By Funmi Komolafe

Today is the first Sunday in March; the third month of the year 2017.  Brethren, let’s give God all the glory.   You are not alive by accident but by the grace of God and indeed for a purpose.

In today’s edition, we look at how we handle amazing testimonies that the Lord has given us.

Let’s consider a couple   waiting for children for quite some time. Finally, after series of prayers,   fasting, living a holy life, tithes and seed sowing etc.,  the baby arrives.  Of course, there will be so much joy not only in the hearts of the couple but also in the home.  An apartment that has been quiet becomes noisy with the cry   of the new baby.  At this stage,  the cry of the baby or babies will be received as joyful noise by the parents.

In the name of Jesus, there will soon be a joyful noise in your home this year.

However, we must realize that not everyone around    will rejoice with us.

Those who have been   making demands on you because you have no child will definitely not be happy.   The one who has written you off medically, will be dumbfounded.  Many will be so shocked that they will find it difficult to congratulate  you.

Note that this didn’t begin with you.  Let’s reflect on   the birth of our Lord  Jesus and the attitude of the three wise men and that of King Herod.

Matthew 2 vs. 1   recorded of the three wise men “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen  his star in the east, and are come to worship him”.   Matthew 2 vs. 3 “ When Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him”.

When Herod realized that the three wise men did not report back to him on the location of baby Jesus, he took a decision to wipe out all babies born within that period.

Matthew 2 vs.16 is our witness. “ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked  of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men”.

You may want to ask why is this relevant?  We must realize that the evil spirit of Herod can manifest in many ways. It is usually borne out of envy.

Parents who want their children to fulfill destiny must  be watchful and prayerful. We must pray against the spirit of Herod.    There is no time to take a break from prayers if we want those children to remain our permanent sources of joy.   In the name of Jesus, you  will not weep over your children .

I’ll share with you an abridged version of the notes of Pastor Joshua Awe; President of Christ Proclaimers’ Global Mission, in Winning the Battles over our Children “.

He wrote “ Two sisters graduated from same secondary school each with super- excellent results in their West African School Certificate.  That same year, they both wrote a qualifying entrance examination into the university ( JAMB), which they passed and qualified to study medicine in the same university.

From the first year, it was clear they were on distinction grade “.  Their parents were excited.

According to Pastor Awe, “the news of their uncommon success filtered into the ears of their   father’s relations and one of the sisters of their father,  came to ‘felicitate’ with them”.

This relation stayed with them and just before she returned to the village, she said she wanted to pray for them.  The girls casually at home, did not have their heads covered.  This relation placed two white handkerchiefs on them.

Their mother who witnessed the ‘prayer’ of the relation sensed something was wrong and she prayed silently but she didn’t have the courage to stop the prayer.

The girls returned to school and the next two session results , they recorded outright failure.

Thank God for mothers that are sensitive.  She knew that the failure of the girls was a result of a demonic attack.

But the power of the Almighty God; the only one that can reverse the irreversible,  their glory was  restored.

Pastor Awe put it this way. “ They were brought by their mother for prayer and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit another set of divinely anointed handkerchiefs  was used to pray for them.  They recovered their lost intelligence and glory, though about three years had  been lost”.

The point here is that as parents, we need to be careful who we tell the stories of our children.  We must never be too trusting with friends or relations.

We must realize that children have battles too.  Unfortunately, they are not able to fully express themselves.   It is the duty of parents to pray for their children.

Have you asked yourself why a child would cry from his sleep?   Many times, the forces of darkness confront them  but the light  of God is available to overshadow any  form of darkness.

For adults and children, there are people who want to stop you from reaching your goal.   It is your duty to engage in spiritual battles against the forces of darkness.

When God gives us children, he wants them to fulfill destiny.  When God promotes you, he wants you to use it to lift up his name. That promotion is not for you to go about organizing lavish parties.  It is for you to glorify the name of the Lord. Many have organized such lavish parties and it has led to their downfall.

By the grace of God you will not become a man or woman of yesterday in Jesus name. Be watchful and prayerful. There  is nothing like too much of prayer.

Isaiah 8 vs. 18 “ Behold I and the children whom God hath given me are for signs and for  wonders in Israel  from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth  in mount Zion”.   This is  the word of the Lord.  Parents assist your children with prayers whatever may be the challenge.  Teach them to pray   at all times.

Testimony-  A couple who have  been waiting  on the Lord for children  were in a particular church.  After waiting for years, the pastor told the man that his wife would never be able to give him a child.  The couple ignored him and went to worship at Laughter Foundation Ministry.  There, God met their needs and to the glory of God, the woman whom that pastor said would never have a child gave birth to a set of twins; one boy, one girl  after about 19 years of waiting.

Next Sunday, March 12, Laughter Foundation  marks its 20th anniversary with a special anointing service to wipe out all challenges.  The gates are open to all.

Time is 9a.m.  Venue is the Church’s Cathedral, Plot 6, Abayomi Adelaja Drive, off Kudirat Abiola Way, Olusosun- Oregun, Lagos.

 Lent

Let’s remember that  the 40-day Lent season of fasting and prayer during which we emulate our Lord Jesus Christ commenced on Wednesday, March 1st.  Are you participating?  Remember, we   have had cause to discuss the benefits of fasting to our spiritual life in this column. Don’t be left out.

As you take steps to lift up your spiritual life, the Lord  give you all  round prosperity in Jesus name.

Have a fruitful month.