“And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another person?” (1Kg 14:1-6)

*Deceptions shall fail

In this story we see how deceptive religious spirits try to manipulate others. One way is by the mode of dressing. The queen dresses as a poor woman, as a mother who loves her son seeking for his healing. Jeroboam tells her ‘to disguise’ herself as an ordinary woman. In Hebrew, the word ‘disguise’ means to fold into two, to duplicate or pervert the original. To disguise it means to change the appearance, the dressing, as to conceal the true identity of the person with the intention to mislead others. The man who disguises to deceive others is like an actor who changes his clothes and his behavior, to make a theatric character seem real. It is the practice of the hypocrites.

But the deception failed for God reveals the truth to the prophet, telling him that the queen pretends to be ‘another woman’. In Hebrew the word ‘pretend’ means to be strange looking. It also means to look carefully, to scrutinize, to discern, to suspect, to reject or ignore. To pretend means to live a fake life in an unreal world. This is purely the product of an unsanctified imagination.

Jeroboam did not visit the true prophet Ahijah until his son was dying and he needed help. He knew that he is a wicked man but he refused to repent. He wanted a prayer or a prophetic word from Ahijah who once told him he will be king. Jeroboam made rich men priests. He knew that they are false prophets.  But when his son was sick he did not go to them for help, but to the true prophet Ahijah. Even so, his deception failed.

Finally, some soul searching questions: Do you desire to impress God? You should desire to please and serve God, never to impress Him. For nobody can impress God. To impress means to gain the admiration of somebody. Do not be deceived: God knows your heart and you cannot hide from Him. He knows that you are a sinner. He knows that only His grace can save you. God can never ‘admire’ any man, for that means to share His glory with man. And God can never do that. Only proud people foolishly imagine that they can impress God with their words, actions, offerings or ministry. Are you proud? Do you desire to please men or only yourself? Then you can never please God. Do you dress like an actor playing different roles? If you want others to see you as humble, then you dress like poor women? If you want to seduce others, then you dress like prostitutes? Do you have different standards of fashion in the church, on Sunday morning, than other days of the week? Do you go to God in prayer, or to a prophet, only when you are in trouble? Be honest with God and with your conscience! Repent and change! Let truth be the belt of your soul! Be free! In Jesus name, Amen!

“Jesus said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt 14:24-33)

The storm was great. The disciples, experienced fishermen by trade, did all they could to keep themselves alive. Suddenly they saw Jesus coming towards them, walking on the water. They became afraid, for they thought He was a ghost. He spoke and encouraged them not to fear. Then Peter said “Lord…” Jesus called Him to come. Jesus did not warn him saying: ‘Peter, make sure that you do not step in the rough area of the sea, be careful how you step out of the boat…’ No! Jesus simply said: “Come!’ Peter should not have looked at the waves. You see that doubt is of our making! That call ‘Come!’ should be enough for Peter. That call should be enough for us.

Peter came out of the boat. The storm was still raging. He walked on the water towards Jesus! (Clap your hands for Peter!!!). Peter started so well but ended so badly. Peter lowered his gaze and looked at the waves. He started sinking. Why? Because of ‘little faith’! Please observe that Peter had no excuse to doubt. There was no need to be startled, to shake. The storm did not start suddenly when he was walking on the calm sea. No! The storm has been there all along. Nothing new about that wind!

When doubt encroaches, your faith becomes ‘little’. Believers can doubt. If the doubt remains little, you can still go on, but with some difficulty. But if the percentage of doubt is greater than your store of faith, if doubt starts to control you, you will ‘sink’, you will fail at last. Doubt is like a virus, an infection or poison to your soul! Reject it!

Your problems, your battle with poverty, your marital crisis, your sickness…all these are not new challenges. These are ‘old’ problems you knew about even before you decided to exercise your faith and ‘step out of the boat’ of your comfort zone. So why do you allow an old problem to shake you afresh? Why doubt when you can believe? Please remember how great your God is! Night time or day, during peace or war, poverty and riches, health and sickness, on the land or on the seas, during calm waters or the storm, Jesus Christ is Lord forever! He is calling you ‘Come!’ His holy call is to greater heights of spiritual adventure with Him, where the word ‘impossible’ does not exist! Why wait? Why doubt? Go to His waiting arms! What are you afraid of? Do you fear death? He has the keys to it, the power to shut it down! Even if sinking, He is able to keep you from falling until that glorious day when faith shall become sight and glory will cover all His creation!

As for me, I have left the boat of the cowards and I step on the waves. My feet are wet, but that’s all! The wind is blowing spoiling my new hair style, but that is all! A little rough, I look straight on the face of my Christ! His gaze sustains me! Deep calls unto deep! Love lifted me! Doubt can never dwell in my heart as I look long and hard on the face of my King! I confess this…I did not know I can dance this ‘oceans dance’, but now I do! Glory!

It is Sunday, 5 am. The faithful brethren in the house have started the morning prayer. Heaven is supplied with fresh praises coming from Warri, Nigeria. I woke up with this song in my heart. This is a sign that this Sunday service will be wonderful. I am getting excited in my spirit. Once the Holy Ghost comes, anything can happen. There is an increase appetite for things spiritual. It is a sign of life, for the dead desire nothing. I am alive and I love Jesus! All is well! Praise the Lord!

Two days ago God bless us with the first mall in Warri, Nigeria. It is called ShopRite. The owner is from South Africa. But to me, it is a gift from heaven. I live in Nigeria since March 1980. I have not seen strawberries or plums with my eyes in Warri, the city where we live. I can only eat them when we travel abroad. But now, these are in a Warri. I was waiting for the crowds to get less before going there myself. A wonderful sister in Christ went there and brought me these fruits. To you, it may not be special, but to me it is. I could not believe my eyes. I can’t even eat them, I am so excited.
Many years ago we prayed (I mean really prayed) that our troubled city will change. That there shall be revival of the Holy Spirit. And also clean streets, with lights, and parks and malls. God has answered and now we have a mall. The rest will surely follow. I give God all the glory for His wonderful care for His children!

In the picture you see my gift…God bless you sister…

The prayer meeting was wonderful. It is true that each time I am repeating myself, but what else can I say if indeed it was wonderful? I prepared my sermon but there was no way to deliver it. The anointing was too strong for ‘regular’ preaching. As we were worshipping God, the Holy Spirit gave us two prophetic messages.

HEALED
The first one was for the sick in our midst. “Healed and Hired” (God has healed you so that you can be hired my Him, to serve Him). Many knelt at the altar praying for healing. There was faith enough to move mountains of evil, chronic and wicked, incurable diseases. To God be all the glory!
“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.” (Ex 15:26)

HONORED
This is a prophetic word, a praise report and a testimony. It is concerning Pastor (Mrs) Trish Eresanara. I testified to the glory of God that she has been my helper, my sister, my daughter in Christ and my friend for many years. She is a medical doctor by profession. Her hobby in the past was baking beautiful wedding cakes and sewing wonderful wedding gowns. She was very good at it. She made money and fame from both activities. Each Saturday she will be very busy with her cakes and gowns. Then the Holy Spirit told me that she will be my assistant in the ministry. Because I am a foreigner, my culture and accent is different. That can be a hindrance. I needed a Spirit filled Nigerian Christian woman who can connect me with the other believers in general and with the women in particular. I told her about my need and God’s call. It was not easy for her to let go of her Saturdays’ ‘jobs’. She is also a busy wife and mother to her two sons. Another difficulty was that she lives quite far from the church.

She went to pray about it and later she said yes. We prayed for each other and placed our relationship on the altar of God. We both fear God and we knew that ministry is a very serious matter. This is more than ten years ago. My testimony is that since then, she has been a very efficient, hardworking, humble and faithful helper, assistant and friend beyond my dreams. She makes my life easier and happier. Each time we have service (with the women’ fellowship or the Saturday Class prayer meeting) she is there waiting for me. She always comes first. All these years she has never complained. Each time, in rain or sun shine, in sickness and health, war or peace…she has never been late or looking tired. She has never been disrespectful to me or trespassing in my authority. For example, If both of us were cooks in the kitchen, she will prepare all the ingredients, not too many, not too few. She will wash the vegetables and boil the meat. She will place the spices on a row for me to pick what I want. She will make sure there is gas in the cylinder. She will fleet the kitchen so that no flies or mosquitoes will disturb me. My apron will be washed and waiting. Then she will wait for me to mix all these things in the pot and on fire. Soon, the soup is done and it will be very tasty. Everybody will like the soup! I am sure you know what I mean…

This is a lesson I have learned: you can do any job if God has granted you a good helper. Today we gave honor to whom honor is due! Well done Trish! God bless you!
We then prayed that God will grant good friends and helpers to all of us!
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act…Pay everyone whatever you owe them… fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due” (PV 3:27; Rom 13:7)

Lastly, there was nothing else to do than to rejoice and praise our God! To God be all the glory!

(In the picture: praying for the women in our church with Trish faithfully standing at my ‘back’)

“And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another person?” (1Kg 14:1-6)

In this story, Jeroboam’s oldest son was sick. He sends his wife to the old prophet Ahijah who prophesied good to him long ago. He tells his wife to disguise herself to look like any poor mother whose son is sick. Her royal garments were replaced by old faded clothes. She carries the gift of a poor woman, nothing to prove that she is the queen. They hoped that the prophet will be deceived to prophesy good and their son will be healed. At this time, the prophet is blind because of old age. But God reveals to Ahijah how the king and his wife have planned to deceive him. The deception failed. He rebukes the queen and gives her ‘bad’ news. Their son will die and she will not be able to meet him alive. It happened just as the prophet spoke.

What are the lessons we can learn from this sad story?

*God cannot be mocked!

The first and the greatest lesson is that no man can deceive God. God cannot be bribed. “Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap” (Gal 6:7, AMP) Why will men even imagine that they can deceive God? The only explanation is the work of evil lying deceptive spirits.

*A true servant of God who is filled and lead by the Holy Spirit cannot be deceived

You may deceive a false prophet or a backsliding believer. But you cannot deceive a true prophet who always lives in God’s presence. This is because God’s secret is with him. God will answer by Himself and judge any man who comes to a prophet with an idol in his heart and seeking a blessing thru deception!

*We live by faith and not by sight

You do not need natural eyes to know the truth. Prophet Ahijah was old and blind but he was not deceived because God spoke to him. “We live by faith and not by sight!” (2Cor 5:7)

*God shall judge all liars and deceivers

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” (Eph 5:6, 7)

Deception comes to you with ‘empty words’. To be empty it means lacking substance, reality, meaning, value, force and fruits. These attributes should have been there but they are not. The words of the deceiver are barren, giving false hopes, making hungry without providing food. These are idle and foolish words. The true words are the words of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, able to impart life to the believers.  We are commanded not to associate with deceivers, not to be intimate friends with them. They have nothing of value to add to your life. They want to take control over your life and become a burden to you. Do not allow the devil to step in even with a toe!

The victory over deception is one of the greatest man can ever experience in this life! The reward is beyond words! I counsel you to pay the price and live free from the wicked power of deception! Let truth be the belt of your soul! Be free! In Jesus name, Amen!

This is the counsel I gave to a sister in Christ who teaches children how to worship. It may be useful to you too…

“Children are very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You teach them the theory, the doctrine, you encourage them to join in worship. That is good. But lastly, you have to leave them behind and just enter alone before the throne. More than a teacher, more than a mother, you are a worshiper. They have to ‘lose’ you. They will discover that as much as you love them, they cannot control the size of your wings. That will impress them enough to try theirs too. You need to glide alone, not for their sake first of all, but for the sake of God and your spirit. That is when you let go of your cares and responsibility you have before men.
There are many teachers but few fathers or mothers. And even fewer lovers…Next Sunday, be a teacher, be a mother and give allowance to your self to be a lover of God in the sight of all, friends and enemies! To God be all the glory!
Glide freely my sister, my friend…
In Jesus name, amen!”

“Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh” (Gen 47:7-10)

I read that the ancient Egyptians were always looking for ways to live long. They wanted to know the secret of a long life, even eternal life. They became experts in the skill of mummification. Their ideal, according to the prediction of their gods, was 110 years. If a man could live that long, he was declared a saint in the land and was worshipped by all. But very few lived long. This is because of sicknesses, accidents, drowning in the River Nile, the danger of crocodiles and snakes, famine and war.

When Joseph brought his old father Jacob before Pharaoh, one thing that impressed him was the age of the Patriarch. Try to imagine the scene: here was Pharaoh on his throne; the richest and most powerful man on earth at that time. Then there was Jacob standing before him, homeless and hungry, with a needy family waiting behind, hoping that good will come out of this ‘interview’. What a contrast…The sons of Jacob bowed before Pharaoh, even before Joseph. But Jacob does not bow to Pharaoh. He stands before him to bless him! Twice! The lesser is blessed by the better! Jacob is the better among the two! He may not have royal fancy clothes, food or a home on earth. But Jehovah God is with him. And that is all that matters. Selah! He stands before the pagan king of Egypt as the Servant and Prophet of Jehovah! Four hundred years later, Moses will do the same.

Joseph brought his father in and ‘set him before Pharaoh’. In Hebrew, the word ‘set’ means to stand firm, to raise up, to abide, to be established, to be ordained and be employed. Jacob was standing for Jehovah, as His messenger, ambassador, servant and minister. It is true that Jacob deceived many in his life. But now, Jacob stands before the world to give glory to the God who saved and redeemed him. This is a wonderful royal privilege and his best moment to shine for God. This is the picture of a true servant of God!

You may think that this old man Jacob has nothing to offer to Pharaoh. Please watch the interview…Pharaoh is interested in the age of Jacob. When he hears that he is 130 years old, he is totally amazed. This old Jew has proved wrong the mighty gods of Egypt Pharaoh represents and worships. Jacob, leaning on his staff and worshiping His God has disappointed the predictions of the idols (Heb 11:21). Pharaoh wants to know the secret of his old age. Now Jacob has a wonderful opportunity to give glory to God who has kept him alive, in spite of so many trials. Jacob even boasts about his father and grandfather, Isaac and Abraham, who both lived longer than him. Impressed, Pharaoh wants a prayer that the God of this old man may bless him too with such a long fruitful life. Jacob prays and blesses him. Then Pharaoh approves the request of Joseph, allowing his family to live in Goshen, the most prosperous area of Egypt. This is surely the favor of God. Do you see what I see?

Dear Child of God, this is my prayer for you this early morning:
May God satisfy you with long, happy, blessed and fruitful life for His glory!
May God show you His salvation, deliverance and strength!
May you continue to be active in witnessing to the power and faithfulness of your God until your last breath!
May your long and successful life put your enemies to shame!
May you continue to do exploits for God to the end!
May your hope in God who never disappoints be strong in you to the end!
May the power of the Holy Ghost enable you to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ until the end!
May the favor of God be upon you and your family!
To God be all the glory!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there” (Mt 14:23)

It is my passionate desire to be like Jesus, to pray like my Lord! Here we see one of His ‘secrets’. He was at the end of a long successful day. Thousands were fed and satisfied. It was evening time…

Now this is a good question: What do we do at the end of a successful ‘business’ day?  Most of us we go to rest, to sleep. Please observe what our Lord does: He goes away alone to pray! To pray!!! He cannot sleep until His Father knows all about the day. He has to share the excitement of His success with His Father. Both of them must rejoice together.

The next thing, in the middle of the night, Jesus walks on the water to help His disciples. This is another ‘success story’. Again, must of us we only pray when we are in trouble. But Jesus prays also in times of success, when ‘things work as planned’. Selah!

Please observe that in between the two ‘slices’ of success, Jesus butters them with prayer. He prays before and He prays after each success. The holy heavenly sandwich Jesus is introducing to us is made of <Success-Prayer-Success> He spices it with worship and love overflow!

In other words, prayer is the key of all true success in life! So simple and so profound! This is really a wonderful lesson to imitate for all of us. I just made up my mind to pray more often! Just gazing at Jesus, my faith has increased! “Thank You Lord for being such a wonderful Teacher to us, Your children!”

God planted the seeds of hope in you. He gave you a dream, a vision that your future will be safe and happy. The present circumstances cannot destroy that precious hope, for hope is from God. Come back to prayer! Come back to God!
Is this not a dream worth fighting for? Will it not be a pity to let this dream die of hunger, starved for lack of faith? Hope is calling you back, to the embrace of things to come, to dream again, to love again, to live again…There shall be a double restoration…For each sigh a diamond and for each tear, a crown. Hope is the judge and hope has the last say! Depression is defeated! In the court of God, hope has spoken! Rejoice always! The best is yet to come! In Jesus name, amen!

“Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles! Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you” (Zechariah 9:12)

“One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out” (Jn 19:34)
If you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side, tell him that there is another way, a better way of coming to My heart — even My heart’s love! Tell him, that if he will repent, and look upon Me whom he has pierced, and will mourn — then I will cherish him in that very bosom which he has wounded! Tell him that he shall find the blood which he has shed — to be an ample atonement for the sin of shedding it! And tell him from Me, that he will put Me to more pain and displeasure by refusing this offer of My blood — than when he first drew it forth!” “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!” (Matt 9:13)

(by Dr Benjamin Grosvenor)

Today, as always I remember my mother. She is almost 90 years old now. She lives with my sister in Romania. I remember many wonderful things about Professor Albai Domnica, my mother. I give all the glory to God for choosing her to be my mother!

She and my dad were our teachers in the primary school. She was very strict with me and my sister. She was a disciplinarian. We did not always like that, but she did it out of love. She never deceived herself or others. Lies were forbidden in our house. She thought us the value of truth spoken in love. She confronted the issues at the root so in our house there was no long time unsolved problem. She prepared me to be strong and independent. She forced me to mature early on. For example, she thought me how to read and write from the age of 4 or 5. By the time I went to the regular classes in primary school, I was almost bored. To avoid idleness, she gave me an assignment: to listen well to my class mates, to know who makes progress and who does not. At home she gave me to score the papers for the whole class. She said that I should not tell anyone, that I am helping her. In the class she will rebuke me like all the others. For four years, I was an assistant teacher to her without anyone knowing. I learned to work the extra mile without complaining and without boasting of my privileges. She trained me to be a strong, fearless, compassionate and wise leader, just the way she was to many children in the school. She was a very wise woman, truly investing in my future. Now as a missionary pastor I so appreciate her labor of love in my life! God used her to prepare me for a challenging life in Africa, far away from home.

Before my father died, both of them became believers in Christ. She now reads the Bible and prays daily. She is a happy woman, enjoying her latter years in peace. So, this is my praise report: God is good and faithful to me and my family! To God be all the glory!

Happy Mother’s day, Mami!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was very good. We started strong with prayers and praise. I so much appreciate our prophetic team. We are all in one accord. No friction of rebellion is allowed if we want to glorify God in our services. The unity of the Spirit is essential for the anointing to come down, to save, touch and heal. Their input is priceless. They are in the Spirit when they come to minister. It makes it so easy for me to preach the Word for the hearts of the people are tender already. God bless ‘the willing volunteers of Israel’, the congregation of saints in Father’s House Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria! Then the message came:

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise and five were foolish” (Mt 13:1, 2)

This parable is spoken by our Lord. It is one of many telling people about His second coming. It describes the visible church on earth. The word virgin is very strong; it means more than just women of girls. It describes obviously committed Christians. These ten virgins are not just Sunday attendance Christians but the ones who come to weekly activities, pay their tithes and sacrificially serve God with all their hearts. But in spite of this, five are born again and five are not. Only God knows who are saved. Even the wise do not know the others are foolish. The foolish are so close to salvation and yet, very far. This parable is a warning to examine our faith. The ten virgins have many things in common:

*All are virgins (they have good moral characters and love Jesus; they are not involved in sexual sins)

*All have lamps (the lamp symbolizes the body. It also symbolizes the Word of God. They all can quote the Bible)

*All went out to meet the Bridegroom (they all have the same dreams and expectations; they desire to see Jesus and meet Him)

*All of them slumbered and slept as the Bridegroom was delayed in coming (they all are human)

*All of them heard the midnight cry: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

*They all arose and got excited and they all trimmed their lamps

This is the end of the similarities. What happens from this time on reveals the hidden differences, why five are wise and five are foolish. The differences are less in number. In fact, the only difference is the presence of oil in the lamps. Oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The conclusion is this: he who is filled with the Holy Spirit is saved, is born again and will see the Lord. He will be blessed. The Lord shall be his reward.

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Rom 8:9)

The one who lacks the Holy Spirit, though he has all other things, gifts and blessings, is not saved. He will miss the Lord and His blessings. The oil is the vital difference! The Seal of the Holy Spirit is the eternal stamp of difference! Without the oil, you have to go back to a fruitless business, to buy and sell without any eternal gain. The oil is the pass word for the door to open, to see the Lord and to be blessed forever!

These are most serious questions…Did you receive the Holy Spirit since you have believed? Do you know the Person of God the Holy Spirit? Is He your friend? Are you saved, born again and Spirit filled?

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Mt 13:45, 46)

I heard the true story of a man who was seeking a treasure. One day he arrived at a poor village. A little boy was seated on the ground playing with stones. One of the stones accidentally fell at this man’s feet. When he looked at it he discovered that it was a diamond hidden in a rock. The little boy did not know the value of the stone. His family was poor because of lack of knowledge. This man went back, looked for money and bought the land outside that village. Then he started mining bringing out diamonds embedded in the rocks. He became a multi-millionaire. The mine is still there in South Africa.

How this man did become so rich ‘overnight’? The answer is GOD! For nothing good happens on this earth ‘accidentally’. Strange destinies become fulfilled in the night when others are sleeping… This is God promise: He will lead you to find ‘secret treasures’ below the surface of the earth, just to give you a testimony of success, to prove that He is your God! Read this: “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Is 45:3)

But there is still another element. This man was spiritually wise, applying the Kingdom of God principles of success. He was seeking a treasure, not knowing when or where he will find it. He trained his eyes to see and his heart to desire things hidden from the common knowledge of the ordinary people. He paid the price of finding the treasure by walking many miles and by asking many questions, so that his dream comes true. He knew that a treasure may be found below the surface of the earth, hidden in an ordinary rock or even in the dirt men sweep away. He knew how to ignore the wrap and go to the heart of things.

This is the eternal principle of success in life! This is how you seek God! This is how you find God! Yes, this is also how you become rich! The way may be long and difficult, the price high and painful, but the success is guaranteed! For this is the Word of God that never fails! “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Mt 7:8)

Right now, if I was you, I will pray my first prayer and take my first step in this journey of life and blessings untold!

(In the picture you see a diamond embedded in a rock called kimberlite taken from a mine in South Africa)

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus!” (Philipp 3:13-14)

We have here Paul’s wise theory of life — progress by forgetting, by letting go of the things that are past. The word forgetting also means to blot out of memory or to cut loose from. We cannot go back to the past mistakes and sins. But we can bring these to God who is able to bring glory to Himself by making new wisdom for us.

I heard of a story; a traveler found a place beside the sea, where many ships were dashed upon the rocks. Beautiful houses were built from pieces of wreckage gathered from the shore.

That is about the best many of us can do. We have little else to bring to God but wreckage — disobediences, broken commandments, mistakes, sins. Yet it is a wonderful thought that even with such materials, if we are truly penitent and repentant — our Master will work, helping us to build beauty in our lives. Sins forgiven become lessons for us. Out of a past full of failures, we may make a future full of strength and beauty — through the grace of Christ. We cannot forget our sins, but we may be wiser and better for them. Praise the Lord!

In the picture: Lake Huron is one of the five Great Fresh water Lakes of North America,  on the border of Canada and the United States. About 1000 ship wrecks lie in the depths of these lakes. The people around the lake dived and retrieved materials to build their beautiful homes from the remains of these ship wrecks.

This evening I remember a very interesting story. More than 20 years ago, our youngest daughter Jemine went with her dad to a social and family party in Sapele, Nigeria. She was about 6-7 years old and she was invited to sing a song at the microphone. Many ‘big’ men, rich men, politicians and traditional rulers were in attendance. She loved to sing and dance. Unlike me, she was never shy in public. It just happened that I thought our children the Ten Commandments that week. I never knew that the youngest will have an opportunity to preach the Word!

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control” (1Tim 2:14, 15)

In the natural, women have a tendency to be deceived more than the men. This is the story of how Bathsheba, was deceived, when her son, King Solomon, was not (1Kings 2). This is a great lesson for us all because she is the almost perfect woman described in Proverbs 31. It is another example how a good woman can fall to deception.

This is the background of the story.  One day, Adonijah comes to Bathsheba with a request. He wants to marry Abishag, his late father’s nurse and last ‘wife’. Bathsheba agrees to talk to her son. Hearing about Adonijah’s request, King Solomon suddenly becomes angry and refuses his mother’s intercession. He judges Adonijah’s actions as ‘evil’ and kills him for it. Read this royal drama and discover how Adonijah deceived the Queen Mother. She was not a young woman. She was the widow of great King David and now their son was on the throne. She was used to the palace intrigues and politics. So how was it that she did not detect this evil deception? How does deception come?

*Deception comes thru flattery

It is interesting to note that Adonijah’s mother’s name was Haggith, which in Hebrew means to celebrate, to entertain or to dance in circles until others get dizzy. His mother might have been someone who knows how to seduce men with her lustful dance. She reminds us of Salome, the daughter of Herodias, who thru entertainment gained the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Her son Adonijah is a skillful actor. He flatters Bathsheba saying that her son will always grant her every wish.

*Deception comes wrapped in the ordinary things of life

Adonijah did not sound like a wicked schemer, or a corrupt politician. He said that he wants to marry. He was addressing the emotions of Bathsheba as a mother. He knew that all good mothers will like sons to marry. On the surface, nothing is wrong. That is how deception hides. But by taking his late father’s youngest ‘wife’, he is claiming the throne for himself. Rebellion and evil is still in his heart. That is why Solomon rebukes his mother for being deceived by his wicked older brother. He judges his request as a proof that his brother is still a schemer, a rebellious man who wants to kill him and take his throne. “He who plots to do evil will be called a schemer” (PV 24:8). This request for marriage is Adonijah’s death sentence. Solomon kills him and now ‘the kingdom is established in his hands’. In Hebrew, the word ‘established’ means to stand erect, to have victory, peace and prosperity. Solomon, who wrote the Book of Proverbs, tells us what to do in similar situations. “Remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness” (PV 25:5)

“Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made” (Est 5:14)

This is the story of God’s justice. The righteous shall be rewarded and the wicked shall be punished. God’s name does not appear in the Book of Esther. But His providence is clearly seen in the whole story. At this time, Esther is already set to do the will of God. Judgment must come on the wicked Haman. Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet in her royal quarters. That pleased Haman, for only the most intimate friends of the king can attend such a party. That made Haman even more proud. This pride made him blind to any revelation of God’s will. He lacks any sensitivity to the leading of God’s Spirit.  Haman is happy. But the only thing stopping Haman to be completely happy is Mordecai the Jew, who still does not bow to him like the others. This is a good lesson: the proud wicked ambitious people are never totally happy and they never have complete peace, day or night!

His wife and friends advise him to build a very high gallows to hang Mordecai as soon as possible. This gallows is three times higher than a normal one. This is so that all men see what will happen if men disobey the ‘big man’. The wicked Haman has invited his friends to a house party getting ready for the long planned self-promotion. They rejoice in their wickedness. Like crazy drunkards, Haman, his wife and his friends are so deceived, so much out of the will of God that they have no idea that he is building his own judgment. In few hours, he will hang on the very gallows he has built in the central square of Susa. This is the Word of God: “If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead” (PV 26:27)

May God forbid marriage with an ungodly spouse! May God separate you from all ungodly so called friends! May God deliver you from all evil, pride, deception, foolishness and worldly ambition! May God bless you with a godly marriage and godly friends! In Jesus name, amen!

“A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring” (PV 25:26)

I had learned many things from Mordecai the Jew, Queen Esther’s uncle. I learned not to bow down to the devil or to his agents. I learned how to confront a situation with God’s wisdom and strength.

In the scripture above we are told that if a righteous man falls down before a wicked unbeliever that troubles the heavens. How can a born again believer ‘fall down’? He may fall into sin; he may backslide. As the wicked men witness the backsliding of a believer, there is ‘trouble in paradise’. The ungodly man rejoices to see that the children of God can fall into sin. That is what the devil wants to see. He is ready to pay any amount to watch such a disgraceful defeat of a child of God. The backsliding of the believers is top entertainment in hell.  Another way is for a believer to fall down in worshipping the money or the status of a wicked rich man; or to give up his faith because of the oppression and persecution of wicked men. This trouble affects the source of the water-springs. The waters become bitter and poisoned. Many others die as they drink water down the river. Backsliding is a serious offence staining the name of God among men. It emboldens the sinners and discourages the believers. God forbid!

Long ago I made a covenant with God that He should never allow me to backslide, even if want to do it or pray that I should do it. I told Him to keep me close to His bosom and chastise me if I ever want to distance myself from His presence.  I told God that I prefer to die and go to heaven than to disgrace His name in my life. That covenant works for me. I passed thru many trials because of my faith. But even when the fire was hot enough to ‘kill me’ I just could not think of backsliding. The very thought of it offended me as it offends my Father in heaven.

May God the Holy Spirit encourage you this hour! Do like Mordecai! Do not bow down to the rich and famous! Be faithful unto death and you shall receive the crown of life!