The father’s presence or presents Week 25, 2026

 I think the elder son had genuine cause for displeasure. How come the father gave him nothing to celebrate with after years of slaving for the man? Is that not the way to discourage loyalty? Celebrate the returnee lavishly whilst giving nothing to the faithful.

Are you very sure the father gave him nothing all those years?

Of course, yes. It is well documented; he would have appreciated even a goat but had nothing Lk 15:29(ISV)  But he answered his father, 'Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a feast so I could celebrate with my friends.

It’s a pity you can’t see what he had and was in danger of losing. Many people miss it also

What could that be? He was affirmed as the bona fide owner of the present estate. Lk 15:31 (ISV)  'My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

His father’s presence. Did you notice it was the first thing he reminded the son about? It took me many years to realise it. But what was at the father’s heart was not the estate. His presence meant more.  In anger, the son was risking the most important thing - the presence - because of a matter of presents to the younger son. Lk 15:28(ISV)  "Then the older son became angry and wouldn't go into the house. So his father came out and began to plead with him. What comes first is not “everything I have is yours” but, “My child, you are always with me”. In serving God that comes first also Mk 3:14-15(GNB)  and he chose twelve, whom he named apostles. "I have chosen you to be with me," he told them. "I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons." 

What’s the use of the presence without the presents?

Ah! Abomination. Heresy! You know this parable is about God the Father and us His children. The presence was what the younger son first lost before wasting the presents. Lk 15:13(ISV)  A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living. Many people are seeking God simply to get presents from Him. Jn 6:24, 26-27(ISV)When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus. Jesus replied to them, "Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and were completely satisfied. Do not work for food that perishes but for food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him." They don’t often please God and regularly leave Jn 6:66(ISV)  As a result, many of his disciples turned back and no longer associated with him. The presence of God is the principal thing, not his presents or effects. Moses shows us that is what to look for. Then Moses told the LORD, "If your presence does not go with us, don't bring us up from here. Ex 33:15(ISV) 

I see. In all life’s situations or challenges that’s what I will always seek. Ps 17:15(ISV)  But as for me, justified, I will behold your face; when I awake, your presence will satisfy me.

The rich man and Lazarus Week 24, 2026

 This parable is a bit confusing. Is Jesus trying to teach us that rich men go to hell and poor men go to heaven? Is it a law that if you enjoy here on earth you suffer for eternity?

For one thing that story is no parable. Jesus never mentioned names in parables. He specifically mentioned father Abraham (who we know) and Lazarus in this story. A lot of the times the parables  begin with “And He told them a parable saying…” as in Mt13:24, 31 Whether a parable or not, what does this mean? Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish Lk 16:25(ESV) .  Will all who are rich go to hell? Is poverty the key to paradise? Is paradise a reversal of this life’s conditions?

The life after death is indeed a reversal for those who have been suffering for the faith, 2Tm 2:11-12(ESV)  The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; however it is not poverty that took Lazarus to paradise or wealth that landed the rich man in hellfire. That much was clear to the rich man.

Now you have me confused. Where is all this stated in the story?

Look at Lk 16:30(ESV)  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ This clearly shows he knew what brought him there: his failure to heed the warnings given while he was alive on earth and repent. That is what he wanted by making the request in Lk 16:27, 28(ESV): And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’  It was not riches. Have you forgotten Abraham was a very rich man? Gen 24:34, 35(ESV) I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. If it was wealth that took the rich man to hell then Abraham too should have been in hell.

Oh, I see. A second matter: salvation is by grace through faith, right? Why is it written in Lk 16:29(ESV) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’?

Moses and the prophets all prophesied about the coming Messiah and bear witness to salvation by grace through faith. Lk 24:25, 27(ESV)  And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Remember Rom 3:21(ESV) says But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: Whosoever has the heart for God and listens to Moses and the prophets repents at the preaching of Christ. Those who refused to hear Moses and the prophets refused to believe even when Jesus rose from the dead. That’s what Abraham foretells in Lk16:31(ESV). He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ Don’t be like them.

Avoid aborted success Week 23, 2026

 The church is doing very well now, sir. Our numbers are up..

Why do you say we are doing very well, is it just because our number has increased?

How many churches are experiencing any increase in number? We are definitely doing well.

Hmm. Be careful. 2Cor 10:12(ESV)  Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. You may say we are doing well but there is a danger, we must double down.

Welfare needs? Doctrinal soundness? We were taught growing churches must be careful about those. In the first century they caused problems, but the Lord is there to help us.

Can you not see what I am seeing? We are growing, but is this where God programmed us to be at this time? Have you heard of the Joash phenomenom? That is what bothers me more.

I’ve never heard of it. What has it to do with us?

There is a heaven ordained victory per time for everyone, every church, as was for King Joash: 2Kgs 13:17(ESV)  And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” The tragedy is that he fell short of it. 2Kgs 13:18, 19(ESV)  And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped.  Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.” his true success in making an end of the Syrians was aborted

I still don’t get it. What has that to do with us? Where is the threat?

Three victories look like success, but the prophecy, the capacity and mandate was victory until he made an end of Syria. He stopped too soon. Yes there are clear signs of progress in this congregation, but we are far from the capacity, not yet within the mandate. The greatest tragedy now would be to relax in prayers and evangelism, saying “Yes we have made a mark, others are not moving so well”. If we stop now the prophesied mark for us may be lost.

Prophesied? I didn’t know there is a specific mandate for us in terms of targets.

Have you never read Eph 2:10(KJV)? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. For each person, each congregation, in each season God has targets and divine expectations. That is what to focus on and compare with to know if we are doing well. We need more labour.

Why did Joash lose it? When  rebuked  he could have simply collected more arrows and shot!

In spiritual matters there are such things as times and seasons, certain opportunities are season bound. God made it clear to David in the Rephaim Valley battle. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines 1Chr 14:15(ESV).                                        Are you in personal danger of aborted success in life and walk?

Ten years' barrenness removed Week 22, 2026

 The burden just did not lift off quickly as I prayed that morning before going to work. As I tried rounding off, the unction to pray came on, and so I prayed on, detained in the presence of God longer than usual. Rom 8:26(ESV)  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. When the unction stopped flowing, I got ready and went to work at the Good Shepherd Specialists’ Hospital where I was a Medical Officer, entered the consulting room, and began seeing patients. That morning in 2013, a woman came to me with complaints I could not make head or tail of. She complained of sensations on her head, which flowed down her neck, sensations on her upper limbs and elsewhere. I tried to get her to characterise the sensations according to the patterns we had learned in medical school, but her description in Igbo just would not fit into any medical pattern I had been taught. Could they be psycho somatisation? A situation where there is anguish in the mind which, being suppressed, now manifests as (sometimes) bizarre symptoms in the body.

Then I heard deep down in my spirit, “Ask her about her children”. I knew it was from the Lord so I asked, “Madam, how are your children? Are they fine?” It was as though the dam burst and she began weeping. Her husband, who was with her, tried to control the situation and rebuked her, asking her no longer to weep. “Anytime the matter is raised she just cries and cries.” I urged him not to restrain her, that that was where the problems lay. Eventually it was the man himself who told the story. They had been married for ten good years without an issue. No child. She had not even conceived so much as to have had a miscarriage. All attempts at conception failed. Her mother-in-law would have none of that and had moved in a year ago to ensure she delivered a child (as if she had the power to force in a baby and cause her to give birth). And so, she was distraught.

The Holy Spirit said to me, “This is the reason why I detained you in the morning while praying. Her miracle was being downloaded. Pray for her, and she will give birth.” I walked over to the door of the consulting room and closed it. I told them the answer lay with God, and as we held hands I prayed. She fell under the anointing there, and I asked her husband to help her up, and we concluded the prayers thereafter.  Being a doctor, I still prescribed for them before they left - basically multivitamins - and then continued the morning’s work

About a year later in 2014, when I came in for afternoon duty, I was told some people had been waiting for me since morning. A man came forward, familiarly smiling at me. Not recognising him but trying not to show it, I smiled back, wondering who it was. A lady followed him with a baby, and an older woman behind her with another baby. “I was the man that came last year to see you; we had infertility, and you prayed for us. This is the result. We have twins! I have been hearing about miracles in churches but believed them to be arranged events. Now it has happened to us. I have come today to give my life to Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:38 (ESV)  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.    

Dr Emeka is a consultant at UNTH

Praying in the name of Jesus Christ Week 21, 2026

 

What does it mean to pray in His name?

There are a few things dug up from the scripture. Jesus Christ specifically asks us to do so: Jn 16:23, 24(ESV)  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. Have you noticed when an official is sent to represent a higher person that he is given the same treatment as the one he represents? Pray in the name of Jesus and God will give you the same treatment Jesus receives! His name is greater and more powerful than any one and anything. Php 2:9-11(ESV)  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Yes I know He is the one who asked us to do so, but what does it imply?

Look at what happened in David’s time. 1Sam 25:5, 6(MKJV)  And David sent out ten young men. And David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. And you shall say this... Praying in His name means you are praying those things He asked you to pray, and saying the words He asked you to say. Check the scriptures and see what Jesus asked us to pray for, what Paul and others prayed for other brethren, what he asked believers to pray for one another. Pray that same way, that is praying in the name of Jesus.

Must I say “In Jesus’ name”? People punctuate their prayers so frequently with that phrase.

1Sam 25:9(ESV)  When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. It is important when you start to declare you have come in the name of Jesus Christ (those who are sent to represent a higher official declare it and don’t allow their hosts to assume), and having declared the matter in prayer, wait for the heavens to respond. You are not going to effect the answer yourself. Dt 18:18, 19(ESV)  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. So you see it carries the full authority of Jesus and He is ready to defend the words spoken in His name with all the resources of heaven.

Is there somewhere in the New Testament that was done? You’re quoting the Old Testament.

Yes: Act 3:6(ESV)  Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Expect all these as you pray

O wow, so anyone with this understanding can just pray saying “In Jesus’ name”. It works.

Not anyone. Ask the sons of Sceva.  Only believers have that power of attorney to use His name. Moreover we must watch our relationship with the Holy Spirit so we prove no hinderance. Jn 15:16(ESV)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

Thy will be done Week 20, 2026

 

I don’t understand what you mean by this statement: Stop using prayer as a tool to get what you want from God and turn it into the tool to make you what God wants.

Yes. I want us to make prayer a labour for the will of God. For some, skilful training in prayer knocks out God’s will, God’s timing, and narrowly seeks to bring on the flesh.

Explain in clear terms please.

I will. Consider 2 examples. Mk 10:35-38(ISV)  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus and told him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you." He asked them, "What do you want me to do for you?" They asked him, "Let us sit in your glory, one on your right and one on your left." But Jesus told them, "You don't realize what you're asking...”Their motivation was selfish and they were using prayer (and their mum used worship) to try to get what they wanted. That’s not how it should be.

So what is wrong with that? They had a conversation and the Lord corrected them.

When the motive is wrong the grace to handle it is absent. The prodigal son knew how to ask for what he wanted. Lk 15:12(ISV)  The younger one told his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them. He wasn’t asking for his brother’s inheritance. His own share. But you see he couldn’t handle it. Lk 15:13 (ISV)  A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living.  Getting his request simply resulted in leaving his father’s presence and squandering the resources. When he repented his prayer was different. He no longer said “Give me”. It was “Make me like one of your hired servants” Lk 15:19(MKJV). Use prayer to make you into what God has planned.

So our prayers should not specify our wishes, just simply say “Thy will be done”?

Far from it. Very far from it. When one asked Jesus for mercy he asked for specifics. Lk 18:38, 41(ISV)  So he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, I want to see again!" I don’t ask “Thy will be done” when hungry or having bills to settle. I know what His will is. We must have a mindset that God is good and wants the very best for us. 1Tm6:17(ESV)  God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. In repenting the prodigal realised his father was very generous even to servants, unfortunately the elder son saw him as stingy! What a contrast. Make prayer a tool of making you what God wants. He wants holiness, so you seek it. He also wants your needs met, including having something to set for your guests, so you seek it. We must find out from the scriptures and waiting on God what is the plan. purpose and timing of God. Then based on that we go ahead to ask. I know God wants me healthy so I boldly ask. 3Jn 1:2(ESV)  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.  When faced with choices not explicit in the bible as marriage, location, employment etc prayer is my tool in bringing my mind and soul subject to the Spirit of God so as to know what to choose. I am sure whatever He says will be the best. . Is 48:17(GW)  This is what the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the LORD your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go.  You see we can never have anything better than the will of God.

The purpose of prayer Week 19, 2026

 

It was a short clip. I don’t know the producer, but what was said caught my attention: The first purpose of prayer is intimacy, not requests. When intimacy is established, other matters follow. Ps 27:4(ESV)  One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. Do you recall the father’s words when the elder son said, “ You have not given me even a goat to celebrate with my friends”? And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours Lk 15:31(ESV). You are always with me. The presence and intimacy were first, and come before material possessions. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Mat 6:33(ESV)  was taught in the context of prayer, you know. We need to practice that in prayer, really.

But asking is very important, and we must not get disciples to believe that once they worship and give thanks, there is no real need to make requests. Giving the impression that the truly spiritual man makes no request, just worships, and those who request are carnal! You do not have, because you do not ask. Jas 4:2(ESV) 

Yes. That is correct. Jesus specifically commands us to ask; that is the way to receiving.  Jn 16:24(ESV)  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. And those who are very intimate with God and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in great abundance still need to ask. Jn15:16(ESV)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. I agree, but when intimacy is established with God, how and what we ask for changes - in their order and in their content. And we become transformed the more into His image.

What exactly do you mean?

You see, those who were commanded to pray for labourers in Mt 9:37, 38(ESV)  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” are sent out as labourers in Mt 10:5(ESV)  These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go...” As they prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth,” by praying for labourers, they were sent out to be the labourers. Transformation is taking place in them.

And are their needs met when they are thus?

Have you considered Solomon’s prayer? His request to God centred on purpose. God’s purpose for bringing him to the throne. 1Kgs3:9(ESV)  Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” Now that pleased God, and God granted him things he didn’t ask for. 1Kgs 3:13(ESV)  I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. God doesn’t have favourites. He will do the same with you.  Stop using prayer as a tool to get what you want from God and turn it into a tool to make you what God wants. Ps 37:4(ESV)  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.