Evil that good may come Week 8, 2015

“If you had an opportunity, would you cheat again?” The internationally known former athlete was asked. He said he would if he were faced with exactly the same circumstances. What were his reasons? He indicated that as a result of his 7 straight “victories” a lot of profit came to the sports business, and so much money was raised for cancer sufferers. “Now we wouldn’t want to change that would we?” he said; as though it were impossible for help to arise from other sources for the people. But he wished he had been nicer to people, more gentle. When will people realise sin does not bear the fruit of the Spirit, that meekness and deceit cannot cohabit. The sinful self wants what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against the sinful self. They are always fighting against each other, so that you don't do what you really want to do Gal 5:17 (ERV). You cannot reveal the secret of your strength to Delilah, and still have strength to fight the Philistines when you awake from her laps. But that is beside the point.

It is Satan’s hook to chain men to sin by telling them “Think of the good that will come from this small sin.” Think of all the good you could do if you were the one in charge, so election rigging is a “necessary evil”. Think of all the help you could render humanity by this money, so sell your soul? Would any such thing be an acceptable sacrifice? For this reason I make request to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you will give your bodies as a living offering, holy, pleasing to God, which is the worship it is right for you to give him Rom 12:1(BBE). I once heard it said “Of course I know right from wrong, I just don’t know the right wrong to do!” there can never be a right wrong, never. You might as well say, "Let's do something evil, so that something good will come of it!" Some people even claim that we are saying this. But God is fair and will judge them as well Rom 3:8 (CEV).

Such thinking is simply lack of faith. You believe righteousness can protect you no longer, so a little sin, a little lie is needed. Or is it that God is really not in charge anymore, so you need to “help” Him by doing something wrong. “You don’t understand Pastor; the consequences would be too great to bear. I know it is not right but which is worse-a little lie or my family thrown out to the streets? I am not harming anyone.” Is that not the argument of the harlot? What difference is there between you? “What if something drastic happens while I wait? What if I die, or worse still, my beloved suffers and dies? Will I not be to blame?” I never knew you had the power of life and death in your hands. Jairus’ daughter died while waiting for Jesus to come. So did Lazarus; the rest is history. But whatever happens know  God will make it good. Through faith women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others, refusing to accept freedom, died under torture in order to be raised to a better life Heb 11:35(GNB). Incalculable harm is done by such reasoning, such compromise. Remember a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. You will surely be enslaved and filled with regret.

Thermometer or thermostat Week 7 2015

It’s a handy instrument- the thermometer. As the temperature around it changes it also changes. Accurately reflecting the situations and changing with the weather. Every hospital has it; not so? But can we afford spiritually to be like that? And do not follow the customs of the present age, but be transformed by the entire renewal of your minds, so that you may learn by experience what God’s will is — that will which is good and beautiful and perfect Rom12:2(wey). Consider those who would be democratic. They change with the trend and times. Aaron who had seen God on the mountain with Moses and 70 elders in the space of less than 40 days built a golden idol because it was the popular demand of the people. With Moses he was hot and spiritual, but in the midst of the mixed multitude his conduct was cold and worldly. His excuse? Let not the anger of my Lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him Ex32:22-23(KJV) But who did God blame in the matter? And Moses saw the people how they were stripped; for Aaron had stripped them to shame before their adversaries Ex32:25(Darby) Simon Peter at Antioch out of fear behaved like a thermometer. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. Gal2:12(KJV). Are you afraid?

The thermostat is a very important instrument in hospitals also. It retains a set temperature irrespective of outside fluctuations. It is invaluable in preserving medicines and other equipment. Which modern household doesn’t have it? That’s the stuff fridges are made of! Incidentally God made us physical thermostats – our bodies are set to a specific temperature range irrespective of the outside. Whether in a freezing day or a hot desert. This is so because our bodies can only work well in that temperature range. Spiritually too we have to be thermostats: set on Jesus, set on what he has commanded irrespective of the opposition. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. Col3:2 (ASV). God had told Paul by the Spirit to get to Jerusalem, but out of fear for his life both his travel companions and the brethren in Caesarea weeping begged him not to go. His reply was, “What can you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief? Why, as for me, I am ready not only to go to Jerusalem and be put in chains, but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”Acts21:13(wey) The thermostat brought them all back on track: So when he was not to be dissuaded, we ceased … and said, “The Lord’s will be done!”Acts 21:14(wey)

The thermostat is active, driven by a power source it is connected to. A thermometer is passive; driven by its surroundings. Are you still connected or fearful of men?

Don’t stop half way Week 6, 2015

“I obeyed God. I am very sure I did. In fact His instructions were written down so I could carry them out to the letter. Why has this happened to me, why? Pastor am I not to experience the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? Why is my case different pastor, why? ” "This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?" 2 Kgs 6:33(NIV)

Your case in no different beloved; don’t stop halfway.

“I don’t understand you. I said I finished what He instructed. I am sure I obeyed.”

Wait. When Moses was being commissioned the Lord said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it Ex 4:3 (NIV). Like Moses you are running now. If you listen again and obey it will make you see what God is doing with you. What of the next assignment? Then the Lord said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow. "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh Ex 4:6-7 (NIV). Don’t stop halfway.

“I think you are spiritualising the passage. I don’t need that please.”

Have you considered when Israel went to fight Benjamin and were defeated? The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and they inquired of the Lord. They said, "Shall we go up again to battle against the Benjamites, our brothers?" The Lord answered, "Go up against them."  Jdgs 20:23(NIV). What was the result? They were beaten yet again. Yet they didn’t give up. Instead they fasted and made sacrifices to the Lord. At the word of God they went yet again. The Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. Jdgs 20:35(NIV). They didn’t stop half way because of an unexpected adverse result.

“These people had sin in their lives they needed to repent of. Where is mine?”

You are a bit hard to convince. When you walk with the shepherd in psalm 23 you start out in green pastures and beside still waters. Whilst following Him closely you will pass through the valley of the shadow of death. Do you know that is verse 4: halfway round the psalm? Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Ps 23:4(NIV). Never stop halfway with God. The best is yet to be. Surely goodness and mercy are waiting for you.

“Is there anyone who went through this? That will convince me...”

O dear saint. Job obeyed, lost his health, all his wealth and children. He didn’t stop halfway. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy Jas 5:11(NIV). Press on as well. The path of the righteous is as the brightening day.

Mysterious illness healed Week 5, 2015

It was the screaming of the children that brought me to full wakefulness where I lay in the parlour late February 2013. My father had fallen on the doorway and lay still on the floor; blood oozing from his scalp. I saw no breathing, felt no pulse, and hurriedly began massaging the heart. My wife started praying out loud. He was 74 and a known hypertensive; was it a myocardial infarction? He had informed me he fell on the bathroom some days earlier and hurt himself; was it blood collection within the skull? He revived and we rushed him to the hospital. I feared the worst. I remembered a dream in which he passed away.  “Whatever happens honey we will take it” I said to my wife. She gazed at me incredulously, strongly rejecting any evil.

At the hospital as the doctor attempted to suture the scalp he passed out again, his blood pressure reading falling so low. We laid him flat and when he revived urged the cardiologist to come quickly. She did, and ran an ECG test on him. In the coming days other scans and tests followed with nothing conclusive. The number and range of drugs increased. The family in Diaspora was roused. All manner of prayers were raised and assurance given of answers. My sister in law felt unction leave her after praying for him; she was certain God heard. As we rounded up the morning prayers in early March I heard an unusual sound come from him and looked up to see him slumped on the chair. Was he dying before me? Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Lam 3:37 (NIV). When he revived we rushed him to the teaching hospital and were directed to UNTH emergency room where more tests and a blood thinner (intravenous tenecteplase) were ordered and given. A single injection cost over N350, 000 and had to be given within 12 hours of an incident requiring it. It was released to us on credit. We moved after consultation to the Good Shepherd Specialist hospital and invited cardiology, neurosurgery, urology, and cardio-thoracic reviews. He had by now done a lot of tests and scans: CT scan, chest X-rays, blood counts, electrolytes and urea, several ECGs, repeat cardiac enzymes... the works.  The professor of cardiology was sure the primary problem was not the heart, “perhaps neurosurgical” he suggested. The neurosurgeon opined it was not primarily from the brain or its cover, “it may be cardiac” he said. The cardio-thoracic surgeon noted a huge collection of blood in the pleural space and drained it. “But that can’t explain the problem” he cautioned. Indeed while there he suffered another attack before the clinicians. Priests prayed for him and anointed him. He started having urinary incontinence whilst on admission and was also treated for a urinary tract infection. The hospital authorities graciously waived his bill at the time of discharge; even the specialists would not accept any pay. The professor of cardiology visited often not to prescribe any drug but to encourage him to read and meditate on the Bible. He made it clear that was where the victory would come from. 

After his discharge I studied the barrage of drugs wondering if adverse drug reaction might be involved. As I came into the parlour to report my findings he had slumped. I decided to monitor him and noted his blood pressure was again very low. Again the pulse was fading and breathing in gasps; but this time he wet his trousers. That was a sure sign of dying to me. Hurriedly he was picked up (by now he had lost significant weight) placed on the bed and resuscitated. After God brought him round again my phone rang. My cousin had received a message from someone in a prayer group that death was hovering around the family but God would intervene if we fasted and sought Him. "I said I would tell you since we are all one family". "My father virtually just died now and revived" I said. What to do was clear when my wife confirmed she had been thinking the whole family should fast and pray.

Every member of the family fasted and prayed. Those in Diaspora had already prayed. All medication was stopped (I later restarted an antihypertensive). It was 24 months back. He has been whole from that day! I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades Rev 1:18 (NIV)