Where is my daughter? Week 51, 2011

Fred is fine brother, regular at the fellowship and willing to do anything asked of him. Even when the numbers in fellowship dropped below 10 you could count on him to be present. He is regularly cheerful and committed to prayer. In fact he was a member of the fellowship’s prayer team. At that time the fellowship had 2 functioning activity groups meeting within the week: evangelism and prayer. Fred was in prayer, and he was constant. During programmes he would do the manual work necessary to make things work.
He worked faithfully at the hospital’s plant house and would have no part with any of the unrighteous works of darkness called sharp practices. Even when his supervising officer would dream up a plan to raise money by false declarations through the plant house and generator Bro Fred was a constant stumbling block to such plans; needless to say he and his job had been threatened more than once. On a number of occasions he had brought such incidents for prayer. In the course of interacting with him and listening to him his inner burden was made known: he had a missing grown up daughter.
It was a painful thing for him to discover his over 17 year old daughter was missing. And she had been gone for over a year. A neighbour had threatened to deal with Fred, and now Fred was sure through diabolical means that man was responsible for her continued disappearance. He’d resorted to fire for fire. Fight my enemies, LORD! Attack my attackers! Shield me and help me. Aim your spear at everyone who hunts me down, but promise to save me. Let all who want to kill me be disappointed and disgraced. Chase away and confuse all who plan to harm me. Send your angel after them and let them be like straw in the wind. Make them run in the dark on a slippery road, as your angel chases them. I did them no harm, but they hid a net to trap me, and they dug a deep pit to catch and kill me. Surprise them with disaster! Trap them in their own nets and let them fall and rot in the pits they have dug. I will celebrate and be joyful because you, LORD, have saved me. Ps 35:1-9 (CEV)
Bro Harcourt (then fellowship president) gently rebuked him, urging him to forgive and telling him things would change when he stops praying in such a manner. Reluctantly at first, but gradually he stopped praying in that way. Weeks passed, months went by and nothing seemed to happen. But he held on in faith, convinced God would hear his prayer and return his daughter. Then one day news came from the police that someone fitted the description of his daughter and was searching for her father. Could it be true? He followed it up, and lo it was true! After over 2 years she that was lost had been found. Whole, healthy, and intact.
Bro Fred has since retired from the National Orthopaedic Hospital

Ben's testimony Week 50, 2011

It was a dark Wednesday night as I went for the night vigil and was assaulted by a vigilante man. His blow to my eye caused it to start bleeding. I could no longer see. Immediately I cried out “Blood of Jesus protect me from evil men”. I was rescued by another man who listened to my story. My night vigil was spent lying down in prayer bleeding from the eye. You see I had previously been operated on both eyes, and that left one was the good, seeing eye. In the morning I was examined by the ophthalmologist. She mourned at the condition of my eye. It was collapsed, I could not open it, and I could not see with it, I had been bleeding from it. She said “Only God can save the situation now. My taking you to theatre is just a formality.” Later she counseled me that everyone has a cross to bear. I did not argue with her, but convinced blindness is NOT for me cancelled that statement in agreement with my wife.
Brethren came to my aid financially, prayers were offered up by so many on my behalf. The ophthalmologist was seeing me without demanding consultation fees. God gave me a word: Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; Isa 44:24-26(KJV) I held to it, speaking it into me incessantly day and night.
Since the police became involved in the incident I was to be examined by the police doctor and on the way there 2 months after the incident my eye kept bleeding that the brother with me turned back and said “Only the living pursue cases. Let’s leave the matter”.Sometime later following examination sight had come to the eye. A professor of ophthalmology told me “If what is written on the folder is what happened to your eye then it is impossible for you to see!” Did God not say I am the LORD that maketh all things; that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers? The assailant’s family wanted an out of court settlement, but when we presented a bill of about N200, 000 they balked, and had a lawyer represent them.
Pus and blood were coming intermittently despite all medication; and the vision was unclear. I decided to forgive and informed the police I was no longer interested in the case. My wife had been encouraging this. From then on the vision became clearer and today over 2 years after the incident there is no further discharge or bleeding from the eye and I read with the eye even without the aid of glasses!
Ben lives in Enugu, a printer and prominent member of the FGBMFI

Everything is double, double Week 49, 2011

“What reward could there be for forgiving others? Isn’t it just If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins Mat 6:14, 15(CEV) ”. Is that so? What song were you singing? “Everything is double, double. I am believing God for a double portion before the year runs out.” Is that scriptural? “Of course; that happened to Job. All Job's brothers and sisters and former friends came to visit him and feasted with him in his house. They expressed their sympathy and comforted him for all the troubles the LORD had brought on him. Each of them gave him some money and a gold ring. The LORD blessed the last part of Job's life even more than he had blessed the first Job 42:11, 12(GNB). But I thought we are discussing the reward of forgiveness.” We are, we are. Why and when did he get it? Did he do seed faith, did he give to a powerful man of God? “Oh God just compensated him.”
Not quite; there was something he did first: Then, after Job had prayed for his three friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had had before Job 42:10(GNB). At no time did Job ask for a double portion, nor did he have to pray for restoration but he gets twice as much after he interceded for his friends who were so insensitive to him.
“Are you saying asking for a double portion is sinful? Elisha asked and got.” Did you also notice Elisha forgave his enemies when he could have destroyed them? When the king of Israel saw the Syrians, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, sir? Shall I kill them?" "No," he answered. "Not even soldiers you had captured in combat would you put to death. Give them something to eat and drink, and let them return to their king." So the king of Israel provided a great feast for them; and after they had eaten and drunk, he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel2Ki 6:21-23(GNB). You have been desiring promotion and a double portion from God; now you see how to get them. “Just one thing: are you against seed faith and sowing into men of God?” By no means, but Gal 5:6(GNB) teaches: For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love. If you do not forgive you do not love and faith won’t work!

What is forgiveness? Week 48, 2011

“I won’t talk to him, I just can’t!” I thought you said you have forgiven him. “I have, but I can’t forget what he has done. I won’t harm him, won’t block his way; but don’t expect me to actively help him. He is proud, knowing nothing …supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself 1Ti 6:4, 5(MKJV). ” Don’t use any scripture as an excuse to retain an unforgiving spirit; don’t be like Absalom. Absalom wouldn't speak at all to Amnon. He hated Amnon 2Sa 13:22(GW). “I said I have forgiven him; I just want to be left alone.” I won’t push you but remember Col 3:13(GNB): Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. How can you have forgiven if you won’t talk to him or pray for him? Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you Lk 6:27, 28(CEV). “Oh I’ll pray for him alright: may he reap what he sows in Jesus’ name.” That’s certainly not what you asked me to pray for the last time you realised you offended God: you asked for mercy. Treat others just as you want to be treated Lk 6:31(CEV). You have to truly forgive.
“You weary me; what does it mean to forgive? I hope you are not expecting me to forgive and forget. I don’t have memory failure.” True forgiveness is no memory failure but a removal of the poison of bitterness, the desire for punishment and revenge... “I am not punishing him now!” Wait, let me finish. It shows up in blessing the offender. Consider Joseph and his brothers. For him forgiveness was not to distance himself from them when they came into Egypt. He could have had his revenge but he didn’t; he could have been aloof and not talked at all with them but he took them in. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them Gen 50:21(ESV). Genuine forgiveness is shown by blessing the offender.
“I don’t want to be a hypocrite; I certainly don’t feel like blessing him.” Whoever talked of feelings? Speak with your mouth before God what you must in obedience; feelings will come later. Walk by faith not by feelings. “I can’t do this on my own.” I know, I know, let’s come before God and ask for grace, and set a date all of 3 of us will see. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you Prov 25:21, 22(ESV).

Unanswered prayers Week 47, 2011

“What kind of a woman is this? Hehn? I’ve never seen a more wasteful...” Take it easy that’s your wife you are speaking about; the very mother of your children. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them Col 3:19(ISV). “So it gives her the right to drain my money? My hard earned money!” I thought the money belongs to you both. “Don’t start your preaching now. That woman is just the cause of my downfall. All my labours in prayer and fasting; I can see why I have received no breakthroughs. All the seed faith, all the ...”
Ah thank God you have received the revelation of your errors. “Yes, yes, I erred in marrying her. We should just separate. If I go from her I will be free from these quarrels. She’s a witch in short.” Stop that! Who has bewitched you? You are the reason your prayers are hindered not her. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered 1Pt 3:7(ESV) .
“Why blame me; always siding with my foes.” Am I your enemy because I tell you the truth? “Look, other women are not like her.” Other women? Are you being secretly enticed to unfaithfulness? You want God to close your heavens? Have you read Mal 2:13, 14(CEV)? And what else are you doing? You cry noisily and flood the LORD's altar with your tears, because he isn't pleased with your offerings and refuses to accept them. And why isn't God pleased? It's because he knows that each of you men has been unfaithful to the wife you married when you were young. You promised that she would be your partner, but now you have broken that promise. “I haven’t committed adultery.” I didn’t say you had. Your problem stems from unforgiveness not her. If God is to respond to any prayer of faith then the one praying must forgive: Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith. Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you Mk 11:24, 25(CEV).
It is never the right thing to rail at anyone, especially your wife. You have several faults of your own God has forgiven. Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. Eph 4:31, 32. Unforgiveness hinders prayers greatly.

Forgive him Week 46, 2011

“You do not know what he has done. Look at how he abandoned me to pursue his own business.” But he is your husband; the money from that business goes to meet your needs. “What needs? What greater need than the presence of my husband when the pregnancy he caused is being threatened. I am bleeding and he runs off, saying he has some commitments.” But you are in good hands... “Which good hands? Don’t defend the indefensible.” Please forgive him; you have offended God far more than he has you. “Why are you always defending him? Look if I let go and leave him he will do worse. When I deal with him now thoroughly he will think twice before trying something funny next time. Only put your hand on him, and see what a fight you will have; you will not do it again! Job 41:8(BBE)” I am not here to defend him but to crown you. “What are you talking about?” Do you remember the story Jesus told on forgiveness? The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. Mt 18:23-24 (GNB). “This is talking about money…” It’s talking about forgiveness. “So how does that crown me?” Notice it is a king who forgives the offence. The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go Mat 18:27. When you fail to forgive, you are a servant: the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he said Mt 18:28 (GNB), and remain a servant at the same level with him who offended you. The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount Mt 18:34(GNB). Make yourself a king over him by forgiving him. Refusing to forgive not only robs one of the grace and mercy he is already enjoying; it is a missed opportunity to be a king over the offender. "That's a funny way to interpret a parable." Ah! Have you forgotten Be merciful just as your Father is merciful Lk 6:36(GNB). It makes you like God; it makes you godly to forgive. “But it makes me weak not strong to let go all the time, it sounds a bit foolish.” Remember what seems foolish in God is wiser than men; and what seems feeble in God is stronger than men 1Co 1:25(BBE). I would like to be a king from heaven’s perspective won’t you?

You too can walk with God Week 45, 2011

“What does it mean to walk with God?” Well it is what God requires of you. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Mic 6:8. It means to fellowship with God, to have Jesus as your companion. You must humble yourself to walk with God.
To walk with God is the privilege of all who refuse to soil themselves. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy Rev 3:4. If some at Sardis could keep their garments, you too can in the midst of compromisers.
“That’s just the point: I have been a habitual sinner.” Consider Rahab, consider Mary Magdalene from whom seven demons had gone out Luk 8: 2 she did not dwell on the past but walked with Jesus: When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem Mar 15:41. Did you have a sinful past? You too can walk with God.
To walk with God is to live in wholehearted loving obedience to His word. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book 2Ki 23:3 .
“I think family life will get in the way...” Enoch was the son of a man. Are you a child? You too can walk with God. Married with children? Facing challenges of quiet time and home pressures? You too can walk with God Gen 5:22-24.
“I am yet to see God’s promises fulfilled to me...” Noah was 500 years before he got 3 sons Gen 5:32. That was never recorded before in scripture. The promise of God had not manifested in his life yet he walked with God. Methuselah was alive in his time, and Adam lived to Methuselah’s. Even if he told Noah it has never happened before, Noah still walked with God. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God Gen 6:9. Are you yet childless after so many years? You too can walk with God. Have you waited so many years to see answers to your prayer and now you are old like Elisabeth and Zechariah? You too can walk with God.
Can I say that Jesus may walk with you but will not follow you? You must follow. Those who walk with God walk in His presence, and also walk after Him. Follow the glory cloud Num 9:16-23.