Exceedingly, abundantly, above... Week 32, 2012

It was like my eyes cleared. I had just parted with over a million naira just like that. And the money was not mine. It was my church’s money. It had been raised with a lot of effort; effort in prayers, encouraging people and sacrificial giving. We had been raising money to build a befitting house unto God in the Redeemed Christian Church of God branch I served both as chairman building committee and later as assistant pastor. It was a huge responsibility for me as a junior resident and a young father, but I applied myself wholeheartedly to the task. Now it was handed over to a man with nothing to take back to the church. What had I just done? Had I missed it? Was I misguided? Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding Prov 3:5(ESV).
After we had exhausted ourselves believing God and raising as much funds as possible for our building plan valued at millions of naira, we were at 1.5 million naira and could not seem to move forward. So we kept the money faithfully praying and believing God for a breakthrough. A man of God came to our church said, “You have a project at hand which you have not enough money for...” My attention was caught. A solution was surely coming. “What you need to do is to sow this money you now have into the life of a prominent man of God.” He emphasized that man of God was not to be himself. After that we agreed to do what the minister said, and agreed the man of God would be our daddy at Redemption Camp. We purposed to do this seed sowing quickly.
Following inquiries we learned if you wanted to see him without an appointment you had to be at his residence before 6am. We traveled down to the camp and we got there early, before 6am, and discovered others were already there before us. The man of God was having his family devotions. After this he came out to see us. He received what each person had to bring, thanked each one and briefly laid hands on our heads in prayer and moved off. And that was that. I walked away wondering if that was all, and contending with the thought that the money was all gone with nothing to show for it. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…Eph 3:20(ESV)
Nothing happened thereafter for many months. The building of course was stalled. Suddenly the news came down to us. Daddy G.O. was reminded by the Spirit that a certain church in Enugu gave him some money. The Holy Ghost asked him to send it back ten-fold! He checked his records, took note of the church and the money, and sent for us. I was ecstatic! Tenfold increase in less than 1 year. In obedience we had sowed not knowing exactly what to expect. This was fifteen million naira. Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap Lk 6:38(ESV).
Emeka is a surgeon living in Enugu, the church building is in progress by the tunnel crossing.