HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prophetic prayer meeting was good. We all praised God and bowed at His feet singing: “Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! For Him alone is worthy, Christ the Lord!” Then the Word came. The Holy Spirit said that we have been faithful and obedient during this long season of spiritual warfare. The enemies have been pushed behind and the damage done to them is so great that it will take a long time for them to recover. Until then, there shall be a season of peace when we shall buy land and build houses. God will bless us with supernatural extraordinary blessings, spiritual and material. Divine healing, fruitfulness and financial prosperity shall be our portion. Nigeria is a country in recession. It is a form of Biblical famine. We believe the promises of God that during this famine He will bless, protect, increase, heal and deliver us abundantly. We declared that in Christ, even during national trouble and famine, we shall not be ashamed of our testimony, we shall not become spiritually dry and we shall not be disappointed in our God! Many people may suffer hunger and frustration in life. But we shall ride on with God and shall have abundance of provision and supernatural blessings (Ps 37:18, 19). Amen!

Read Genesis 26. Isaac planted seeds during the time of famine. God blessed him and gave him a hundredfold harvest. His wealth was not stagnant but continued to increase. He was a man of peace. He enjoyed the blessings of peace. He was not a famous man, a warrior like his father Abraham. He was not a good business man like his son Jacob. Isaac was a man known for only one thing: he was a digger of wells. The wells represent deep hidden blessings, the water of life. He knew where to find life even in a hopeless dead place. He believed in God of miracles.  He obeyed God’s Word. He was greatly tempted to go ‘abroad’ and find ‘greener pastures’. But God told him to stay and dwell in Gerar, in the country of the Philistines. The word Gerar means ‘Rough land’.  This is his testimony: in the midst of his enemies, during drought and famine, Isaac became extremely wealthy because he obeyed God. We identify with his testimony!

What was in Isaac’s mind to be able to trust God, that He will prosper him during famine? Who is the God he served? Who is our God? God is a God of miracles! God is able to make the blind to see; the deaf and dumb to hear and speak; the cripple to walk and dance. God created all things and His hand is not short during trying times. God said that He will make rivers to flow in the desert, in the deep valleys of troubles and on the barren heights of difficult situations. God says that we should forget the past troubles and the former lack of good things. We should see this ‘new thing’ God is doing, right now, in our midst. Jehovah Jireh promises to provide impossible things. Rivers shall flow in the wilderness and many shall come to see the wonder of our supernatural prosperity (Is 41:17-20); 43:18-21). These blessings are spiritual and natural. This miracle is done by God so that His worship will continue for the praise of His glorious name. Nothing and nobody can stop it. God has decided to bestow His favor on us. It is the amazing grace of God. This is big! Thank You Lord Jesus! We chose to believe the Word of the Lord!

“And they overcame him (Satan the Adversary, the Accuser of the Brethren) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death” (Rev 12:11)

A mature believer in Christ is known for walking in constant victory. He does exploits continually. He has learned to apply the Cross daily, to kill the lusts of the flesh and to reject satan’s lies. He has learned to trust in the Lord with all his heart. His faith in God is applied daily in practical life. That is called divine wisdom!

The truth is that the devil cannot be defeated in your own power. First of all you need to be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, to gain the victory over the weakness of the flesh and over the power of the devil, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This testimony of victory cannot be borrowed or bought from another. It is a personal victory flag with your name on it!  For as long as you trust in men, in pastors, in prophets or even in yourself, you cannot have victory in spiritual warfare. The devil works thru deception. He will direct your attention to men or to yourself. He will try to deceive saying that your faith is in God but in reality you are trusting in men. But God knows the truth. God will not give you the victory for as long as deception still works in your mind.

Before praying for victory in any area of your life (marriage, children, fruitfulness, finances…) you should pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the possibility of a stronghold of deception still standing in your mind. Once you see it clearly, you can attack and destroy it. It takes just a simple prayer of faith and the deliverance is done. It will fall like the Jericho wall. After that, the victory will manifest quickly. But if you are deceived, I mean you are spiritually blind, a thousand long prayers will accomplish nothing.

I testify that the Word of God is true. It has worked for me. If the devil likes it or not I declare that in Christ, I AM AN OVEROMER!!! In Christ alone, having faith in the power of the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross, the enemy of my soul has been overcome, defeated and disarmed. My weapons are not worldly (bitter ambition, envy, seduction, manipulation, bribe…) but might thru God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have trampled over serpents and scorpions and they are now dead. They mocked and insulted me. But hissing, they died. Christ in me, the Hope of Glory, is greater than the prince of this world. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places and in His name I have authority over all the power of the enemy! I know how to lose. For many years I was deceived by the devil! He accused me and I believed him. He gave me sickness and I accepted it. He intimidated me and I trembled. But his power over me is finished! This is the miracle I proclaim: I know how to win! I have experienced the sweet fragrance of victory over my former master, the one who accused me before God day and night. By the Blood of Jesus, I have overcome! I am healed, delivered, fruitful, spiritual, strong and wise! I can shout my victory from the rooftops and the devil cannot shut my mouth. I am a child of God! I am fearfully and wonderfully made! I boast that Jesus loves me! This testimony is true! Glory to God!

Child of God, stop going in circles! Be encouraged to fast and pray for a deeper revelation of what it means to be a true hero of faith! May your testimony come! May your strength increase! May your faith be strong! May your joy be full! In Jesus name, amen!

 
One of the greatest revelations for me was to find out that I it is possible to live on this earth totally fulfilled, completely free from all wicked fears and terrorizing inferiority complexes. When I gave my life to Christ, I was so happy to know that my sins have been forgiven. “Oh, Happy day…When Jesus washed my sins away…” It was a great surprise for me to discover that forgiveness of sins is just the beginning of the blessed Spirit filled life. The Holy Spirit gave me a glimpse of uncountable moments of pure joy that paved the narrow way leading to heaven!

As a baby Christian seeking God I was surprised to discover that many Christians are too easily satisfied. They just pick a church, join in the activities and that is all for them. No more fasting and prayers. No more longing for a deeper experience with the Lord. In particular, it is a sad thing for me to know that so few Christians desire to know the power of the Cross. They run away from Calvary not knowing that they cheat themselves by ‘denying the power thereof’. But as for me, I made up my mind long ago that I will go closer to the Cross and see it by myself. There was a magnetic attraction for me to go there… to see… to touch… to listen, to any drop of revelation found at the foot of the Cross. Just the way many people here in Nigeria are desperate to go ‘abroad’ so was I to go to the Cross of Christ. But the closer I went there, the fewer people I met on that royal way.

For a long time I was considered crazy…’why go there… the cross is too negative’ – they said. I lost friends along the way. I was often lonely and confused. No pastor I knew could help… But still I could not stop looking up. Against all odds I slowly started climbing that hill, not really knowing what is there to find at the top. It was not easy. But the price I paid cannot compare with the glory revealed. What I found at the Cross changed me forever! It’s so called ugliness and terror hides the greatest treasure man can ever know on earth. This I can tell you: If you have not had a personal encounter with the Crucified, you do not know Him well.

This letter is an invitation to all who want to taste that the Lord is good; to all who long for deeper waters of knowing God; to all who have a melody in their hearts but they lack the words to match the tune; to all whose dreams have expired and they hope to start afresh; to all who feel rejected, abused, ignored, mocked, forgotten, disappointed and in pain… I invite you, friend… Let’s go to Calvary and hear the triumphant voice of God: ‘It is finished!’

Come… Clinging to the Cross I beg you come… take your heart in your hand and knock…knock… Suddenly, the gate of life eternal shall open and together, we can step in… the angels, the pearls, the rainbow and the glory will welcome you inside… Behold! The Lamb of God who died once and rose again for all… His name is Jesus! He came so that love may have a face and life may have a voice! I saw the King of kings! I testify that He loves you! This is a royal invitation! Bride of Christ… Friends… Children… Come…

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4)

This is a simple command: Rejoice always! And yet, it is one of the most difficult commands to obey. Why? We all want to be happy; nobody choses to be sad. It took me many years to learn how to rejoice in such a way that it becomes a life style of glorious, ever increasing and faithful joy. What is the problem?

Most people depend of their circumstances to create and maintain a life of happiness. This is a serious mistake because you cannot control your environment. There are too many factors that influence the things around you. In this life things go ‘up and down’. It is the same for all people, no matter where you live.  A good job can be lost. A dear husband can leave his wife for another woman. Children fail exams and may choose to be wayward for a season.  A sickness can wipe away all your savings. And many things like these…

For joy to be stable its source must be internal, spiritual. The fountain of joy must be the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. Please note that it is only a born again child of God who is able to obey the command to ‘rejoice always, again and again’. According to the Bible all unbelievers are basically depressed and frustrated with their lives. They may hide their feelings behind fashion or a good make up but the heart is bleeding inside. Nobody can change his own heart! It is only God who created it that can touch it and change it!

This constant powerful rejoicing has to be ‘in the Lord’. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the child of God. It is possible for a believer to grieve the Holy Spirit. Then the joy becomes less but it is never completely wiped out. Thru repentance the ‘joy of salvation’ can be restored.

I had to learn and practice the holy habit of living joyfully. I had to learn to ignore my feelings. By the power of the Holy Spirit I had to learn how to kill my tendency to doubt the Word of God. My flesh had to be crucified with Christ so that my bent towards rebellion will die. With time, I learned to trust the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth and strengthen me to obey it. Once thru the Cross I mastered my flesh, joy became a part of me. Always!

There is another mistake I made in the past. This is a common mistake with many young believers. I depended too much on my emotions to be happy. I forgot that spiritual joy is deeper than my emotions, which are superficial, an expression of the flesh. That is why my life was like a ‘roller coaster’. For example: yesterday I was very happy because my children behaved well. But today things changed.  Because they forgot to clean their rooms I became angry and sad again. My sadness of today had the power to cancel the happiness of yesterday. I was like a man who never has any savings. That added to my anxiety for I felt that I can never be truly and permanently happy. This wrong pattern of thinking went on for many years. The devil cheated me often, stealing my peace and joy.

I got angry with myself. Then I one day my faith rose and I asked God for ‘Holy Ghost wisdom and strength’! (By the way, this is always a ‘dynamite’ prayer!).  The Lord answered immediately! He said that I should ask for my ‘daily bread’. As the Cross I carry is a daily cross, so the bread must be a daily bread!!! This is a daily expectation of spiritual and natural food. It is not an hourly request and not a weekly request. Just daily and that is enough! Also, the Lord Jesus reminded me of His Word: Troubles come in daily doses too! “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt 6:34). Light shone in my spirit!

Praise the Lord! By His grace I had learned over the years to have separate ‘spiritual compartments’ for daily needs and daily prayers. My days are full with new mercies, new wisdom and prayers. This is my ‘daily secret’. My joy started flowing like a river connecting my days! In this way, my joy of yesterday cannot be damaged, polluted or spoiled by the ‘trouble’ that may come today. Each ‘item’ is separate and do not touch one another. I may have some anxiety today. I will pray to God about the matter. But my ‘yesterday’ joy has become part of me, for it has already been eternally saved in my heavenly account. That is why I can now testify that my joy is stable and strong as the Rock of Ages who gave it to me! The lusts of the flesh and the difficult circumstances around me are not able to destroy what God is building in me. To His glory and for my good!  So, my children, I say rejoice! For Jesus is Lord over your lives! And I say again, rejoice!

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you”  (Joel 2:25)

This is the testimony of a family who came to our church not too long ago. They say that they have been serving God for a long time but there was a mysterious stagnation in their home since last year, both spiritually and financially. We told them to fast and pray and seek God’s face. The husband and his wife did it with faith and in the unity of the Spirit. God answered them speedily. Their testimonies shall multiply. But for now, this report is given to the glory of God, to the shame of the devil and for the encouragement of other believers who struggle with stagnancy in any form. This is the truth: God humbles us for a season. But the same God is able to restore all what was lost and so much more. There is no ‘short cut’ with God! Fast and pray, with faith, expecting God to speak to you and act. I assure you that God will prove Himself to you! Your testimony is waiting! In Jesus name, amen!

“Good day ma, God indeed has been faithful. Firstly I thank God for coming to Father’s House Church. Secondly, thanks for your time to counsel me and pray with me, I did the fasting and prayers alongside my wife and have been expectant, I thank God for His mercies and Speedy answers! Last week, I received a letter from my Office for 1 week training (this I have been denied for more than two years). The personnel in charge of learning/career administration saw me and said ‘what happened that your name have been omitted from training all these while?’ I told him I didn’t know. He said he has restructured my training program and henceforth, every month I will attend at least a one week training to cover the lost grounds. Secondly, one of my tenants owing me in my property for long called me saying that he is sorry for the long delay that unfailingly this week he will pay me all the rents owed and even up to 1year. I thank God because He answered speedily and I know He is not done with me yet. More testimonies will come before the end of the year and beyond. That’s why I believe what Ta Leigh said yesterday: Thanksgiving to God is every day, every hour and every minute! May His name be praised forever!”

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Heb 10:35)

Child of God, the Bible promises a great reward if you keep and protect your confidence in God. Confidence is mature tried faith. The word in Greek describes confident speech.  This bold speech comes from the bold heart of a lion trained by the Lion of Judah. A true believer must testify about His Savior thru open, direct speech, bold and sure, free and clear. Just saying to somebody: “Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Lord” with the confidence produced by the Holy Spirit, you shall be ‘richly rewarded’ by God the Father.

Take note: It is possible to lose this confidence! We are warned not to throw it away, not to forsake it. This warning is to be taken seriously especially during difficult times of persecution or need. The devil will try to deceive you that your faith in God is useless, that it does not work, therefore you should discard it. This is a serious mistake and a great loss. This will be the beginning of backsliding. You will lose the joy of your salvation; you will be shy among the brethren and timid about your testimony. Like we say in Nigeria: “your mouth will shake…” What a pity… It is better to lose friends, jobs or money, than to abandon the faith you have in your God. For faith is more valuable than gold and useful for all situations. I am not talking about self-confidence, for that is sin. I am talking about the true living Biblical God approved faith, tested in fire; the confidence that God exists and His Word is true.

Faith in God is your crown as a worshiper. Your faith is the key that opens the door of salvation; the pipe thru which the blessings of Christ flow to you, the link to your miracle and the cup that God fills with His grace.  How can you throw away such a treasure? Please go back and look for it. Plant it in your heart once more. Confidently go and tell people that you are saved by the Blood of the Lamb. Never be ashamed of your Lord for He died to set you free! Shout with a loud voice: “Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!”  The devil will have a headache! Good! But one thing is sure: God will richly reward you! You will hear a divine ‘alert’ on your ‘heart-set’ that a gift has been paid in your heavenly account! These things are all true if you believe! As for me, I believe therefore I have spoken!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever. They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they will have abundance” (Ps 37:18, 19)

Our prophetic prayer was very good. The anointing was strong and heavy, like a glory blanket on our shoulders. I hope you feel it… We imagined that the Prince of Peace has entered in the room. We welcomed His Majesty, the King of kings with worship, adoration, shouting, clapping of hands, prostrating, prayers, songs in English, Nigerian dialects and Tongues. It is always a holy adventure to be in the presence of the Living God. There is eternal life pulsating from the throne in heaven, filled with power, peace and joy no words can describe.

FRUITFULNESS
There is a couple in our church that has been praying for the fruit of the womb for quite some time. Once a month the wife brings us fruits as a gift of faith. They are not wealthy in the natural. But both serve God with passion and faithfulness.

They trust the Word of God that says: “You shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I (Jehovah God) will remove sickness from your midst. There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I (Jehovah God) will fulfill the number of your days” (Ex 23:25, 26). They trust the Almighty God who promises blessings upon the food and water, divine health and fruitfulness. Please pray for them that they will have children.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them” (Is 41:17)

To belong to a living church is a wonderful thing. To be part of the Body of Christ is a great blessing. This is the testimony of Bro. Samson. He is in his early thirties. He is one of the ‘men of valor’ who helped during the building of this sanctuary. After we moved in he offered to continue to work for the church. We needed a gardener. He agreed. We did not know that he has that gift but the plants grow well and are very happy under his care.

Last December we had an event in the church. The men invited their wives to a banquet. Many of the couples in the church came, all dressed beautifully. Then I saw Bro. Samson seated in the garden, in his jeans, looking very sad. I asked him why he is not dressed with his wife ready to go to the dinner. He said that he is not properly married to her. He has not done the traditional marriage. He has not paid the bride price and he has not married in the court or in the church. They have been living together and have five children. One baby died last year for they did not have money to carry him to the hospital. I was touched. This is the first time I heard his story. We prayed that next December they will be able to attend the couples’ banquet for they shall be properly married by then.

For the past one year we have prayed almost once a week for God’s favor on Samson and his wife. It has not been easy. He had deep inferiority complex that he is a failure. He told me “Malia, I be poor man… I no get money… I be a nobody…” I rebuked him telling him that a child of God does not talk like that. At the beginning his faith was very little. Later he told me that the reason why he is afraid to dream that proper marriage is possible is because of his family. His three elder brothers are also not married properly. They mocked him for trying to do what they could not do. They told him that they shall not support or help him in any way at all. In Nigeria, this is a very serious matter. To become a light in your unbelieving family attracts a lot of persecution. But I assured him that with God all things are possible. I also told him that God will use him as a light for the rest of the family. The wife also had issues. She was ‘ashamed’ to attend our church because she was not properly married. I encouraged her to come to Father’s House and even attend the women’s fellowship. She did. Eventually, the light of God started shining on their way. When the news came that they want to marry, the brethren helped and encouraged them.

Today is their traditional marriage day. The wife is already in her village waiting for him to come like a prince. I saw him last night and he was very excited. This morning he came to the door dressed in his traditional outfit. He knew that I cannot go to the village. He said that he could not go there without coming to show appreciation. He said that he is very happy. He is generally shy but this morning he was shaking with joy. He could not hide it. We prayed one more prayer before he went. I took him a picture in front of our Christmas tree. I hope you see how happy and proud he looks in his princely dress, hat and all. On Sunday they shall do a blessed marriage ceremony in our church. More pictures shall follow.

This testimony is given to the glory of God, to the shame of the devil and for the encouragement of all who are afraid to dream because they think they are poor. This is a reminder that faith in God is more than money and that God answers prayers! This is also a reminder that a child of God should belong to a Living and Loving Church that is a true spiritual family, where he can grow in faith, in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Today the plants in the garden shall ‘pray’ for their gardener, wishing him God’s blessings! Please pray for Samson and Mercy! God bless you! To God be all the glory! In Jesus name, amen!

(The last two pictures are taken at the Blessed Marriage Ceremony in our church)

“When he (Boaz) gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should do. Ruth replied to Naomi, “I will do everything you have told me to do” (Ru 3:4, 5)

Naomi came back to Bethlehem as a bitter and disappointed woman. Ruth, her Moabite daughter in law followed her back home. Behind the scenes, God directs Ruth to glean grains on the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband. When Ruth comes back with a sack of grains telling Naomi about Boaz, Naomi suddenly becomes hopeful. This is the first time that she utters godly words of blessings: ‘The Lord bless him!” (Ru 2:20). The mercy of God is greater than the anger. The spell of bitterness starts to tear away from her soul. She acknowledges the long time kindness of Boaz. She forgot about this man and the authority he has to change their lives. Ruth also tells Naomi that Boaz counseled her to work only in his field. Naomi confirms the wisdom of Boaz in telling Ruth to stay only in his field where she can be protected from sexual predators. “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.” (Ru 2:22). The command to stay in a particular place will test Ruth if she obeys his word or not. Going away from his field will mean sin, trespass and rebellion. We know that Ruth obeyed the counsel of both Boaz and Naomi and stayed in that field until the end of the harvest. This submission was a great point scored with Boaz when he decided to marry her. (This is a great lesson for them who plan to marry: if a single sister submits to her spiritual mother or other godly sisters, she will easily submit later to her husband. A rebellious single woman will not make a good wife)

The story continues. Suddenly Naomi is happy and she thinks of a way to bless her faithful daughter in law. She prepares Ruth for a possible marriage with Boaz. She tells her to dress well, to perfume herself and to go in the night to meet with Boaz, who sleeps in the open air in his field guarding his harvest. Naomi tells Ruth to go and to propose marriage to Boaz. This proposal is not a lustful manipulating act. It is based on a Jewish law. Naomi warns her to ‘take careful notice of the place where he lies down’. She should go there. She was to lift the blanket that covers his feet and lie down there waiting for him to wake up. Then he will tell her what to do.

This was a very dangerous assignment for a single woman, even a Moabite. It was dark and there were other workers sleeping on the field. If she went to lie down at the feet of another man, tragedy could have happened. Naomi tells her to mark the place where Boaz sleeps. She should lie down at the very spot where he lies down. The word ‘lie down’ appears two times in that sentence. In Hebrew it means to lie down to rest, to sleep, for sexual activity or death. The risk Ruth is taking is great. If Boaz was not a man of God, he could have taken advantage of Ruth who was alone, ‘available’, lying at his feet. Ruth is a woman of God. Ruth has faith in the word of Naomi. She promised to do ‘everything’ Naomi told her to do. As you know, Boaz too was a man of God and he decides to cover her with his ‘blanket’ of authority in marriage. The story ends well, thank God!

What are the lessons for those who plan to marry, especially for the single sisters? To marry well is risky. The devil will fight ‘a haven made marriage’. You need faith, wisdom, love and courage. Dear sister, to identify the very man who shall be your husband is risky. To submit to that man alone is hard. To be ready ‘to lie down’ were ‘he lies down’ is not easy. To agree to rest with him, to sleep with him, to be sexually intimate only with him, ‘until death do you part’, that is hard work. You need God to help you! No woman can submit to her husband unto death except she is born again and Spirit filled. No man is able to love and protect his wife unto death except he is born again and Spirit filled! Selah!

Boaz stands for our Lord Jesus Christ. Ruth stands for us the worshippers, the Church and the Bride of Christ. Mary of Bethany sat down at the feet of Jesus to listen to His Word. Her sister rebuked her for that. The former prostitute came to sit down at the feet of Jesus to anoint them with oil. If she made the mistake to do the same at the feet of another man in the room, she could have been insulted and rejected. John saw the resurrected Christ and fell down at His feet. He was afraid but Jesus laid His hands on him, encouraged him and lifted him up.

The place at the feet of Jesus is a special, holy and unique place. It is a place where you hear God’s Word free from the anxieties of life. It is a place of intimate worship. It is a place where you die to the world so that you live for Christ alone! It is a place where Jesus Himself will protect you from the insults, intimidation and rejection of men. It is a place where His love covers you. It is a place of revelation, of service and of strength to do ministry. It is a place where two become one. It is a place of prophetic new beginning. It is the place where God’s promises come true. Boaz proposed marriage to Ruth at mid night. The place at the feet of Jesus is the place of mid night mystery and romance. Your marriage to Jesus and to your Boaz starts at that very place. Mark that place well! Refuse any other voice to go astray! Seek the place thru fasting, prayers, tears and worship. Go there! Stay there!  And you shall find your greatest treasure your soul shall desire. Marry well! And worship the Lord!

‘I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!’ (Is 65:24)

We are living in our new beautiful pastor’s house for more than a year. We are very grateful to God. When we moved in last year my husband explained to me that the plumber made a mistake and there shall be no hot water in the kitchen. There was a heater in the store next to the kitchen but no pipe to connect it to the tap. He said that to connect the pipe it means breaking the wall and that will not be nice. Of course I could have liked hot water in the kitchen but I told him ‘no problem’. This is my general strategy: I pray for my needs and I wait for God to answer in His own time and His own way. Once I pray, I never complain or worry. Since then I only use the tap for cold water. I have a kettle by the side and if I need to wash the dishes I boil the water with it. No problem, really. I got used to I. I even forgot about the hot water. (Let me say this… I live in Nigeria since 1980 and I have learned many good things from the people here who are very creative in times of need. As we say in Nigeria ‘dis na small tin… No wahala!)

“I see the Lord, I see the Lord
Exalted high upon the worship
Of the people of the earth
I see the Lord, I see the Lord
My eyes have seen the King
The Lamb upon the throne
Who reigns forever more

The love story between Boaz and Ruth is worth studying and imitating. This is my testimony: I am a child of God, a woman of God, a wife, a mother of three and a grandmother of six. My husband and I are happily married for 42 years. He is very much like Boaz. Each time I read of a true godly love story my heart beats faster with joy and gratitude because God makes ‘all things beautiful in His own time’. Boaz is a wonderful example of a prince, a godly gentleman, a man most single girls dream to marry one day.

2. A GODLY HUSBAND IS SENSITIVE TO THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF HIS WIFE

Let’s see how a man must treat a woman to win her heart. Early in the morning Boaz comes to his field and he greets his workers in the name of the Jehovah. He says: ‘The Lord (Jehovah) be with you’. They answered back: ‘The Lord (Jehovah) bless you’. This must have impressed Ruth. In her native country Moab all the ‘big men’ are too big to personally come to their fields to supervise the work. The unbelievers make a practice to ignore poor people. They do not greet or bless their workers in the name of the Lord. They are too ‘big’ for that. All wealthy unbelievers are bossy. Jesus said this: “You know that the rulers of the unbelievers lord it over them and their superiors act like tyrants over them” (Mt 20:25; ISV). Here Boaz proves to be a man of God. He knows his workers well and has a good relationship with them. They appreciate and respect him and are happy with their ‘conditions of labor’. Boaz is a wealthy man ‘of standing’ but also godly humble man. He is friendly with his workers but he is still their boss. Ruth discovers that she was working for a man who fears God, who is humble and kind enough to care for his laborers but secure in himself to know that he is in charge.

Boaz came to the field to supervise his workers. It was ‘a business trip’. As he scanned the field with his eyes he quickly saw a new worker, a foreign looking woman who was gleaning at the back of the field. He immediately asked his foreman: ‘Whose young woman is that?’ He was informed that she was the Moabites who followed Naomi back home. Apparently he heard of her. He was told how ‘Aunty Naomi’ came back from Moab as a poor sad widow. She was followed by her Moabite daughter in law, also a widow. The news was all over the city of Bethlehem. He must have pondered on their fate before that morning when he discovers Ruth gleaning in his field.

Boaz knows that as a close relative he has some responsibility in helping them. For others, the responsibility to help a poor relative is seen as a seriously unwelcomed burden. But not so for Boaz! He is a truly fearless, kind and generous man. He does not waste time at all. He approaches Ruth and instructs her to stay in his field, following his servant girls. He tells her that he has commanded his men not to ‘touch’ her inappropriately. He tells her that she can come to his shade and drink water freely. We see that Boaz is very sensitive to her needs. He imagines that as a single woman, as a poor foreigner looking for food, she must be scared of ‘sexual harassment’. The truth is that Ruth is in a very vulnerable position, alone in the fields. The only person who knows her is Naomi, who is old and poor. She knows that the Jews hate the Moabites because of a long troubled history between them.

What Ruth needs is protection, food, water and shelter. She also needs encouragement. Boaz knows her fears and he openly and lovingly encourages her at their first encounter. He does not ‘play safe’. He is not afraid that his kindness may be taken for granted. He is not afraid of what men may say about him. As a rich man he could have ignored her. But he does not ignore, oppress, manipulate or take advantage of Ruth. Boaz is a symbol of Christ. He is straightforward, confident, wise, gentle, encouraging and friendly from the very beginning. He is kind. He is responsible. He is godly. He is a good communicator. It looks that for Boaz, it was love at first sight. But he patiently waits praying to know the will of God. As you know, he eventually marries her.  This is truly impressive!

Any single sister will fall in love with a man who is truly born again, whose identity in rooted Christ, who is hard working, strong and friendly, romantic, kind and happy in the same time… (And a little wealth is not bad too…)… May God provide a Boaz for each Ruth in this world who prays for her dream marriage! In Jesus name, amen!

Today, Pastor (Mrs) S L Leigh preached a sermon titled ‘How to deal with your Jericho’. The scriptures were taken from the Book of Hebrews 11 and Joshua 6.  “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days” (Heb 11:30). The story of how the wall of Jericho fell is not just history. The spiritual lessons can be applied in spiritual warfare as you trust God for victory and for a great testimony. The city was shut because of the people of God. Faith is the instrument of victory! Faith is the fruit that comes from trusting God’s Word with all your heart. If you ‘marry’ the Bible, if you become one with the Word of God, your spirit shall produce ‘a baby’ called ‘Faith’. Any faith that is not based on the Word of God is fake and it shall fail in times of need. God promised the victory at the very beginning (Josh 6:2). God commanded Joshua that His people have to walk round Jericho a total of 13 times in seven days. This command seems foolish but they needed to obey it by faith. Everybody was involved in the work of God: the soldiers, the priests and the rest people. The priests lifted up and carry the ark on their shoulders. The ark is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faith needs to be tested. True faith needs to be accompanied by works (Jam 2:14-26). God blesses faith and obedience.

To walk round the city for one week is not easy. Please observe that there was no change in the wall, no crack at all until that final moment when the shout of faith went up to heaven. This is a great lesson: delay is not denial! Waiting time is not wasted time! You continue to read the Bible, pray, go to church and serve God the best way you can. Nothing may change in your circumstances until God’s moment! Keep your faith! The victory came suddenly! It was a unique miraculous total victory! “When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city” (Josh 6:20). In Hebrew, the word ‘collapsed’ means to fall down flat, to go down to the bottom, to go underground.  It means that the wall was ‘swallowed’ by the earth. There was no rubble to climb on top. It was like the God’s judgment upon Korah when the ground opened its mouth to swallow the enemies of God (Nu 16:31). The only house which remained standing was the house of Rehab, a pagan woman who became a hero of faith. The enemies laughed and mocked the people of God as they went round and round Jericho. But their end was destruction. Nobody could save them.

Child of God, be encouraged today! Jericho represents a long standing problem that has been blocking your way. It is a gate of hell that cannot prevail in stopping your progress. The wait may be long and the work may be hard. Trust God who, in Christ Jesus, has promised to lead you from victory to victory. God has opened a door of healing, of deliverance and of prosperity that no one can shut! Shout, for the Lord has given you the long waited blessing! Give Him all the glory! Worship the Lord!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was good but difficult. We were reminded today that there is a price for intimacy with God few churches are willing to pay. But thank God most of us were willing. At the beginning of the service we prayed and praised God ‘as usual’. The Holy Spirit ‘came down’ but remained unmoved, like a cloud in the ceiling. For other churches that level of anointing may be more than enough. But for us in Father’s House it was not. Since this church was born it is our passionate desire that the Holy Spirit comes down to us and feels free to move in our midst; to do what He wants to do without any conditions. We want God to be our Father and Friend and not just a ‘passing by’ visitor.

The hindrance tonight was ‘a demonic blanket’ of religion placed over the hearts of the people. Some struggled to be free. But many stayed passive waiting for God to ‘start the show and to perform’. This passivity grieved the Spirit. Thank God for the revelation. Immediately we chose to actively humble ourselves. We had to chastise ourselves. Religion tells people to be spectators. This is how the evil spirit of religion talks: ‘Let the worship leader and the choir do their magic. I am here to enjoy myself’. The congregation stays passive. The leaders say to themselves: “I am already a leader. I cannot be demoted from my position. I am too big to pray. I am too big to worship. How can I kneel down in the presence of all these youths and children?” This religious pride grieves the Holy Spirit. He then refuses to move in our midst. But we cannot argue our case. We can only surrender and plead mercy. Our hearts are like the fire place. The fire comes from God, from heaven, but it only comes on the place prepared by men. If fire falls on the table or on the bed, it will burn down the house. We needed to prepare the fire place. Without the fire place, the fire will not come down.

Thank God we remembered that our salvation and every blessing we have received are all because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who died that we may live! This grace is the un-merited favor of God. We shouted… ‘Grace…Grace… Grace…’ The grace of repentance was released. We interceded with the words of this song:

“Turn my eyes to see Your face

As all my fears surrender

Hold my heart within this grace

Where burden turns to wonder…”

We all knelt down or sat on the floor praying and weeping. We humbled ourselves and pleaded for mercy. Little by little the atmosphere changed. People wept openly repenting of sins. We interceded for this land. Then God graciously gave us a word. We did not have the liberty to stop the anointing and preach. But we received a word. It is enough for now. Like hungry people we ate it. We believed that prophetic word: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5). The light of God from heaven shines over this land: Warri, Effurun and environs. The darkness is ‘older’ than the light on this land. The darkness is the ‘landlady’ of this land. Our parents and grandparents only knew darkness. This Darkness reacted and fought the light. It tried to stop, to scatter, to arrest, to hinder and to slander the light. But the efforts of the wicked darkness failed completely. We experienced this battle this evening. We are witnesses that light overpowered the darkness! Halleluiah!

We saw the light shining in the midst of the darkness, lifting the flag of victory over a land cursed by demons, rejected by men but loved by God. This land Nigeria belongs to God! As the light started to shine even in the service, our weepy eyes began to see the Lord, high and lifted up, seated on His throne. What a relief! What a change! Baptized by His presence our eyes and hearts rejoiced at this glimpse of heaven where all cry holy. Yes, the devil failed to destroy the prayer meeting. The worship shall continue forever! We sang:

“I see the Lord, I see the Lord

Exalted high upon the worship

Of the people of the earth

I see the Lord, I see the Lord

My eyes have seen the King

The Lamb upon the throne

Who reigns forever more

The train of His robe

Fills the temple

A cloud of heavenly worshipers

Surrounding His throne

We join with them now crying

“Holy, holy is the Lamb

The Lamb alone”

Forever and ever, Forever and ever

Forever and ever, Forever and ever…”

“I praise You God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps 139:14)

About six months ago I broke my leg. I am healed now. I am a child of God and a medical doctor by profession. These days I am so much more grateful to God for His miracles of healing. I can now walk without pain or limping. I want to stir your minds and hearts to worship God even more by considering the complexities of the human body. This information is taken from the medical books. Read this with a worshiping heart…

Every second more than 100,000 chemical reactions take place in your brain. It has 10 billion nerve cells to record what you see and hear. That information comes to your brain through the miracle of the eye, which has 100 million receptor cells (rods and cones) in each eye. Your retina also has four other layers of nerve cells. Altogether the system makes the equivalent of 10 billion calculations a second before an image even gets to the optic nerve. Once it reaches your brain, the cerebral cortex has more than a dozen separate vision centers in which to process it. Your tear ducts supply a bacteria-fighting fluid to protect your eyes from infection. The tears that fight irritants differ from the tears of sadness, which contain 24 percent more proteins. That’s not to mention the miracle of the ear and how it translates sound waves into meaningful speech and sounds; or of touch, taste, and smell.

Part of your brain regulates voluntary matters, such as muscle coordination and thought processes. Other parts of the brain control involuntary processes, such as digestion, glandular secretions, the rate at which your heart beats, etc. How did it accidentally happen that your body could speed up your heart rate to the proper speed to meet increased oxygen demand when you exercise and slow it down when that need is met? One square inch of your skin has about 625 sweat glands, 19 feet of blood vessels, and 19,000 sensory cells. Working in coordination with your brain, it maintains your body at a steady 98.6 degrees under all weather conditions.

Your stomach has 35 million glands which secrete the right amounts of juices to allow your body to digest food and convert it into stored energy for your muscles. To avoid digesting itself, your stomach produces a new lining every three days. Your body is an efficient machine: to ride a bicycle for an hour at ten miles per hour requires only 350 calories, the energy equivalent of only three tablespoons of gasoline.

You have more than 200 bones, each shaped for its function, connected intricately to one another through lubricated joints that cannot be perfectly duplicated by modern science. More than 500 muscles connect to these bones. Some obey willful commands; others perform their duty in response to unconscious commands from the brain. They all work together to keep us alive. The heart muscle itself beats over 103,000 times each day, pumping your blood cells a distance of 168 million miles.

Coupled with that, your lungs automatically breathe in the right amount of life-giving oxygen (about 438 cubic feet each day), which just happens to be mixed in the right proportions (about 20% oxygen, 80% nitrogen) in our atmosphere. Each of the other vital organs and glands in your body works in complex conjunction with the others to sustain life, which science can’t explain or create.

I haven’t even mentioned the complexity of human cells. Listen to this: A single human chromosome (DNA molecule) contains 20 billion bits of information. How much is that? What would be its equivalent, if it were written down in an ordinary printed book in modern human language? Twenty billion bits are the equivalent of about three billion letters. If there are approximately six letters in an average word, the information content of a human chromosome corresponds to about 500 million words. If there are about 300 words on an ordinary page of printed type, this corresponds to about two million pages. If a typical book contains 500 such pages, the information content of a single human chromosome corresponds to some 4,000 volumes….

WORSHIP THE LORD!!!!!!

Please read and meditate on the love story between Boaz and Ruth. It is one of the most beautiful romantic stories ever written. Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, is a type of Christ. We see the beauty, the strength, the wisdom and the grace of Christ in him. Ruth represents the Church. In the Book of Ruth we have a glimpse of how Jesus Christ ‘dates’ His Bride, also called the Body of Christ or the Church of the living God. Jesus is the heavenly Bridegroom! Worship Him!

Boaz falls in love with Ruth and marries her. This is a symbol of the reality we have in Christ. This is the free gracious revelation that comes from the Spirit of God: Jesus loves you! He is passionately in love with you! He is romantically in love with you! Jesus sees you beautiful for He has made you for Himself! He died for you so that you, the sinner, might become His beloved bride. You are saved by grace alone and by faith alone! This extravagant passionate love of Jesus for His Church is one of the greatest revelations from the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us, the true believers!

1. A GODLY HUSBAND APPRECIATES THE GRACE OF GOD IN HIS WIFE

Ruth prayed to find favor (grace) with a landlord, to be allowed to glean in his field. Probably Naomi told her that the God of Israel is a God of compassion. She knew that the law of Jehovah gave to the poor foreigners ‘the right’ to glean, to pick the grains left behind the harvesters (Lev 19: 9, 10). But Ruth did not stubbornly insist on ‘her right’. She did not argue her case based on the law. She was a woman of grace so she prayed for grace. Her encounter with Boaz happened on the foundation of grace!!!

Ruth is a true woman of God, humble and gracious. These are signs of heavenly royalty. In the natural, she was a poor childless widow, dressed in faded ‘second hand’ clothes. This is what everybody saw on the outside. But spiritually, she was a princess with God. The grace of the Living God was shining thru her. Boaz discovers and marvels at this grace, especially as Ruth was a foreigner. Later in the story you see that the other kinsman did not appreciate this grace of God upon Ruth. He saw her just as a liability that will ‘endanger his own estate’ (Ru 4:6). He refuses to marry her and gives that right to Boaz. Unbelievers only appreciate outward beauty and external benefits. They despise and mock the grace of God. But Boaz is a man of God just like his Master, Jesus Christ, a man of grace and truth. He appreciated Ruth not only for her outward beauty but especially for this spiritual gift of God’s favor upon her. He sees her as his true ‘twin’ sister in Christ, his helpmeet, his lost rib, his future wife and the mother of his children. In Christ they are one! This grace recognized by Boaz in Ruth is the major reason why he ‘fell in love’ with her and why he chose to marry her.

I am sure you know this scripture: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD” (PV 18:22). The godly man seeks and finds a wife. Like a rose among thorns, so this wife is found in the midst of women folk. This gift of a godly wife is good and filled with favor from God. This favor is located inside the wife. This is a warning! If a man divorces his godly and faithful wife, he will not be able to retain the favor of God in her absence. For that grace was found inside the package called ‘wife’. Brother, did you find the grace of God inside your wife? Then love her without fear! Cherish her and protect your marriage, for if you lose her, the favor will go away too. Be wise! Finally these are some questions for the men: Brothers, do you know what I am talking about? Do you know the grace of God? Can you identify the grace of God in a single woman? Then marry her! Husband, are you able to see the grace of God in your wife? Then thank God for your wife! Your marriage is blessed! This is the gift of God to you! Give thanks to God for He loves you!

Do you pray for grace? Have you experienced the power and the glory of the grace of God? Do you know that grace is enough for you, sufficient to solve every problem you may have (2Cor 12:9)? Proud and selfish people know nothing about grace. For God only ‘shows favor to the humble and oppressed” (PV 3:34). Are you humble? Are you oppressed, afflicted and unfairly treated? Then rejoice! The grace of God shall locate you and shall deliver you from your enemy! This word is settled in heaven and on earth! Believe it!

These words are taken from my diary three years ago. There is no way to describe the presence of God among His children. I pray that the Sweet Holy Spirit helps you to feel and dance the holy dance of everlasting love…

“I prepared my sermon for this evening prophetic prayer meeting. I prayed in English and in the Spirit, that our evening’s sacrifice may be accepted by the Lord. With my hand on the handle, in front of the door, ready to go, I quickly reviewed my notes once more. Then suddenly I felt the hush of the Spirit blowing over me. He said: ‘This evening, like Cinderella and her prince, you shall forget the mundane…for we shall dance together…’ I smiled and said ‘Thank You Lord…my heart and my feet are ready…’

“Look, I go forward, but He is not there,

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;

When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

But He knows the way that I take;

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:8-10)

There are times when the Holy Spirit ‘withdraws’ from the conscious feelings of the believer. All the saints testify to times when suddenly, for no apparent reason, they feel lost and without comfort. Some call it ‘the dark night of the soul’. The Word of God seems tasteless. Prayer becomes just an un-exciting routine. Going to church is hard. The first time such a thing happened to me, I almost died of depression. I tried to search my heart for any known sin. I wanted to repent but I could not identify any particular sin. I felt like dying, like a fish out of the water…

Job was a righteous man, a child of God. The devil asked God for permission to attack him. Surprisingly, God granted that. The devil attacked and Job lost everything he had: his children, his property, the joy in his marriage, his health and the sympathy of his friends. But the most painful experience for Job was the fact that he felt he lost God. He tried to look for God but could not find Him. Looking north, south, east and west, Job could not find God. Then he knew that this pain must be a trial from God, a painful gift to him. He decided to pass thru this fire holding to his faith. He testified that he shall come out as gold. It happened just like that. After this fire, Job came out ‘approved and improved’ (Matthew Henry). This pain ended in a great testimony.

What are the lessons? First of all know that God has a purpose for allowing this trial. It is for His glory and for your good!!! Also know this: Trials are not forever. God supervises them. Once the character is established, once the gold shines and God can see His image in that gold, the trial shall end. Immediately beauty is revealed from ashes! Darkness ends and the sun shine forth! Great blessings follow such trials. God permits these trials so that we do not take His presence for granted. After the trial you shall fear God and appreciate His Spirit more than ever before! It is a great privilege for God to choose you to pass thru His fire! You and your ministry will rise to a higher level of grace and anointing! Praise the Lord!

Be encouraged, child of God. Wait at that place where you last ‘saw the Lord’. Even if you have to wait for hundred years, God is worth the wait. The hundred years shall become just a day for the Lord. God shall reward your faithful waiting. Under no circumstances you should think of backsliding. Patiently wait for God. Continue to read the Bible even if the Word feels tasteless. Continue to pray and serve God the best way you can. Pass thru the pain! God knows the way you take. In Hebrew it means that God has approved the way you took up until this moment. You are not lost. You can never be lost. The fire will only burn the impurities. The fire can never destroy your soul. Encourage yourself in the Lord! It is not easy but it is worth it! It is well with your soul!

“As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield

To you alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee”

“I love the Lord, because He has heard

My voice and my supplications

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (Ps 116:1, 2)

The evening prayer was very good. The Holy Spirit encouraged us to pray with boldness and make ‘big’ requests before the throne of God. One of the most beautiful things we see in revival is how adults and children pray together in one accord. The children in Father’s House pray ‘like the adults’ or even better. They lift their little faces to heaven and tears pour down on their cheeks as they pray. It is a wonderful thing to witness the grace of God upon our children. Money cannot buy this grace! Glory to God! Thank You Jesus!

We prayed against the evil spirits of infirmity, stomach ulcer, fibroids, bareness, diabetes, depression, skin diseases. We prayed against the evil spirit of fear, poverty, doubt, religion and witchcraft. We prayed that God’s grace will manifest and His people will buy lands and build houses. They will not die as tenants. Their landlords will not organize their ‘service of songs’. They will fulfill God’s plan for their lives. We said “YES!!!” to the will and to the way of God! We shouted NO to the devil! The Holy Spirit helped us so that all these prayers were done in faith and were very real to us. The God who invented prayers will answer them, for His glory and for our good! We shall love and worship God even more because He has heard and answered our prayers. We then sang: “Baba-ooo… Baba-ooo…” (In Nigeria God Almighty is sometimes called Baba, which means Father- in heaven).

The word was from Acts 4. Peter and John were persecuted because of an act of kindness done to a cripple. They prayed and the crippled man was healed. The religious leaders were angry and tried to stop the faith in the Living God from spreading. But nobody can stop the power of the name of Jesus! They warned Peter and John never to speak the name of Jesus again. The apostles then went to their friends who are believers and they organized a prayer meeting. They prayed for two things: Boldness to speak in the name of Jesus and faith that miracles will follow their ministry. They prayed until the place was shaken. There is power in congregational prayer. For the unbelievers, prayers look like a joke. But when the believers gather to pray, power is released from heaven.  Question: do you attend the prayer meetings organized in your church?  If not, you miss many blessings!

They prayed specifically for boldness and for miracles. The word boldness means to continue to do what God told you to do, in spite of the opposition coming from the evil spirits of fear, doubt, rejection and shame. You need to confront your fears, your doubts, your rejection and your shame. You need to reject them. Then you strengthen yourself in the Lord. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Your life will change and you shall testify to the goodness and power of God! “Baba-ooo… Baba-ooo…We worship You!”