Making new wine Week 13, 2026

 

One of the tragedies of troubled marriages is the insistence by each party, “I have done my bit, taken more than my fair share of the beating. Yes, I may not be perfect, but I certainly don’t deserve this…”  “We” has become “I”. There is hope if even one will heed the counsel in Jn 2:5(ESV)  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Climb down from your assumed position and take the place of a servant. Take off your rights toga and lordship mantra. Do whatever Jesus says.  Incidentally, this is the last recorded statement of Mary, the mother of our Lord, in the scriptures. If you would honour her, then obey her last instruction in scripture.

In this case His instruction seems foolish. Jn 2:7(ESV)  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.  What instructions Jesus would give are foolish to the world, but thankfully, by obeying and obeying to the full, we have victory. 2Cor 10:6(ESV)  being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Complete obedience is the prerequisite. Has He said, “Go and kneel to your spouse and beg forgiveness”?  Do not stand and ask forgiveness. Don’t say “If there is any way I have offended you...”  Obey, and do it to the brim. 1Cor 1:25(ESV)  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. To make new wine of marriage, to get God’s miracle in any situation, present yourself as a servant, listen to what Jesus says, and do it. Stop listening to so-called experts who neither believe in the permanence of marriage nor in the power of His word. Guaranteed is His promise in 1Pt 3:1-2(ESV)  Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.  If it works for women by the power of God, it works for men also. He has said: Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense Prov 19:11(ESV). Do not take note, remark, and harp on the offences of the other. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive Col 3:12-13(ESV). 

“I have been doing this and am frustrated. I quit!” I hear you say. Wait patiently, having fully obeyed, beware self-imposed timelines. Heb 10:35-36(ESV)  Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. The very day the King in Israel declared in 2Kgs6:33(ESV) “This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”  God said in 2Kgs7:1(ESV)  But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”  Wait, I say in perfect obedience. It is after full obedience that the next set of instructions comes, and as that is also done, the water is now found to be wine. Sweet new wine. Jn 2:11(ESV)  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. He will again manifest His glory in you

MY JOURNEY FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT WEEK 12, 2026

 I was born on March 19, 1964, in Enugu, Nigeria, into an Anglican Church family. My father, a knight of St Christopher, Lay Reader, and dedicated choir master at St. Bartlomew's  Church, Asata, Enugu, for 22 years, instilled in me a sense of spirituality from a young age. I became a chorister in 1974. 

The war for my soul raged fiercely in the spiritual realms, and I was oblivious to the battle. It began in 1980, when a mysterious affliction seized me, defying medical explanation. I collapsed, struck down as if by a stroke, half my body paralyzed, my life hanging in the balance. My parents, gripped by panic and anxiety, sought answers from a renowned traditional diviner at Awkuzu, who consulted the ancient spirits of the great beyond. The verdict was damning: my family's house in Awgbu, our ancestral village, was built on a spiritual crossroads, obstructing the movement of powerful elemental spirits. Their wrath had been provoked, and I was the unfortunate victim. The diviner's words sent a shiver down my spine: "A sacrifice must be made to appease them, lest the affliction worsen." In desperation, my father agreed to offer the required sacrifice, even as we set out for Abagana. Miraculously, as we arrived, the symptoms vanished, leaving me bewildered and confused. The ritual was performed, and for a time, the storm subsided. But the reprieve was short-lived. By 1986, the dreams began – dark, unsettling visions of a mysterious being leading me into the depths of the forest, teaching me the secrets of roots and herbs. Little did I know, the battle for my soul had only just begun...

As I grew older, these dreams became more frequent and intense, and I became confused. I turned to native doctors, seeking answers, and in 1986, I was initiated into the native doctor cult. My father, who believed in "giving to Caesar what belonged to Caesar and to God what belonged to God," had actually introduced me to consulting native doctors. I rose through the ranks, acquiring charms and abilities that gave me power and control over others.

# I had "Obia-le-gbum, gbue onwe ya" - a charm that sent back deadly intentions and projectiles to my enemies .

 # "Mba ana abalu agu" - a charm that silenced critics and earned me instant praise in hostile environs. 

# "Igba enwo" - a protective shield that prevented opposing forces/wizards or cultists from summoning my image in a mirror, globes or basins of water

 These charms gave me frightening powers, including the ability to strike my chest in annoyance and unleash evil spiritual pins with dire consequences and no medical solutions on those who provoked me - a power known as "igha pin." ..... amongst many others.  Moving through these levels also came with restrictions.... some of which were.... not being able to eat certain foods with people, not being able to share some things with people, strict instructions on how to bathe for certain charms to work and abstinence from seeing dead bodies. But with each new power, I found myself wanting more. I even had a charm that would attract patronage for business goods and services. I was power-drunk, and my desire for more power led me to seek the next level of "ili amosu" ...... astral projection and the ability to hear what people were discussing about me from miles away. However, the native doctor hesitated to initiate me, citing my tender heart as potential for murderous acts and wickedness as the power there was too great. 

 It was 1988, and my life was about to take a dramatic turn. My late younger sister, may her soul rest in peace, had attended a crusade led by late Dr. Ibeneme and experienced a miraculous transformation in weight loss , for saying she was obese would be an understatement. I was shocked and intrigued and wanted this great power that could effect such miraculous change almost instantly. My pursuit of power led me to accept an invite from my late aunt, Prof Josephine Okoli,  to late Dr. Friday Nwatu's New Life Holy Ghost ministry program. I arrived at the program, determined to answer the altar call, not for Jesus, but for power. Bro Obi Onubogu, now Bishop, ministered, and I barely concentrated on the message😂... while waiting for the power at the altar call. I went forward at the altar call but little did I know that a seed had been planted in me. I found myself going for fellowships and bible studies in places like Deeper life, Full gospel business men's fellowship, Faith clinic etc. God used these to draw me closer to Himself and I began to develop a genuine interest and hunger for Him....I subsequently surrendered to God. 2Cor 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

My days in the devil's camp were fraught with deprivations and restrictions in the quest for power, and so when in my early days as a believer l saw Christians in some of the places l fellowshipped in doing some rigorous fasting and "tonguing," l I decided to embark on 7 days straight fasting. I was downcast and discouraged when I absentmindedly and unwittingly broke it with banana and groundnuts at IMT Abakiliki Rd, Enugu, but God corrected me: "Power is not just by fasting, but by prayer, obedience, and commitment to My Word and submission and total reliance on Me." It's not by force fasting.  

I surrendered, and He transformed me. Today, I don't seek power, but His presence, and I have seen God using me to impact lives in various missions and in the outreach ministry He has given me: JAYKOBEZ INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION ministry, while worshiping with my family in The Anglican Communion. It's been a humbling and exciting journey of faith, from extreme darkness.... while in the shadows of the church... to the glorious light of CHRIST's salvation. I do not know where the next wind of the Holy Spirit will blow me to.....but I eagerly and submissively look forward to it.....saying: "Here I am, use me, Lord."

At The Master's Command

Rev Kanayo Ejikeme Madichie.

Has the wine run out? Week 11, 2026

 

It need not come to physical or verbal abuse, but may just show in tactical avoidance of each other, repeated removal of the hand placed on the body of the spouse. Has “my hubby” now changed to “foolish man, you are a devil. I don’t know why I married you in the first place,” has the wine run out? When “my darling” becomes “this wicked woman, you are a burden on me” we need to ask ‘Has the wine run out? Jn 2:3 (ESV)  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” At some point in time in the marriage journey, the wine of affectionate care, the wine of passionate love (if it was ever there) may run out. Have you experienced it? God is in the business of restoration as in John's account.

Jn 2:2(ESV)  Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. He is the One who can change the situation, not any formula, injection of funds, or even well-meaning intervention by concerned people. Jesus Christ alone does this miracle.  The first thing is to invite Jesus into the marriage relationship. You see, Jesus Christ never forces His way into any life. Rev 3:20 (ESV)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.  Have you consciously pleaded with Him to come in? His answer is “Yes”.  The second thing is to acknowledge there is a problem. Not saying we are going through a phase, this is always how it is at this stage in marriage of everybody. No, no, no. call it what it really is. Do not be in denial. Jn 2:3 (ESV)  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” However, who you tell it to is very important. Here, Jesus Christ is the one told about it. Ahasuerus told his advisers about a marriage issue that had become elevated to a national matter. He sought the law on the matter. Law didn’t solve his marriage problems, but compounded it which he regretted. Est 2:1(GW)  Later, when King Xerxes got over his raging anger, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decided against her. You will, too, if the law and divorce become your arbiter. Go to Jesus Christ in the pain. You who see the wine has run out in someone’s marriage, take it to Jesus as Mary did. No gossiping. Prov 17:9(ISV)  Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends. 

We need the mindset to get this miracle. Jn 2:9. 10(ESV)  the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” I commend the couple in this matter: they made up their minds that the marriage feast would not be like everybody else’s. Some of us say. “Let it die. I am not the first, neither will I be the last.” 1Kg 19:4(ESV)  But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”  Stop that. Secondly, do not believe that Jesus will not intervene even when given reasons. Be strong in assurance as Mary was. Jn 2:4, 5(ESV)  And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Until and unless you decide this marriage must live and are committed to making the God-specified sacrifices, God will not force you.

Leaving it too late Week 10, 2026

 

She was lying on the bench, and a foul smell surrounded her. Her leg was wrapped in soiled cloth with festering sores visible on the exposed parts. Inside, I learned she had diabetes, and her foot ulcer was now rotting away. She had been on herbal treatments and now presented at the hospital when it was too late to save the foot. I ordered that the patient be referred to the orthopaedic surgeons for a life-saving amputation. I feel pity for those who come like that. Something could be done if they come early. But perhaps because of ignorance (but she is a lecturer) or fear of costs (but now the money is forced to come out for a far less acceptable outcome), or for some other cause the condition is left too late. After many rebukes, the stiff-necked man will be broken incurably, without any warning. Is 55:6, 7(ESV) “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Are you like this woman? No, I don’t mean “Do you have Diabetes and have left off the right treatment too late?” but, “Do you have sin which you are treating every other way other than by repenting and coming to God in humility?”. Sin and sickness have parallels.

Some things cannot be reversed after they have gone on for too long. Some relationships have been shattered because pride was nurtured for so long, forgiveness withheld by nursing wounded egos. Genuine repentance sacrificed on the altar of “How will I be seen as weak?” Some punishments have become inevitable because of delayed repentance 2Chr36:15, 16 (ESV)  The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place.But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy. Oh, don’t think this is Old Testament, and that such doesn’t happen in the New Testament. Jesus Christ Himself cried out saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Lk 19:42-44(ESV) Be warned..If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.

Earlier in the day, I had met a young albino man with lesions on his face. They had changed colour, and being a doctor, I knew he had a real risk of cancer. He had to act now. We were alone in the shop, and as I looked him in the eye, I urged him to get to the hospital this month. Not next. He thanked me. I hope and pray he takes action. Sadly, the woman with Diabetes strongly rejected the suggestion to go to the Orthopaedic Hospital. Urgent action is needed for her life’s sake. You also take action; deal with sin in repentance before it devastates you. Sin is a deceiver, and hardens all those it deceives. Prov 29:1(KJV) He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Eliashib Week 9, 2026

 

That’s the name of the High Priest in the days of Nehemiah. His first mention in scripture - his entrance in the public space - is very impressive: Neh 3:1(ESV)  Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. Priests are not trained to build, but he blazes the trail by building the sheep gate. This gate probably communicated with the temple. This was exemplary leadership, right? As a national figure and head of the priestly division, he bought into Nehemiah’s vision to rebuild the broken wall of Jerusalem. Neh 2:17 (ESV)Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” Some people might have been envious of Nehemiah and opposed the building. Eliashib did no such thing. Some people simply did not join in the work. They were aloof. Neh 3:5(ESV)  And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. Not so Eliashib. He rightly took his place and got other priests to build with him. Other citizens followed this lead.

But after completing the wall and the whole congregation enters into a covenant to live by the law of God as given to Moses [Neh 9:38(ESV) “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests], and the names of all who enter into the covenant are written in the next chapter, something is noticed: Eliashib is missing from the list! Other priests were there. Was he dead? His son, who should take over in such an event, was missing also. Neh 12:10 (ESV)  And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada. None of the named descendants of Eliashib was in the list of those who entered into a covenant to live by the word! Are you like this? Exemplary in projects and giving to the church, but strangely missing in commitment to live by the word - which is the real business of the Christian life. You donate, and inspire brethren and others to donate and give to church projects, but do not line up to living by the word. Repent.

Further down the story, we see Eliashib’s evil. He was very much alive. Neh 13:7 (ESV)  I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. Tobiah was an Ammonite. God had very specifically said, “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever Dt 23:3(ESV). Eliashib, who should champion the law, not only allowed Tobiah in but gave him a room. And displaced the rightful things in the process. Additionally, in matters of marriage, his grandson married from Sanballat’s family. Sanballat was not only a foreigner but the Jews’ arch enemy. Neh 13:28 (ESV)  And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.  As an elder, Eliashib could have stopped it. O giver, how is your marriage relationship? Lev 22:29(ESV)  And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. First, live such a life that God will accept you.

Delivered from extortion Week 8, 2026

 

“You are preaching your gospel; I am preaching my own gospel,” the officer said to me. We were in his office in the presence of other clients when I came to request that he inspect the land we intended to build a bungalow on, and he publicly demanded money before doing his job.  “I am a Christian!” I protested, to which he responded in such a brazen, shocking manner. And that publicly. I approached my in-law, who was a senior staff of that Local Government headquarters, to intervene on my behalf. He knew our faith, our stand against corruption, but to my utter disappointment, he said, “There is no rectum you examine you won’t find faeces. I can’t help you.” We had signed an undertaking to vacate the flat, which had curiously been reallocated whilst we still occupied it.  By the sheer mercy and intervention of God, the police were stopped from throwing us out. What would I do now? It was the bid to avoid bribing an official of the State Housing Development Corporation to retain us in the Real Estate apartments that drove us to develop my parents’ property. My father had rented the apartment for three and a half decades, and we were occupying it and paying rent in his name. My stoic wife was pregnant with our second baby and lost weight with all the stress. With our own eyes, we had seen a neighbour’s property thrown out and another person pack in. The amount to give as a bribe was well known. Upon our refusal to give a bribe, a relation called me a fool. Did I not consider my pregnant wife, or did I have even fifty thousand naira to build? 1Cor 3:18-19(ESV)  Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” An uncle offered to give the bribe on our behalf, but was restrained when I told him, “If you do, the consequences will come on your own head.” It took help from the Lord to stand. Renting another place wasn’t palatable, so we sought to build. Just a 2-room bungalow to lay our heads in peace. A beloved brother drew the architectural plans, and we trusted God to build it. The pressure was enormous but my wife was resolute. Something had to give.

I went to the church that day and submitted the man’s name, not for him to fall down and die, but that God would intervene. We also called on God to intervene. Ps 112:4 (ESV)  Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. When God wants to act on one man’s behalf, he can affect a whole nation: the new military ruler, General Abdulsalammi Abubakar, sacked all local government chairmen across the nation, giving them a week to round up every activity. So I returned to the office and was offered a ride in the official car to inspect the land! I only had to fuel the vehicle (Nigeria was in the throes of fuel scarcity then). Following the inspection, the chairman’s signature was first, even though it should have been the last. As I passed through other desks, the officers signed without a fuss until the health officer demanded money. He then quickly signed, saying, “I have signed now, give me something.” No money was given to him either.

Following the permit, the builder went to work in July, and six weeks later, by September, we moved into our own place. 1Cor 1:25(ESV)  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. We had been pressured into our own blessing, and were no longer tenants

Beware of thorns Week 7, 2026

 

It’s not that I don’t want to give God my best nnanyi, I’m juggling many things…

I also have many things to do. You have time for what is important to you.

Your words are very hard. The church is important to me also, but I am actually very busy. I work in three places. I do mornings in one place; in the evenings I put in a few hours elsewhere and cover another facility at nights. I get exhausted frequently.

Poor you. Why stress yourself that much? Is the pay so terrible?

Actually, I could manage with two, but I have a target amount to meet up within 6 months so I could pay deposit for a Tokunbo car. I cannot keep using public transport forever.

Listen to me carefully. Beware of thorns. Lk 8:7(ESV)  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. Anything choking your spiritual life must be avoided

What do you mean by that? Please be comprehensive in applying the scripture. Have you forgotten 2Th 3:10 (ESV) For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat? Do you want me to beg or be a burden to others in the name of Christian service? 2Th 3:7-8(ESV)  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. None of these jobs is shady or illegitimate. How else will I get the good things of life, or is yours a gospel of poverty?

Far from it. Far from it. The teachings about idleness are correct, but if that is truly what you are practicing why are you not as committed as Paul the apostle who wrote and practiced these things? Act 17:16-17(ESV)  Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

How do you know I am not as committed?

Have you always been presenting the gospel message everyday in your workplace? Don’t open your mouth that’s what Paul was doing whilst he was alone at Athens. Act 17:15(ESV)  Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

So how do I meet up with my targets? I will soon get married and need to raise money for the ceremony and reception.

That is where faith comes in. Lk 8:14(ESV)  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Thorns are not necessarily the result of doing illegitimate work, nor has God called us to poverty. Like Paul see the gospel work as your daily assignment. Work hard, and have good targets for life Mat 6:32-33(ESV)  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. God gives His best to those who in faith serve Him unconditionally.