Conditions for free service week 43, 2013

Are you surprised? “Can there really be preconditions before free things are collected?” Of course! Firstly they must hear about it to come. People are not free from any condition treatable under free care simply because full payment had been made. Likewise salvation: How, then, can people call on someone they have not believed? And how can they believe in someone they have not heard about? And how can they hear without someone preaching? Rom 10:14 (ISV). Do you realize the payment for people’s sins will be ineffective for them, i.e. wasted unless you and I preach the gospel? It is only when they hear of it, and come asking for the free care that it is given. Therefore young and old, infant and adult get the treatment at the time they present themselves. You that hear; have you come?

Do you realize even though because of God's grace, Jesus died for everyone (Heb 2:9) until you ask him into your heart, ask Him to give you His free salvation you remain bound to sin? Even when surgery is free, consent must be obtained before it is done. Jesus needs your consent to operate on you and deal with sin inside. I heard someone say “Since Jesus paid the price all of us are saved”. Do not think because Christ has died you are automatically free; you have to ask before it is your experience! It is for you, but you must first ask. Have you asked Jesus into your heart? Have you presented yourself to Him? He never forces Himself on anyone. He waits at the door for your invitation and permission to do His wonderful operation. Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in… Rev 3:20(ISV).  Will you invite Him in right now? Do not be like those who come around the venue just to look around; they get no treatment until specifically they sign up for it. So ask Jesus specifically to rid you of sin you were born with: name him Jesus, because he is the one who will save his people from their sins Mat 1:21 (ISV). Bringing yourself, bringing children for free treatment is excellent; but have you come to Jesus for free deliverance from sin which alone can save you? Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him! Act 4:12(ERV) 

A man brought two of his daughters to me for the free treatment programme. He also needed it but put it off, claiming it would inconvenience him at that time. Every appeal to have him receive the treatment then failed. He put it off despite being warned the programme has a time limit.  After a while he came back wanting the treatment.  But the programme was over; every appeal by him was fruitless. So you should look for the LORD before it is too late. You should call to him now, while he is near Isa 55:6(ERV). Now is the accepted time, today is God’s day to save you. Come to Jesus now in believing prayer: receive the life changing operation which He alone does and that for free. Why hold back any longer?

Free medical service

I participated in a free treatment programme recently. It was sponsored by a charity group which seeks to eliminate an illness some children are born with. Have you ever benefitted from one? Do you know someone who has? So many people sign up for it, each wanting to be whole; and it struck me again this programme is like the salvation Jesus Christ provided by charity to us. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with the Messiah Jesus our Lord Rom 6:23(ISV) 

Firstly: These children are born with a deformity through no fault of theirs. Some of it is obvious to the naked eye, some require looking deeper to see, and some may not realize it is there until the child grows up and starts talking. But it has been there from birth. Do you realize from birth you and I were born in sin? Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me Ps 51:5(GW). You may quickly notice some people’s sinfulness, for some others who appear to be free, after a while the sinful nature shows up! It affects everyone in this world since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God's glory. Rom 3:23(ISV). Do you realize you are a sinner before God, needing help like those coming for free treatment? It was no fault of ours but it is real nonetheless, and it leads to eternal hellfire without a savior. Sin came into the world through one person, and death came through sin. So death spread to everyone, because everyone sinned Rom 5:12(GW).

Secondly: Many at the treatment programme rejoice it has been paid for already, and nothing is demanded of them such as money: simply to present themselves and consent. The payment was not made because of any good the children or parents have done, it is simply out of a desire to eliminate the illness and make people whole again. Similarly it was not by any good works on our part our sins were atoned for. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life Tit 3:5-7(CEV).

Thirdly: The charity pays with money, but Jesus Christ paid for our sins with His lifeblood. You cannot be made right with God by any payment on your part, or as a result of good things you do. For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting Eph 2:8-9(ISV).

 Have you got your own free treatment from Jesus to get eternal life?

Have you met the doctor Week 41, 2013

Hello. It is a sad thing to know ill health has brought you into this institution. You have left off other matters of real importance to be attended to. No one is created to enjoy ill health and we thank God for trained staff capable of helping sick people get better. It is indeed a wise decision you took to come seeking for help. Jesus says "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” Lk 5:31(ESV).  Be assured sound health is God’s express wish for you. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul 3Jn 1:2(ESV).May your experience in this facility result in wellness and wholeness, in Jesus’ name Amen!

But there is a matter before us which is more important than disease, and whose consequence if ignored more severe than the worst sickness: it is the matter of eternal salvation. I beg you therefore to listen to God closely and keep on reading this pamphlet. How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation? The Lord himself first announced this salvation, and those who heard him proved to us that it is true Heb 2:3(GNB). You and I were born with a humanly incurable affliction called sin; can you honestly claim never at any time to have done or thought up what is evil? The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually Gen 6:5(ESV)  the result of which is everlasting punishment away from God’s presence. But this everlasting punishment is precisely what God does not want for you.

Meet Jesus the Great Physician. "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call righteous people, but sinners, to repentance.” Lk 5:31-32(ESV).  Just as there are trained workers to help sick ones get better, Jesus is the perfect saviour from sin and its consequence - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb 9:14(ESV).You may wait in line to see this team but Jesus is right here with you waiting in line for your attention and consent. People pay to get a place and medication for treatment, Jesus Himself fully paid for our sins and offers salvation free. Have you met Him?

I am sure you are aware simply sitting in this place and talking with support staff (though it is good) will not cure anyone; the healing protocol must be entered into. Similarly sitting in church or fellowship and hearing about Jesus’ free salvation is but a step to the real cure: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest. Place my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls Mat 11:28, 29(ISV) says Jesus. You must come to Him, you must meet Him.

How do you come to him? Very simple: In heartfelt sincere prayer because you believe His message turn your life over to Him; make Him the master of your life. Do this having decided to have nothing more to do with sin. Depend on no one else, nothing else to make God free you from sin and accept you other than His shed blood. It is guaranteed to set you free with a guarantee infinitely stronger than the best health care provider. Jesus says “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life…”Jn 6:37-40(ESV) .

 You have come here away from other important things seeking help for physical ill health, oh that in this moment you also call on Jesus the Great Physician to grant you His eternal salvation freely.

Three weeks to live week 40, 2013

We had all rejoiced in December 2002 after my 72 year old mother returned from the United Kingdom and performed her traditional retirement rites. Then we got the phone call late in January 2003. She had taken ill and was being treated for typhoid fever in Aba. However she was getting worse so I went over to bring her down to Enugu where my husband works as a very senior plastic surgeon. She had waist complaints and was bleeding. When he reviewed her, he was disturbed and she was taken to see Prof Iloabachie (a gynaecologist) who examined her under anaesthesia. His diagnosis was cancer of the cervix. Worse still he said it had gone beyond what surgery could cure, and encouraged us to think of radiotherapy, and then surgery if need be. The bleeding was so bad- it was most worrisome. She was in so much pain that every 6 hours she had to have strong analgesia just to be able to communicate with those around. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I Ps 61:1, 2(KJV). 

My siblings in UK requested her to come over for treatment so we applied for a visa, and got it in Abuja after much prayer. She left on March 8 with my sister. We were all praying, my prayer partners and other brethren joined in to intercede for her. She spent 10 days in the UK hospital. There the diagnosis of inoperable cervical cancer was made. Then came the news: Based on everything they had seen the hospital gave her three weeks to live and asked her to put her house in order. I held on to several scriptures. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation Ps 91:15, 16 (ESV). She comforted herself in the words of an Igbo song which translated means “Fear not. God is with you”. We continued in prayer, holding night vigils for her. Three weeks turned to three months, and then she spent ten months receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She returned home in 2004 and cared for me after my last baby. She was only on pain relief by this time, and on yearly check-ups. On one of her check-ups they were clearly amazed she was still alive. They suggested to her to keep a boyfriend so as to have the cervical area exercised: a suggestion we found spiritually and culturally repulsive! Needless to say she never did such.

One year went on to several years. In amazement when no trace of the cancer could be found the UK folks asked her secret. What kind of diet, what kind of exercise had she been on? By 2010/2011 she was declared cancer free. So 10 years after she was given three weeks to die, on her 83^rd birthday, here we are in church giving thanks to he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 1Tm 6:15, 16(ESV)                                         

 Joy is a barrister in Enugu