will lose some of his spiritual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and his faith will become weaker. He will still believe that he is a Christian, but he will not as confident as in the past in his witness to others. These glorious things he once delighted in become pale in his mind. His salvation remains but his faith and joy decrease.

The subjective manifestations are not described in the Bible. Peter and the other disciples did not describe how they felt at Pentecost. The reason is that each person has his own words to describe the holy experience. Not two are the same. As Believers we walk by faith and not by sight. This is true! But the experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is above and beyond faith. The following are some examples of what can be described as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Moses was in awe of God as He encounter Him amid the burning bush. “Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God” (Ex 3:6). Isaiah also thought that he will die as he had a glimpse of the glory of God. He cried out: “Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips! For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts” (Is 6:5). In the first five chapters, Isaiah felt confident to rebuke the backslidden nation. But now, after seeing God on the throne, I found himself undone and he discovered that he too needs to repent before such a holy God.

Apostle Paul was journeying on the Road to Damascus when suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting… So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do (Ac 9:3-6). John the Beloved fell like dead at the feet of the resurrected and glorified Christ (Rev 1:17). As you can see, each believer experiences a sense of awe of the presence of God hard to describe in words. But one thing is clear, his life is never the same again. He now has a new unshakable and bold confidence concerning the assurance of his salvation. It is like he went to heaven and back. The experience is so real! He can now effectively witness for Jesus no matter the opposition!

This is another way to describe the Baptism with the Holy Spirit: The love of God is ‘shed abroad in our hearts’. This experience is more powerful than generally knowing that God loves you. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that gives the believer supernatural peace, joy, hope, boldness and patience thru tribulations. The child of God loses any form of shame or timidity concerning the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified (Rom 5:1-5). After the Baptism of the Holy Spirit we have the assurance of the love of God which is also the assurance of our salvation. It is this assurance that gives rise to witnessing. Our Lord said to His disciples before ascending to heaven: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Ac 1:8). Once the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you receive a supernatural sense of ‘I know it! I was there when the Cross happened! I saw my Lord on the Cross! I know the Gospel is true! I know that Jesus Christ is Lord!” This ‘knowing’ is more than knowing the doctrines. This knowing becomes part of you until you see Jesus face to face. The Holy Spirit tells us in the most unmistakable manner that we are children of God. Deep down we know that God loves us in Christ and that His love is by His grace alone. The power of such an experience ‘shocks’ some people and they start speaking in tongues. The truth is that only a heavenly language that can describe such a mighty outpouring of Love from above!

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:15, 16). The Holy Spirit is also described as ‘The Spirit of adoption’. The Holy Spirit does two things. First, He makes our spirits cry ‘Abba, Father’. This is a deep involuntary spiritual cry. Only the children of God cry like this. Just like in the natural, the children cry: ‘Daddy, Daddy!’. Like David said: ‘deep calls unto Deep’ (Ps 42:7). Secondly, the Holy Spirit witnesses to our true spiritual identity, confirming to our spirits that we are indeed children of God. Every man can identify with this experience. For example, a father and his beloved son walk together along the road. Suddenly, moved by some inward impulse, the father takes hold of his child and picks him up. He holds him tight in his arms, embraces him and showers him with kisses. After this moment of manifested love, he puts the child down and they continue to walk along the road. That’s it! Even before this moment of manifested love, the child knew that this man walking with him is his father. But oh, the loving embrace, that extra outpouring of the love of the father; this unusual sudden manifestation of it. This love, this embrace, these kisses… they add fuel to the flame of filial love. In a simple way, this example describes the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the highest, the most absolute and glorious way of experiencing the assurance of our salvation. This assurance is more than the one received from deductions, as we read the scriptures. We could arrive at this assurance by the process of reading the Bible, praying for understanding or for the revelation of the scriptures. We could arrive there by a process of self-examination and self-analysis. All these methods are right and true. But the glory of this highest form of assurance is that it is neither anything we do, no deduction that we draw, but it is the direct assurance given to us by the blessed Holy Spirit. There is none like it! That is why God alone takes the glory for every experience of Baptism of the Holy Spirit!

Finally, these are good questions: Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit? Do you understand these things? The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful supernatural experience granted to them who are already born again and who pray for it. Jesus Christ, our High Priest in heaven, is the Baptizer. Child of God, you must seek this experience, until you receive it. It may be accompanied with speaking in other tongues or not. But one thing is clear, this ‘power from on high’ is granted to the believer, to preach and to pray. Educated or not, the believer will be able to witness to his Savior and Lord with great assurance and conviction. He will fear God more than he will fear men! Signs, wonders and miracles will follow the spoken Word. This is the basis for all true ministry. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is needed by all believers but especially by them who evangelize. After His resurrection, our Lord commanded His disciples: Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49). But Peter got tired of waiting. He led the others to the Sea of Galilee to go ‘fishing’. They were supposed to wait for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower them for ministry. But they got discouraged and went back to their old profession, fishing. The Lord met them on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He helped them to re-focus on their primary ministry as lovers, worshippers of Jesus and secondly, as ‘fishers of men’.

This baptism is the explanation of revival, when the move of the Holy Spirit changes nations. Oh, how much we need that! We need revival in Nigeria! ‘Holy Spirit please come and fill our hungry hearts! Revive us again! Baptize us with power from on high! In Jesus’ name we pray!’ Worship the Lord!

Come reign Holy Ghost! Come reign in my heart! Come reign in my soul! Ever reign!
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place! Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace, Thou are welcome in this place!
Come, Holy Spirit we need You! Come sweet Spirit we pray! Come in Your fulness and power! Come in Your own special way! Amen!

(In the picture, my husband, Pastor Richmond Leigh, preaching today)

“For in the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:17)
Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a great man of God. He was a former monk and professor of theology in the Catholic church. One day, thru the revelation of Romans 1:17, he became born again. He wrote that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. That brought much trouble to him from the leaders of the Catholic Church in Rome. He was ordered to come before the religious court and defend himself. In 1521 he was arrested and brought before the Holy Roman Emperor and the delegate of the Pope, that he should retract his doctrines. His accusers pointed at the pile of books that he wrote. They said that Luther was blaspheming God and insulting the Pope. Luther said that the Pope is not God. He said that salvation is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by the authority of the Pope or any man.

Luther maintained that salvation was by faith alone (sola fide) without reference to good works, alms, penance, or the Church’s sacraments. On a theological level, Luther had challenged the absolute authority of the Pope over the Church by maintaining that the doctrine of ‘indulgences’ (paying money to the Church to save your soul) as authorized and taught by the Pope, was wrong. At that time, nobody who challenged the Pope escaped with his life. This was a serious danger for Luther. Some of his friends begged him to reconsider his radical position. The religious leaders warned him that if he does not recant his stand, he will be burnt alive in the public square. After his accusers spoke, Luther stood on his feet. Suddenly, a ray of sunshine fell on his face. It was like the anointing of the Holy Spirit confirming God’s servant. He referred to the Bible as his only judge. Then he spoke these unforgettable words:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the Pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am conquered by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other! May God help me. Amen!”

Somehow, confused by what to do, they allowed him to go. After his dismissal he departed for his home in Wittenberg. However, fearing for Luther’s safety, The Prince of Germany, Frederick III sent men to fake a highway kidnapping attack and abduct Luther, hiding him away at Wartburg Castle. This is how Martin Luther survived. During his stay in the Wartburg Castle he began the translation of the Bible in German. He wrote many hymns. He married a former nun, Katharina, and they had six children. His doctrines spit the Catholic Church. This is how the Protestant churches (Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian and Lutheran) started.

If you are born again, no matter of your denomination, give thanks for the life of this great man of God, Martin Luther! To God be all the glory!

(In the painting, Martin Luther defending himself before the Royal Catholic court called the “Diet of Worms”)

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days” (Est 4:11)

This is the story: Mordecai tells Esther that in the absence of God’s miracle, their people will die. The wicked Haman has convinced the king to sign a law by which all the Jews in Persia should be killed. Queen Esther is the only one who can do something to save God’s people. But there are many difficulties. Esther tells Mordecai that no man or woman can go to see the king uninvited. She can die for such an act. But if the king holds the golden scepter of mercy towards her, then she will live. There is also another problem: the king has not called her to his private chambers for thirty days. Esther, like any wife, is not sure if the king’s love towards her has cooled down. Haman must have tried his best to make the king forget the love he had for his beloved queen. There is also a possibility that the king is too busy with the affairs of the state or planning a war. A busy man easily forgets his wife. The window of successful intercession is very small. Esther has to decide fast. This is an emergency. She decides to fast and pray with her maids. She asks that all the Jews do the same. It is a critical moment of life and death. Then she will go and see the king, uninvited by man but accompanied by the Spirit of God. You know the story. By the grace of God, Esther succeeds in her mission. The evil man Haman is killed and the Jews are saved, to the glory of God.

MY TESTIMONY AS A WIFE
My husband and I are married for almost 46 years. We got married as unbelievers. Then we became saved. We left our medical profession to start a church. We are now in full time ministry. Over the years, as a wife, I had to learn the spiritual protocol of marriage. There was a time my husband was very involved in national politics in Nigeria. It was a lonely difficult time for us, especially for me. We give God all the glory for sustain us and our marriage. Personally, I have learned many great lessons from Queen Esther. For example, there were times when I had to go and see my husband for urgent matters. I learned never to go in ‘flesh’ to meet with him. He hates to see me panicking, crying or complaining like an ‘ordinary woman’. He wants me to stand and speak calmly. As an unbeliever I failed this test many times. But after I became born again and filled with God’s Spirit, I learned to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. No matter the situation, before I go to meet with him, I remember to stop everything, breath in and out, take a minute of silence and pray to God. God is always my first Helper, Savior, Counsellor and Friend! God understands me better than I understand myself!

In times like these English or Romanian language is a wasting of time. I usually pray in tongues. I pray that the Holy Spirit goes before me to touch my husband and open a way for me. I never take it for granted that I can burst in his office just because I am his wife. I need the grace of God always! I pray that when he sees me, he will not see a foolish confused woman, but a true woman of God. I pray that I obtain favor with him even as I speak. I pray that the Holy Spirit gives me the right words, spoken in the right way and in the right tone. I pray that my body language shows faith in God and if need be, the courage to fight spiritual warfare. I pray that, no matter the challenge, God will help us maintain the unity of the Spirit. I pray that our marriage survives the attacks and extra burdens of so many needy people. I usually bind the evil spirits of fear, confusion, impatience, division, anger, emotional manipulation and foolishness. They shall not speak. They shall not have any room to manifest between the two of us. I pray for the unity of the Spirit; that both of us see things in the same way! I pray that the peace of God reigns in our hearts and marriage. I pray that Christ is glorified in the midst of this problem. I pray that the test will become a new testimony. All these requests are ‘translated’ in tongues. I pray in the Spirit as I walk towards my husband. Then I knock at his door. I open it. I enter… We speak calmly. We pray aloud. We agree on the strategy. We are one with God and with one another! The enemy is clearly defeated. The matter is solved in minutes. What seems impossible, after talking and praying together, it now seems so easy, so simple… God is always faithful. Jesus is Lord! We rejoice together! We smile… We laugh… The marriage is becoming stronger. The worship continues… To God be all the glory!

Dear sisters in Christ, I pray for you… I hope that the Holy Spirit reveals to you my heart. I love God and I love my husband. I pray that the singles will marry; that they will not be discouraged to marry seeing so many broken relationships around. I pray that your marriages are fruitful and they will increase in love, wisdom and faith. I pray that you do not draw back in case of difficulties. I pray that after you have done all, you stand in the glory of the Son! Come back with testimonies! I am waiting… I wish you well! God bless you all!

(In the picture, me, dressed with a beautiful Nigerian attire)